Year: 1862

ing | had better not play at all. she con-
| tinued and closing the instrument, arose.
Observing that Marion looked grieved, she
added in contr;te tone, 81 hope, dearest
sister, you are not displeased with me;
would not vex you for worlds.'' So saying
she kissed her cheek, and resuming her
embroidery seated herself once more at
her mothers side


This little scene had passed behind Mrs,
Edwards couch, but she had overheard
some Of the children's words, and her in
quiring eye looked anxiously on them both,
The entrance Of her husband introduced
new topics of conversation, and as she ex-
erted herself to enliven the leisure hour
which was always devoted to her, he could
not realize to himself that the being whose
soft cbeerfulness and harmless wit formed
the delight of his home was about to pass
away ike shadow from the face Of the
earth. SCI


A year had elapsed since the day just
alluded to. The sun shone as brightly as
ever upon the gay conservatory, whose fra
GRANGE had often been SO grateful to the
dropping invalid. The sound Of music
was still heard within the pleasant draw
ing room. Books and work were, as here
tofore, scattered through the apartment
But she whose presence had once shed
calm joy around these household comforts
was gone; and her young daughters look
ed sad and deselate in their sable garments.
Yet theirs was the sadness of a spring
morning, whose clouds and sunshine are SO
happily blended together, that one would
not give up the tempered brightness of
that changeful sky for the brilliancy of the
noontide hour. She who was gone hence
had spoken words of peace and hope which
dwelt within their hearts, as pledges of
their mothers bliss !; and her spirit seem
ed to hover around their domestic hearth
binding together more closely than ever
those who were dearest to her on earth.-
Her widowed husband seemed to centre
all his love and all his hopes in his two
daughters, who now formed his only house
hold treasures.


Marion and Lucy were at an age which
peculiarly needed a mothers care, for
they were just springing into womanhood !;
but all that fathers tenderness could
supply was bestowed by MIR. Edwards,
who in each leasure hour directed their
studies, shared in their pursuits, and gave
them every healthful recreation they could
desire He seemed to live for his children
and they loved him with the devoted af-
fection which is the happest bond between
father and his daughter. Marion wab
bis daily counsellor and stay, fer she unit
ed to all the freshness of seventeen the rip
ened judgement Of a more advanced age
but Lucy was his pride and his darling
Her dark eyes resting on him with such
fond affection !; her childlike playfulness
was SO bewitehing; her voice so full of
sweet modulation ! Yes Lucy was her
fathers favorite, and she knew it.


In the early days of his widdowhood Mr..
Edwards had turned chiefly to Marion for
comfort, and hor silent tears were his best
earthly solace; his youngest daughter,
whose occasional bursts of sorrow were less
oppressive to his spirits than the quiet sad
ness of her sister.


AS time wore on, Marion spoke more
rarely than heretofore of her loved mother,
whose image, however, dwelt within her
heart, and whose words she treasured up
as, a storehouse of wisdom and consula-
tion. Lucy on the other hand, loved to
talk with her father Of the being SO dear to
them both; and these conversations ten
ded to tighten the burden Of their sorrow,
and to prepare them for participation in
other thoughts and joys, connected with
the present rather than the past '2" "
It was a calm autum evening. The sis
ters were standing together in a bay win
dow, from whence they watched the set
ting sun as it sank behind the distant hills
which bounded their horizon Marion's
hand rested on her sisters shoulder, and
it seemed as though some painful recoll ec-
tion had been awakened by the beauty of
the scene for a tear stole down her cheek
which, being observed by Lucy, she gently
kissed away. At this moment their father
entered with an open note in his hand


Here is an invitation for you, to Flor
ence Court"


''Are we to go % 'sAIay we go ?" es-
capped, at the same moment from Marion
and Lucy's lips.


''Just as you please for have no wish
to deprive you Of any innocent enjoyment.
What say you my grave and gentle Mar
ion ?'' inquired Mr.. Edwards, addressing