Year: 1865

Eyes, do tell US what be did say J"
Cousin Alice Lake eagerly echoed my
words as our aunt came into the sitting
room where we were loungiDg away the
pleasant summer afternoon.


I see her now though half a score of
years has the grave hidden that face from
the eye that loved it, as she came thro'
the door with her soft, low step, with her
lilac colored shawl, and leghorn bonnet
trimmed with white satin ribbon. Aunt
Esther Lee was our fathers only sister,
and she had been a childless widow for
many years, the latter part of which she
had passed at cur home.


Cousir Alice Lake was passing the
vacation With US. There was not a years
/ difference in our ages, and we had been
schoolngtes from early childhood, and !
/ believe sisters seldom love each other as
We did.


! That afternoon Aunt Esther had start
ed out on visit to Farmer Pixies, the
ricn old widower whose great yellow brown
house stood on the turnpike, half a mile
| from our house.


Farmer Pike was strange, bard man
| You would have felt this with one glance
at his strong rugged features, his iron
grey hair, and his large, muscular person
that had not bowed itself With the weight
/ Of three score years.


/ He lived with his hogsekeeper and his
hired men, in the great yellow brown


house, au honest, industrious nan, but


without single afection, or social sym.


pathy in the world, with life as cold,
stark and barren as a desert ever whose
bosom no shining spring wraps its neck.
lace Of jewels; in whose dry, dead heart
30 sweet flower opens its lips to the sun
shine.


Yet Farmer Pixies life had its tragedy 4;
so believe all lives have, if we could
unlock the hidden cabinets where they
are laid away from every eye but Gods


Many years ago Farmer Pike had mar
RED a woman much younger than him.
self. A woman with Que Of these gentle.
shrinking, mimosa natures, that seemed
to have few points Of sympathy with his
coarse rugged character.


However, they get on well together,
aud it is probable that the gentle wife
called out whatsoever Of tenderness there
was in the coarse soul Of her husband.
At last son was born to them, and the
delicate mother fell into decline, and be,
fore the boys life had reached its third
year, the grass had lain its green cover.
ing over the mother's head.


Mrs. Pike and Aunt Esther were
schoolmates, and had always been friends,
so the farmer placed Joseph under her
care, and he continued to reside with her
until my mothers death which occurred
several years later, when my auut came
to Us and the boy went home to his father.


Joseph was warm hearted, but terri
bly, self-willed boy. My aunt had more
Influence over him than any other person,
for she loved him almost as though he
were her own child, I believe, too,
Farmer Pike was very fond of his hand
some boy, but be was cold, undemon-
strative man, and he and Joseph never
got on we'll together.


AS the boy grew older, his father de,
termined upon making him farmer, but
Joseph's active, energetic nature revolted
at this life; he was bent upon going out
into the world, and trying his fortune
there. I knew the old Yellow,b brown
house witnessed some terrible contests
between the fathers will and the sons
determination there were harsh threats
on Que side, and sullen resistance on the
other. until worn out with these things,
Joseph made up his mind to "run away
and go to sea"


He did this with his usual rash impul,
siveness, and the Farmer Pike, in his
wrath, lifted up his hand and swore sol
elnnly that Joseph should not inherit
collar of his property, that be would
never see or speak to him again to the
day Of his dsath. And he kept his word !