Year: 1864

She replied that tea was ready, aud we
went into the handsome old.fashioned house;
for wO were both going to take ten with
Deacon 0lmstead, aud, moreover, to spend
the night beneath his roof, having come to
W on church business Deacon Ohm
stead making point Of always entertain
lug two young ministers on such occasions,


The Rev, Benjamin Bitterworth was much
older than |, and much more important
every way [ had been lately called to a
struggling little church exceedingly unfor-
tunate in the way Of difficulties and debts.
where the congregation seldom paid any
salary, and always considered themselves
iltused by the minister, who, in turn, was
somehow injured by parsonage called
Elder Bagshaw, and somebody was always
accused Of misappropriating tho church
funds, although | never could discover
what they wero, Aud the Rev. Silas Snow
having taken French leave, in great disgust,
the congregation had called for an onterpri-
sing young minister, and had been select
ed. But, for Benjamin Bitterworth, warm
nest had been ready, and evory one pre-
dicted him immense success. His was a
country church also, but il was a rich one,
and he had friends and influence and every
thing which had not Deacon Olmstead
showed that he knew this by every glance
of his eye and every tone of his voice.


But Rose 0lmstead, who--her father be-
ing q widower--was mistress of the house,
exhibited no such partiality. On the con-
trary, think she liked me best and tho
Benjamin Btterworth, long and lank, 4
hope it was not envy that made me think
him SO very plain,) leaned across the table
to talk to her in his oily tones over and
over again, somehow she always returned
TO our old conversation as often as she
could, and made me very happy with her
prattle.


She knew the village which had been my
boyhood's home, and had seen and spoken
to sister of mine dead years before so we
had We had none-had We spoken in Ian
guage unintelligible to each other--I am
sure that to have sat beside Rose 0lmstead
with her eyes looking into mine. not boldly
only frankly, would have been worth the
most eloquent words that ever fell from any
other woman's lips.


1t was very happy evening for after.
ward, in the cleaning, we went out upon
the porch, and she took me down to see the
roses in the garden and the honeysuckle
arbor over the little seat where she sal
every afternoon at work, and we stayed SO
long that Deacon Olmstead came down after
us and scolded Rose for wetting her feet
with the dew and had something very i'm.
portant to say to me, SO that Benjamin Bit
terworth offered his arm to Rose to escort
her through the garden, while walked on
behind with her father.


We went back to the porch after that
and into the parlor, and soon thore were
family prayers and a genial good night
But it being a bright summer night, with
all the windows open, l, sitting at mine,
and looking at the moon, heard some one
singing, and knew til It, of all that house
hold, it could only be Rose. 1t was q sad
song and sweet one--a farewell, with a
plaintive fall in it that was very touching f;
and II need not be ashamed to own it at
seventy knelt down beside my window,
and with my head upon my hand shed tears,
thinking what if were that departing low
er, and Rose Olmstead sung that song to
me. Do we never unconsciously reach the
future? Sometimes think so.


AS we walked away to take the stage the
next morning, Benjamin Bitterworth wore a
queer smile upon his face, and rubbed his
long black gloves as though something
pleased him nightly. At last he said to
me in HE oily tones, with peculiar affecta'
ton of accent which it had pleased him to
adopt:


Brother Dove, want to ask your opin.
ion on an important subject"


That was odd. My opinion had never
been considered of any importance before
but bowed my head and waited


DO you believe, Brother Dove, that
Rose Olmstead would make good clergy,
mans wife ?"


That was tho question. My cheeks flush
ed scarlet. My heart beat loudly, but
turned toward Benjamin and looked hin
full in the face.


~ know she would make good wife fol
any man who might be fortunate enough e
win her love- answered.


"LoyeI' Benjamin Btterworth eleYa
ted his eyebrows. I'VE were not speak
ing of love, believe" he said, but o
fitness. We should put the vanities of thi
carnal world out of the question when WI
look for wives, Brother Dove"


made no answer this time, and we walk
on in silence for many moments. when Ben
jamin again spoke.


81 believe that she would be admirabl.
fitted for the position" he said, and in
tend to act upon the belief. have bee
resolved to marry for several years, an
Deacon Ollnstead's daughter appears +
have excellent qualities. shall offer he
my hand.'


Perhaps she will not accept it,"


said ii angrily. Ny voice was not III
der control at that moment Benjamin Bi
terworth understood mel saw that in hi
ool1 Hail, ava Rat ha anamaraH wifhor