Year: 1860

She was a light, springy little wo-
man, with a cheerful, bcaming face,
which, if it could boast of no other
beauty, was such an index of good
sense and kindlincss, that no one ever
thought how much better she would
look if a regular feature was substi.
tuted for an irregular one She now
jumped from the buggy and ran half
way up the walk-tor Johnny, she
knew, by this time was deep into
mIschiet-thcn turned back to give
an added word to her cousin.


Now Scott" she pleaded, ado
coax Celia out to that picnic. be-
lieve it would do her more good than
all the doctors prescriptions. really
think the most she needs now is fresh
air, and little cheerful amusement to
wake her up-makc her feel some in
tcrest in something BE sure and
bring me that lawn from Growers, the
pink one with the vines running over
it, and will cut and make it, and
hem some ruilies for the neck, and
bring it over on Thursday morning {;
but don't say word to Celia about it.
Scott, actually feel afraid she will
die if we cannot make the world look
brighter to her and to think she used
to be so happy-singing half the
time" And the little woman wiped
her eyes, and ej circulating again some
thing about Johnny's mischief, started
for the house


1t was long ride Mr.. Franklin had
before him that day, and as the horse
was "a well-trained one, and needed
no care to guide him, he had plenty of
time to pursue the train of thought
his Cousins words had awakened


"She used to be So happy-singing
half the time J" 1t seemed only yes
terday since her sweet, birdlike voice
hoatcd out to him, as he opened the
gate, and her playful words and light
repartee and smiles, made her home
full of brightness.


The desk never needed that thing of
lifc-a budding flower or leaf, aud an
ivv planted in moss-covered box in
the first week of their married life
clung around the n,antel and formed
a beautiful drapery for the few pic
lures that graccd their walls but the
flower was always missing now, and
the ivy dead long ago


Scott Franklin was not man of
the incest perceptions but that day
a spell seemed over him, aud he saw
4 .Ia ,,cht
the hours of many a week that before
had seemed filed with words, actions
and looks, good and just, and laid in
kindness, smooth as the marble table
to his quickencd touch, now stood up
like sharp points of needles that gave
pain to his mind to pass over.


Celia, the spring before, had been
very sick but the virulcnt disease,
after bringing her so close to death 5
door that she heard the faint mur.
murings of celestial music, passed
away, and left her tottering feet to
Chamber up the steep, weary path that
led to the broad. even road of health
from some cause she had sunk down
half way ere she reached it, and eve,
ry power seemed futile to urge her t.
renewed action That he had thrown
obstacles in her way had never oc.
Cured to him before. Had he not
provided the best physician-sough,
for the softest couch for her attenua
ted form-ran here and there to pro
cure every delicacy for her capricious
appetite :? Had he not procured the
best help? All here he found many
sharp needle point! In the country
place where they resided it was al
most impossible to hire a girl, and
Nancy West, who had lived with them
from the first week of Mrs. Franklin't
illness, had only been prevailed upon
by much pleading, to come to accom-
modate She felt perfectly equal, il
intellect and station, to those will
whom she resided, but being really
far inferior, and having no innate sense
Of true worth to sustain her, she was
always reaching out to cling to some
thing out of her proper sphere, to sup
port her in her false position.


If she had the delicacy to see, she
had not the generosity to give Mrs
Franklin the pleasure of feeling that
though she was poor invalid, sh,
was in reality the mistress of tn,
household, and essential to the happi
ness of it's inmates. Perhaps the cir
was perfectly innocent of any pre-
meditated action, but like fountain
which cannot send forth but the sam,
water the spring supplies it with, 81
daily her actions Jared on the deli
cate nerves Of the sensitive wife.