Year: 1867

some dark foreign wood. 1t seemed formed
Of slender serpcnts twining themselves in
knotts above the head. below and al the
sides.


A more perfect contrast could not have
been formed than there existed between
those old paintings. Grandpa had long
been sleeping beneath the willow trees.
just discernible from tho windows, and
nothing had Known of him him except
what the old picture told me of happy
youth--a fine looking man called away
in bis prime.


Grandma did not look mu:h like the
young face. full of smiles and dimplcs. a
very striking likeness she said it had been
pronounced of her many years ago but
then age had bent her foym, Tines ruth
less finger hadfurrows on sh,ek and brow,
and tears Of sorrow had not frightened
the. once beautiful eyes. ..
| But instead of the glowing auticipaticns
of the past, there was in the present a
placid look. as though che trials Of life
were almost over aud she was only wait
ing in calm serenity the till the angels
should meet her at the rivers side.


Was she thinking of this as ss...e sto.a,
.11cre ? Her eyes we're bent upon the pict.
ures before her, but did not sec them, ]
was sure. for her glance seemed pentrating
beyond the vista Of years which had mel
ted away SO noiselessly and left her an
old woman. Those years held much for
her. A husband and children we're sleep.
ing under the willows, aud it may have
been thoughts of those loved ones gore to
Golden City that cast the slight shade
upon that dear good face now. .,.


Perhaps the sight of these relics of the
past was bringing to light many Of the
scenes which memory had stored away in
her gallery, upon which the dust Of years
had fallen thick--days when she thought
aud cared for little else beyond the present
and its enjoyment, and the fnture was a
far off time which held dreams and Wis.
ions yet to be realized. Now she stood
upon the grave of many of those youthful
auticipations Some of them bid fair to
prosper, to bring forth the promised fruit,
but cruel blight fell upon them, and they
withered away. Others did bring forth
fruit, aud made her heart glad, but how
few they were2 The sorrows overbalanced
the joys of her life but was she thinking
Of all this ? could not tell. Her face
gave not forth the varying emotions sweep
ing through her soul. Only still aud III
teut she stood there looking at that strange
picture Perhaps, perAaps it was the face
of lost lover. Why had | not thought
Of it before =? Some one who had gathered
the pearls of her woman's nature in,o his
hands and held them there tenderly, it
may be, until compelled by adverse fate
abandon all J.; or were they entirely thrown
aside, or snatcbed by an other?


But then that resolute face showed that
he would be formidable rival to any one
who crossed his path unwarily. Was he
rejected man. failing 10 every endeavor
to bring forth the low sweet symphonies
from The yielding chords which vainly he
tried to fiud aud only produced harm dis.
cords +? Nothing came fiom the white lips
to tell of the ruin of his life.


! Now the eyes seemed to have lost their
fierce look. and an expression of Infinite
tenderness took its place. The whole pic.
ture seemed larger and growing larger.
The serpent frame was in motion. One
untwined itself and glided out at the open
window, and with dilated eyes | saw the
others follow and heard their fall upon
the rosc-bushes below. The artists
clouds vanished, and from one picture a
broad shouldered man stepped out.


Quickly my eyes sought tirandma's
face, but it was changed. No longer old
aud wrinkled, it was the youthful bloom
of maidenhood. White roses, half-blowD,
looped Up the lace overskirt. showing the
tiny pointed slipper, repose reposed in her
bosom and nestled in those old.fasioned
puffs Of hair. Leaning forward with eager
extended hands. she was meeting the odd
visitant. the long gaze uninterrupted but
she was looking up into those magical
eyes inste1d Of down upon those Of the
picture. Too fascinated by the strange
sight to obsrve, did not notice the pres.
ence Of third person until low Sigh at
tracted my attention and Grandpa was
standing where his portrait once stood.
looking mournfully upon the two before
him. A rather delicate figure, clear. ear
nest face and sad looking eyes, out Of
which the sunshine was gone forever, was
what what my eyes fell upon, Though
there was contrast, strange and marked,
between the two advancing to the girl sh
form that once was Grandpa's appear-