Year: 1859

hidden by profusion of heavy curls, while
her eye sought mine fearlessly. Upon hei
arm was a we'll filed basket of cool, ripe
berries, and, as 1 rudely attempted to helr
myself, was reproved by her gentle voice
saying, "these are for mother, and she is
sick"


l felt that / was rude, but childhood
has no spoken apology, the embarrassment
being wordless one, so | offered to carry
her burden, and in few moments it seem
ed as if we were very old friends.


We crossed the bridge and soon reached
home, yet she had made me very much
ashamed, for | could not resist the tempta-
ton of throwing stone at little bird
singing on a low bush, and she reproved
me with tears in her mild blue eye.


felt the blood rush to my face as she
gave me her hand at the garden gate, and
bade me goodbye. AS sauntered away,
the sun seemed to shine more brightly,
and the songs of the birds to be sweeter,
and even saw fine grey-squirrel, eating
nut as he sat upon the wall, without the
least desire to capture him; but as drew
near my own humble home, certain mis-
givings would crowd upon my happy
thoughts, for knew that good, kind old
Dominic Wall, whose greatest pleasure was
in whipping me, would stop on his way
from the village school and see my father,
and inform him that l had not been at
school, the reward of which discovery l
did not covet; still the thoughts of my
new friend lessened the punishment of a
supperless bed for, as 1 had surmised,
Dominic Wall had performed his duty.


Old Jacob Bell, the village black smith,
was busy at his forge, scattering the bright
sparks away into the darkest corners OF
his little shop, while the merry song Of
the anvil sounded far and near, echoing
through the woods and among the hills, l
was proud to ASST, him that afternoon,
and he promised make for me little
horse shoe, which promise he kept, and /
have the toy, even now.


Fer the daylight faded saw little An
ME Bell, Jacobs granddaughter tripping
down the path to meet him as his hard
days toll was over, and her smile was
sweet, as the old man kissed his darling
AS she greeted me, Jacob Bell could hard
ly restrain his mirth at my confusion, but
left her and myself to walk home to.
gether.


Years flew by-from a truant, careless
schoolboy, l had become the village school
master, and frowned upon the pupils, as
poor Dominic Wall had done before me
The old man had ceased from his labors
and was at rest beneath the sod. Annie
Bell was my pupil, She had grown beauti
full with years, yet | had never spoken tC
her of my love, though watched her with
an eager gaze and faucied she would love
me.


One afternoon | had been detained
longer than usual with some of my chill.
dren, and the bright evening star had sci
its watch ere turned the key in the little
red door. l walked slowly down the road
and as | crossed the bridge l gazed upon
the silver ripples and thought of the time
, when. | first saw her, on this same spot
Jacob Bell was now rich, and could |, {
poor teacher, hope to win his heiress
regretted poverty, but l knew that the
world was Vide. and in it might yet viii
a name. | was ambitious. Only on,
, more week of my engagement, and then
through the succeeding long vacation, m.
place could be filed by another teacher


Yes, l would do So and my heart grew
lighter at the thought


tried to count the stars in the water
! as they Knocked in their merry twinklin!
the sky above. l listened to the iain
chirp of the cricket, the distant scream o
: the night-bird, but my heart beat faster
and my brain seemed light as sought m,
, humble home.


% During the wee did not see Ami
S Bell but knew the coming Sab
D bath | should meet and then, yes,
+. would tell her that oing away; 70
e no one yet knew my


c was favored, for at the close of tn
7 service | watched her as she fingered il


the little church-yard one moment besid
her mothers grave, then took the pat
through the fields that led to hes home
g 1t was an autumn afternoon, late in tn
5 season, but the air was filled with tn
i warm, balmy feeling so prevalent durin
n the Indian summer, The leaves were fal
A.. a. Al 1 H. l. =. I