Year: 1859

my bride--my wife. Her image wa'


entwined with every vision of the future


"At the expiration of my college life,


returned home for visit of few week.


before commencing the study of the law
which had chosen for my profession. Ii
an unguarded moment, 1 confessed my
love to Grace, and fondly listened for the
assurance that it was returned. Alas
when the answer came, the hopes of year:
perished in a moment. With many tears
for the misery she felt she was about tc
infi,t, she owned that she had regarded
me but Is beloved brother, and had sup
posed that my affection for her was of the
same nature. Her heart was already Civ
en- to another-one whom had myselfin-
troduced to her as truly deserving of her
regard.


Ny very being seemed to have chang
cd. The charm Of existence had gone.
Ny home, once so dear, had now become
4 distasteful to me. l abandoned the pro-
fession to which had resolved to devote
myself, and plunged at once into the bu-
sy scenes of an active mercantile life, ho-
! Eng to find some relief for my misery.


"Not many months elapsed before the
marriage of Grace, and letter from my
sister informed me that she had accompan-
I led her husband to the western country.
He was at that time ar intelligent and
promising young man, but subsequent
events showed him to be devoid of princi-
pie, and little calculated to render any
woman happy, especially one so gentle and
:, sehsatire as Grace. sss
1--WE beard much of her sufferings, and
my father once visited her in her distant
home, and begged her to return to her
friends of her childhood. But she still
clung to the unprincipled man who had
gained her early affeations. Several ehils
dren were borne to them, but all died in
Eearly youth, with the exception of the
youngest, who, believe still lives. Since
thedeath of your mother, have had but
little means of communication with Grace.
We have never met since the fatal day
when discovered that all my cherished
hopes we're but vain and illusory; but Of
ten in my dreams she seems to stand be
fore me in all the loveiness of her youth,
and the musical tones of her voice once
more awaken emotions in my heart which
I had believed long since cold and dead y


The sympathising interest with which
Herbert listened to the simple tale was
grateful to Uncle Johns somewhat excl
ted feelings, and with an effort to regain
his cheerfulncss, he said, kindly:


This is but a sad story to tell TO one
who is just entering upon life, but it may
serve as warning to you never to surren-
der your heart until you have good reason
to believe yourself beloved in return. And
now let us return TO your own prospec is.
You say that you are dcsirous of com
mencing practice at once, and indeed l
think myself that it is better that you
should do so, while the knowledge you have
acquired is fresh in your mind. You must
not be too sanguine of immediate success.
A young physician often has steep and
toisome hill to climb Years may pass
before you will attain to any eminence in
your profession"


'I am not easily discouraged my dear
uncle" was the animated reply, Sand am
we'll prepared for disappointments and de-
lays. And yet l hope may prove one of
the prosperous ones. ( have always had
presentiment that my very first patient
would in some way, effect my future for
tunes"


Probably some poor Irishman, who,
with broken head, or sick wife and chill
der patronizes the young doctor, in the
hope that his fee will be more reason
able one than is demanded by the well es
tablished practitioner" returned Uncle
John, smiling. II do not think much Of
presentiments, my boy, but we shall see
how yours turns out"


A few brief weeks passed on, and the
busy goSsips of the fourishing village of
C had found abundance of food for
taeir curiosity in the appearance and
movements of the young physician who
had come among them. His fine form,
and open, manly countenance gained the
good will of the community, while his
neatly fitted up Office, handsome equipagc,
and other unmistakeable tokens, convin.
ced the elder and wiser ones that he
had something besides his profession to
depend upon, and that they should be JUS
tilted in showing him public marks of re,
gard, and he soon became favorite guest