Year: 1859

uuu VHtueJ muSh moeS uuu oVOISoueb oS'S'S
he finds smooth road. Young Hartwell
was peculiarly sensitive to sights and ridi-
cule, and never one strived harder than he
to remedy the defects in education end man
ners which subjected him to these trials
And, as 1 have said, he was one certain oil
success in everything he undertook.


But he did not forget Lucy in the new life
he led. The thought of her was SO closely
intertwined with the memory Of the past,
and oil the hopes he ever had of the future,
that he never deemed it possible to forget
her. He made occasional visits to his native
town. And how proud she was of the i'm.
provement she saw in her lover! How
humble she felt beside him, and sought to
make herself more worthy Of becoming his
wife.


At last the years Of Hartwell's probation
were gone. Long years, in anticipation,
they were to the warm, young hearts; but
short, and blossoming with hope as they
passed. He had returned to his native vii.
lage, with the reputation Of being talented
and rising young lawyer. There was now
no obstacle in the way Of their union, so it
was named to take place at an early day.


A wedding is always the occasion Of great
commotion in country village. 1t is a
veritable "tempest in tea pot" from the
first announcement of it's contemplation un.
til its final consummation. And this wed.
ding was no common one; for the young
lawyer, though born and bred in the commu.
nifty, was small species of lion.


Such tea parties as were the result Of this
wedding in preparation Such examina,
tions Of, and comments upon, the table and
bed linen, all Of Lucy's manufacture -
Those were primitive doys, kind reader, and
it is since then that enterprise has seized our
quiet little village, and converted it into a
busy mart And it is since then that wo-
men have forgotten the occupations of the
wheel and loom, and have resigned them to
machinery, which, in its click and clatter,
and unvarying motion, seems almost tO pos
sess life.


There was the house to furnish, for then
no married couple thought of boarding.
That, too, is modern innovation. As soon
as the ceremony was over, the two must re-
move, like little colony, and beginning life,
depend upon themselves. What pleasure
there was, too, in the furnishing of the house.
There were not merely chairs, and carpets,
(home made) and beds, and curtains in it,
The drapery of Hope festooned every room.
Bright pictures OF the future hung upon the
walls, Fancy and and anticipation sat down
in the chairs, or grouped themselves at the
ireside; while every feeling that is beautiful
and good in the human hrurt, clustered be-
meath the root, So what il the actual were
PLAIN and homely, it WIS seen only through
the ideal, and grace could not have been
added.


Then there was the brides wardrobe
that most important part o' all. And all the
maidrns must see and admire the wedding
robe o simple muslin, halt envying the
soon to be bride, and wondering within their
hearts when they will be called upon to deck
themselves in a similar garment.


The wedding wns near at hand. There
were only few intervening Days, when sor-
row came to Lucy. She had heard, from
the first, that her intended husband drank
too freely in convivial company. In all
frankness and gentleness she had gone to
him with the rumor, which he candidly ad-
mtted to be true. Then she reasoned with
him upon his course, and urged him, by his
love for her, to abstain in future. At first
he made light of the whole matter, and strove
to dispel her fears. But she could not be
satisfied. Then he made promise, q care.
less one, that he would be as temperate us
she wished him to be. She had full faith in
his integrity, for he was to be her husband,
and it would be injustice to doubt him. So
the time passed on, and the wedding was
near at hand.


Lucy had chosen for her bridesmaid q
young girl with whom she had been on terms
of the closest friendship from early child.
hood. Mary Hall was her name. One'af
ternoon Miss Hall came in in her usual in.
formal way, to pass an hour in confidential
chat. The approaching festivity, in which
they were both to take so prominent part,
was, of course, the theme Of their converse.
ton. And while they talked, they put the
finishing touches to the bridal dress. When
this was completed, Lucy put it on, to try
its effect, with the aid of Mary's tasteful eye.
1t was faultless. Its merits were discussed,
and Mary flattered her friend by declaring
that James would admire her more than ev-
or, when he saw her arrayed in it. Then,
with natural bent the conversation turned
upon the intended husband. .. D.,


Was it from spirit Of charity, OF envy. OF
malice! or shall it be set down to thought.
lessness-w shall judge Mary told her
listener OF the dissoluteness of her lover
proved how heartless had been his promise Of
abstinence from the intoxicating draught ;
told her how he was mocker of all that was
holy and pure how he spoke the name OF
woman lightly revealed to her-alas it
must be said-his true character nor noted
the effect of her words until she had finished
while Lucy sat, with clasped hands, gasping