Year: 1860

in my opinion, and one which quite satisfe me.

 tranquilly pursued my daily occupation which was that of clerk, with moderate salary, in the house of Wopper & Son, now dissolved and after my routine ill tn, counting-house, generally spent my evenings in strolling about and refecting upon my prospects. I was an orphan, and there were very few congenial companions at the house where boarded, so 1 was left pretty mucl to myself, and was not embarrassed in the selection of amusements by any ones sug gestions

 Thrown thus upon my own resources, looked around for something to interest and occupy my mind, and I found this interest in girl whom met regularly every morn ing at the corner yonder, where my present little friend disappears on her way to school The figure of the maiden of old times was not unlike my little friends to-day but the former one was much less gaily clad hel face was covered with green veil, and she was older-about seventeen.

 Regularly every morning after breakfast as went to Wopper & Sons, with the punctuality of a clock, met my friend com ing around this corner, and tue encounte, became an expected pleasure, which I could not forego. knew nothing of the girl, ex. cept that she doubtless, liked blue tints, which everywhere appeared in her cheap and simple clothing. She generally walked with her head down, coming 8 scllooLbook which she held beneath her green veil, and for some time she never encountered my eyes with her own

 At last, as we went by each other at the same hour every morning, and as my dress was seldom altered in those days. she noticed me, and we would exchange looks. Then saw her, with her veil raised, come around the corner looking for my familiar figure, then we exchanged glances of half recognition.

 Things had reached this stage, when, one day, as was coming up from dinner and just as l was crossing the street, halfway down the square wonder, by tue little wood- en house, my attention was attracted by a scream l raised my head quickly, and at the same moment saw the breast of horse strike the form of g girl within two paces of me. 1 was an active young fellow then, and with single motion of my hand caught the animal by the bit, forced his foaming mouth backward, and with the other arm supported the girl, who was near fainting. The horse was ridden by an urchin who could not manage him, and galloping down the street he had nearly crushed the girl.

 She now half leaned upon my arm in an attitude of terror and weakness, and glance at her countenance told me that she was my friend of the corner need not say that the circumstance did not displease me and when she came to understand that her de- liverer, as the romance writers say, was the owner of the face so familiar to her, too, l don't think she was less pleased than my self

 asked where she lived and she replied in hurried and timid tone, that the little wooden house you sec yonder was her moth CTS, and that she was returning thither from school 1 offered her my arm with that simplicity and sincere respect which sprung then, as it springs now, from my admiration for pure woman, young or old and, lean ing upon the arm, tue girl reach ed her moth CTS, and, Tn the same timid tone, asked me to enter.

 I was very glad to obey, and found my self in small apartment, very poorly and cheaply furnished, but with an air of re- spectablity and neatness about it, which in- dcated taste and refinement in the occu- pants. In one corner sat an old lady in black bombazine dress, busily knitting, which operation she followed with eyes covered with large spectacles.

 Tue old lady looked very much frightened ~ hn csipI of olu the expression of gratitude upon her thin countenance, when my part was described, remains with me even now, as one of my most delightful reccllections.

 I will not lengthen out the description of this scene, when, for the first time, I made the speaking acquaintance" of Annie Clas- ton. Her mother was the widow of poor clergyman, and managed, as I afterwards learned, by close and rigid labor and econo- my, to supply the wants of the little house. hold, and send Annie to school. The girl had protested, almost with tears, against this, declaring that she was old enough to help her mother, and not be a burden: but the old lady still preserved her ideas about training and education, and Annie was forced to submit.

 The acquaintance thus auspiciously con- menced, was not suffered to languish. More than ever, had an object of interest to oc- cupy my thoughts, and soon it began to oc- cupy my heart. now looked more eagerly than ever to see Annie at the corner; and think may add, that judging from the bright expression of her countenance, she was also pleased at our meetings. We generally paused moment to exchange clasp of the hand, and few words and smiles, and then we passed on. 1 do not know that she thought of me again until we met next morning; but am very certain that her im- age never left my thoughts for fifteen consec- utive minutes throughout the day. Old Wopper, more than once, had occasion to ask me if was asleep, and whether the pile of goods would be shipped if I only stared them out of countenance; and think, if my imagination had been photographic me dium, the ledgers of the firm would have been covered with ten thousand pictures of a young girl in blue dress,~ with curls on her neck. These pictures would have pleas. ed most persons more than the entries: and this introduces brief outline of Annie.

 She had deep blue eyes, brown hair, a complexion as white as snow, and lips as crimson as carnations-I have never seen any so red. A delicate pale rose tint touch ed the centre of each cheek, and the expres sion of her countenance was the perfection of modesty. Look! here is her miniature taken lonr aftarwar1s. from pencil sketcl