Year: 1863

] 10 nCE ullClC NNClllllS.


The closed shutters and ,he Grape at the
door told too plainly the sad tale within.


&c knew YOU would come to us in our af-
Fiction dear Clarice.' said Ruth Lee as the
warm-hearted girl stole into the room where
the mourners were sitting, and threw her
self weeping ON Ruth's bosom. "Oh Clar-
ice, may such Il grief as is now breaking my
heart-strngs never come upon you


Ruth paused, for in thc vision of her
uncle Winslow, her cousin Clarice's father,
her own dear mothers brother passed be-
fore her--a vision of n stern cold-hearted
man. who neither asked for nor accepted
love from those nearest him aud she felt
! that. If he were to die, Claricc's loss could
not compare with hers. And then arose
| to her mind the image OF man with
chld's simplicity of heart, with womaus
! tenderness and nohleness of nature that
was Godlille in Its uprightuess and truth.
The rreparablc weight OF her bereavement
once more ovcrpowered her, and the tears
she shed seemed like tears of blood wrung
from her heart.


The hard, uncompromising truth at length
stared the widow and orphan in the face
they were beggars. All was swept from
them, to the very home III which they had
! lived so happily. With strength of pur-
pose scarcely belonging to her years. Ruth
Lee aroused herself from her grief, and
set herself seriously to planning what had
best be done. She could not look for much
help from herImother, for her health, never
very good, seemed so broken down with
her ai1liction that Ruth began to fear she
might lose her also.


Tomorrow, dear Buth, we must leave
the home where we have seen so much Joy.
Strangers will reap the fruits OF your dear
fathers taste and judgment in planning and
executing this comfortable and elegant
abode. But what shall we do? Shall we
accept brother Richards invitation to make
a home with him?'


And be looked upon by his parsmoni-
GUS wife as dependents and in the way
No, dearest mother while have youth
and health, | will look to no one but my
self for our support. | have found two
pleasant little rooms down town that | can
get for mere song"


Yes, but that song must be paid and
what with dear Ruth?'


by myself. have decided upon max
ing dresses


Ruth :"


81 always had n handy way with my
scissors and needle" continued Ruth, with
steady voice, but with cheek more and
more pale.


"You be n dressmaller ~


Why not, dearest mother 1t is an hon
est employment"


But you play and sing 80 beautifully.
If you must do something, why not teach
music ?"


"Who would learn of me dear mother
To whom could apply, or would apply
for patronage? All our friends, even our
relations, have shown how little they eX-
pect to do for us or sympathize with us, by
keeping almost entirely aloof from us.
Then doubt my own proficiency to put
myself before the world rs II music teacher.
Besides we have got no suitable home to
bring pupils into"


But situation in a school my dear?"


Would take me from you too much du-
ring the day. No. dearest mother, have
thought of all, Of everything, and can see
nothing else for me to do. Besides,
have partially engaged some work for next
week. Aunt Winslow paid us another
stately visit while you We're lying down
this afternoon, and without making amy Of
fer of which, God forgive me
if she had should not have acCepted-she
seemed very deSirOus to know our plans
for the future. | told her my plan, and
she remarked in very patronizing way,
that it was very judicious, and that Bertha
had several new dresses to be made, and
that might trymy hand at one next week"
! The next week found Ruth and her mother
settled i'll their narrow quarters. Ruth
made the dress, and it was decided " fit,
and soon she made more custom than
she could well manage. The very fashion
able persons who had, since her change of
| fortune, declined recognizing her as an ac-
quaintance, were glad to avail themselves
OF her undeniable skill. To her taste and
! ingenuity there seemed no limit and, she
always kept her promises, cost her what
slcepless hours they might she found her
self able to place before her mother many
of those little comforts to which she had
been accustomed, and which her frail health
demanded. And now, in the elegant man
sion of the Winsows, all was hustle and
! preparation. An unlocked for piece of
good fortune had beiallen them. The plain
Caroline had actually received an offer, not
withstanding the oftrepeated predictions of
her mother and sister to the contrary. 1t
was also "highly advantageous offer" as
Mrs. Winslow with satisfaction told her
| friends.


The happy bridegroom in prospective
was il crusty old bachelor, worth his weight
in gold, who never till now had found
woman sufficiently ll-favored TO justify him
i'll proposing the question matrimonial, lie
had taken lifelong prejudice to pretty
women.


They are all vain," he said, and love
themselves and every one else better than
they do their own lawful husbands. And
from being ilattered all their lives, they get
to think themselves better able to Judge of
everything than any one else can tor them"
All was preparation. The downstairs
were uninhabitable with painters and up
holsterers, and the upstairs was in such
turmoil with sewing girls, and satins, lin
ems, laces and lady friends for there was
to be such grand wedding as had never
been before.


| Tired with tho confusion, Mr.. Winslow
found fault with everything but, as he
had always found fault with everything,
he was not much needed. AS he lived
mostly in his counting-room or at his club,
the mother and daughter had all pretty
much their own way.


sit is all the time what will be the most
! becoming to the bride What the brides
maid is to wear is not of the least conse-
quence said Bertha, in pet.


+ thought your evening dress was cho-
sen, and that you had decided Ruth Lee,
should make it," replied the bride elect.
! 1.-THE carriage is never at my disposal
it is always engaged in the executions of
your commissions, Ruth Lee, you know
never leaves her home to fit dresses"


You can have the carriage this after