Year: 1859

the best means of knowing. Some shallow
Drained men, who had wasted all their
money, and then gone to him to borrow
MOLE said he was Il regular old Fudge :"
but the poor and needy in the neichbor
hood could have taken their oaths that
he was warm hearted generous man.


Hamilton Kirk had gone abroad when
mere youth having been thrown upon
his own resources by the death Of his pa
rents, and he had remained abroad un-
til he WAS forty five, or thereabouts.-
-hcn he came home, and having found
woman who could love linn, he mar
ried her, and settled down. lie built
him Il spacious house, aud laid out his
grounds very. beautifully, promising him
self much comfort i'll the new phase Of
life upon which he had entered. But he
was doomed to an early disappointment.
In one short year his wife died, leaving
an infant daughter TO his care and pro-
lection. For awhile Mr.. Kirk was very
unhappy ; but gradually lie recovered
from the stroke, and prepared TO push
forward alone, No-not alone. All, no.
Ills child was left TO him, and all his
love was bestowed upon it, and thus
KEEP. active. lie called the little one
Myra, and as she began to prat,le and
play, and follow him into the garden, pluck
flowers for him, he became as happy as a
man could be.


And from that time the child never
brought a cloud upon his brow by any
act of hers. When she WAS maiden
just blooming into wcIllcvelopcl woman
hood, he was an old man with gray
hairs. Aud she had repaid him well
for all the care lie had bestowed upon
her during her childhood. She had paid
him for his love by loving him i'll fcturn
with all truth and affection. She had
paid him for the education of mind he
had given her by her instructive convcrsa-
tion and for the watcltdlncss and pro-
lection i'll the years that were passed, she
had been his nurse, his companion
his counsellor, his light, and his JOY.


But Myra was now nineteen, and the
time for new scenes was drawing upon her
She was, in sober truth, Il maiden Of
great personal beauty, and she WAS the
sole heir to an independent fortune. Add
to this that She WAS good, and modest,
and kind, and true to her duties, and
we shall not wonder that many longing
eyes were bent upon her from among
the youths of the nciynborhood, and
that many {; br glt castle WAS built upon
the hope Of securing her hand. But
she h d hot shown any preferences.
She WAS the same kind friend to alI
who deserved her confidence, and even her
most ardent admirers could find no solid
foundation for hope, nor could they find
a ground for jealousy.


Mr. Kirk had watched the course Of
events with discerning eye, and rs he
saw the circle Of her admirers narrow
ing down, he believed that the affections
OF his child must ere long be fixed. Her
natural insinct OF soul might lead her
arig int i'll her choice, but he preferred to
make choice for himself, and then, if
her love could be lcl into the same
channel, it would be so much the bet.
ter.


"Myr;,'' he said to her, as they sat in
the library one summer afternoon, Give
been thinking"


Well, father she replied, looking up
with one Of her sweet smiles, what have
you been thinking abouts"


I've been thinking that you will
he wanting husband one OF these
days


Then I wouldn't try to think any
more she said. But she didn't speak
with such simple assurance as usual.


Il am serious my pet" the old man re-
suncd; 'and now let us talk seriously
about it. am not going to give you up
for the man that takes you must take my
house, and mo with it; or, I'll take him
just as you please. But you know, as well
as do, that very soon you may be loving
somebody, and then it would be too late tc
reason


Myra didn't dispute him but she only
hung down her head and thought. So he
continued.


Now it's all very we'll to marry fo'
love- if other things are as they should be
but love is curious thing, and very otter
brings bodies together that can have nc
more harmony in life than fire and water
know that many people scout the idea O
exercising reason in conjunction with love
but the ideas Of the world are not always
safe guides. wouldn't have reason take
too much Of the ground, but would have
it 60 ahead and light the way, so that love