Year: 1861

will have noticed the unearthIy calm of his
voice, the low monotone of sound, the loneI
n'ss of accent Well, this lads voice sound
ed so. He talked like one shut out of life /
made place :or myself in the grass and sa,
| down beside him.


i was attracted by your bird" said
| thought he had q nest here, and / followed
him. l trust am net intruding" H
Not at all, sir )" | am lad to have some
one to speak TO. AS for Bob, he has nest
here but it's in my heart. He is the only
thing on earth that loves me-"
You take too sad view of life, my friend
Your calamity is great no doubt, but still"
Ah !sir, it's all well enough to talk SO
when you have limbs and health and freedom.
When you can work and go out into life and
tread the earth with the full consciousness of
being. But when ever since you can remem-
ber you have been but the moie ty of q man,
utterly helpless utterly dependent, an infant
without an infants happy unconscOusness.-
But what's the use of my talking to you 10
this way here, Bob, show the gentleman your
tricks"


Bob, on this summons. left his post by the
| lads cheek, where he had remained perfectly
still, taking an inventory of my person with
bis round bright eye, and apparently measur-
ing me for suit of clothes, and suddenly flew
into the air, where he summerSauted and p-
ronetted and affected to lose the use of his
wings and tumble from an APPALLING height, u-
Yeriably recovering himself before reaching
the ground after which he gravely ALT upon
his mas ter'S breast and thrust his little bill af
fectionatey between his lips.


You have tanned your bird wonderfully"
said to the boy.


4" 1t has been my amusement during many
| solitary hours" he answered with a feeble
smile


How is it that you have been so solitary 2,
[ asked; "you live in the neghborhood p


In that house up yonder just peeping from
behind that cump of naples" and he pointed
as he spoke towards respectable farm house


Aud you have frends-a family ?"


"Ah Sir, they are kind enough to me
but they must he very tired of me by this time


Come" said |, encouragingy laying my
hand Oh his shoulder, come, tell me all about
Yourself. I'm good listener beside, | am
interested in you Bob here looks as If he was
anxions for story This is a charming nook
that we are in, SO I'll just light cigar, aad
DO You ,alk"


The free and easy manner ] assumed seemed
to surprise him. He glanced shyly at me ont
of his large blue eyes, as it suspicious of my
sincerity then he hegyed q sigh Stroked Bobs
feathers. as if to assure himself of the presence
Of at least one friend, aud saying, AS you
please commenced


- am eighteen" he said, "you would not
think it, for | know look younger than am
Confinement and suffering have made my com,
pIexion pale and transparent, and the Suu and
Winds that harden other mems skins aud age
their features, have had but little to do with
me- Ever since | can remember | have been
paralyzed in the lower limbs. For years lay
upon an inclined plane of board, looking up at
the ceiling with mind very nearly as blank
as the white plaster | gazed at My father
died when | was a mere infant, and there was
no one left in the house but mother and Cou-
sin Alice and me "


Cousin Alice" said " who is she ?"


His eyes wandered timidly towards the
house behind the naples, as if he expected
some appriton to start from thence on the
very instant


" Consin Alice" lie repeated vaugely, well,
shes-COusin Alice"


Excessively explanatory" l said laughing.
" Is Cousin A lice young"


" My age"


" Is she pretty"


One deep, reproachfa look Of those largo
blue eyes told me all Poor fellow, there he
lay mamed useless passing his days and even
ings in the presence of some beautiful creature
wnom he could never hope to possess, but low
ing her with all that concentrated intensity
which belongs to the passions Of the deformed


lie seemed 10 know what was passing in my
mind ; for without a word from me, he CON
tnued She is engaged to Ralph Farewell,
who lives down yOnder She is very fond of
him, and he of her 1t is they who bring me
down between them to this place every fine
day, and | sit here with Bob while they go off
and pick nuts, and-and" and here the picture
was too much for him, and the poor fellow
burst into tears.


No wonder To have his misfortune parad
ed through necessity before the woman he low
ed. TO be carried about like piece Of furni-
ture by her and his rival. How often that
poor heart must have been smitten bitterly
How often those crippled limbs thrilled with
agony.


| took his hand in mine, bot did not say
word There are times when consolation is
cruel. 1t was better than all the world TO let
him ieel by the pressure ot hand that ne louhu
a friend We sat this way for some time, IN
til was aroused from a painful revre into
which had fallen by long, black shadow
being projected across the spot in which we
were sitting. l looked up and saw tall, hand
some young man with bronze cheeks and curly
chestnut hair, on whose arm was hanging an
exceedingly lovely young girl. whose face was
a perfect treasury of archness and innocence.
They lacked rather surprised at seeing me.
but explained how it was came to be there
and they seemed to be satisfied