Year: 1878

It was generally supposed that Sam
was what is called deficient" As to
his own family, they were sure Of it; at
all events, they treated him as ifhe we're
so. Not that they we're unkind to him /;
on the contrary, they were all very fond
of "poor old Sam; )" but it seemed to be
taken for granted that whatever he said
was not worth noticing, and that almost
everything he did was to be made fun of
more or less. He was, in fact, the
family butt, though the shafts were, as a
rule, so tipped with good nature as not
to hurt his feelings.


OF course, there were some patent rea-
sons for all this. To begin with, there
was something manifestly peculiar or
backward in his mental development.
He never could learn like other boys,
and all masters had shaken their heads
athim. Then there was heavy COM
icality in his face and an awkwardness
in his gait, together with a stunted
growth, all of which betokened an ab-
normal condition of nature, and fur
nished some excuse to his brothers and
sisters for regarding him as an oddity in
their midst. At the same time it was yet
more excusable in Sam himself, and far
more accountable, that, being thus ac-
customed from his childhood (aud he
was now about nineteen to be treated as
if he we're little better than a fool, he
settled down more and more to being
one. Hardly ever did he attempt to say
or do anything in serious earnest, since
almost everything he did or said was
treated as sort of Joke.


There was one exception to this.
Mothers always know best how to deal
with the weak in the flock, and Sans
mother never laughed at him, and never
despaired of him. what is to becomeof
Sam F' his father would say, she'll
never earn his own living" and h S
mother would quietly answer, Wait a
bit, my dear; there is more in him, per-
haps, than we think, but it wants to be
drawn out, and doubt if we are acting
wisely in laughing at him as we do"
She said we" good soul, but that was
only her discreet way of putting it.


Now, Sam had sister, Mary, of whom
he was especially fond. Perhaps it was
because she was the sister nearest to him
in age, but it was more likely because
she placed little emore confidence in him
than the others did it wasn't much, but
it was more than he got from any of the
rest. He would do anything for Mary,
and when a certain Mr.. st. Leger in the
neighborhood took fancy 10 her it was
amusing to see how Sam resented the en-
gagement. This Mr.. st. Leger had
lately come into the neighborhood, nc
one knew where from but he had plenty
of money and very agreeable manners
aud was a general favorite with the
Frere family. Sam, however, never
liked him from the first, and when a
length he became Mary Frere's accepted
suitor, Sans aversion to him became in
tense. 1t must be owned that Mr.. st
Leger took no pains to win him over to 8
more friendly state of mind. He hat
fallen at once into the habit of making
light of the poor fellow, which, as W,
have seen, was the family custom, an(
when he saw how Sam shrank from him
he had certainly gone out of his way tt
poke fun at him. 1t was an amuse
ment and quite in accordance with thu
general practice.


The day was fixed for the wedding
and the Sunday had arrived when, in de
ference to Mary's particular wish
though very much against Mr.. st. Leger'
inclination, the banns we're to be pub
lished in church,


The Freres were all in their place,
great square pew in front of the pulpit
The names we're read out in due course
Mary was recovering from the electro
shock of hearing them; the villager
were interchaDging glances, some evel
cautiously raising a little to peep int
thesquare pew, when voice was hear,
all over the church, saying il
the most emphatic way, l forbid tn
banns."


Surprise was on every face, but
quickly gave way to a sense of tn
ludicrous as Sam was seen standing u
in the middle of the pew, looking th
clergyman steadily in the face, as muc
as to say, "There now; get over that
you can!" The clergyman was {
amused that he had to rush on with til
service to prevent an unseemly displa,
while Sans kindred in the square pc
were in every attitude of painfully r
strained amusement. And there he stoo
unabashed and defiant, until his fatht
plucked him by the arm and made hi
sit down. But none of them for one m
ment thought it was anything more tn;
avery unaccountable freak of "pooro
SANS


No sooner was the service over tn,
he was assailed on all sides for an e
planation. Two only were serious abo
ft-his father and Mary. "What is t


meaning of this, sirT' said his faith


sternly; .:what could have possess


you to make yourself so ridiculous?o


BE has got wife already" repli
Sam, doggedly.


Who hasY' was the general exc


nation.


"st. Leger."


"Who told you so2"


atom Tylerp Tom Tyler was /


village letter-carrier.


L ( II