Year: 1874

was flSht, ne tnOuSll. Auo IiieH
aloud: do you know what [ went
to the city for the day you were
ill.,"


TO deposit some money for more
land, I think you said" she re-
piled, YEARLY.


Yes: but T do not need that
land 1 have far more than I cult
yate now And you shall have that
,noney-or, at least, all that you
want Of it-and go home and stay
al the summer, and try to get some
Of your bloom back. I shall write
to-day that you are coming"


Mrs. Streeter could hardly be-
lieve it was not one of her feverish
dreams.


But it all came about in good
time, and she arrived safely at home,
where she was petted and caressed
to her hearts content.


You are all trying to spoil me,
she would expostlllate: i shall
never be fit for farmers wife any
more"


And thus among loving friends,
riding, walking, and when at home
reading, music, and writing long
letters to her husband, the summer
passed swiftly away.


And now he had written that he
was coming, and she was counting
the days that must elapse ere she
could look back upon his face, and
be clasped to his heart. She WAS
eager to go nov. Her holiday was
over. Health had returned, and
not an instant did she shrink from
the old life.


. And when the husband came and
saw the wonder one summer had
wrought, he again told himself that
the good old doctor was right.
A few days were given to the old
friends. and then they turned their
face toward their Western home.


It was evening when they arrived,
and the wife looked with bewilder-
ment on the change. \ handsome
front had been added to the old
dwelling: and before she had time
to question she was ushered into a
parlor newly furnished and already
lighted. An elegant piano stood in
recess evidently constructed for
it's reception.


She turned toward her husband
to assure herself that he, too, had
not changed into something OF
somebody else. But the merry
twinkle in his eye told her that he
was enjoying her surprise, and
slowly she began to realize the
whole situation. Yes, now she un-
derstood his strange reluctance to
mention what he was doing, and his
willingness to have her remain, even
after she had expressed her anxiety
to return.


Come, I have more to show you,
and he showed her into a large, COM
modious room, furnished for her
own sleeping apartment, even to her
baby's crib.


This is for you. And now lay
aside your dusty garments and pre-
pare for tea. It must have been
ready an hour ago. I will go and
see."


When he returned he found his
little wife sitting in her little rocker
and weeping silently.


Have I wounded where I wish
ed to heal7" he asked reproachful-
ly.


"Forgive me- she said, smiling ;
II am goose, but tired-wing one,
you know. And l am so happy to
be at home in such q home, that I
have no words in which to tell my
happiness


He stopped to kiss the offered
lips. And thus the new life began.
And what different life it was
busy, not burdened. Time for the
wants of the mind as we'll as the
body. Good help in the kitchen all
the time, and choice reading for
any leisure hour.


The farm was all unfailing source
of income, fully defraying oil ex-
penses each year and showing a bal
ance in favor.


Been improving, I see" said DR..
Meeker, as he reined his light car
riage to the neat fence.


Yes, Doctor. Come in. I want
to show you all the improvements.
Here, Mary, the Doctor wants to
see yor."


And as she came to greet him,
rosy with health and happiness, he
nodded his head at her husband
Yes, that will do, and then
glancing at the open piano, Il am
going to stay just long enough to
hear one tune played. Will You IA
vor me-" And with the old gal
lantry, fitted so awkwardly to his
brusque manners, he led her to the