Year: 1867

81 told her that l knew it was all


over, thanks to her, and / hoped it was


a pleasure to her to reflect that she had


separated two persons who would never


have had hard thought of each other


but for her. Mary came out into the


entry to me crying and said she hoped


we should make it up. But l told her


that was not likely. And So we drove


off.


81 was dull enough now, and Elihu


had the talk mostly to himself. 1t was


not till we were almost home that be


said something which reused me up.


And then was angry with him, and
asked him what he thought of me to
suppose | would SO readily on with the


new love before / was off with the old.
But had no sooner made this speech
than burst into tears, and prayed him
to forgive me, for | knew | had done
wrong, and not to say any more to me,
since l was 50 wretched. | do not
know well what reply he made, for be-
fore had done speaking was at home.
There was the dear old house | had 50
longed for,-the little, homely, unpaint-
ed house, with the well-sweep taller
than ITSELF and the great clump of lilacs
by the front door.


g! went up the path unsteadily; my
head was swimming and there was a
curious noise in my ears. 1 pushed
open the door. There was father with
the open Bible before him, and his
spectacles lying upon it; the room was
bright with the fire and the light of the
plne-knot, and mother was spinning on
the little wheel, as she frequently did in
the evening. Her face wore its own
sweet, peaceful lock, but when she saw
me the expression changed to one of
alarm, She said afterward that l looked
more like ghost that anything else.


"'Why, Mercy!' she cried.


"Father turned slowly round, and be-
yond that remember nothing. Ifell
vi Ile HoOT III ueaQ falnt.


Smother said | talked all night about
what had been troubling me. Through
all my deilrium, | had an aching con-
sciousness that Ephraim was lost to me
forever. / would rise to 90 to him, as
thought, but when l reached the place
where he had been, there was only Pru-
dence or Samantha.


Sin the morning the doctor came, and
said 1t was scarlet fever. The other
children had got over it in childhoOd,
but 1t had waited for me till now.


III was very sick for whole month |
All that time mother was an angel of
goodness to me. When l was able to
sit up, she told me that Ephraim had
been to inquire for me often. But she
said no more, and l could not tell her
The trouble then.


81 was wasted to a shadow, and was
as weak as an hour old babe. Mother
used to tuck me up in the great arm
chair, aud then the boys would push
The chair to the window, where could |
.0ok out.


"a great snow had fallen during nv
sickness. 1t had begun the night I
came home, as Samantha predicted, and
y .ne roads had been almost impossible.
But they We're quite good again now,
ana lather said the time had come for
1lm TO go down below. 1t was late in
February, and he said we should net
nave a Great deal more snow, he thought,
ana IL he waited till the spring thawS
'ame' there would be ne getting to
Boston.


''It was arranged that the Oldest boy
1t home should 60 with father, SO that
here would be nobody left with mother
md me but Jem and David. Jem was
light years old, and David six come
Nay; but they were both smart, and we
bought, with their help, we could take
ARE of the cattle till father came back.


81 could not do much yet, sand I sat
n my armchair while mother fried
and baked great lOaVes of
read, and made puddings, and roasted
nicksns, for them to take for food on
he journey. Fathers way was to car
y his own provisions, and stay at night
nth friends and relations along the
Dad; even if the sleighing was good,
nd nothing happened, he would be
'eek or more in going to Boston. So,
f course, the supply must be pretty
enerous. /


"It was a still, bright morning when I
ley set off, with sky so clear that
'ther thought there would be no storm I
" many days. After the excitement {
f their starting passed away, it seemed
cry quiet and lonesome; for you re-
lember, though l have not said any
ling about it, that my heart was aching l
u its first love. ...t {


II had said nothing about it to moth t
: yet, but after they were gone, and Z
le chores done up for the night, and 4
lie boys playing with their cob-houses g
/ the corner, she sat down beside me, t
lying, Nov, Mercy, tell me all about l
le trouble between you and Ephraim.' s
s well as I could for crying, told 7
er, feeling very much ashamed when I
came to the part about Elihu. But Il
Iothsr was very gentle, and only said 7


fear, my child, that savors of an un- q
,generate heart,' r