Year: 1878

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after them, and then he hastened home
and put on his best suit as if to go out.
No, he would not. She would not listen
to his warning; she would probably re-
sent it. There was nothing to do but to
suffer in silence, and to be as patient as
he might.


Then came another surprise. Patience
Lowering, the wise and sensible school
teacher, suddenly resigned her school,
was married at the minister's house, and
went away before the village had time to
say word. After that the tongues
wagged nimbly, but the young man
minded his pegging machine, and kept
his thoughts to himself.


Again the advancing sun warned of
spring, and the gardeners got ready
their frames. The young man selected
from his monster turnips a number of
the best, planted each in a large flower
pot, and put them in new hot-bed.
Day by day he watched them grow,
tending them with minute care and per-
sistent nursing. They rewarded him
abundantly, and by April showed signs
of throwing up flower stalks.


Patience Lowering disappeared utterly.
1t was said she had gone to Boston, but
some said it was New York, or London.
Yet one remembered and knew, because
he still loved her; but he held his peace
for grief,


At last it came-the harvest of seeds.
He had now seeds of the monster tur-
nips. BY every means possible he kept
some of the turnips back late into the
summer as samples of the variety. He
called it the "Good Friend TUrnip,"
with touch of sentiment, and he took
pains to make it known that he had seed
of this superior variety of turnip for
sale. He raised a new crop in the same
manner as before, and at the horticultu-
raj exhibition he exhibited the "Good
Friend" greatly to the astonishment of
the rural mind. The like of these tur-
nips had never been seen, and every
farmer for miles around was in want of
the seed. A. certain seed dealer came
anxiously to the house one evening, and
asked the price of the whole lot of seed
about'half a pint. The young man sud
denly changed his tactics, and said that
there would be no seeds of the "Good
Friend " for sale till another year. The
result was that every one was the more
eager to purchase, and the young man
took orders for the next crop of seeds, at
the rate of twenty cents for a single
seed.


The snow covered all the land and
blocked the railroads in every direction.
1t was past nine o'clock when the last
train came in from the city, four hours
late. The passengers struggled sleepily
out of the snow-covered cars, and stood
shivering in the desolate station, fearing
to venture into the deserted streets Of
the town. The tall shoe shops stood
grim and white in the night, their many
windows, dull like glazed eyes, staring
out on the night and storm.


"All out, John ?" said the station
master to brakeman who had passed
through the train.


"No; there's woman asleep here.
What shall do with her %


"Rout her out. We can't stay here
all night"


The brakeman did his duty as kindly
as he knew, and the woman took up her
child, wrapped it in faded shawl and
stumbled out of the car, and crept along
the platform to the street door. The
station-master stood by the door, KEYS
in hand, as if to lock up. The woman
paused a moment at the entrance of the
deserted snow-covered street, and asked
if there was cheap boarding place near
by. The man knew of none, save the
hotel up in the town, and then he moved
the door as if to urge her out into the
street. She took the hint and went out,
and she was alone in the streets of her
native town. She tried to recall the
houses and streets, but could make
nothing familiar, so greatly had every
thing changed.


She walked on for some time, little
needing or caring, so long as she went
on from the terror behind. She passed
several streets, and then saw light,
and going toward it, found it was ware
house, where the clerks were still busy
late into the night. BY the aid of the
street lamps she made out the figure of
q golden turnip, with this legend beneath
it-"The Good Friend"


Suddenly the door opened, and some
one came out and started to walk briskly
up the street. It seemed as if her knees
gave way beneath her, and she sank
down in the snow.


"My good woman, it is late to be out.
Why do you not go home All pardon
me. Perhaps you are ill?"


He took match from his pocket, and
when it blazed up he held it close to her
face. She tried to hide her face with her
arm, but he gently drew it away. Sud-
denly there was loud call, and-that
was all she remembered, till some time
after she was awaked to sense and feel
ing by warmth and light. She was upon
a bed, and an elderly man stood over her
with bottle and spoon in his hand.


Seeing that her eyes wandered, he
said: "Never fear; I am the doctor.
The child is safe."


She sat up on the bed, and looked
round the room.


"This is not the hospital?"


"No; something better. Drink this,
and you will soon feel stronger"


She drank, and then lay back on the
pillow and tried to recall her scattered
thoughts. On the wall was lithograph
Of number of turnips-absurd and
monster turnips, fit for the feeding of
mighty family. Besides this there we're
pictures of other vegetables, and all of
inordinate proportions. Suddenly she
laughed, and then the tears came. 1t
was all SO strange and so wildly improb-
able.


There were footsteps in the room, and
she listened eagerly. A shadow fell on
the bed, and some one stood before her.


"Patience."


She was startled and turned away in
mingled shame and grief. 1t was true;
IL was his houae his home. and All