Year: 1879

hat shall bring you from town to-
day, motherl'


Mrs. Bradley looked at the bright, CHEEKY
face of the speaker. lad not more than
fourteen, but unusually tall and well devel-
oped for his years


Il don't know that we need anything,
do we, Carl ! That is, anything we can do
without, you know"


Here Mrs. Bradley paused, as if unwil-
ling to sadden that brave, hopeful spirit by
alluding to the burden that weighed so
heavily upon her heart.


"Yes, | know. mother. But | know,
too, that this is your birthday; and that the
best mother and prettiest little weman in
the world deserves present of some kind.
So what shall it he p


Mrs. Bradley blushed and smiled like a
girl in her teens. She had not only been
remarkably pretty in her youth, but was 50
still; looking altogether too young to be the
mother of boy as old as Carl.


You won't always think so, Tn afraid
Bring yours IF safely back to me, together
with all the money you can get for the fruit
and vegetables, and that will be all the
present | shall want. | hope they will sell
well. becaise-"


'sThey ought to sell well, said Carl, fill
ing up the wistful pause that followed, and
looking with pride and satisfaction upon the
contents of the neat market wagon, and
which were, mainly, the result of his OWN
skill and industry.


The display was both varied and tempt
ing. There were green peas and corn !;
fresh, crisp lettuce and celery; punches of
radishes, beets ard turnips. All of them
arranged with so much care and nicely as
to greatly enhance their attracIiyeness and
value.


The fruit consisted of early pears and
apples, whose mellow fragrance filled the
air, together with the cherries and currants,
which cleaned forth redly and temptingly
from out the green leaves that shaded them.


..Never fear, mother, laughed Carl as he
gathered up the reigns Il could dispose of
twice the amount, if they were all like this. J."


Leaning over the rustic gate, Mrs. Brad
ley gazed after the retreating wagon, glow
of maternal pride and tenderness upon the
fair, sweet face, which gave it a new and
wondrous beauty.


Carl is a real treasure, a great comfort
TO me-" she thought. ''He is like his
father"


Then feeling Of compunction touched
her heart, as she thought how little love she
had given TO the grave, quiet man of nearly
twice her years, who had been to her 50
kind a friend and protector, mingled with
an emotion of thankfulness that he had
never known it. that the wifely duty, the
grateful affection. which were all she had
4 10 him that
he had blest her for them with his dying
breath.


But for that fatal quarrel, and still more
fatal misunderstanding, how different her
life had been! But God had been very
good to her. especially in giving her so good
and hopeful son. And if, by their united
efforts, they could save their little home,
she would be content


1t was always long and lonely day to
his mother when Carl was away. He was
so strong and patient, so merry and cheer
full. that all the sunshine seemed to vanish
from the house when he left.
Mrs. Bradley had been more like child
to her husband than wife, by whom she
had been considered as something to be
carefully guarded from toll and hardship !;
and Carl had fallen into very much the same
way of treating her. Ii was amusing to see
the protecting air he assumed, by virtue OF
his sex and superior size and strength.
He liked to have his mother in the garden
with him. but more for the sake of her so
ciety than work. If she attempted any
thing harder than sorting or arranging the
fruit and vegetables, he would say:
ssThat's too hard work for you, mother ;
I'll do it,"


Speaking so like his father as sometimes
to almost startle her.


In spite of the substantial lunch put up
for him. Carl always returned-tO use his
own expressiOn-''a hungry as bear
So the sun had hardly touched the western
hills when Mrs. Bradley commenced pre-
parations for supper.


The snowy cloth was laid upon the round
table. and the plates, knives and forks, and
shining tea-service arranged on it with as
much care and precision as if she had been
expecting some guests of distinction.
In front of Carl's plate was platter OF
cold meat and vegetables, which she knew
by experience would receive his first atten-
| tion- Marshaled around this were loaves
of white and brown bread, plate of honey,
and dishes of currants and raspberries.


Everything was in readiness except the
tea. which Mrs. Bradley left for the las'
moment, so as to have it nice and fresh


The sun had gone down behind the hills
Blossom, beautiful Alderney, whose bis
black ewes looked almost human in then
color and expression, was lowing at the
bars. as though demonstrating at this un
wonted forgetfulness of her claims


sI've half mind to milk her myself,
said Mrs. Bradley, as she glanced at tn
shining pail on its wooden peg in the porch
az don't see what keeps CarlF'


Then the remembrance of Carts partin:
Injunction induced her to go down again U
the cate. to see if there were any signs
him.


AS she did so, she caught q glimpse
the wagon coming slowly up the hill, Gar
sitting in front holding, something yer.
carefully on his knees


With an inward wonder as to what thl
could be. she darted back into the summer
kitchen. and had just removed the ashe
from a bed of glowing Goals, when Carl en-
tered coming in through the front way