Year: 1879

the strength of your cousinship that is
to be, l want you to run in without cer-
emony."


Mark came back in an hour with
radiant face. Removing his hat, he
made Aunt Mary low bow, saying Il
am very much obliged to you; l would
not surrender the opportunity that may
be graciously given me helping make q
home with Jane here for any earthly
consideration. :"


Indeed" cried Aunt Mary in SEEM
ing surprise, perhaps you will be good
enough to tell US what has changed your
mind so suddenly


"Well, you see,' said Mark, 81 ran
up stairs and opened the door at the
top, as you told me, and such charm
ing picture that l saw. A living-room,
neither parlor, dining room, nor kitchen,
but happy combination of the three,
made attractive and homelike by perfect
neatness, order, and good taste. Such
cordial welcome that had to be sure.
l was heartily ashamed when it came
over me how we'll l used to know both
Horace and his charming wife, and that
| had not called on them before.


81 gave Julia your note, and she
read it with little laugh, and insisted
that | should take off my overcoat and
take tea with them. The cosy round
table, with its snow-white cloth and
tea, service, looked so inviting | could
not resist the temptation. Horace does
not get out of the store till seven,' Mrs.
Allen said. Julia's dress was plain, but
tasty and neat, set off by a dainty white
apron, and her simple toilet was COM
pleted by geranium leaf and a verbena
blossom in her shining hair. Horace in
handsome dressing gown and embroid-
cred slippers, looked every inch gen.
tleman, as he is.


"The situation made US confidential,
and asked Mrs. Alden how she had
managed to settle down into being such
wonderful little housekeeper, and she
said: Il used to be somewhat inclined to
be careless in my habits, and | suppose
my friends had some misgivings as to
my ability to keep house. Among my
wedding presents was one from a great
aunt of mine who was wonderfully skill
full with her needle. 1t was this teapot
mat, and she held it up for my inspec-
tion. 1t was a scalloped circle of broad
nlnth, With elirrnr Iowa - sir0
heel embroidered in it in black worsted,
with the words, Never get Slipshod.'


"'This has been constant reminder
to me- Julia went on. Were l tempted
to neglect any trifing duty for the first
time, my eye would fall upon or recall
the words of Aunt Mites motto, and [
would not only do what l had thought
of neglecting, but would do it little
better. if possible. Horace, too, has
kept me from falling into slipshod ways
by his own habits of neatness. He al
ways touches up his toilet for my sake
before every meal, as punctiliously as if
we had company.


"'Of course, when he is so thoughtful
of me | cannot be less regardful of him.
All these little things take few of the
precious moments of our feeting lives,
but we consider their observance our
bounden and interchangeable duty.
Since housekeeping is the principal bus
mess have in hand, | want to do my
best in that vocation to be conscien-
tious and painstaking in that as would
in teaching music or any other accom-
plishment | enjoy my work; it comes
easy to me. | take both pleasure and
pride in it, and l think the secret of my
success in this humble sphere of mine
has been my keeping everything up from
the very first, and never allowing my.
self in the smallest particular to fall
into slipshod ways


Mark and Jane, now settled in theil
beautiful, well-ordered Christian home
on the banks of the Connecticut, only
the other evening spoke of the two les
sons that December evening brought
them and the lasting impressions they
wrought.-Phreuotogical Journal.
Wa hava la;d our friondc in tho ora vo