Year: 1878

BY JENNIE STERLING.


The town of B. was noted for It's
picturesque beauty. In one Of its ele.
! giant mansions there lived a widow past
the meridian of life. She was the lady
/ par excellence, Of b, a truly gooC
and accomplished woman.


Mrs. Doan had plenty of money, thai
one requisite of independent action
and was therefore Indifferent to th,
trammels of fashion, OF the opinions oi
Mrs. Grundy.


Her husband and child being sud
denly taken away, she was left DESC
late, then she sought the home of heI
childhood, declining a second marriage,
consecrating her wealth and influence
to the noble purpose Of prOmOti2g tin
happiness Of those around her.


Her household appointments were
elegant, and the most refined and pol
ished society lent attraction to he1
hOme-it was her pleasure 10 gather
young people about her, and if one hap
pened to peep through the lace curtains
that draped the sitting-room window.
on one particular winters evening,
they might have seen a group of girls
seated around fire-a cheerful wood.
dre-made to look at, and enjoy its
glow and craclIle, for the house was
well heated from garret to cellar


The young ladies were all attractive,
and beeomingly attired, and upon this
occasion full Of sparkle.


WhyP


Because the young minister was
PRESENT.


He had been invited by Mrs. Doan to
pass the winter months at her house,
and being the son Of a dear friend, she
wished him to make a judicious choice
of a life partner-therefore she invited
the girls from far and near, and they
were all completely captivated by his
handsome face and eloquent tongue;
and now thore was a lutter of excite
ment in the little community to see
who would win the prize.


The worthy young man himself fear
cd to tribe with the affections Of any
fair lady, and was so contented as an
inmate of Mrs. Doan's family, and so
happy and interested in his religious
duties, that it had not yet occurred to
him that 'it is not good for man to be
alone"


Poor Mr.. Hayward, subjected to a
battery Of bright eyes, and an artillery
Of saucy tongues, was happily relieved
by the entrance of Mrs. DOan, holding
an open letter in her hand, she exclaim-
ed, in Joyous tones, ''Now, chatterbOI-
es, I've good news for you all. I have
prevailed upon young lady to spend
the winter here. I am informed that
she is beautiful in mind and person
certainly her childhood promised the
development of a fine Woman-nOw
please remember that I am dull old
company, and must depend upon you
and Mr.. Hayward to entertain her; do
it first for my sake, and when you be-
come better acquainted, I trust it viii
then be for her own


OF course the girls were too weIl-bred
to show any outward dissatisfaction,
whatever chagriu they might have felt
at the prospect of so formidable a
rival.


annie NewcOmb was one OF the
young ladies of the group most inter
ested, for she, as well as her maneuYer-
ing mother, intended to secure the
Rev. Mr.. Hayward; indeed, she was
deeply in love with him. Annie was a
beauty, but unfortunately possessed an
ill-diseiplined mind; her fathers wealth,
however, gave her certain position in
society.


Sara MontGord was also the daughter
Of a wealthy gentleman, and was really
2 pretty. sensible girl. Annie had
formed a bOarding-schOOI neVgr-dying
friendship for a Miss ASIA city belle
full Of airs and impudenee-who had a
bad habit Of laughing at people behind
theiF backs, especially country people;
she had plainly limited for an invitation
to visit the NeWcOmb mansion, and
having received it, was expected at the
same time that Mrs. Doan's young
friend, Laura Hastings, would arrive.
So there was every prospect of a gay
winter season at B; fun there would
certainly be, in watching the tcap sev-
ting" for the young clergyman.


But who was to be the envied "she"
who was TO distance all competitors
and carry off the coveted prize?


Such was the state Of things when
Mrs. Doau welcomed 10 her home the
daughter Of her old time friend.


81 shall not let you leave me, Laura,
al least until YOU cain some rose color
in your cheeks, "she said, as she cIasped
her to her heart with a warm, loving
embrace.


Laura was indeed a lovely girl, pos
sessing a harmonious combination Of