Year: 1878

come more accustomed to such things,


possibly you will be less severe in your


criticism, or rather, you will be more


ienlent in the disposition OF your feelings


toward your own sex" '.If that be the


case" replied Clara, Il trust tha, from


this hour my intercourse with society


may be less intimate, and If my social


ed sex demand proper respect OF feeling


from me, let them hold their good name


above reproach, and rest assured, dear


mother. thatl will be among the frs, to


reward them for it, A visitor was ad.


mitted, and here the discussion ended tor


the present.


Tho more Percy saw of his sister, the


more he found in her to admire, he could


hardly comprehend the fact that one OF


her tender age could possess so many


excellent qualities of mind; he never


dreamed that her mind was 80 richly


endowed with good. until he saw how


ust and perfectly she exercised its will,


and until he saw her betray such a pow.


eriul sense of true benevolence. he


thought that hers must be naturally 8


pious heart. aided by an invincible and


irresistible power, to scatter here and


there with copious hand. fruits OF joy


and pesce into the hearts of the destitute


and needy. What pity, too, he thought


it was tor such heart to be exposed to


the sins OF so heartless a world to be


contaminated by the hand already stain.


ed with guilt and vice. All. she was too


pure to breathe the atmosphere infected,


as it were, with the taint OF shame


and folly. Therefore, he would hold


her back tenderly. if he could.


from the scorching flames which be
knew must scar her very heart if the


brightness allured her on to participate
too freely in its gilded pleasure Just
here the brothers praiseworthy soliloquy


was interrupted by a gentle rap at his
door-in another moment the object OF
his reflections was standing before him.
well. my sister, to what am indebted
for the honor Of your presence?" .Oh.
Percy, am so glad that found you in.
Mamma has gone calling with Mrs. Lacy.
and | want you to drive me out to see
one OF my parents; you knew Jennie
Dean, the little girl that l brought to
Miss Mittord's class few Sundays ago?
Well. she is very sick. DR.. Williams says
that she has the typhoid fever. l do feel
sorry for Mrs. Dean. She has large
family. and her husband is a drinking,
shiftless fellow" In a few moments
Clara and Percy were driving briskly
the crowded streets. on their
goodly mission. The sister had wisely
provided a large basket of delicacies for
the sick, and such articles of clothing as
she thought would be acceptable in her
distressed and pitable condition. This
visit was a God-send; and Clara's face
was radiant with the joy she felt in CIV
ing such pleasure where it was so greatly
needed. She found little Jennie suffer-
ing intensity; yet the poor child's coun-
tenance frightened visibly as her eyes
fell on Clara and when she laid bou-
quet of rare flowers, fresh from the hot
house, upon the sick ones pillow. Jen-
ME caught her hand ieebly, and pressed
it gratefully to her lips. For Percy here
was lesson worthy OF his most studious
thought wherein the promptings of
purely virtuous heat led it to the con.
Of grand. glorious work
\ work that even then was ripening fruit
Ior the vineyard of eternity. At an early
age Percy united himself with the Epis-
:opal faith his father also embraced that
doctrine OF religion. so he met with no
opposition in regard to his religious
principles. OF the future he had some
He feared that his father
would exact more Of him than he was
capable of doing, for he had, long since,
chosen for himself, marked out the course
which he should pursue in future, and TO
lin his decision was sacred and lnvio-
ate; therefore II mattercd not what 9TH
'rs would say about it, he certainly did
lot wish to incur the dIsplessure OF his
Ither. He did not wish openly to dis.
'bey him yet if he did not approve and
anction his views on the subject in ques-
ion, then he would be compelled to act
to his wishes. Percy believed
hat he was specially called to expound
he word OF God to the unbelievl G, and
le felt it his whole duty to act in strict
ccordance with tina, belief.


1t is strange. yet nevertheless true.
hat Clara was first in his thoughts al
rays. particularly ii there was an intan-
ible question to decide, so he went first
, his sister. and uniolded his plans-his
opes for the future. In her frank, in
enlous way, Clara said she was never
rouder OF him than at that moment that
, filling this divine avocation he had un-
oubtedly. in her opinion, accepted the
ighest and most honorable calling ever
estowed on man. "And Percy, be-
eve you will fill that place in evcry sense
the word-not only in pulpit eloquence
ut in that way in which every public


rvant can-and believe, brother. you
i'll find faithful friend in me. even un-


the end" Even while she spoke, tears |


JOY streamed down her cheeks. TAX
z her hand in his. Percy pressed it al
ost tenderly for . moment. and said.
Dear sister, l thank you out OF the full !
IS of my grateful heart for the conso-
ton that you have given me. Now. 1 q
ust 60 to my father, and ask his bless !
g." A. he passed out, a servant en-
red with letters for Clara. Hastily abe J