Year: 1878

Dear memories move and meet,


Like shadowy rlpples of golden wheat


THE EVE OF ST. JOHN.


1t was a warm June day. The sun was al
ready halfway down his western slope, NOV
ing lazlly, as if weary with the long march OF
the summer solstlce. A gauzy haze yelled
without obscuring his brightness, and lent a
dreamy charm to the scene below. Soft roll
ing hills; stream winding between green
willowy shores; seen far away, broad blue
river, and the spires and roofs of a town;
these were the outlines Of the landscape. In
the cool piazza of the old white farm house,
her home for half q century, stood my grand
mild eyes drinking in the serene beauty of the
scene. Alice and came flying down the hall
stair case and stood beside her.


"GOOd by, grandmamma," cried my sister.
1--WE are going to leave for a little while.''


"Must you 60 to dAy,m dears? The horses
are away and it is a long walk to s..
Why not wait until tomorrow"


"You forget" said, "that Frank comes to-
morrew; and he shall be so busy with pack
ing, and all the last things. And it is only
two miles to town, after ALL"


II suppose you must 60, dear; but it is a
long walk for Alice in this hot sum-" grand
mamma added, glancing from my gray walk
ing dress to my sisters cloudy muslin and slip
ers.


"Oh, am not going, grandma; shall only
walk with Charlotte down to the thorn-trees
to take that sketch have promised so long.
We shall both be back early to spend a long
evening with you. This is my birth light,
want you to make festival of it,"


"Be sure we will. And good-by, now, my
children, for you have no more time to spare"


Alice and walked slowly down the green
path which wound its way across the fields to
the brook. Following this for some distance,
We gained the other shore; and soon sharp
bend in the stream brought us to the thorn
trees of which Alice had spoken. miniature
prsmontory, covered with the most softest
and most velvety turf, was washed on two
sides by the waters of the brook, while the
third, third was guarded by semi-circular line Of
Enared and twisted thorn-trees. A belt of
similar trees upon the opposite shore render
ed the seclusion of the place perfect. 1t was
spot which Titania might have chosen for
her court, so still, so secret and so green.
Through partial opening in the trees was
visible lovely bit of scenery, a sketch of
which Alice. who draws with rare skill and
fidelity, proposed to take in my absence. Seat
cd here on the warm grass, the stream muir
muring at her feet and the leaves f1uttering g
over her, | left her to her pleasant task; and
regaining in few moments more the fire.
quented path, took my way by the long yellow
high-road to the distant town.


Alice and had been spending some months
with our grandmother, and were to leave in a
few days for our home in Philadelphia. Our
own mother was dead; and the warm hearted
though rather gay and fashionable step-mo-
ther who had taken her place did not come SO
near to our hearts as did the gentle old lady
with the latter, always leaving her with re-
gret. l should mention that my step-mother
had son, the fruit of a former marriage, who
had been absent several years in India, and
at this time had just returned AS we had no
brother OF our own, Frank Baldwin, who was
brothers. place to Alice and myself He was
now to be our escort home, as our father was
prevented by some business from coming for
us himself . fl


This afternoon I had to make some trifing
purchases at the shops, and pay few parting
ny friends in s., and the farewell calls con.
sumed SO much time that nine o. clock was
ringing from all the steeples before was able
to leave the town and turn my steps toward
home But the way, though lonely, was safe;
and enjoyed the quiet walk in the evening
reached the gate which communicated with
the foot.path across the fields. OF course
had no idea OF meeting Alice at that hour; for,
though she had promised to wait for me, it was
in the expectation that my return would be
much earlier Yet when I came to the turn OF
the path leading to the thorn9:trees, my steps
half involuntarily took that direction.


Walking on slowly, had reached the brock,
and rounding the point where, hours before
| had left my, sister, when was startled by
perceiving what seemed in the uncertain star.
light TO be her figure reclining on the grass
under the thorn trees. 1nvoluntarilyI paused,
half in doubt, half in fear. At that instant
there came from far away in the south the
first low breath Of the night wind sighing
across the fields and stirring the stiff leaves OF
the old thorns with asound as of innumerable
airy footsteps. With sudden thrill, as if
had been conscious of some invisible presence
called her name, but in low, frightened
forward, knelt beside the figure Of my sister,
lying fast asleep upon the grass. Her flushed
lcheek rested on her round white arm, and a
smile ike that OF dreaming infancy parted her
beautiful lips. Lifting her long hair, on which
Toe night dew glistened, took her hand, ex-
thinking of, asleep in this damp night air ~


Slowly she opened her large eyes and gazed
around with a bewildered expression


Dear Alice. do rouse yourself" I cried. ut
is past, ten O'Clock, and grandma will be
crazy" So


She obeyed the movement of INV hand. sat
up and allowed me to wrap my shawl about
her. | gathered up her Scattered drawing
materials, and again begged her to rouse her.
self and 20 home.


'Yes, we will CO." she said; but have been
dreaming so long, can scarcely find the
boundry line between my dreams and reality"


'sWhat were you dreaming of?''


"Oh SO many things! I must have been
sleeping long time, for the last thing can
remember the sun was setting, and I
thought you would soon be here. I was awake
then, and am sure Of it. All at once there
came from far up the glen a faint sweet strain