Year: 1874

lesson progressed an unconsciously


drawn long sigh or sob proved very
plainly that she had lately passed


through some strong emotion, and that


nature was kindly restoring the equili-


brium.


In the course of the lesson, that day,
| she told me that she was married and


the mother of little boy somewhat
over a year old. She hinted at trouble


in connection with her marriage rela-
fions, and of late news that had caused


the past night to be spent very nnhap-
| PLY. She seemed low-spirited, and


deeply ashamed of her ignorance as re-
garded all knowledge of sewing or the


construction of the simplest garment. l


encouraged her-told her that patience


and application only were necessary, as
! she showed very good natural abilities


and would learn easily. But she replied


sadly that she was afraid that those vir-
tues she had never cultivated, nor even


until lately deemed at all necessary.


She assured me that I could form no idea


how useless and helpless she had been.


She never liked to sew, and her mother
had never wished her to do so, telling


her that there were plenty of poor peo
pie who would be glad to do such labor
instead. She hoped l would not laugh


at some of her no doubt trlfling and sill


ly questions, as she had never even


made garment of any kind in her life


not even a little one for her baby! /


laughed good d-naturedly:I I could not help
it; and told her that she took too severe


view of her defciencies-that there


were plenty of other ladies just like


her; but she said, smiling a little mourn


fully IN return, that If l knew how Bit


terly she had lately begun to under


stand what an uneducated woman in use


full matters she was, and how inconven-


lent she had found the position, l would


not wonder at her desire to do better


The first lesson was succeeded by 9TH


ers, for several days following, during


which learned that she had been mar


ried between two and three years; that


she had always before her marriage led


a gay and Injurious existence, perhaps


because she had never known of any


other, her parents being fashionable but


terhies; that she had passed through a


great sorrow, been very sick when her


babe was born, and now was just begin


ming to appreciate some of the realities


of life. She confessed that it was when


recovering from a sick bed, and among


the new and strange feelings that came


with the birth of her babe, that she had


awakened to the truth, and listened to


the promptings, always before ignored,


of her more practical nature. That it
was through the advice of a kind friend


who had been with her through her sick


ness, that she had purchased a sewing


machine, the friend believing that it


would be good beginning in her efforts


to do something useful.


All this my new pupil did not tell me


in so many words, but it was the sub
stance of what 1 gathered by degrees.
1 was very much interested las usuaD ;
and one day, as she was leaving, casual
ly remarked that her husband was, no
doubt, pleased at her progress in master


ing the mystery. Then heard what
had almost before suspected, as with
} tears filling her eyes she said that she



J had no husband in one sense-that she
had separated from him-that it was
her own fault-an act done by herself in
pented. She indicated that there were
l others to blame, but did not excuse her.
) self; and said that she had spent the
: night previous to the day on which she
had taken her first lesson, in great griet
: from learning that he was very soon tc
3 sail for Europe, and the thought that
! they would then be utterly and forever


separated had nearly driven her to>dis
r traction.


D / felt very sorry-never more so fol
: any human being; her repentance was
a so sincere and her sorrow so hopeless
: A dim suspicion had been creeping
j through my mind during this last rela
ton, that had heard story something
e akin to this before; and as she was abou
s leaving reminded her that although
:. we were well acquainted as teacher ant
pupil, had never yet heard her name
j Apologizing for her remissness, sh,
t handed me a card as she left the room.
r will not say that was very much sur
\ prised, for had half guessed the coin
: cidence by intuition,-when I read OF
4 the card held in my hand, "Mrs
e Oracle Lee"


a Yes, it was Harry Lees wife who hat
d been my pupil A great many strang
d feelings were at work within my breas
r during the next ten minutes. had no
: seen Mr.. Lee for some time: he hat
j. avoided the instruction-room-ac cours
e of conduct for which had been thank
1t full. 1 had heard nothing of his inten
1t tion of going to Europe, and felt sure
E must be new project, very suddenl
tnOuSnL OF. Anu why haQ my acI1On
lie anything to do with it {? felt sorely dis
te tressed before l had done thinking ou
h the whole matter: and might have bee
ID even more SO had 1 not possessed a re
ss source always SO dear to women an
1T children-that of doing something.
sr Now the rest of this is going to be yer
ID brief. On my bed, that night, the d.


sire to do something" born of the n,
h cessity, took practical shape, and l sa
lie my way to my revenge on Harry LIE
I'd Dickens Christmas stories were then
70 the height of their popularity ha
ne been fascinated by them, and to the
r. influence and that of the approachin
r holy season perhaps my plans wei
ne chiefly due. hope my imaginary blusl
re es may be spared, when I say that to a
n complish it / took occasion to thro