Year: 1878

Portable seat for Josie by passing a
rope from one stake to another, just
back of the board in front, throwing
thick, soft blanket over the whole.


Glad to be released, Jenny and
Kate bore them swiftly along the
winding country road, dotted here
and there by farm houses, nestlsd
down among the trees and shrubbery.
AS soon as Josie got little used to it
she enjoyed her elevated and novel
position, and which gave her fine
view Of the beautiful country through
which they were passing.


Her companion smiled at her en-
thusiastic exclamations and comments
seeming to take delight in the pleas
ure so frankly and innocently ex-
pressed.


DO you think you would like to
live in the country p he said, stealing
an admlrlng glance at the glad young
face.


"Abovo all things" responded
Josie. THAT is,' she added, after
moments pause, IF papa could be
here too. l wish he could DO, just
for a little while; he would enjoy it
so. Papa was brought up on a farm,
and it would seem like old times to
him. heard him say once that he
wished he had never left it, .


Il had strong desire, when a boy,
to go to the city, where I could have
a chance to get rich, and not have to
work co hard. But l am an only son
-an only child since last winter -
here the speaker eyes saddened. Il
promised father just before he died,
that would never leave the farm
while mother lived, and 1 don't care
to do so now"


81 wouldn't, if were in your place."
said Josie, with a wise shake of her
pretty head. "Its dreadful hard
times IN the city. Everybody is
groaning about them, which makes it
dismal enough. And as to working
hard, ia like to know who works
any harder than pa does. It's ever
SO much nicer here"


The honest young fellow, whose
heart was in his eyes, inwardly hoped
that she would always think SO.


There is where l live," he said,
aloud, pointing to house, with a
wide piazza running round two sides,
and which looked very pleasant amid
the green verdure that surrounded
it.


Young Manning drew the reine at
the gate, inside Of which q pleasant
faced, silver haired woman was stand
ing.


Here's the mail, mother" he said,
tossing down to her some papers and
pamphlets. "Been lonely any? I'm
going to take this young lady to Mr..
Crofton's. My mother, Miss Wilson. 3"


The young man took leave of Josie
with feeling at his heart such as he
never experienced before.
"How pretty she is = he thought;
'and as good as pretty, am sure


What an honest and pleasant face.
l wonder if | shall ever see him
again p this was what she thought.
Josie did see him again and quite
often. The Mannings and Croftons
We're not only neighbors, but very in
innate. Mary Crofton had been
strangely attacked to Mrs. Manning s
only daughter, who died the preced,
ing winter. She spent good deal Of
time at her Lousehold and Josie fre-
quently went with her. Mary was
never weary of praising John; he was
such good son, and SO intelligent
and industrious" j."


John soon got over his shyness with
the city girls, who took so kindly tc
country ways that it seemed as if she
had always lived there. He used tc
walk home with her, Mery consider.
ately lingering by the gate to talk
with his mother, both well pleased at
the turn affairs were taking.


Then there We're rides and walks
picnics and social gatherings, at all ot
which John and Josie had fashion o1
getting off by themselves-a fashion
that every one seemed to honor and
understand.


And so the happy days went on
each day binding those young, loving
hearts more closely together.


When Josie returned to the city