Year: 1874

FROM the day that he first looked into
her pure, patient face, the bond of mutual
confidence and sympathy between the
young pastor andIhis new parishioner had
been daily growing stronger and more
tender, until ut the present time, it was no
secret among his people, that their minis
ter only waited better position. to wed
the gentle girl whose unaffected sweet
ness and patience had won for her the
good will and sympathy Of all


She had never complained. even to him,
of the trials of her lot, but other tongues
were not so forbearing, and he had heard
with burning heart, many tale OF the
harsh exactions and cruelty unjust re-
proaches with which the vixenish wife of
Ezra Earle made bitter the lite OF her gen.
tie, long-suffering sister-in-law.


''lf only had the means to provide
home for her, however humble, she should
not be forced to endure this life of bitter
dependence day longer" he had repeat
ed to himself as we'll as to his betrothed
same sickening feeling Of unmanly help
lessness, that tortured him with hints OF
his utter inability after all these years Of
mental toll and application. to make his
| gifts available to protect the woman he





present home was sure, and, as far as
her bodily wants were concerned, q COM
Portable one, and he could not ask her to
share the slender pittance that even now
scarcely supplied his own simple needs.
leaving nothing for books, nothing for an
| occasional trip to the city, and few hours
converse with the old and dear friends
for whose society he so often longed, moth
ing for the gifts that love so naturally
longs to bestow upon its object, nothing
for the Intellectual and social privileges
that to a man of mind, are the oil that
keeps the machinery of his brain in good
running order.-And with all these disad-
vantages, it is strange that this unexpect-
ed invitation to preach before the large
and prosperous society at Rockrest, should
have been received with more pleasure
and satisfaction that he would have
@rieved his peoples really warm hearts
by expressing in words.


That the news had spread already, he
soon learned, for during his evenings
walk. almost every one he met had word
to say upon the subject. and when he
reached the Earle farm house. and caught
sight OF Edna's slight figure leaning upon
the gate, eagerly watching for his COM
ing, he halt expected to hear the same
question from her lips that had greeted
him so often on the way:


$50 you're going to Rockrest, hear ?''


But there was no curious speculation In
the soft brown eyes, that met his own so
tenderly, no furry of subdued expectation
in her manner, as with pretty maidenly
blush upon her girlish cheek she returned
his salutation, she said in her quiet.
thoughtful fashion:


You must be tired Philip, for you have
had long walk come in and rest YOUR
SELF And she turned to lead the way to
the house, but her companion drew her
back. and with her hand fast clasped with.
in his own, he told her in few but
earnest words the story of his hopes.
And then" he whispered, with a
tender significance that set the little hand
resting in his own broader palm, to fut-
tering and flushing in most undignified
fashion, while. as if to hide her own glad
anticipation, its owner put on an air OF
playful banter. as she returned gaily:


Don't plan the fashion of your green
gown until your wares come safe to mar
kct, for perhaps


She paused in sudden embarrassment,
and her lover took up the word, laughing
lightly at her crimsoned face.


perhaps | may not give satisfaction,
after all in this test sermon, you were
about to say? Very true, for can do no
more than my best. but" with manful
uplifting of his handsome head, and q
reverently lowered tone. II can use the
best powers of heart and brain that God
has given me, and leave the issue to him."
Edna's brown eyes smiled their appre.
citation, as she asked rather timidly:


You will preach that temperance ser
mon at Kumtord, next week, suppose ~


To be sure. did you think, he added,
with an air of half playful reproach, that
| would neglect that for the sake of de-
voting all my time and thoughts to this
more personally important one? Ii You
did, pretending not to notice her eyes
disclaimer, 81 can satisfy you with the
fact that l have already perfected this
same temperance sermon, while l have
not as yet decided upon text, even, for
the other


"Thats right, and Phillip, fyou shouldn't
succeed in pleasing these people--it isn't
every one who knows good sermon when
he hears it you know" with little depre-
catory smile, land these Rockrest people
may not, in spite of their advantages, be
an apprecative audience, after all, don't
leel ulsCOuraSeu VI HuiuiilateU III tue leaSt.
My pansies,n and she nodded smilingly
toward Il small bed Of the royal beauties
that by the farmers sufferance occupied
these few inches of ground in the midst OF
"A vigorous growth of garden fruits and
vegetables, "are just as beautiful and
bright, with the summer sunshine in their
dear faces, if sister Hannah does call them
weeds, and refuse to see either beauty or
OF utility in them


The minister smiled, well pleased with
the girls tender conceit, and for long.
sweet, loye-blessed hour the two stood
alone, screened by the purple twilight
shadow. from the gaze of curious or un-
friendly eyes, talking cheerily, hopefully
of their plans for future companionship
and usefulness, brave and strong even Ia
view of possible disappointments and
drawbacks, as those should be who lean,
not alone in the great emergencies of life.
but each day and hour, upon the arm OF
eternal wisdom and love.


1t was Mr.. Blodgett's carriage and span
OF dashing grays, driven by Mr.. Blodgett
himself. that met the young minister At