Year: 1874

II
ed good-naturedly could not help it and
told her that she took too severe view of
her deficiencies-that there were plenty of
other ladies just like her but she said,
smiling little mournfully in return, that if
knew how bitterly she had lately begun
to understand what an uneducated woman
in useful matters she was, and how incon-
venient she had found the position, would
not wonder at her desire to do better.


This first lesson was succeeded by others,
for several days following, during which
learned that she had been married between
two and three years that she had always
before her marriage led a gay and luxurious
existence, perhaps because she had never
known of any other, her parents being
fashionable butterflies that she had passed
through a great sorrow, been very sick when
her babe was born, and now was just be-
ginning to appreciate some Of the realities
of life. She confessed that it was when re-
covering from sick bed, and among the
new and strange feelings that came with
the birth of her babe, that she had awaken
ed to the truth, and listened to the prompt
ings, always before ignored, of her more
practical nature. That it was through the
advice of kind friend who had been with
her through her sickness, that she had
purchased sewing machine, the friend be-
lieving 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 substance
of what l gathered by degrees. was very
much interested (as usual and one day, as
she was leaving, casually remarked that
her husband was, no doubt, pleased at her
progress in mastering the mystery Then
heard what had almost before suspect
ed, as with tears filling her eyes she said
that she had no husband in one sense
that she had separated from him--that it
was her own fault-an act done by herself
in hot anger and rage, but now bitterly re-
pented She indicated that there were
others to blame, but did not excuse herself;
and said that she had spent the night pre-
vious to the day on which she had taken
her first lesson, in great grief from learn
ing that he was very soon to sail for Eu-
rope, and the thought that they would then
be utterly and forever separated had nearly
driven her to distraction.


1 felt very sorry-never more SO for any
human being her repentance was so sin
cere and her sorrow so hopeless. A dim
suspicion had been creeping through my
mind during this last relation, that had
heard story something akin to this before;
and as she was about leaving l reminded
her that although we were we'll acquainted
as teacher and pupil, had never yet heard
her name. Apologizing for her remissness,
she handed me card as she left tho room.
will not say that was very much sIr-
prised, for / had half guessed the coinci-
dence by intuition, / read on the
card / held in my hand, "Mrs. Oracle
Lee."


Yes, it was Harry Lees wife who had
been my pupil A great many strange feel
ings were at work within my breast during
the next ten minutes. / had not seen Mr..
Lee for some time he had avoided the
instruction-room--a course of conduct for
which had been thankful. had heard
nothing of his intention of going to Europe
and felt sure it must be new project, very
suddenly thought of. And whyP Had my
actions anything to do with it 2 l felt sorely
distressed before had done thinking out
the whole matter; and might have been
even more so had not possessed aresource
always so dear to women and children
that of doing something.


Now the rest of this is going to be very
brief. On ny bed, that night, the desire
to "do something" born of the necessity,
took practical shape, and saw my way to
my revenge on Harry Lee. Dickens
Christmas stories were then in the height
of their popularity; had been fascinated
by them, and to their influence and that of
the approaching holy season perhaps my
plans were chiefly due. hope my imagi-
nary bushes may be spared, when say
that to accomplish it 4 took occasion to
throw myself into Mr.. Lees way (of course
by apparent accident), and that within
week ! had won him back to the instruc-
tion-room and the renewal Of our friendly
chats, though at such hours (late in the af-
ternoon) that there was no chance Of his
meeting his wife. That never Iabored
harder with any pupil than with that will
ing but nervous little lady, to enable her
rapidly to become not only proficient at the
machine, but to seem SO. Then that
progressed by making an appointment with