Year: 1879

Whnt shall bring you from town to-day, mother p

 Mrs. Bradley looked at the bright, cheery face of the speaker, lad of not more than fourteen, but unusually tall and well-deyeloped for his years.

 don't know that we need anything, do we, Carl? That is, anything we can do without, you know"

 Here Mrs. Bradley paused, as if un- willing to sudden that brave, hopeful spirit by alluding to the burden that weighed 50 heavily upon her own heart. 's Yes, I know, mother. But know, too, that this is your birthday, and that the best mother and prettiest little woman ia the world deserves present of some kind. So what shall it be?" Mrs. Bradley blushed and smiled like girl in her teens.

 She had not only been remarkably pretty in her youth, but was so still, looking altogether too young to be the mother of boy so old as Carl.

 You won't always tkink so, I'm afraid. Bring yourself safely back to me, together with all the money you can get for the fruit and vegetables, and that will be all the present I shall want. I hope they will sell well, be- cause"

 They ought to sell we'll, ;" said Carl, filing up the wistfu1 pause that fol lowed, and looking with pride and satis- faction upon the contents of the neat market wagon, and which were mainly the result of his own skill and industry. The fruit consisted of early pears and apples, whose mellow fragrance filled the air, together with cherries and currants, which gleamed forth redly and temptingly from out thu green leaves that shaded them.

 s' Never fear, mother" laughed Carl, as he gathered up the reins ''l could dispose of twice the amount, if they were all like this"

 Leaning over the rustic gate, Mrs. Bradley gazed after the retreatine wagon, a glow of maternal pride and tenderness upon the fair, sweet face which gave it new and wondrous beauty.

 " Carl is real treasure, great com fort to me P she thought. He is like his father"

 Then feeling of compunction touched her heart, as she thought how little love she had given to the grave, quiet man O nearly twice her years, who had been tc her so kind friend and protector mingled with an emotion of thankful ness that he had never known it, tha the wifely duty, the grateful affection which were all she had to bestow, hat been 80 much to him that he ha, blessed her for them with his dyin, breath.

 But for that fatal quarrel, and stil more fatal misunderstanding, how dii ferent her life had beenl

 But he had been very good to hel especially in giving her so good an . hopeful a son. And if, by their unite efforts, they could save their little home she would be content.

 It was always long and lonely da to his mother when Carl was away. H was 50 strong and patient, so merr and cheerful, that all the sunshir seemed to vanish from the house whe he left it.

 Mrs. Bradley had been more like child to her husband than wife, | whom she had been considered as som thing to bo carefully guarded from to and hardship and Carl had fallen in very much the same way of treatir her.

 It was amusing to see the protectir air he assumed by virtue of his sex, al superior size and strength.

 He liked to have his mother in u garden with him, but more for the sal of her society than work.

 If she attempted anything harder tn sorting or arranging the fruit and veget bles, he would say:

 "That's too hard work for you, ,motht I'll do it."

 Speaking 50 like his father as son times to almost startle her.

 In spite of the substantial lunch P mp for him, Carl always returned use his own expression-" as hungry abear P

 So the sun had hardly touched t western hills when Mrs. Bradley co menced preparations for supper.

 The snowy cloth was laid upon round table, and the plates, knives a forks, and shining tea service arrane