Year: 1866

OF mlnQ, every .ouo''o" Va AS~A' "J o
been incorrect and erroneous, but, beyond
the influence Of doubt and uncertainty and
high up above the fog and mist of suspicion,
stood the record of love which existed
and was realized in the years which have
since drifted away into the past


Edgar knew very we'll how customary it
had been among parents and guardians to
suffer their children and wards to form at.
tachments in early life, which expediency
felt bound to obliterate and destroy in ripper
years, forgetting, or being ignorant of the
fact, that sthe child is father to the man,
.just as the twig is bent the tree will grow,
and that it is next to impossible to change
the tone of mind or transfer the hearts at.
fections, just at the very time when mind
and heart have become iudiVidualized and
the character formed for life.


The thing had been done in multitude of
instances before, why may not be repeat
ed DOW? What2 Why certain restraining
influences may have been brought to bear
upon Minnie's mind, compelling course
of conduct utterly at variance with her own
consciousness of right and wrong. Certain
processes of education can so Influence the
female mind, that she can wither with a
glance of unutterable contempt the object of
hel hearts mostdevoted love- and wreath her
lips with smiles of eomplaeeut encourage
mept to the man whom she most abhors
and detests. Statements of this character
are calculated to shock and offend the fas-
tidious, aye to make US blush for human
nature-but statements. like these are true
to the consciousness Of every man.


AS Edgar sat, with bis elbows upon the
table, and his head bowed between his
clasped hands, a thousand why's and where.
fores suggested themselves to his mind and
trembled upon his heart Who knows what
may have taken place at the Harcourt Hall
during his protracted absence. What ap-
parently slight and trivial occurrences may
have changed the whole aspect of affairs,
and turned aside the current Of Minnie's
life. Something said in whisper, some
thing done without tbought-what results
may have been brought about!


But could an accident wean her from
me p he asked aloud, as he started FROM
the table and paced the room to and fro
Gan there be possible reason why this
disappointed heart should thus sink into
the darkness of night after having been
lifted by her love into more than MONDAY
gloryY Has Miunie-has any woman 10
Gods worid-a right to beget within my
bosom an experience so divine, only to
bring down upon it the bitterness of perdi-
dition ? Dare she, beneath the eye of our
Fl heavenly Father, thus play and trlfe with
the human heart? No, no it cannot be.
There is mistake somewhere, misuuder-
standing, possibly lie! The dear girl has
been practiced upon by the subtle and willy,
the designing aud artful world What has
occurred, has occurred in.spite of her and
not by any will of hers


Was that true? All what would Ed
gar have given if the heart could have res
bonded in the affirmative and stlled its
wild throbbings amidst the blessedness of
such sweet assurances. Alas it was just
possible that Minnie may have been false
Just possible, that of her own free will, she
may have thus given the death-blow to the
hope of his heart


Somehow or other, philosophy does very
little for US when the shadows thicken about
our life path and the winter winds of ad-
versity wall and whistle about the heart.
Ever beside as when toe sun is high and
while the path to be trodden was among
the flowers, we instinctively turn to lean
upon her when the darkness comes, but she
walks not in the night and leaves Us upon
the very threshold of our sorrow With
an effort really heroic and manly Edgar
battled with the agony and sadness that al
most overpowered his heart and unified his
mental capacities for the tasks his studies
imposed upon him. But the spur to ef
fort, the noble incentive to action, alas
was wanting. Why graduate with the
highest honor? Why sit here day after
day, and night after night among books,
merely to transfer their contents upon the
tablet of memory? Will the lore of ages
quicken me into happier life and lift from
my heart the burden that oppresses it!


Palmer shall have the first honor said
Edgar, Singing the book from his hands
and rising excitedly from his chair. 'He
is poor, without the influence of friends
and comparatively unknown. | will not
oppose him. Then pausing before an open
window and observing military company
drilling, he said, as if the thought had been
impressed upon his mind with considerable
emf mphasis, The army the very place TOR
me =


A moment before the reception of Min.
MES letter, such an idea would have met
with decided repulse, and the profession
Of soldier would have been. the very last
chosen by Edgar; but, it invariably OCCURS
that when the world changes to US, We are
inclined to shift our position in keeping with
the new order of things, and change the
entire front from mere contradiction and
wilfulness. And observe how the intricate
web is woven: A letter from maiden
gives the army recruit, and poor, de-
serving young man, distinction among his
fellows. Palmer could not have taken the