Year: 1870

last parcel in t. but, no-she actually
dropped into a chair by the table, and
without 20 much as touching the box, Gov
cred her face with her hands, sobbing
convulsively, while tears commenced
coming thick and fast, trickling through
her fingers onto the letter that lay in her
lap.


/ saw at once that It would never do to
let this thing go on, and besides, lump in
my own throat that grew there in the
most sudden manner, warned me that it
was quite time to wake up; so with
would-be sleepy yawn, and very de-
cidedly sheepish face-only that fortunate
ly for me Mrs. f. didn't see that-I sat up
in bed, and as nothing more appropriate
for this unlocked for turn of affairs sug
gested itself to me, / simply said:


"Why, Mrs. Flakewhitei"


She looked up at me, and smiled
through her tears-and If did not see
a distinct rainbow shining in front of her
face, it was because my own eyes were
decidedly misty for the moment-and she
came around to my side of the bed, and
putting her arm around my neck, managed
to say, between great gasping sobs-


John, dear you are-entirely too
good-to Observation-Disclosures the incest
-present-I ever had-in all my life--I do
thank you hundred times for whatever
is in the box-but that letter has made
me so happy-I will treasure it so long
as / live" and off she went again-sob-
bing as hard as ever.


We soon gained our composure-for
must confess that such happy tears were
contagious, and l had myself slight at
tack-and while l dressed, Mrs Flake
white fully equaled my expectations in
I. Ill. I..l.A o.. l..
She put on her best dress to give full
effect to her new magni6cence, everything
fitted exactly, and with a nice shawl she
already had, thrown over her shoulders,
and the new hat poised gracefully on her
head, making an oval frame around her
sweet face, charmingly colored with plea
sure and excitement, it was now my time
not to tire of looking at her, as put her
through her PAGES up and down the room,
not forgetting glance at the new CATERS
as they tripped in and out, when sudden
ly she stopped, and looking me straight
in the eyes, said, "Johnl these beautiful
things cost great deal of money, and
now l am waiting for you to tell me
where it all came from, for l know you
didn't borrow, and l am just as sure you
didn't hd0s it,"


at was merely a part of some money
advanced on an order for a large picture
like my last one, that you know / sold,"
said l, trying to look indifferent and un.
concerned, and being conscious at the
same time of making wretched failure
of it.


ooh you sly old fellow, to keep such
splendid secret from me ever since yester-
day morningl How did you dare go to
sleep with all that on your mind, and
these collars and handkerchiefs and new
dresses and hats all the while tucked away
in some dark corner. l wouldn't have
believed it of your


The incidents above related happened
several years ago, and, by the kindness of
my purchaser, through him l was enabled
to obtain other orders from friends
and acquaintances, and now--thanks to a
kind public-have no difficulty in dispos-
ing of what l am able to produce. The
greater part of Mrs. Flakewhite's laugh
ing prophecy has become reality, and
Mary Flakewhite, aged three years, will
soon be old enough to have shown TO her
the letter, which her mother keeps safely
laid away among her greatest treasures;
only few days ago Mrs Flakewhite sent
her running into my studio with "see,
papa, see" wearing over her bright curls
the original "brown hat with pearl color
ed ribon, last years STYLE" that was so
intimately connected with my change of
fortune, while she herself stood at the
door, looking as cheerful and, if possible,
more charming than she did on the event
full day when she last wore it., while she
said, smilingly, "John, dear, do you re-
member that hat?"