Year: 1875

GOODBYE TO BERRY FARM.


Alice's new inheritance was source of
anything but qualification to her. Indeed,
she found herself placed in most painful
and trying situation; for the family, with
scarcely an exception, seemed now to regard
her as an interloper upon their rights. Mrs
Fielding's indignation knew no bounds, and
she openly expressed the opinion that Alice
had artfully insinuated herself into uncle
Brainerd's good graces with the express de-
sire of attaining this result. The young girls
spirit, gentle yet proud, was reused to bitter
resentment by this undeserved taunt, the in
Justice of which stung her to the quick. She
felt that she could not endure to stay any
longer under her aunt's roof, and took the
resolution of quitting it at the earliest posi-
Bile opportunity. But where was she to 60,
and how? Another resolve she proudly
formed, and that was to give up at once all
claim to the unwelcome heritage which had
brought with it only modification and pain.
With the unrefecting enthusiasm of an ar
dent, inexperienced, and romantic nature, she
determined to cast herself upon the charity Of
the world, rather than submit to the base sus-
picons which would rest upon her, should she
retain it.


Other and kindlier thoughts influenced her
in making this resolve. She could never for
get the kindness which had led her uncle to
welcome her, helpless and destitute orphan,
into his home, or the many benefits she had
received at his hands. For over six years,
she had been to him as daughter, and it
seemed to her that it would be base ingratl-
tude, in her, to consent to deprive his family
of what certainly appeared to be their right
full inheritance.


In the perplexity and distress into which
she was cast, she had some thoughts of wri-
ting to Maurice, to appeal to his sympathy
and protection but she speedily rejected the
idea as in every way unsuitable In the first
place, Maurice, she knew, would not consent
to her reinquishing the fortune Of which she
had become the lawful possessor. She could
not, therefore, tell him of her intention until
she had put herself beyond the reach Of op-
position. Besides, sense of generosity made
her averse to claim the sons protection against
the mother, or take any steps to create dis
sension between them. To whom, therefore,
could she apply? To no one Alice felt,
bitterly, that she was alone in the world, and
that henceforth, she must depend upon her
own resources. The two points upon which
she was resolved, were fixed clearly in her
mind. Beyond these, she had no plans. All
the future was indefinite and vague.


She shut herself up in her own room, and
endeavored to arrange her ideas, in prac-
tical form-a hard enough task for her to ac-
complsh. She was so utterly inexperienced,
so unfit to make her way alone! Yet this
very iuexperience gave her courage it threw
a veil over many difficulties which would,
otherwise, have seemed too appalling to en-
counter, and shed the fond delusion of hope
over her barren and uncertain prospects.
For with all her doubts and sadness, was
mingled a sense of relief at the idea of es
Gaping from the home which had now become
to her like prison, Of expanding her ener-
gies in wider and freer scope The old child
ish spirit Of adventure seemed to return to her;
the spirit which had led her, in early days, to
transform herself, in imagination, into the va
rious heroines of romance, who had passed un-
scathed through so many perils, and reached
happiness and prosperity at last. Yes, she
would bravely enter the world, and carve out
her own fortunes, trusting to the protection of
the kind Providence who had promised never
to forsake the fatherless and the distressed.


She took out her slender purse and counted
over its contents. Twenty dollars It had
seemed to her a small fortune few days be-
fore; but now she could not but acknowledge
its insignifcance in proportion to her needs.
1t had been sent to her by the editor Of a
magazine, in payment for a story she had
written for him. How she had rejoiced over it
when it came, and how little had she anticipa-
ted the use to which it would be put! At one
time the idea of supporting herself by writing
occurred to her; but she knew that this
means was precarious one, and could not be
counted on with any certainty. How many
authors of celebrity had struggled on, for
years, in poverty and obscurity before they
had succeeded in earning even livelihood
by their writings And how could she, who
in her humility, cassed herself among the
lowliest candidates for literary honors, hope
to win laurels more easily than they? No,
she must seek some occupation which would
afford her certain remuneration, however
small, and devote her spare hours to compost
ton and by this means she thought it would
not be very difficult, when she was once fairly
settled somewhere, to earn a livelihood, and
in time attain to brighter prospects.


But the "settling somewhere" that was the
hard part. The first step taken, she thought
the rest would be easy; but even to her san
guine mind, this first step appeared very
Formidable undertaking.


Oh If she could only tell Maurice-if
Maurice could only help her. How often
this thought recurred to her mind How she
longed for the sense of strength and protec.
ton his presence would have afforded her
But she told herself bitterly that Maurice
could never be anything to her now She re.
preached herself for the folly which had led
her ever to cherish the idea Of his regarding
her in any other light save that of sister. 1t
had been dream, fancy too long indulged
and his own hand had unconsciously shatter-
ed it to fragments. Besides, she was about to
wifully ALLEVIATE herself from his family, and
destroy all chance of seeing him again, No.
she must put the past aside and look only to
the future Poor child! What brief past it
was to look back upon What an uncertain
and dreary future which lay before her!


After much deliberation, she fixed upon a
small town in the eastern part of the State as
her first destination 1t would take about
half her money to carry her thus far, and
with the rest she could maintain herself unit
some prospect offered. Perhaps she might
obtain a situation as governess or compan
ion. She would even be willing to accept a
more humble position at first, in order to earn
enough to enable her to remove to more ell
larged sphere Of action.


The first great difficulty was how to leave
the farm without discovery. If she took any