Year: 1872

her little brown hat and was letting it
swing by the ribbon string. Her great,
wondering innocent eyes we're raised to
his; faint pink had fluttered into her
cheeks, naturally pale; the breeze was
untangling the braids of her silky hair in
tiny rings and curls. The young man had
hold of one of her hands and was press
ing the shy finger-tips to his lips. They
paused little near where Patience sat,
and where the dogwoods seemed to make
white drift against the bank.


20, Huldah," Patience seemed to hear
her boy say, "if you could know how l
used to think of you first and last on the
long marches! The remembrance of
what you had promised kept me up in the
wet and coldl Most of the boys in camp
had sisters and lots of relations you and
mother we're all had in the worli."


1t was her boys voice. Patience knew
the eager, frank tones. She had carried
him in her bosom as a baby; she had
worked and saved for him; she had lain
awake nights to pray for him; through
lonely months she had lived on the
thought of his coming back; and now, in
the first hour of his return, he thought
only of this girl, who never bore pang
for his sake. He had gone first to her,
and put his mother into the second
place.


Patience would have moaned, but she
restrained herself; she took hold of sap
pling that grew near, and unconsciously
crushed clump of ferns under her hand
Huldah was speaking now: II must turn
back, Alvin" said she, timidly, "for am
half frightened at the thought of meeting
your mother. have tried to make her
love me since you went away; but she is
always cold. If go to see her she never
asks me to come again. | have pre-.
sentiment she will never consent to give
me daughters place"


"You are trembling like little scared
Bird" said Alvin, with light laugh. "Do
you suppose my mother is such bug
bear? Why, she is just the dearest wo-
man in the world; and she is so fond of
me that she will have to love you, HUI
dab, Tor my sake. shall tell her all about
it tonight. meant to have told her be.
fore went away; but you, timid little
goose, wouldn't let me. Come on up TO
the old hickory tree there by the orchard.
and | will let you go back"


They moved past, and Patience could
moan now. She sat there among the
brakes on the hillside, with her face bent
down to her knees. In the long, lonely
days she had:thought of only one kind of
loss that could come to her through her
boy; for moment she felt that it would
have been easier to bear if he had been
brought home feet foremost into the old
red farmhouse. He would have been
blessed memory then, and all her own;
there are moments when it seems less
heartrending to give our beloved up in
death than in life. Patience rose to her
feet instantly, as she did so the baser
part of her self-hood dropped off She felt
her way down the bank by the tree trunks
and bushes, and a new world of reflection
was opened TO her mind. For the first
time it struck her as right and natural
that Alvin should have this beautiful ex-
perience There had been no great bios
soming time in her life; she had married
late, with respect and liking, but all the
passion and romance of her being had
come through motherhood. She was old;
she had not thought. of the intoxicating
draughts given young souls to drink, nor
the bliss which narrows the world over
again to a single pair, and makes a new
Eden of clasped hands and meeting eyes.


Patience felt humble, almost remorse-
full, as she walked under the blossomed
trees, wavering and tottering little. She
had grown old in moment; her senses,
always remarkably acute, seemed dull.
L llG lHdJ sIt WOulu uOJ IdSL u
great while longer came to her with
sense of relief. Why should she live now
that her boy had no more need of her9
Is it not written man shall leave father
and mother and cleave unto his wifeS


An hour may have passed, for Patience
sat down to rest once or twice; as she
slowly approached the house the lovers
still fingered in the shade of the old hick
ory. Alvin heard step behind him,
and, turning round, saw his mother stand
ing there Something like a blush of
shame Redeemed his cheek for the selfish
indulgence in happiness, which had
caused him to loiter so long on the road
to a sacred duty. But Patience only
clasped him about the neck, and sobs
would not let her speak. Huldah turned
in confusion, and was walking away; but
in moment Patience called her.


Come here, my child; l know that
you and Alvin love each other, and want
to give you a mothers blessing. You
shall have as warm place in my heart as
my boy has. thank God for two good
children instead of one"


Huldah hid her bashful face, but Alvin
was beaming with delight.


''There," cried he, "what did tell you9
Why, mother, she was actually afraid
that you would never give your consent.
But told her you would love anybody
loved; and you could not help loving her"
he added, in half whisper.


Patience smiled family, but sort of
giddiness seized her limbs. He never
would know what that sweet consent had
cost; there lies the pathos of many a
sacrifice.


"Why, mother, what ails you ?" Alvin
asked in alarm.


80, nothing" she answered, "only am
getting old"


'''Nonsense," exclaimed Alvin, ''you are
worth more than half the young women
in the country; you have been OVERRIDING,
and now you must rest and be taken care
Of" He put his arm around her, and she
drew Huldah's hand through her own, on
the other side; thus they walked over the
grass, sprinkled with white clover Alvin
was in high spirits, so glad to be back,
with much to tell of himself Huldah was
so quietly, supremely happy she could
not speak word but Patience felt if
she could have faded out from between
them they would scarcely have missed
her.


The house was just as she left it 4; but
as she opened the door and heard the slow
ticking of the clock, it seemed as though
years, not hours, had passed since she
went out so elate and so glad She sat
down in her chair not the woman she
had been. Her heart beat slower her
hair appeared to have turned from gray
to white in single experience. She had
passed the dividing ridge of life, and was
going down on the shady side. She
stayed her head with her hand, and
whispered to herself, "not my will but
thine"


Married After an Engagement of


Eighteen Years.


YESTERDAYS train carried west couple
whose like is seldom heard of, except in
romancaa Thav wara Mr. and Mra