Year: 1871

the feathered songsters OF our garden than
you used to be by Adelne PATHS heaven
strains, or the diviner inspiration of Pere-
pa Rosa


The little warbler, attracted by her
footstep, looked sbyly around and flew a.
way, and Nettie, turning around with a
look of real disappointment, exclaimed:


"Oh! Mona, you have frightened the
little fellow away. I never heard any
thing more musical"


Then she inquired, rather suddenly, if
the Doctor had received any letters from
the South that day.


"No. he has not" her sister replied,
land he feels rather anxious about his
brother, not having heard for sometime. %
She laughingly added: "But, my sweet
sister, did you not get few lines-a b1-
let-douc from Edward Darcy yesterday
evening? L thought recognized his
fourishing chirography, but you did not
tell me one word. suppose you think it
would not do to trust married sister
that the Doctor commands my tongue as
we'll as my heart. Is mt so, ma petite"
Nettie, blushiug slightly, rather excit-
edly answered:


"Oh! no indeed. l., don't care who
knows that Edward and love each other
most devotedly. [ can never love anoth-
er, and his nature is too full of the true
nobility of olden-t timed chivalry to be will
ing to engage and trihe with the deepest
affection of true woman's heart. He is
too proudly honorable to descend to the
petty vauities and egregious follies of a
man-airt; but 1 have scarcely bad an op-
portunity to tell you the contents of bis
dear letter. You've been so engaged
since"


Her sister interrupted her, saying:


'How is our dear friend, Nettie ? Tell
me all that he said to you, shy little puss %


''He says his desire to see US is grow
ing almost unconquerable, and be some-
times thinks of venture across the Poto-
mac. hope he will not come. am
afraid the enemy may detect him and
then his precious health would be endan-
gered by the chilly dampness of prison
walls. and he would then be obliged to
abandon the shifting activity of military
life for the more settled hardships of cap
tivity; and, yet, ] do want 70 see him so
much. I dare not anticipate his coming
The disappointment Of my expectations
would be so hard to bear Oh that this
cruel war would cease


Very gently, MonSreplied:


ri trust that God will soon send US
peace. Nettie, feel within pe happy
presentiment that Edward Darcy will have
a joyous return"


Nettie's face lit up with all the loving
tenderness of enchanting hope and after a
little while she more cheerfully added:


''The air is so mild and balmy, the
evening so temptingly inviting. I think I
must take my guitar down to the little
summer house. Euterpe will be more
easily wooed under Flora's rosy influences,
and then you know your sentimental little
sister could SO deeply enjoy all the roman
tic reveries these sylvan shades would en-
gender"


She soon returned with handsomely
finished guitar flung gracefully across her
shoulder by blue ribbon attached. Most
sweetly did the calm and peaceful associa-
tion of tree, and shrub, and flower har-
monize with the uuwonted expression of
trustful thoughtfulness, resting on that
usually merry face, as she softly glided
along the winding gravel path leading to
her "vine-covered boudoir ;" and as she
carelessly seated herself on one of the curl
GUS rustic benches beneath shining can
opy of glistening leaves, her tiny slipper
ed foot lightly touching the pebbly floor,
she looked far more charming than she
had ever appeared when surrounded by all
the luxurious elegances of wealth and fash
ion. She had made no costly toilet, nor
had she arranged her hair in the studied
coiAure Of the day. She had plainly but
most tastefully dressed herself for the
evening in simple blue organdie, her
sunny brown hair ripping in natural waves
far below her waist, with no ornament save
one white rose with its cool shining leaves.
As her skillful hand drew the first sweet
sound from her instrument, the flowing
sleeve of her dress displayed an arm Of
alabaster whiteness and remarkable syme-
try, and her expressive eyes filled with
that singular and indescribable light, that
the witching power of music alone can in
fuse. Her mood was not operate, so she