Year: 1870

4 Ssl r. NJ.


BY AUNT HATTIE.


"Shut out from her fathers


house" repeated Mrs. c., taking


up the words which had just fallen


from the lips of her friend Mrs.


T. "For a young girl 1 never


heard of anything more terrible;


and you surely don't mean that it is
trueY'


"Yes, but it is true, though,


dreadful as it seemsp' was the re-
ply, ''and l wonder that you had not


heard of it, such events generally


circulate so much more readily than


pleasant ones"


And then, glad of listener to


whom it was new and startling, she


went on to tell the following sad


story concerning the young girl


whom they had just met:


From the bright and pretty and


loving child which she had once


been, Bella Arnot had grown up so


exceedingly wayward and head


strong that, instead of being the
joy and blessing of her home, she


became more and more a source of
discomfort, and sometimes of actual
distress; not only refusing to honor


her father and mother herself, but


both openly and in secret she melted
the other children to follow her
course of insubordination, to de-
spise the wishes of their parents,
and to set at naught their commands.
And so, at last, for the sake of these
younger brothers and sisters, her
father warned her that the very next
occasion of open rebellion to his
wishes should be punished by ban
ishment from her home. That sad
occasion was not long in coming.
A young man of whom the father
decidedly disapproved, but whom
Bella-with the superior wisdom of
her eighteen years-felt very sure
was just what he should be, had fire.
quently called of late and invited
her to accompany him to places of
public amusement. When she ac-
cepted these invitations she knew
that it was without her fathers ap-
proval. Without consulting either
of her parents she made an engage
ment to go with him to the opera on
the evening of the day following
that on which she had received the
warning. When her father learned
of this he requested her to send an
excuse, giving her very good rea-
son for remaining at home, and Of
fering her more than one induce
ment for complying with his wishes;
but she angrily refused to do this,
declared that as she had made the |
so she would keep it, |
and adding that their opposition to |
the young man in question all |
sprang from prejudice.


"Granting that you are correct in |
that, replied her father, that am |
prejudiced against him,
and in a way too strong to be easily |
there is another prejudice |
strong in my mind which |
causes me to feel that while young
girl resides under her fathers roof
she should show some respect for
the feelings of her parents; that the
to ''honor thy father and
mother" was a general one, reach
ing all cases, and not merely, as you
seem to imagine, for those young
people whose parents are SO grand |
and peculiar as to be free from the |
weaknesses and the prejudices Incl
dent to our fallen humanity"


But all that the father said during
that painful interview failed to touch |
the right cord in the daughters
heart, and only left her strong in the
determination to do as she pleased
in the matter. AS for the threat
about closing the doors of her
home upon her, she wouldn't believe
it anything more than threat; and
so, as evening came on, she made
one Of her prettiest toilets, and with
a smile upon her face and light words
upon her lips she went out from her
home in company with the admirer
who had persuaded her that her IA
ther and mother saw him only
through eyes blinded by prejudice.
They passed a gay evening together.
The performances were most bril-
liant, but at their close Bella began
to experience a strange feeling.
What if her father should really
prove himself in earnest in what he
said! But her admirer laughed at
her fears, and with merry jests
sought to enliven the time of their
return. Alas! her fears were only
too well grounded! She found the
doors of her home fast closed
against her, and for the first time
realized what she had brought upon
herself.


"It is horribler' she groaned as
she leaned against the steps for sup
port. Il might have known father
better than to suppose he would not
10 as he had said he wouldr'


"What shall we do; where shall /
take you nowp asked the young
nan after painful silence. He felt
hat the romance and fun of what
he had called an adventure were all
over now.


see light IN my aunt's house;
Jake me there. She will not refuse
TO shelter me for tonight at least"
said the stricken girl, who began to
EEL what it was to have forfeited all
claims to her fathers house.


The aunt opened her doors and
ler heart to the unhappy girl-hav-
ng kept her light burning for this
very purpose; but all her love could
not soothe the niece into rest or
peace. "Shut out of my fathers
was her one thought. An