Year: 1873

the heart by It's truthunes and purity and by its moral
benefit to the family circle and therefore, literary pro-
duction should have sufficient merit fix the attention of
the educated refined reader and the less critical
then would it speed its errand of love- and find its way
to every marble hearth and lovely freside


That the following tale will be such an one dare not
bope but if foundation in truth be desirable it viii have
at least that advantage.


Sunny and joyous the sweet month whose name she
bore, young May Crawford Ever lighthearted and
glad she seemed have guile gloom in her nature
but in atmosphere of love and good will She
beauty in the artistic of that word vet her
fine figure and bright face constantly lighted by the sun
shine of smile passport to the hearts of all and an.
happily rendered her rather pet and avore with her pa
rents who consequently cherished more ambitious views for
her than they otherwise would have done in their humble
sphere.


May possessed naturally keen appreciation of the beau
tnl taste for refinement and happy would it have been
for her, and her parents had they been contened with Civ
ng her the best advantages for improvement their limited
means afforded and then by gentle influence TUNED her
mind to love and follow the of duties incident to her
position in e instead of endeavorng to pamper and graft
ify her romantic temperament


But Mrs. Crawford like too manv other mo,bere bo5 fJ
len into the grand mistake of considering that it is station
and wealth which gives character and worth to the ndvd
ua instead of the reverse and felt to secure these for her
darling daughter she be trained to win Golden nrizo
in the matrimonial lottery


Residing in small country village where he nco,le
were all about on eve, and none who would be termed
rch she had during Mays childhood formed the plan Of
sending her, when old enough to distant city where she
had two brothers mercantile business and sister whose
husband was wealthy hoping that she might thus insure
the settlement Of her child in the rank for which she DE-
signed her.


Thus passed years and the careless father uduoa and
overlooked faults and the schenng mother petted and at
tered while May grew tail graceful girl drawing atten


on and regard from ALL by the cheerfuness Of her dsno
ton, and the native gadness Of her heart which alone
saved her from being utterly spoiled by the folly of her ma
rents b1oyant and gay as butterfly May had gone out
to spend her fifteenth birthday with some Of her comr
ions short distance from the village and near the main
road there fine grove Of stately old trees whore the
young had constructed rustic seats swpp etc for
holiday and here the girls were laughing cbattnp and
romping buy that they had not noticed the anrr &c
travelling carriage until it had stopped when gentle
man put his head out and desired be directed to the best
boarding house IN the place As there was none which
could properly claim the dignity of that title and no public
house. one of the Oldest girls directed him to Mr. Craw
ford saying that he sometimes entertained strangers A.
ter tue carriage had moved on there world oe won
deripg with the girls about its occupant: As who cuId b
be, what could he Spring Vale etc. etc Norv
Jones thought he looked pale and must be oentlc,on
travelling for his health. Annie Hastings observed = hog
that looked as if might be filled with books and took him


70 be school MASTER and Grace Farchd set him down
as person to pedde and bibles and establish
missionary societies. because he wore black clothes and
white overcoat but May put the matter quite at rest M
declaring that she cared fig about him ono ya, ~
another for she believed he was as old as her satbr and
twice ugly So the days sport was again pursued where
caprice fancy led the thoughtess maideps I'll. e


time found them assembled Mrs Crawfords oenl hoard
and merrer group is seldom found There too was tb
stranger gentleman established resident at Spring Vale
and for the present least boarder with Mr. Crawford
After tea, when he had gone out Mrs. Crawford gratfed
the curiosity of her young guests by relation of all she
had learned concerning him. This most was nnea Gro
only that he merchant from a neghbornc cv
to open at their place. aud she and the girls were


ubian the fine things they should have to look at f
nothing - Mr.. Stone, (this the gentlemans
pame) had in the of business heard of the favorable
location of little village and being already wealthy
without family influence him. and withal tired Of tho
extensive business he had heen doing in town. resolved on
tour of observation and being charmed with the country
he determined at avail himself of this opening AMI
become the pioneer of merchants here The next n,on


therefore, he dismissed his carriage bealback letters
direction his agent in the city, remaining behind himself
70 attend to the erection of suitable storebuidng tho 70
cepton of goods and other to the estab
lishment of his business here.


During the time required for this, the wary Mrs Cr,w
ford had many opportunities of satisfying herself that Mr.
Stone was rich enough, as lhe termed it. and what w
equally gratifying, unmarried Now her original nlan ,.
changed in regard to her favorite child and the visit %