Year: 1876

the great metropolis to spend few


weeks In the country. Her father, a


wealthy merchant and widower, had so
recommended, and she had followed
his advice, although somewhat opposed
to her own secret wishes. Indeed, tired
and satiated as she had been with city
life, she expected to be prOmiscuously
bored, and find no satisfactory relief or
recreation IN the sampness and mono.
tony of country life But at the end Of
single month, how all such auticipa>
tory pictures of gloom and WEAKNESS
were dissipated How kind and con
siderate had been her aunt, whom she
was visitingl How thoughtful and at
tentive even to the slightest wishi And
then the country air was 80 invigorat-
ing She could not have chosen bet.
ter month than that so highly priced,
not to poets only, but by plan down
right prosaic people-the golden month
of June. How much elated with her
visit, and how greatly satisfactory it
| had been, may be seen when she wrote
her father letter, ,drencht d in bucOlics,
praying for permission to remain at lest
month beyond the time she had at
| first made luctantdetermination should
be the length of her visit


She, of course, made acquaintances
In the village near which her aunt's
farm was located; and among others,
that Of the Methodist minister of said
village. we'll looking person on the
whole, but not man to captivate
fashionable young lady's heart, to whom
Irritation had been a pastime; and vet
there was an intuition In this young
lady's mind that there was something
about him far from unpleasing to her.
How they became known to each other,
happened this wise:-


She had gone in her aunt's company
to his church, in serious anticipation of
hearing a prosy, unpleasant sermon
enforced with the customary earnest
ness of the Weseyans, and had been
happily disappointed. The Rev. Mr..
Paine was not what one would desig
nate as fine looking man but his fore.
head and cast of head were decidedly
so. He had been in the village only
six months, and had become quite popu-
lar, and was objected to by the Older
members only on account of not press
ing home the truths of the gospel In so
f0rcible manner as they could have
wished. After the sermon, Miss Cor
don adjourned with her aunt tn the
Sunday school, and they met Mr.. Paine.
Though only q few commonplaces pass
ed between them, cOngenial chord
was struck, and they seemed as intimate
as IL they had known each other for
years. On returning with her aunt, she
could not but confess to her inmOst self
how much interested she had become
in him.


That afternoon she re-read Clocks
ley Hail." and had been struck with
the words, "aS the husband is, the wife
is" ami wondered If they were literally
true. Then she thought for the moment
with aversion of the young man who
had been paying her considerable 'atten-
ton. He was not bad-hearted man,
hut city life and temptations he had
freely INDUCED in, and she could not
but realize how little there was In his
life to ennoble character. In contrast
with the country parson she could not
but feel that he was greatly lowered in
the comparison. But why make the
comparison She had no thoughts of
marrying yet; and still she did make
the comparison, and continued to do so.


The parsOn now became a frequent
caller at the house, and soon their ac-
quaintance ripened into warm and
tender friendship. though not as yet
partaking of the hOlier name of love.
One beautiful morning they were to go
trout fishing. AS Miss Gordon stood
ready to be escorted to the trout stream,
| may be pardoned for saying a word
about her personal appearance. From
her style Of garment, one would hardly
suppose she had any serious intent to
inveigle many trout. She wore pref
ty check muslin dress that fitted her
figure exactly; crimson shave of very
transparent texture she carried under
her arm; a cOluettish hat; sun umbrella
and dainty rod, present from her
father; altogether most captivating
figure, and certain to fasciDate our min
isterial friend. He, having relieved her
Of fishing rod, shawl, and a small
basket containing luncheon, declared
they should be on the way.


The conversation between them con-
tlnued pleasantly all the half mile dis
lance to the stream. He asked her if
she enjoyed fishing. .


"Oh, exceedingly but I generally
have poor luck"


"Trout are difficult to catch," ans
wers he.


"I suppose sO." ..-l .


Suddenly he says, 81 should think
your greatest success at angling would
be for hearts"


At this she slightly blushed, and ans.
wered, "Oh, dear no at least, think
not. Why do you make so serious an
accusation 70


The young man felt he had got him
self into trouble; indeed, was already
so he should soon be caught and hOun.
dering in her basket. And would she
pity him, once she had him safely land
ed ? Such thoughts as these ran through
his mind before he replied.


"Y0u do not answer me-" she re-
minds him,


"W ell. most pretty wamen are ex-
pertS In that line of fishing"


IA very insufficient answer"


They soon came to the stream, and
he linked together her pole, adjusted