Year: 1871


mittee will write you tomorrow to come
on. Congratulate you, my old boyt' 1t
was signed by an old friend of my hus-
bands, of whom he had often spoken.


Oh, let us be joyful p sang and
catching Dicks hands, we indulged in a
wild carmagnole about the sitting-room,
and stopped at last breathless with lau gh-
ter and singing.


Wontwe go on together, though 7"
said Dick, exultingly. 1t shall be your
wedding tour, Dame Trot. You're look
ing pale, my darling the change will do
You good. Come, what do you say to
driving outP This ought to be red
letter day for my little patient birdie. She
has been so wonderfully helpful-such
good, good little wife"


We went. In three days we had lock-
ed up our wee house in dingy st. Thom-
ass Buildings, and started .joyously on
our journey through the golden Indian
Summer weather.


The great building was founded; its
massive walls began slowly to rise from
the ground. As Dick had predicted other
business quickly followed to the successful
man, as is usually the case in this world;
and now q new spirit began to show itself
in my ever gay companion. He had al
ways been Industrious, now he bent to his
work with savage energy ; he spared hard
ly an hour in the day for his meals; he sat
working till two or three O'Clock in the
morning-long after he had sent me to
bed. The more he had, the more he
sought after-eagerly, hungrily. He no
longer whistled and sung over his draw
ing room desk when he did allow himself
any rest on the week days Sunday, he
would lie apparently quite astonished on
the pretty green couch we had added to
our modest furniture, his eyes closed. and
his face very pale.


"Don't work so hard, my darling" l
said to him one winter evening, when,
quite worn out, he had thrown himself
down after dinner, and as he often did
now, begged me to turn the light us low
as possible. "Why should we be in such
haste to get rich? would hundred
times rather live in my sky parlor ten
years to come, than to have you wearied
out like this. And am sure You will
injure your eyes with so much fine draw
ing"


"Who told you anything allied my
eyesP" he asked, hastily, almost angrily.


"No one-only the light troubled YOU"


"Nonsense, Dame Tot! Don't have
such ridiculous fancies! You ought to
cheer me up when / am working so hard
mot discourage me with doleful ideas. "
- did not mean to discourage you,
Dick please don't think So"


''Then why do you talk in that way ?'
he retorted, cautiously then, seeing that
| could not keep back my tears, he put
his arm around me, saying fondly,
There-don't cry my darling-fm afraid
II .E,n 81, Il
but you know what we hope summer will
bring us, and ! feel as though | ought to
strain every nerve to get the means of
making my darling comfortable in her
great trial,


than anything else," l whispered, :" I'd
should be injured"


Nonsense don't talk so BIRDIE" Dick
said, with a little nervous shudder.
Besides, there is nothing the matter
with my eyes. They smart and feel
queer of evenings, to be sure; but that's
nothing a good nights rest makes them
all right. Come--take the Bible and
read to me awhile--sutficien for the day,
YOU know-don't borrow trouble, Dame
Trotn


His words only half reassured me but
did as he bid, me with secret prayer
that no harm might came to my brave
darling who loved me so well.


The long winter months slowly dragged
themselves out. Spring come, soft and
balmyw crocuses and violets in her
hand, and midsummer, bright and gold
en-, smiled over all the land. On my
breast lay wee white daisy-Baby Mar
garet but was still in my lofty chamber,
and Dick was--blind.


Yes-God help us the blow had fallen.
Shall ever forget his awful face as he
staggered in from his office and threw
himself on his knees beside my bed, gasp
ing out, " Margaret oh, my poor darling,
my punishment has come! have been
stricken all in a moment. My God if |
had listened to you last winter. What
will become of us ?"


| Aunt Becky rose from her seat beside
me. The old lady had softened wonder
fully since she first heard of the new hope
that had come to us. She had been our
constant visitor and helper of late, and
was now my tender, faithful nurse.
Children !" she said, &" this is terrible
dispensation-terrible You must feel it
almost unbearablc, just now; but pray
pray if you can for patience. Give me the
baby Margaret. You ought to be alone
with your husband, and must go for help
directly. 1t may not be too late"


She took the sleeping child from my
arms, wrapped in her little blanket, Q
knew afterwards that she left her in the
care ofthe janitor's wife, and disappear
ed from the room. Then my poor strik-
en- darling groped his way to place on
the bed beside me, and we just cried in
company-God help us


"You will recover from this first at
tack, Mr.. Dalton" said the calm kindly
voice of the ophthalmic surgeon, after a
long and painful examination.


'sThank God" :"spoke Dick, bending his
head.


" But it will not do to risk second
You must not venture to use your eyes fol
a year to come at least. This is indispen-
sable"


But Doctor-good heavens. My wife
my childp How can l leave work for q
year? Ihave no other resource than my
professional income.n