Year: 1873


posal.


Emily was an orphan, born and reared in
distant State, who, after her parents
died, came to Reyton and resided with an
aunt, and supported herself by giving
lessons on the piano-forte, and playing the
organ for salary of $50 year. Notwith-
standing she had very pretty face and
lively disposition, Emily was Remarkably
sensible little woman, as she sufficiently
showed by her appreciation of Leonard
Bell. Farmer Bell was quite delighted
with his sons choice, and was never tired
of animadvcrting on her excellences.


"No matter if she is poor, Leonard" he
would sometimes say, with great ostenta-
ton of contempt for wealth, "that's no
more than your mother was when 1 mar
red her. She never brought me cent,
but she brought me what's thousand
times better, tender heart and sensible
head and busy hand. And look how l
have prospered." For Farmer Bell con-
sidered himself decidedly wealthy man.


Along in October his cattle were all in
shed, and his heart glowed at sight of
them. But one morning after he had been
feeding them, and was looking them over
with an admiring eye, his attention was
attracted by the curious behavior of one of
his best creatures" who had her legs
drawn under her as if she was cold, while
the muscles of the neck and shoulders
twitched spasmodically. He did not know
at first what it meant; but when he saw a
peculiar discharge from her nose;an found
that her ears and legs had become as cold
as ice, chill of terror ran through him,
for he recognized the symptoms of the
rinderpest, the new cattle pestilence. The
frightful disease ran like wild-fire through
the herd, and was conveyed to his horses
too, SO that the whole were swept away in
a fearfully short time and Farmer Bell
was ruined man.


This, then, was his condition as Thanks
giving Day drew nigh. OF course the mort
gage could not now be transferred to the
cattle, and he knew Squire Gripe too well
to hope that he would give him an extern
sion now that his property was gone. And
even if he should, what hope was there?


at would take me half lifetime to get
two thousand dollars together, Ruth" he
said to his wife. every thing win have
to go. Idon't know what will become of
us. You'll have to put off your marriage,
Leonard, for the old man has got nothing
for you-not even corner of the old home
to live in. It's hard, amt it boyP'


81 shall not put it off, father" said
Leonard, "unless Emily wishes it, and I
don't think she will. shall tell her all
about it, and leave it to her to trust herself
to young man with nothing but a strong
arm and willing heart. 1t would be a pity
if we could not live comfortably by our own
exertions. Don't be so downcast, father.
I'll have home of my own yet, and a
corner in 1t for the old folks, too, if they
need it, People don't starve to death in
this country"


Bless your generous heart, Leonard"
said Farmer Bell; 81 shan't balk you if
Miss Sutton don't; but you'll have hard
pulling for a while, Pm afraid"


When Leonard told Emily about it her
bright eyes first flashed with light, and
then dimmed with tears, at the picture of
the old folks desolation, which her sympa-
thetic heart beheld but she said


my selfish soul is glad, Leonard, for
now / can help you. Our home will want
for nothing You have no idea how much
money can earn with these little fingers !;
and if that ugly Squire Gripe takes their
home away from them, your father and
mother shall live with us, Leonard"


"Darling girl" said the delighted young
man, "you are prize indeed, and worthy
of better man than l am. haven't had
any fears of my own, Emily, from the first,
and with you at my side I'll defy fortunes
frowns."


"Spoken like soldier-boy," said Emily.
For Leonard had served his three years in
the war, the reader must know-which
helped the pretty music-teacher in her
efforts to fan in love with him.


So the preparations for the wedding went
ON just as before, and when the night be-
fore Thanksgiving came they were married
at the old farmhouse, in the presence Of a
merry party Of friends. But Farmer Bells
face was not cheerful one. The con-
sciousness OF his impending fate hung over
him continually like pail, and 1t was inn
possible to keep him in good spirits The
mortgage was past due-had been for sew
eral days--and knowing the hard character
a ~ A.