Year: 1875

her for neglect of duty, for all regarded
her with that partial love that is often
accorded to the more gifted or beautiful
Joyfully did they listen to her sweet
voice singing the songs she loved, and
willingly worked the harder to spare her
the dry, hard labor, that even to them
seemed wholly unsuited to her.


While yet child in years, Allie ex-
hibited a superior talent for music. 1t
was the one absorbing passion of her life.
Her voice, when but a girl of fourteen,
rang clear and steady above all others as
she stood upin the house of God, to sing
praise in his temple. Strangers who Wis
tied the church inquired who was the
young girl who sang so wonderfully
sweet and accurately. Once, company
of musicians, on a summer tour, stopped
in the town and gave concerts. On Sun
day they loitered into the open church
door, more in search of amusement than
devotion. The voice of Allie, sounding
through the large old church, clear and
rich, the one note of harmony amid a
choir of discOrdant sounds, attracted
them. Here was prodigy indeed. They
sought her out during their stay, and
not only encouraged, but lavishly praised
the power of sweetness of her voice.


Then, for the first time, the underlined
and vague longings of the young girl
took form in her mind. Ever after her
great desire was to learn music as it is
taught by masters of the art. Already
did she know it as taught by the most
divine of all teachers. Nature herself.
But this no longer satisfied her. She
would make it study; but to attain
this was no easy matter. With la new
love and zeal for the dear one, the men,
bers of that family resolved to crafty
her wish, and to aid in its fulfillment,
brought ready hands to toll and loving
hearts to strengthen them in the under
taking.


The first step was to save, by self-de-
nial, the necessary funds to buy piano
forte. Mr.. Groveland was considered by
his neighbors man of some means
His barns were well filled with stock, and
his lands extended many acres to the
right and left of the homestead. But he
had very little money. The produce of
the farm was exchanged for household
comforts, and thus the little community
lived, nor felt the need of any better
coin, except in emergencies like the
present. To purchase piano forte, and
employ competent teacher for Allie,
was now one great object of their un-
wearying toll, and the subject of the
brightest dreams of the future.


In the midst of these new plans death
came, and with his cold hand swept
away every lingering ray of hope. Grief
.or their great loss for time Overcame
all minor disappointments; but when
the first shock had passed away, and the
family again took up the weary burden Of
life, and with resOlute courage strove to
conquer the sorrow that threatened to
break their hearts and unnerve their
hands, then did the shattered ruins of
the old desire again haunt them. Debts
were now to be paid, and great efforts
were requisite to keep the old home
stead from falling into strangers hands.


With mute sorrow was the subject
dropped from out the domestic circle,
but never for moment did they cease
to dream of the possibilities that lay in
the future for them. Allie sang her
sweet home songs just the same, and
when listening to her, the hard, cold
life of labor and sacrifice was changed
to fairy-land, and people with forms of
beauty that only come to the vision of
the unselish and renunciating soul.


CHIME HI.


eta AND HER LOVER.


One day, Mrs. Groveland and Allie
were startled by great surprise. Eta,
the eldest, but still an inexperienced
girl of nineteen years, announced to
them plan, well matured and arranged.
She was to leave home, and for one year
seek employment in distant city.
There was less of romance than COM
mon sense in her well-laid plans. Ru-
mors of the almost fabulous accounts of
the wonderful sewing machine had
reached her ears. One of her associates
had been for many months working one
with great profit and success. Through
this friend Eta had made all the neces-
sary arrangements, and another week
would find her on her journey.


The day of parting came all too soon.
1t was like opening the grave anew for
another victim. 1t is impossible for us
to convey any idea of the pain of that
separation, for families living upon the
farmes in this section of the country
were as firmly rooted to the soil as were
the giant oaks in the forest, and death,
much oftener than other causes, was the
one great invader of the household.


Etta's courage bore them all up in the
emergency. She obeyed the call of duty
without complaint, even with smiles
that were but slight covering for her
aching heart. Poor Eta she passed
over the door-sill, and down the garden
path alone, bearing with her the bless
ings and prayers of those who remained
behind. She would allow no one to ac-
company her beyond the threshold, for
she would spare them second parting,
and that among strangers. The tears
that would no longer be restrained, now
rushed to her eyes and flowed in showers
down her cheeks.


In this state, Richard Gay, their young
farmer neighbor, met her. He had been
lingering about the farmhouse for an
hour, to catch glimpse of her, and, II
might be, to speak his farewell.


"Oh, Richard, comfort my mother
and Allie when / am gone. They will
miss me, Heaven only knows how
much |" cried Eta, in wild burst OF
excited tears.


"Another will miss you, too, Eta"
said the young man, deeply affected by
her grief. "Many times for the past
week have / longed, but never until
now dared to beg that 1 might lift this
heavy burden from you. am called
rich, Eta. Iwould not speak of it boast
fully, but now / more than ever rejoice
that it is so. Only grant me the priv
ilege of doing you a neighborly act
Take the money, Eta. 1 shall never
need it; and do not 20 out from the old
home alone and unprotected"


"Oh, do not tempt me Richard.
feel your kindness, but must not nc
cept it. Let me go. Heaven bless you
| ~n-o~o..t.,