Year: 1875

30 interviewer that she could not separ-
ate herself from them, and would not
If she could. Far sweeter would it have
been for her to have yielded to Richards
persuasiOns. How sweet, she dared not
think it would have been, to have ac-
cepted his proflered love and become his
happy wife. She knew too well all his
heart had to say to her that morning
but she resisted the delicious dream, and
went out from the warm hOme-nest into
the cold world to labor with her hands,
to suffer hardships and WEAKNESS, per-
chance to be subjected to rude insults,
risking all for the sake of the good that
was to follow.


CHIME Nv.


LABOR AND HAPPINESS.


A long days ride in the rail-car, is not
the best place in the world to dispel sad
thoughts. Eta felt her loneliness all the
more when surrounded by crowds. All
around her were gay parties journeying
for pleasure, seeking amusement in the
far-Of city whittier they were going
She could see among her fellow-passen-
gers no one so utterly alone as herself
The hours dragged heavily and monot-
onously by. They arrived in the city
after the street-lamps were lit. The un-
comfortable lodgings provided her by
her acquaintance were strongly in con-
trast with the home she had left. 1t is
not to be wondered that her pillow was
wet with tears till late into the night.
She was glad to be by herself, that she
might, unrestrained, weep away the
soreness that had gathered around her
heart.


When the morning dawned clear and
bright, Eta rose new creature. Sad
ness and weeping were put far away,
and she resolved that the sacrifice
should be made joyfully. Her apt, and
ready hands soon learned the cunning
craft, and she became in time so expert
at the trade that she more than realized
all her dreams had predicted. Here for
a year did she cheerfully labor, cheered
by loving words from home, and there
was no young woman among the occu-
pants of the sewing-room so uniformly
happy and light-hearted as Eta. Twelve
months had passed, and visions of home
haunted her thoughts by day and her
dreams by night. She had accomplished
her object. The long coveted instrument
would 60 with her on the morrow. Now
she is walking by Richards side, and
low words are passing from ear to ear,
words of mighty significance to the
young couple. Happy Eta! AS she
listened to the earnest expressions of
long and faithful love, her heart was too
full for response. Enough for her to
hear, through the din of the street
noises as they walked on, hardly knowing
where they 60, or caring to know if but
together, his voice, manly but gentle, re-
hearsing his great love for her.


The New Year came in, robed in rare
beauty. Icicles hung in glistening rows
on the roofs of the farm-houses, while
the naples by the roadside, and the
fruit-trees in the orchard, bowed their
branches beneath their load of light,
faky snow. All nature was jubilant on
this New Year morn. The inmates of
this red farmhouse are busy with
weighty preparations for the coming
evening. The parlor is hung with ever
green, gathered by Allie in the early
autumn, and preserved with care for the
holiday adornings. In the store-room
are piles of poultry, and long rows of
pies, with huge loaves of suspicious
looking cake, with the delicious flavor
of the wedding already upon it. In the
"spare chamber" that sacred room con-
secrated alike to guests, to sickness, and
all the great events of the home, lie the
bridal garments. and the two sisters, in
loving companionship, are arranging for
the coming festivities.


In the sitting-roOm stands the New
Years gift, the long desired piano-forte.
Over it, crowned with Christmas greens,
hangs the fathers portrait. With what
delicious awe do they now and then
steal away from pressing duties to look
once more at the gift, scarcely believing
while they gaze that the lOng-coveted
blessing has come at last


The wedding is right merry one-a
genuine country wedding-which to
fully comprehend each one must himself
witness. The old red farmhouse rang
with the sound of merry voices; the en-
tertainment was abundant and hospita-
BILE, the dancing both graceful and frolic-
some and when the evening drew to a
close, the young married pair had only
to cross the garden walk to reach the
newly fitted home of the bride.


Allie flew to her lonely chamber to
weep sisters tears for the dear one
gone out from the paternal home. When
the house was quiet, and sleep had low
ingly lowered her curtain over the house
hold, she crept to the room containing
the piano-forte, and long into the morn
ing hours did her fingers glide softly
over the keys. All the old familiar songs
were played from memory, and the dear
child sat, with wet eyes and cheeks,
striving to comprehend why she had been
so blessed. Was it in an idle vision she
saw, or was it, as she fondly believed, the
spirit of the good man, her father, who
looked down with his old love from the
garlanded portrait, that guided her hand,
touched the springs of old sleeping
memories and wove them into divine
harmonies?


In the first dawning light of another
joyous winters day, Allie crept away to
her couch, to dream over the scenes of
the day, or better far, to sleep the dream
less slumber of the pure in heart.


How many such happy country homes
are there all over our land How many
selfsacrifcing spirits dwell therein
From out such households come the
holy influence that will purify and re-
generate the world.