Year: 1871

| "OhuoA os NY ouuuCu SCdIS.


Three years of the peaceful life that l
had planned-then John fell ill. And, the
door once opened, troubles of which we
never dreamed focked in. He was not
like to de- but week after week he lay
quite still or crept about the house. He
even gained slowly after time. But he
could not hope to work for months to come.
and some craft OF men, some wickedness
OF which need not tell, seemed about to
pull our house down about our heads, and
make us beggars. Then, as if we were
not desolate enough, peace went. could
not rest day or night for the question
what should we dop What should do
10 go about the house day after day in the
Old accustomed ways-to sit long hours
pushing bit of steel through endless
seams all this did; but oh, was wild
with anxiety and alarm


| had put Bennie into his bed and read
him to sleep one night as usual. Some
simple story it was, forgotten now. only
knew it touched my heart, and bore me
for moment beyond my cares. When l
had finished and the child slept. that poem
OF Uhland's floated into my mind:


There is land where beauty will not fade a


NOT sorrow dim the


Where true hearts will not shrink or be dsmayed
And love can never die.


| said the words over softly to myself as
| paced the floor. Through the half-shut
door could see John 4ying upon the sofa
dimly outlined in the darkness but with
ray from the gaslight outside falling
across his white face, and touching his
thin gray hair. Was there nothing could
do to help him!


Then it came to me-my vocationi
could read. had had'a gift of recitation
from a child. At one time had even
given some attention to elocution, with
hope of something better than my dull
school life. Other women took to the
platform, why should not 1? Was it help
fulness for John that made me strong with
the thought, or was it the sudden mighty
uplifting of forgotten ambitions
To some, prophecy. To some, speaking
with tongues. To me-this strange that
| should not have thought of it before
The German poem dropped from my lips
and my thoughts. went out, and kneel-
ing down by John. told him all my desire
my hope. l remember how dark and
still the room was. How that one ray of
| fancied it seemed less sad tonight Yes;





ut was girl-dream of mine," said at
length, laying my hot cheek on his. "It
is gift, given me never knew for what,
until now"


He did not speak. Did it pain him that
| had dreams unfulfilled? Oh, it must not


You see, john" began again, sit is
like-like-. Let me tell you story, as
though you were Bennie Once upon time
there was little spring that burst out of
the earth. Oh, such little spring as it
was, dear No one saw it but one. So
this one laid over it stone, and it dried
away and was forgotten =" Something wet
lay on Johns cheek Oh, he must not
think | was sorry at the sealing up of the
fountain ''And when it dried away Care
you listening, dear? even the place was
forgotten, because all manner OF pleasant
plants grew over it. Not weeds; but
lilies, like those that bloom in our garden
in the summer And heart 's-ease. Yes;
most of all grew heart's-ease, quite hiding
the spot where the little spring had been.
"And after long time the earth was dry
and choked; but no one remembered the
spring until careless hand-a little hand
like Bennie's-pulled away the stone, and
the waters poured out-a flood! Oh, John!''
| cried, sit is this desire of mine Let me
try there is nothing else that l can do.n
You can do! But it must not come on
you Only be patient awhile longer. On
ly wait. l shall be out soon now. Have
it is hard, know harder than doing but
mine is brave girlm he said, stroking
my hair


l drew my head away Something like
willfulness stirred in me. Only acaa !"
could not. would not.


&c V,l,., I I Al l.
back. Yet would not recall them. He
put me aside, and rose up. could not see
his face, though he stood in the window.
His back was towards me.


$50 you have set your heart on this, Es-
ther?"


Eyes, john" answered family.


"When | married you hoped to make
your life an easier one than it had been."
His voice trembled over the last words.


80, John" l crept close to him. laid
my head against my arm. One moment
more and should have spoken. 81 will
do ANYTHING that seems best to you," i
would have said. He gave little sigh.
| fear with that he laid away many hopes
and all the plans that he had formed.


~ win help you, if can"


l raised my head quickly. "Do you
mean" pa.


"Yes, dear; you may try"


clung about his neck. and laughed and
cried together.


Even if l have to go away from you
little while, l said at length. you'll
trust me, John pn He turned my face TO
where the light fell on us both. l had
never thought him handsome until then.
Trust you Trust my wife! - x-


And that was all he said.


His words whistled through my head
like the wind. was thinking my own
thoughts. The desire to give il all up,
to creep back into the old happy life. to
be hid from the world, rose strong in me.
There was no longer any necessity for
my work. Johns health had come back
to him. Our troubles had flown away rs
they came. MY pride fought with this de-
sire. :,
"Let me think of it q moment he
shrugged his shoulders. but with . Ser