Year: 1872

possessor. This was one reason. per-
haps, that no one of her own sex made
the desired overture of kindness to her.


Mark rose up in leisurely way, fast
ened tallow candle into one of the
potato-holders he had the forethought to
make, and, with bow and a suitable
apology, placed the homeiy but verv con-
venient apparatus where it was needed.
Next. he produced a pair of old style iron
snutfers, with which he manipulated the
wick, and then placed them beside the
candle for future use.


There were suppressed sounds of mer-
riment when these articles were exhibit
ed, but Joe's laugh was distinctly heard.
Clara looked up into Marks face and
smiled, with pleasant light in her eyes
that haunted Mark all the evening.
Everything went on smoothly for half
an hour. Then Clara found it necessary
to try the old iron snuffers, and made q
most ludicrous failure in her attelnpt to
clip the wick of the candle Then there
was another ill-bred tit;er around the
room, which made the poor girls fingers
tremble, and her lips quiver


Mark went to her help, and grasped the
snuffers as if he was used to them, as he
was.


MARK Goodruff, you may take YOUR
copy book and sit where you can keep the
candle in order without so much confu-
sion" said the teacher.


This was the way Mark came to sit by
Miss Sand all winter. She brought a
lamp one or two nights sitter the first
evening, but Joe pushed it over into her
lap in brushing by her desk, and was sus-
pected of doing it intentionally


After this mishap Clara refused to use
a lamp, and Mark always brought two
candles, and so the esnuffers were in regular
use.


er regular at the writing-school and a
good deal annoyed at being obliged to be
there to take her home.


Mark" said he one night, 'you are
an obliging fellow; why won't you walk
home with Cousin Clara, and save my
coming at all ?"


IF you wish it, and Miss Sand does.
not object"


After that, Mark was Clara's escort,
and they seemed to get along very well
together.


Toward the close of the school, Clara's
father, who was a merchant in the city,
wrote for clerk to be sent him from the
country. "a young man of fixed princi-
pies" the letter said, land strictly hon.
est"


THAT is what papa always insists upon
when engaging his help" said Clara
HE says he can find plenty of we'll
dressed boys, and lads belonging to first
families, and genteel fellows, quick at
figures, but he is troubled to find those he
can trust"


''Then let him hire Mark Goodruff,"
said the cousin. There isn't lazy or
dishonest bone in him."


Tho r,.spsofor oosI hn 1fsA1x
more elegantly worded, perhaps, when
Mark asked him for reference.


Mark was standing on the tavern plat
form, waiting for the stage to come along
that was to take him TO the cars on his
way to the city, when the writing teacher
came to him with a volume of poems,
which had been offered to the one who
had made the greatest proficiency IN pen
manship during the winter.


"The prize has been awarded to you,
Mark, said the teacher, land you have
deserved it, we thisk."


Thank you. Who ranked next best?"


Joseph Bright"


care you willing should transfer the
reward of merit, sirs''


80, yes. The decision has been made,
however, and it belongs to you, in jus
tice''


Then, sir, please give it to Joe. He
tried to injure me once. / should like
him to know that I forgive him."


Joe, when the words were repeated to
him, was evidently touched.


MARK is good fellow" said he. "but
did hate to have Clara Sand like him
better than me. After all my efforts to
defeat him, he won. Somehow he al
ways was lucky"


Honesty generally wins in the end"
said the teacher


Mark came home in a years time, very
much improved in every respect. and it
was generally understO d that Mr.. Sand
was entirely satisfied with his new clerk.
He has since become one of the firm. and
there is a report that Clara still regards
him with much favor. At any rate, she
has made candle and potato in wax,
which is under the glass in the library,
and Mark says it is so like the old writing
school dig out that it would trouble even
him to distinguish it from the original.


l almost forgot TO tell you that Joe
Bright's mother kept him without sugar
in his tea for a whole week after she
found out that he took her silver-Dlated
candle-stick. She said, ''them candle
sticks never had beep used, and they
never should be while she liyed.-YOutPs
Companion.