,illustration3 ,,frontispiece4 ,page #hc4 ,,ingleside2 ,,or ,,without ,,christ ,,and ,,with ,,him4 ,,by ,,madeline ,,leslie1 ,,author ,,of ,,tim ,,the ,,scissors-,,grinder1 ,,sisters ,,at ,,service1 ,,the ,,home ,,series1 ,,etc41 ,,etc4 ,to be in ,christ is the secret of our life2 to be for ,christ1 the meaning of our activity2 to be with ,christ is the hope of our glory4 ,anthony ,w4 ,thorold4 ,,second ,,edition4 ,london3 ,,hodder ,,and ,,stoughton1 #bg1 ,,paternoster ,,row4 ,,mdccci4,,xxxviii4 ,printed by ,hazell1 ,watson1 ,viney1 ,ld41 ,london and ,aylesbury ,,prefatory ,,note4 ,the object of this book is to prove1 from a series of scenes drawn from real life1 the misery of those1 whether rich or poor1 who live without ,christ1 and the peace and comfort of those in whom the spirit of ,christ dwells as actuating principles of duty4 ,the scenes were selected by the author from a number1 either falling under her own observation1 or narrated by friends who vouched for their truthfulness4 ,they are not the most wonderful thus brought to her notice1 but were chosen because they more plainly prove the object referred to4 ,the devotion of time and money1 by a young lady described here under the name of ,marion ,howard1 is not fiction4 ,the eccentricities of ,mr4 ,regy1 the sorrows of poor ,esther1 are facts4 ,the singular circumstances connected with the brother and sister from a foreign land1 inmates at the same time of the ,home for the ,sick1 though unknown to each other1 were given to the public at the time1 and excited great interest for the unfortunate strangers4 ,indeed1 were we privileged to read the record of cases in our hospitals1 or the diary of our missionaries among the poor and distressed1 we should find that in our very midst scenes so wonderful are occurring that fiction is left far in the background4 ,my little book is sent forth on the same mission as one of its predecessors1 ,tim the ,scissors-,grinder4 ,that it may meet with the same success in winning souls for the ,master is the earnest prayer of ,,the ,,author4 ,,table ,,of ,,contents4 ,,part ,i4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,the ,,first ,,sermon ,,ii4 ,,the ,,new ,,pastor ,,iii4 ,,the ,,home ,,for ,,the ,,sick ,,iv4 ,,ethel ,,and ,,her ,,pastor ,v4 ,a ,,happy ,,christian ,,vi4 ,,the ,,music ,,teacher ,,vii4 ,,games ,,and ,,entertainments ,,viii4 ,,pleasant ,,projects ,,ix4 ,,the ,,doctor',s ,,diagnosis ,x4 ,a ,,ray ,,of ,,hope ,,xi4 ,,an ,,appeal ,,for ,,sympathy ,,xii4 ,,marion',s ,,sickness ,,xiii4 ,,annie',s ,,letter ,,xiv4 ,,the ,,lost ,,package ,,xv4 ,a ,,sad ,,story ,,xvi4 ,,stella',s ,,confession ,,xvii4 ,,the ,,crippled ,,boy ,,xviii4 ,a ,,mystery ,,solved ,,xix4 ,,tears ,,of ,,repentance ,,xx4 ,,letters ,,from ,,the ,,pastor ,,part ,,ii4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,grantbury ,,and ,,the ,,first ,,church ,,ii4 ,,visit ,,to ,,ingleside ,,iii4 ,,without ,,christ ,,iv4 ,,with ,,christ ,v4 ,,home ,,in ,,the ,,stable ,,loft ,,vi4 ,,the ,,simple ,,prayer ,,vii4 ,,esther',s ,,forgiveness ,,viii4 ,,games ,,and ,,entertainments ,,ix4 ,,true ,,friendship ,x4 ,,neddy ,,carter',s ,,mission ,,xi4 ,,many ,,blessings ,,xii4 ,a ,,wonderful ,,discovery ,,xiii4 ,,reconciliation ,,and ,,happiness ,,xiv4 ,,christmas ,,day ,,xv4 ,,our ,,ingleside ,,ingleside4 ,,part ,i4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,the ,,first ,,sermon4 ,,well6 well6 exclaimed ,mr4 ,asbury1 after a preliminary ,hem6 ,i know what you would say1 pa1 interrupted ,mrs4 ,asbury1 in a deprecating tone4 ,but it isn't fair to judge so soon4 ,it's a trying situation for a young clergyman4 ,if it was our ,gardner1 now1 we should want people to remember that it isn't easy to stand up before strangers and preach one's first sermon4 ,i shan't be a minister1 ma2 ,i've made up my mind on that4 ,joe looked at his sister1 who generally was not backward in expressing an opinion4 ,now she only said1 as though speaking to herself1 ,i wonder what ,marion would say4 ,the family had just returned from morning service1 where the new pastor for the first time had met the people4 ,aunt ,thankful1 as she was called1 had taken off her bonnet and shawl1 folding the latter carefully in the creases2 now1 with a peremptory wave of her hand to enjoin silence1 she said1-- ,there's either sorrer or there's sin behind him4 ,i'm inclined to think it's sorrer4 ,it's ,scripter1 you know1 to let charity have its perfect work4 ,the door-bell at this moment ringing1 ,aunt ,thankful1 who was passing ,sunday with her friends1 seized her bonnet and shawl and left the room4 ,annie started for the door1 to answer the summons1 while ,joe opened his library book and began to read4 ,the sound of a manly but nervous step in the chamber above called forth a sigh from ,mr4 ,asbury1 followed by the words1-- ,i'm dreadfully afraid1 wife1 we've made a mistake4 ,don't look so melancholy1 pa1 urged ,annie1 returning1 or ,mr4 ,angus will think we are talking of him4 ,he asked what time we dined1 and said he would like to go to his chamber for a few minutes4 ,while he paces back and forth in the apartment assigned him1 ,i will explain that the parish to which ,mr4 ,asbury belonged had lost their pastor by death six months before the opening of our story2 that a succession of candidates had been heard1 discussed1 and dismissed2 that the people1 wearied out by their own criticisms1 were beginning to scatter2 that at length they conceived the idea of sending a ,committee on an exploring tour1 which ,committee1 going to hear a city preacher1 heard in his place a young man lately graduated from the divinity school2 that they were so impressed with his heartiness in his work they requested an introduction and invited him to add one more to the number of competing candidates2 that he politely but firmly declined1 not believing1 this the proper method of obtaining a clergyman that1 after making inquiries of his ,professors and others1 and receiving instructions to go forward from the church at home1 the ,committee did proceed to call the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,angus to be their pastor2 that1 after several weeks of earnest prayer for guidance1 he did accept their call1 the public services of his ordination to take place the week following his first sermon4 ,his arrival in the town1 which ,i shall call ,grantbury1 late on ,saturday evening1 had given the family little opportunity for forming an opinion of the new pastor2 that he was tall and vigorous in frame1 with a countenance sad rather than smiling1 eyes looking far away1 a sweet1 musical voice with a sad note running through it1 was all that they knew of him until they took their seats in church directly in front of the pulpit4 ,the sermon was on ,christ's invitation to the weary and heavy laden to come to him for rest4 ,in the most graphic language he depicted the condition of these poor1 sad1 weary sufferers1 bearing their heavy burden of sin and sorrow1 longing to be rid of it1 but knowing not how to throw it off1 groaning in secret places1 with an abiding dread of what the future might bring to them4 ,he brought tears to many eyes unused to weep1 by the vividness with which he portrayed the soul in darkness1 but longing fox the light1 empty1 void of faith in ,god or man1 shut up in a prison of gloomy thought and forebodings1 every day verging toward the frightful chasm of despair4 ,listening to the preacher's voice trembling with pathos1 no one could doubt that he well understood by personal experience the condition of those to whom our blessed ,lord extended this gracious invitation4 ,every eye was fixed on his1 every heart followed him2 but when1 turning from the weary and heavy laden1 he pointed to the ,one who could deliver them from all their wretchedness1 the note of sadness still lingered4 ,instead of the triumphant ring of victory from the freed soul1 the tone of peace and rest from those delivered from their heavy load1 there was an unexplained want of harmony between the manner and voice of the speaker and the subject of which he was treating4 ,a general restlessness among the audience proved their disappointment4 ,the sermon closed with a passionate appeal to all present to accept ,christ's offer of pardon1 peace1 and rest4 ,the people rose to receive the benediction1 half wondering at the sadness which oppressed them4 ,under other circumstances they would have crowded around the new pastor1 offering their hands in token of their welcome4 ,they had been prepared to receive him with enthusiasm4 ,the weeks of suspense during which they were waiting his reply to their call had deepened their anxiety to obtain the services of one so highly recommended1 but a weight had fallen on their spirits1 and they silently left the church1 a few casting glances back to the pulpit1 where sat a figure prone and abject1 the face buried in the hands4 ,so it happened that only the ,committee who had heard him in the city waited to speak to him1 and at length accompanied him1 almost in silence1 to the house of ,mr4 ,asbury1 where he was to remain until after his ordination4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,the ,,new ,,pastor4 ,,in the mean time1 in the spacious chamber assigned to the clergyman1 a terrible conflict was raging4 ,possessed of the keenest susceptibilities1 with a morbid sense of his own unworthiness1 he was1 alas1 too well aware of the impression left upon his hearers by his morning's discourse4 ,god forgive me6 he ejaculated1 his hands pressed to his head4 ,deliver me from this terrible burden4 ,make known to me thy will4 ,thou knowest my heart4 ,i thought ,i heard thy voice4 ,show me the way in which ,i should walk4 ,how can ,i1 laden with sorrow1 stand in ,god's stead and preach the gospel of salvation8 ,make haste to help me1 ,o ,lord6 ,all my trust is in thee4 ,a light tap at his door disturbed his meditations4 ,he presented to ,annie a face so pallid and suffering that she started back1 exclaiming1-- ,you are ill1 ,mr4 ,angus3 let me call mother4 ,oh no6 ,i am not ill1--,i mean not much4 ,certainly1 ,i have a headache4 ,i came to say that dinner is ready4 ,mother will give you something for your head4 ,thank you4 ,i will be down-stairs directly4 ,he turned to his washstand and dashed cold water on his burning forehead1 then1 crushing back the wretched doubts and fears which had oppressed him1 he presented himself in the parlor4 ,his pallid countenance confirmed ,annie's statement of his illness4 ,mrs4 ,asbury1 with true motherly kindness1 ordered a cup of coffee with out milk or sugar1 but postponed an examination of the case until a more fitting opportunity4 ,seated opposite ,mr4 ,angus at the table was fairy little figure1 introduced to him as ,our baby ,ethel4 ,she had large gray eyes shaded and deepened by long1 black lashes4 ,raising her eyes timidly at first1 she glanced at the stranger1 gave a little start at the expression which beamed in his face1 then her whole countenance--eyes1 cheeks1 and lips--grew radiant and1 to the utter astonishment of all present1 the shy1 timid little one1 whose caresses were so daintily given1 so highly prized1 exclaimed1-- ,i love you6 ,why1 ,ethel6 began her father4 ,why1 ,baby6 repeated the mother2 but ,annie1 catching a glimpse of intense1 yearning love in the face of the clergyman1 wondered in silence4 ,after dinner1 one look of entreaty brought the little miss to the clergyman1--no longer a stranger1--when1 to the undisguised astonishment of her parents1 she allowed herself to be folded in his arms1 her long flaxen curls floating over his breast4 ,nestling close to his side1 with her eyes uplifted to his1 she remained1 quietly listening to the conversation which followed1 rewarded occasionally by a smile so sweet1 so full of tender yearning1 that not only the child's but the mother's heart was wholly won4 ,mr4 ,asbury had asked some questions concerning ,mr4 ,angus's mission work in the city1 and then said to his wife1-- ,marion will like to hear about this3 she loves such work4 ,she is a real missionary herself1 urged ,annie4 ,i love ,marion1 lisped the child4 ,she is my ,marion4 ,is she your daughter1 ,mr4 ,asbury8 ,not exactly1 laughing1 though she is as near as a daughter4 ,she is the daughter of ,mrs4 ,asbury's cousin1 now deceased4 ,indeed she has lost both her parents1 and we have adopted her4 ,she calls us uncle and aunt4 ,i want ,marion to come home quick1 pa4 ,then1 turning again to look in the face above her1 ,ethel said1 ,i'll let my ,marion love you too4 ,a great piece of condescension on ,ethel's part1 ,mr4 ,angus1 added the mother1 laughing heartily4 ,the little puss is extremely jealous in her affection for ,marion1 and scarce allows her cousin out of her sight for a moment when she is at home4 ,does your niece not live at home1 then8 ,oh1 no1 sir4 ,she teaches music in ,madame ,la ,vergnes's ,institute in ,new ,york2 but1 as her classes only occupy six hours a day1 she has abundant time for her poor people4 ,it is against my wish1 urged her uncle1 that she should stay away from home for so many months in a year4 ,but not contrary to your consent1 pa1 explained ,annie4 ,you told her you wouldn't forbid it4 ,so1 ,mr4 ,angus1 she added1 blushing at her own earnestness1 you musn't think our ,marion naughty or obstinate4 ,it was her duty she said1 and so she went4 ,ethel1 ,i fear you will tire ,mr4 ,angus1 sitting in his lap so long4 ,he pressed her tightly in his arms and waited to hear what she would say4 ,he's skeezing me1 ma4 ,i guess he isn't tired4 ,are you8 putting her hand softly on his cheek4 ,he took the small hand in his1 held it for a moment1 asked1 ,at what time does your ,sunday school commence8 put her hand to his lips as he said1 rising1 ,we are friends from this time1 ,ethel4 ,good by for an hour or two1 and left the room4 ,i like him ever so much1 exclaimed ,annie4 ,aren't you glad now1 pa1 that he has come to be our minister8 ,perhaps ,mr4 ,asbury would have answered still more warmly could he have followed the pastor to his chamber and listened to the cry which went up from a full heart4 ,is this a ray of light from thy throne1 ,o my heavenly ,father8 ,may ,i not accept it as an answer to prayer for help1--as a token of thy loving care8 ,o ,god1 ,i bless thee6 ,making his way from his chamber1 he saw ,ethel sitting on the lower stair waiting for him4 ,you may kiss me if you want to1 she said1 putting up her rosy lips4 ,he caught her in his arms1 kissed her again1 the mother coming forward just in time to hear him say1 ,god bless you1 precious child6 ,how warm his heart felt with this new glow4 ,with his whole soul he received the loving confidence of this little one as a token of divine favor4 ,god had accepted him and would bless his work among these people4 ,arriving at the chapel1 the superintendent of the school came forward to meet him1 with the request that1 in the place of the usual exercises1 he would address them4 ,but ,mr4 ,angus requested to be allowed to watch the workings of the school consenting1 however1 to talk to them at the end4 ,is this your usual number8 he inquired1 glancing over the room4 ,yes sir1 about the average4 ,are they punctual in their attendance1--teachers and scholars8 ,no1 sir2 that is one great drawback to success4 ,do these children not go to church8 ,i saw few children there4 ,no1 sir2 they seldom go4 ,declining a seat on the platform1 ,mr4 ,angus drew an arm-chair near the ,bible class and waited for the superintendent to call the school to order4 ,the gong sounded1 but the noise did not decrease4 ,the second time1 with the aid of the teachers1 the loud whispering abated1 when1 in a low voice1 impossible to be heard at the farther end of the room1 the superintendent offered prayer4 ,a hymn was given out1 and all looked around for the lady who usually played the melodeon4 ,she was absent1 and at last1 just as the singing was to be omitted1 ,annie ,asbury came forward blushing1 and said1 ,i will try to play4 ,mr4 ,angus was afflicted with a keen ear for discords4 ,i can only say that during the singing he was agonized4 ,before the closing exercises he had made up his mind that here at least there was work for the pastor4 ,the apathy was alarming4 ,with few exceptions1 the teachers hurried through the lesson1 accepting without reproof the too evidently manufactured excuses in place of a well-learned lesson2 then shutting the book1 he or she became totally oblivious of all that was passing1 some even leaving the class to talk with another teacher4 ,that was a face thoroughly in earnest which confronted the school when the superintendent announced that ,rev4 ,mr4 ,angus1 our pastor1 will address you4 ,in a full1 impressive voice the clergyman began4 ,boys and girls1--yes1 and teachers too1--we are strangers to-day1 but we shall not continue so4 ,i have a good memory for names and faces4 ,i intend to know you all1 every one4 ,i have come here to be one of you1 to love you1 and ,i hope to be loved in return4 ,my business is to lead every one in this room to the arms of the blessed ,saviour1 and ,i ask you all to help me4 ,as many as are willing1 ,i ask to come after school and give me your hand in token of your acceptance of this contract4 ,until we meet again next ,sunday1 ,i ask you to consider seriously a few questions4 ,you can give your answers in writing if you please4 ,i shall like that best2 or you may come to me1--not in classes1 but individually1 and answer them4 ,first4 ,what do ,i come to ,sunday school for1--to please ,god1 or to please my parents1 or to please myself8 ,second4 ,does my coming just as ,i have been used to coming please ,god1--does it please my parents1--does it please me8 ,third4 ,if ,i neither please ,god1 my parents1 nor myself1 in what way can ,i change my actions to do so8 ,now1 with the permission of your superintendent1 ,i will ask you to rise and join me in one verse4 ,praise ,god1 from whom all blessings flow2 ,praise ,him1 all creatures here below2 ,praise ,him above1 ye heavenly host2 ,praise ,father1 ,son1 and ,holy ,ghost4 ,remember ,god is here3 let us not mock ,him2 now begin4 ,his voice was a deep1 rich baritone1 which resounded through the chapel1 carrying the scholars and teachers with him4 ,at the close1 he stood with his hand extended toward a little girl near him4 ,boys and girls pressed forward1 each one giving his own name1 until only the teachers remained4 ,to these1 as they gathered around him1 he said1-- ,will it be too much for me to ask that each one of you will ponder the questions ,i gave you8 ,the work of a ,sunday-school teacher may be wearisome and unpleasant1 or it may be glorious1 most blessed4 ,it is ,god's own work2 and ,he is a good paymaster4 ,annie persuaded her brother to wait for ,mr4 ,angus1 but hesitated about joining him when she saw how sad he looked4 ,with a frankness which was her peculiar charm she said1 timidly1-- ,we waited to walk home with you1 but perhaps you would rather go alone4 ,thank you1 yes4 ,then1 rousing himself1 he added1 ,you are very kind4 ,i shall be glad of your company4 ,it was true that in the excitement of the past hour his own personal grief had been absorbed in the sorrow he felt at finding the ,sunday school in such a low condition4 ,he began to realize that this was the keynote by which he must judge of the spiritual state of the church4 ,then doubts of his fitness for the work assailed him1 and he was appalled with the reflection that it was too late now to recede4 ,it was at this minute that ,annie met him4 ,he would have given much to be alone1 to fight his battle unobserved2 but no1 it was better that he should not dwell on such painful1 unavailing thoughts4 ,annie glanced at him occasionally1 as with knitted brows he hurried forward1 but did not speak until he was about to turn the wrong way4 ,this is our street1 ,mr4 ,angus1 she said4 ,pardon me1 ,annie1 ,i am usually quick at finding my way1 but--,i am thinking about your ,sunday school4 ,were the children more inattentive to-day than usual8 ,no1 sir4 ,marion goes wild about it4 ,she thinks everything in it is horrid4 ,i heard her talking to the superintendent2 she told him the mode of teaching1 the want of order1 the singing1 were all as bad as could be2 but ,marion is a singer1 you know4 ,how long has this gentleman been superintendent8 ,only a few weeks4 ,they tried one and another1 but nobody would take it4 ,marion said ,mr4 ,molton only accepted because he was too good-natured to say ',i won't1' as the others did4 ,at the close of the evening service the congregation were not a little astonished by the request to remain in their seats for a few minutes after the benediction had been pronounced1 nor was the astonishment abated when the young pastor elect began to address them4 ,it was as well for them to know it now as any time4 ,he never made any unnecessary preliminary remarks2 he made a fierce dash at any subject and done with it4 ,every eye was fixed on him when he began4 ,owing to my peculiar views as to the dignity of the office of an ambassador of ,christ1 ,i declined to come among you as a candidate for your favor4 ,i knew nothing of the state of your church and society4 ,i had no experience to guide me1 except that derived from my mission work among the poorest of the poor1--among those so eager for the bread of life that it was a glorious privilege to break it for them4 ,i find your church large in numbers2 ,i--yes ,i must say it--,i am appalled1 ,i am young4 ,it is not yet too late for you to relieve me from the responsibilities which may prove too much for me4 ,his head sank on his breast as a murmur1 ,no6 no6 ,we want you1 ran through the audience4 ,his voice trembled with emotion as1 after a brief pause1 he spoke again4 ,god's will be done2 there is a great work to do here4 ,we must begin with the ,sunday school4 ,the help of every father and mother and child is necessary4 ,above all1 we must earnestly besiege the throne of grace for divine help4 ,brethren and sisters1 pray for each other and pray for your pastor1 for his guidance2 that he may be holy1 humble1 earnest1 and hopeful in his work of winning souls for the ,master4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,the ,,home ,,for ,,the ,,sick4 ,,in one of the main avenues in a large city stands a spacious building enclosed in garden4 ,the edifice and its ornamental surroundings occupy an entire square4 ,lofty trees and low shrubs1 parterres of flowers1 picturesque arbors with rustic seats1 gravelled walks winding in and out among the blossoms1 prove to the passer-by that this is truly what the name indicates1--a ,home for the ,sick4 ,a ,russian nobleman1 after a thorough examination of the building itself1 its lofty ceilings and thorough ventilation1 its conveniences for heating and cooking1 its laundry department1 its beautiful1 sunny wards1 with the well-trained nurses moving quietly from cot to cot for the relief of the sufferers1 was asked1-- ,what do you think of our hospital8 ,with a burst of enthusiasm he exclaimed1 ,it isn't a hospital1 it is a palace where the king receives his guests and takes care of them4 ,at this moment a carriage is drawn up before the principal entrance and a young woman is assisted to alight4 ,presently two men approach with a chair1 in which she is seated1 a young lady who has accompanied her walking by her side4 ,this is not her first visit to the hospital4 ,for months together she lay prostrate1 struggling for life1 going away at last1 not strong1 certainly1 but with a prospect of perfect recovery4 ,now she knew she had come home to die4 ,yes1 it was home in the truest and sweetest sense of the word1 for here she had been born of the ,spirit4 ,old things had passed away and all things had become new4 ,here she had joined herself to the people of ,god1 confessing ,jesus ,christ to be her only hope for pardon and peace4 ,she no longer shuddered at the approach of the grim messenger2 she was ready to welcome him whenever her ,saviour called her to his immediate presence4 ,she was placed in her old bed1 endeared by so many precious memories1 where she could see the setting sun1 and by his resplendent glories be reminded of the ,sun of ,righteousness in whose effulgent beams her soul would bask for ever and ever4 ,oh1 no6 there was no terror in the thought of death2 the language of her heart was1 ,come1 ,lord ,jesus1 come quickly4 ,as she lay reposing on her spotless couch1 her cheek rivalling the whiteness of her pillow1 she clasped her hands1 exclaiming1-- ,how good ,god is6 ,think of my being allowed to come home1 to have my own bed6 ,you were so thoughtful1 dear friend1 to ask for that favor4 ,this room has been like heaven to me4 ,i am afraid ,i ought not to be so happy4 ,she glanced wistfully in her companion's face1 who understood the appeal and answered1 warmly1 ,god has forgiven the past1 dear4 ,we are told to 'forget the things that are behind1 and press forward4' ,you have given that burden to the ,saviour2 don't take it back again3 it shows distrust of ,his loving care for those you have committed to ,him4 ,if ,i could only know before ,i die that he is safe--,i mean that he has accepted ,christ1--,i would ask no more4 ,poverty1 even want1 ,i do not care for4 ,poverty brought me here1 where ,i found my precious1 waiting ,saviour2 but oh1 if ,i could know that in his wanderings ,god's spirit has led him into the truth1 how ,i would praise ,his name to all eternity6 ,an expression of holy rapture beamed from every feature4 ,her friend gazed with glistening eyes4 ,softly laying her hand on the head of the dying girl1 she repeated the words1 who giveth us the victory through our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,rising1 she pressed her lips to the forehead of the sufferer1 whispered1 ,i shall come again tomorrow1 and left the room4 ,in the morning ,stella found herself so much refreshed by sleep that when the chaplain came into the ward she requested the privilege of having private communion administered to her4 ,this gentleman1 ,rev4 ,mr4 ,owen1 was not a stranger to her4 ,it was his faithful words which had cut so deep into her heart that for weeks her soul writhed with self-inflicted torture4 ,it was a sermon he preached one ,sunday when she was in the chapel which brought her to the feet of ,jesus1 clothed and in her right mind4 ,the text was this1 ,if ye forgive men their trespasses1 your heavenly ,father will also forgive you2 but if ye forgive not men their trespasses1 neither will your ,father forgive your trespasses4 ,how quickly the gracious promise had been fulfilled in her case6 ,her heart1 which had hardened to flint while cherishing anger toward one whom she believed had injured her1 grew tender and loving under the softening influence of the spirit of forgiveness4 ,no sooner did she cast away the vile serpent which had coiled itself so closely around her vitals as to crush out every vestige of affection1 than the dove of peace flew down and nestled in her bosom4 ,to the chaplain ,stella had related some facts in the history of her early life1 with a mere hint at some events which had blasted her happiness4 ,only to the loved and trusted friend of her own age1 one who had secured a place for her in this happy home1 and brought her hither1 had she confessed that her own temper1 jealousy1 and distrust had greatly aggravated her sufferings4 ,mr4 ,owen knew enough to understand that1 whatever the past had been1 she was now repentant1 that she had listened to the invitation1 ,come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden1 and that ,jesus ,christ had given her rest4 ,in an interview with the chaplain preparatory to her receiving the precious memorials of ,christ's love1 she once more announced her faith in ,christ as her only hope for a poor sinner like herself1 and her belief that ,he would answer her prayers for one long lost to her1 that1 if he were still living1 he would be brought to love her ,saviour1 and to forgive her1 as she had1 from the heart1 forgiven him4 ,the effect of this service was so refreshing that for several days she was quite free from the extreme suffering for breath which had so exhausted her4 ,according to her request1 her friend1 in one of her daily calls1 had brought her paper and pens1 and1 bolstered up in bed1 she spent nearly an hour every day in writing4 ,the end came at last unexpectedly4 ,she was sitting nearly upright listening to the last chapters in the ,revelation1 when1 with a wave of her hand to stop the reading1 she repeated in a full voice the words just read3 ,and ,god shall wipe away all tears from their eyes2 and there shall be no more death1 neither sorrow1 nor crying2 neither shall there be any more pain1 for the former things are passed away4 ,she paused1 raised her eyes1 a bright smile illumined her face2 she pointed upward1 then with a little gasp her spirit fled away to the ,saviour in whom she trusted4 ,waiting only to ask permission from the superintendent to pay all necessary expenses1 and to learn when the funeral services would be attended1 her friend gazed for the last time on the marble countenance1 so peaceful in its calm repose1 then1 taking from the nurse a package directed to her care1 passed quietly from the room4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,ethel ,,and ,,her ,,pastor4 ,,now that the ordination services had passed1 the young clergyman girded himself up for his work among his people4 ,it was his chosen work1 and1 could he have blotted a few pages from the book of his past life1 he would have gone forward with hope as well as with courage4 ,during the few days preceding the ordination1 he humbled himself before ,god1 asking help of the ,divine ,spirit to search out whatever was wrong in his heart and help him to overcome in whatever tempted him4 ,still there was a kind of bewilderment in his mind1 a kind of waiting to see whether his ,father in heaven1 who knew every event of his life1 might not interpose even yet and by his providence send him back to his work among the poor in the city4 ,during these days the influence of the sweet child ,ethel did much to quiet him and inspire him to more confidence in gaining the affection of his people4 ,she used to fix her eyes so wistfully on his1 as she sat opposite him at table1 watching and waiting for the smile which now and then flitted across his features1-- a smile not soon forgotten1 so entirely did it change the whole expression of his countenance4 ,at his bidding she would come and nestle herself in his arms1 never obtruding herself on his notice1 but quietly submitting to having her hand held tenderly and occasionally put to his lips4 ,her brother ,joe1 or ,gardner1 as his mother called him1 was rather a saucy boy1 the only son1 and of course a great pet4 ,when he thought ,mr4 ,angus was out of the house1 he would march up and down the long hall singing1 ,our pastor is a rare1 rare man1 ,he sings so fine you cannot tell1 ,his smile is bright as bright can be1 ,but then he only smiles for ,ethel4 ,look here1 ,i'll tell you a secret1 he said to ,annie4 ,my poetry will be the making of me4 ,i have succeeded so well in my first effort ,i intend to publish a book of poems1 and ,i shall dedicate it to the ,rev4 ,harold ,angus1 who first inspired my muse4 ,isn't that the way they put it8 ,i shall have1 let me see1 how many copies printed for private use1 one for mother1 ,marion1 and you1--counting on his fingers--one for ,mr4 ,angus and ,ethel1 five1 and ,i'll keep one for myself4 ,annie laughed heartily1 as she said1 ,if the rest is as fine as your first verse1 no doubt there will be a great sale4 ,i'm so glad ,mr4 ,angus is to live here4 ,only for the present4 ,he said he wouldn't ask more1 and then he whispered baby to plead for him4 ,wasn't it funny how seriously the little puss took it8 ,when she found there was even a possibility of his going away1 she walked right up to pa and said1-- ',do you want your little girl to go way off8' ',no1 puss1 what do you mean8' ',why1 you know if ,mr4 ,angus goes ,i shall have to go4 ,he can't go alone1 and he hasn't any little girl but me4' ',in that case1' pa said1 'the matter is soon settled2 pa can't spare his baby any way4' ,in a few weeks the ,sunday school was completely reorganized4 ,every teacher was obliged to be present at the teachers' meeting on ,saturday afternoon1 to be promptly in her or his place every ,sunday2 or1 if unable to do so1 to send a substitute4 ,a ,bible class for adults had beer formed1 taught by the pastor1 and this soon outgrew the accommodations in the ,sunday-school room1 and had to adjourn into the church4 ,here more than anywhere else ,mr4 ,angus felt at home4 ,if it were a mistake for one with a past like his to stand up in ,god's place1 it certainly was right for him to help others to study ,god's word1 and so to study it that the effect on their lives might be for the honor of ,christ4 ,honestly and truly1 he did try to throw off the burden which often weighed his spirits to the earth1 and yet there were hours when the agony of his mind was almost more than he could bear1 when he could only cry1-- ,dear ,lord1 ,thou knowest all4 ,put ,thine almighty arm around me4 ,hear my prayers and grant me relief4 ,visit not1 ,o ,lord1 upon others the chastening for my deserts4 ,save me1 and ,i will praise ,thy name for ever and ever4 ,day by day he buried himself in study or in visits among his people1 ,joe frequently conveying him to the outskirts of the parish in his father's buggy4 ,one afternoon he had been alone to a distant part of the town1 and was returning1 when he stopped at a small thread and needle store to purchase a pair of gloves4 ,behind the counter was a young girl who attracted his attention by a peculiarly merry expression4 ,the color deepened in her cheeks as she took down box after box1 searching for the right number1 and at last she asked him to excuse her ignorance1 as she was only a new hand4 ,this pair seems to be very elastic1 she said1 striving in vain to control the muscles of her face1 which1 in spite of her efforts1 dimpled and beamed in the most mirth-provoking manner4 ,she stretched the kid across the back of the glove1 and held it out to him1 when he put out his hand for her to measure it4 ,he could scarcely help noticing that the fingers of the shop girl were beautifully tapering1 and that her one ring1 though not a diamond1 was large and costly4 ,just as he was paying for the gloves1 a woman1 fat and rosy1 came bustling in1 exclaiming1 as she saw what was passing1-- ,well1 ,i never did6 ,why1 ,miss-- ,she checked herself suddenly1 warned by a glance from the young lady4 ,the clergyman had scarcely reached the street when he heard the woman's voice saying1-- ,that's the new parson4 ,folks like him1 mostly1 though they do say he's kind o' stiff and proud4 ,the reflections caused by these words were not pleasant4 ,it was possible that when his thoughts were dwelling on his own painful experience his manner might be reticent4 ,if they consider me proud1 was his reflection1 how little they know me6 ,why1 ,i would exchange gladly with those rough boys playing ball yonder1 if by doing so ,i would get rid of these harrowing memories4 ,well1 ,i owe my thanks to the woman1 though ,i suppose she scarcely intended that ,i should hear her criticisms4 ,then he began to wonder who the shop girl could be4 ,she was so evidently out of place there2 and what caused her mirth8 ,alone as he was1 he laughed heartily as he recalled the dimpled curves around that arch mouth1 and wondered whether there had been any reason personal to himself which brought these dimples into such full play4 ,letting himself into the house by his night-key1 he went directly to his chamber1 where he remained until summoned by the bell to the tea-table4 ,ethel1 at sound of his step1 rushed to the door to meet him1 her voice ringing joyously as she exclaimed1-- ,my ,marion has come6 ,i'll show her to you4 ,pulling him eagerly forward1 she brought him face to face again with-- the shop girl2 stood for an instant gazing at them1 then1 in the fulness of her content1 and wishing to give one grand proof of her love1 she added1-- ,i'll let you kiss her if you want to4 ,a burst of laughter followed1 during which ,mr4 ,angus had time to catch the little girl in his arms and whisper something in her ear1 ,marion1 meanwhile1 growing very rosy as she waited for a formal introduction from her uncle4 ,my niece1 ,miss ,howard1 ,rev4 ,mr4 ,angus1 our pastor4 ,the gentleman cordially extended his hand4 ,their eyes met and they both laughed4 ,after they were seated at the table1 ,marion1 who was sitting next her uncle and opposite the clergyman1 with a merry glance in his direction1 explained3-- ,i have met ,mr4 ,angus before4 ,where did you meet him8 ,in the city8 ,i had the pleasure of purchasing a pair of gloves from the store where ,miss ,howard is employed4 ,i have tried on the gloves since1 he added1 glancing archly in her blushing face1 and ,i assure you they fit extremely well4 ,marion threw back her head and laughed heartily1 and as mirth is more contagious than any fever1 all present joined in the mirth1 though there were loud calls for an explanation4 ,it is only1 she said1 that ,i called on my way from the depot to see ,mary ,falkner1 and as her mother was very busy1 ,i offered to sit by ,mary's bed while she finished her washing4 ,some one came into the shop4 ,mrs4 ,falkner was in the clothes-yard1 and did not hear1 and ,i at last went forward1 supposing1 of course1 that ,i should be called on for a spool of thread or a paper of pins4 ,i am sorry1 sir1 that ,i could not serve you better1 but under the circumstances ,i did as well as ,i knew how4 ,but ,i am forgetting my errand to you4 ,i charged you too much for the gloves1 and ,mrs4 ,falkner trusted me with the change to be returned1 which ,i now make over to you2 passing twenty-five cents in silver across the table4 ,i shall take an early opportunity to show my appreciation of ,mrs4 ,falkner's fair dealing1 responded ,mr4 ,angus1 smiling1 as he put the silver in his pocket4 ,but with an instant change in his tone1 ,who is this ,mary ,falkner8 ,does she belong to my charge8 ,yes1 sir2 she is a poor cripple2 so patient and cheerful1 that it is a lesson to see her4 ,it almost brings tears to my eyes to hear her talk of ,god's mercy to her1 and how ,he inclines the hearts of people to supply her wants4 ,why1 even the coming of customers to the store for a few pennies' worth of thread is a subject for thankfulness4 ,she is1 indeed1 to be envied4 ,i regret that ,i have not seen her4 ,such calls are needed by a pastor for his own good4 ,marion's beaming face bore witness to her approbation of this sentiment1 as she remarked1-- ,there is no place in the parish where a visit from you would be more prized than in poor ,mary's chamber4 ,dear little ,ethel1 how hard it was for her1 during the few days of ,marion's visit1 to divide her favors equally between her two friends4 ,by this time the friendship between her and her pastor had become very close4 ,in a small locker under his bookcase were some of her choicest toys1 brought hither from time to time2 and with these she would amuse herself so quietly that he almost forgot her presence4 ,during his study hours he often rose from his books and paced the floor while he arranged the topics of his sermons4 ,one glance showed her he was busy1 and she scarcely moved4 ,sometimes he seated himself in a large chair for the same purpose1 when the little one1 watching every movement1 obeyed the motion of his hand1 and with her favorite dolly in her arms1 silently crept to his lap1 sitting so quiet that she often fell asleep4 ,once her father1 coming unexpectedly from his office to the house1 inquired for her1 and was told she was with ,mr4 ,angus in his study4 ,the child heard his voice1 and putting her little fat hand on her mouth to keep herself quiet1 went softly from the room4 ,i'm afraid you will disturb ,mr4 ,angus1 her father said4 ,what do you do in there8 ,i keep stiller than a mouse1 'cause they nibble cheese and ,i don't1 and ,i make sermons with ,mr4 ,angus4 ,make sermons1 eh8 laughing2 well1 you'd better come with me and make the horse go4 ,now if she obeyed ,marion's invitation for a walk with her1 she watched anxiously for any marks of disapprobation from her other friend1 nor was she quite satisfied until she had made it clear to him that she loved him just the same1 but that her ,marion was only going to be with her a little while1 and would feel badly if she did not go for a walk4 ,to her cousin she also explained why she did not as heretofore devote herself entirely to her society4 ,i have to take care of him1 you know1 because he has nobody but me4 ,he doesn't look as sorry as he did4 ,it always makes me cry to see tears roll down his cheeks4 ,cry6 repeated ,marion1 quite shocked4 ,yes2 when we're praying to ,jesus to make us good1 he says we must always tell ,jesus when we have been naughty1 and ,he will forgive us right off4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,a ,,happy ,,christian4 ,,from the first ,marion had been agreeably impressed with ,mr4 ,angus2 though after hearing from ,aunt ,thankful of his first sermon and his cry for help after the evening service1 agreed with her aged friend that he must have known real sorrow2 sorrow from the effects of which he could not all at once rally4 ,after hearing his prayers1 it seemed to her impossible to believe that his sorrow was caused by any act of his own4 ,if so1 she was certain that it had been heartily repented of4 ,the scene so innocently referred to by ,ethel took hold of her imagination4 ,in the solitude of his chamber he knelt1 his little pet by his side1 her hand held fast in his1 while tears ran down his cheeks1 as he implored forgiveness for past offences4 ,do what she ,would1 she could not shake off the memories of this scene4 ,marion was young in years1 only twenty-three her next birthday2 but her life had been an eventful one4 ,blessed with ,christian parents1 her opening mind eagerly imbibed the practical truths of the ,bible4 ,jesus ,christ was embraced as her ,saviour from sin in this life1 and from the punishment of sin in the life to come4 ,god was to her a tender1 loving ,father1 to whom she might go at any hour1 with the same freedom as she approached her earthly father4 ,she realized in an unusual manner ,his watchful providence1 guiding and guarding her at every step of her young life4 ,when at the age of seventeen she was bereft of both her earthly parents1 she accepted in all their fulness the promises of ,god to the fatherless ones1 and never had these gracious promises failed4 ,her education being incomplete1 her guardian' sent her to ,new ,york ,city to the care of her father's sister1 an amiable but thoroughly worldly woman4 ,mrs4 ,williamson considered her duty accomplished when she had seen her niece arrayed in the most becoming mourning attire1 had entered her at a fashionable institution1 and introduced her to her own select circle4 ,but these surroundings1 so unlike the quiet refinement of her own sweet home1 instead of weaning the young orphan from the pure pleasures of a ,christian life1 left her with such a yearning for the society of those who sympathized in her dearest joys that she resolved to spend more time than ever in communion with her ,saviour4 ,happy indeed are those who1 losing ,christian companionship1 are driven for comfort to ,christ himself4 ,his love can so fill the soul thus depending on ,him as to compensate for the loss of every earthly solace4 ,marion was allowed to choose her own church1 and at once joined a ,bible class1 where her hunger for instruction so animated her classmates and so encouraged her teacher that the most happy results followed4 ,during the hours in the day devoted to secular studies ,marion worked with all her might4 ,she knew it to be right to do her very best1 and even with the branches of exact science1 which were irksome1 she conquered her reluctance and soon made her mark as a scholar of unusual ability4 ,music was1 however1 her specialty4 ,it was passion with her1 and even before her parents' death1 her skill as a pianist as well as her power with her voice distinguished her4 ,how plainly ,i can see a ,father's hand leading me all the way through6 she used to say4 ,he gave me the ability to sing1 and when the right time came ,he allowed me the privilege of using my voice for the comfort of others4 ,she alluded to the fact of being invited by a gentleman connected with her ,sunday school to sing for the patients at the ,home for the ,sick4 ,in connection with this first visit she used to say1-- ,never did ,i know such real happiness as when ,i found myself able to comfort those those poor1 weary ones1 ,christ's own sufferers4 ,when one woman1 taking my hand1 thanked me with moistened eyes for the words of cheer1 it was an impulse ,i could scarcely resist to fall on my knees and thank her for letting me sing for her4 ',you have lighted the path to the grave4 ,i'm not afraid now1' gasped one whose wings were plumed for her flight4 ,oh6 exclaimed ,marion1 clasping her hands to her breast as she recalled the scene4 ,who am ,i1 that ,i should be so blessed8 ,during the summer months ,mr4 ,williamson usually travelled with his family or passed the time at some fashionable resort1 and it was his earnest wish that ,marion should accompany them4 ,but after a week spent at a gay hotel she told her uncle she found it unendurable2 and insisted on going alone1 if he could not find an escort for her1 to visit her ,aunt ,asbury4 ,she arrived when the whole family were watching the fading away of a young life4 ,helen1 the oldest daughter1 about whom so many hopes had clustered1 the light of the home1 the pride of parents and friends1 had received a summons to leave all that had hitherto been so dear and enter on the unknown1-- the infinite4 ,shuddering with fear1 she turned to her parents for help1 but they could only weep and wring their hands4 ,at length their clergyman was summoned1 and from this hour his visits were frequent4 ,the knitted brow had given way to a calm seriousness1 as with trembling lips she said1 ,i do believe ,christ is my ,saviour1 and that ,he will lead me safely home4 ,her parents1 too1 if not really submissive1 were trying to say1 ,thy will be done4 ,the coming of ,marion at such a crisis was indeed a blessing4 ,her very first words as she sat down by the bedside1 after offering and receiving a loving embrace1 lit up the face of the dying girl with a ray of ,heaven's own light4 ,o ,helen1 how ,i wish ,i could change places with you6 ,going home to ,christ1 to be with ,him forever1 to see the dear saints who have gone before1 to talk to them of what ,jesus has done for you1 to sing with them the new song1 ',worthy the ,lamb1' to sit down by the beloved ,john1 to see ,peter and hear him repeat the story of his grief at the denial of his ,lord1 to talk with ,moses and ,joseph and ,samuel1 to think that you will be forever free from the struggles with sin1 that you will be holy as ,he is holy4 ,dear ,helen1 you are indeed to be envied4 ,yes1 ,i can thank ,god now4 ,helen's smile was radiant4 ,tears were streaming down ,mrs4 ,asbury's cheeks1 but wholly unconscious of them1 the lady rose and kissed ,marion1 saying softly1-- ,thank ,god you have come6 ,your visit will do us all good4 ,mr4 ,asbury had not known much of his niece1 though he was one of her guardians4 ,he watched her closely1 trying to account for the change in his household4 ,every day rendered it more certain that a grim messenger was hovering about1 waiting for an opportunity to enter1 but his approach was no longer dreaded4 ,the chamber where the patient sufferer lay seemed the brightest in the house4 ,marion1 who had constituted herself chief nurse1 went in and came out with a smile4 ,her voice was often heard singing there1 not sad1 pensive strains1 but notes with a ring of triumph4 ,the names of our blessed ,lord1 ,jesus1 ,immanuel1 ,saviour1 were constantly repeated1 and dwelt on lovingly4 ,the very words seemed to give strength1 even in the lingering echoes4 ,on one occasion1 ,mr4 ,asbury1 too anxious to remain long absent from the house1 quietly entered the chamber just as ,marion began a familiar hymn4 ,he had often heard it before1 but never with such a thrill as now4 ,even the dying girl was joining in the singing4 ,how sweet the name of ,jesus sounds ,in a believer's ear1 ,it soothes his sorrows1 heals his wounds1 ,and drives away his fear4 ,it makes the wounded spirit whole1 ,and calms the troubled breast2 ',tis manna to the hungry soul1 ,and to the weary1 rest4 ,weak is the effort of my heart1 ,and cold my warmest thought2 ,but when ,i see ,thee as ,thou art1 ,i'll praise ,thee as ,i ought4 ,till then ,i would ,thy love proclaim ,with every fleeting breath2 ,and may the music of ,thy name ,refresh my soul in death4 ,gazing into that rapt face1 so elevated above all the pains and sorrows of earth1 the father could not doubt that the prayer in these last lines was answered4 ,the soul was refreshed1 invigorated1 and made infinitely blessed by the music of that precious name4 ,a prayer rose to ,heaven from one hitherto unused to prayer1 ,breathe1 ,o ,lord1 into my soul such love for ,thee as may fill my heart with peace and joy when ,i go down to the dark valley4 ,the end came at last1 suddenly1 though long looked for4 ,the messenger was not unwelcome4 ,he was greeted with a smile so sweet1 so rapt1 that all gazed in wonder4 ,calmly the dying girl put her hand in his1 while ,marion in a clear voice repeated the inspired words1 ',though ,i walk through the valley of the shadow of death1 ,i will fear no evil2 for ,thou art with me2 ,thy rod and ,thy staff they comfort me4' ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,the ,,music ,,teacher4 ,,the triumphant death of the eldest daughter was followed by marked religious improvement in the family4 ,both ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,asbury publicly confessed their faith in ,christ4 ,the family altar was erected with this inscription1 ,as for me and my house1 we will serve the ,lord4 ,marion1 too1 received a new impetus in her chosen work1--the work of a soul-winner4 ,i want to be a missionary1 was her reply to her uncle1 when he was urging her to remain permanently in his family4 ,i have already begun to make many projects for the poor in ,new ,york ,city4 ,but1 ,marion1 you are too young1 too attractive1 to go alone among the poor4 ,don't say too attractive1 uncle4 ,i want to be as attractive as possible4 ,understand me1 she added1 laughing1 with a visible heightening of color1 ,i want to be loved and trusted2 and ,i thank ,god that ,i am--am not repulsive in appearance4 ,too young ,i certainly am to go alone2 and that is why ,i have kept dear old ,hepsey4 ,aunty thinks me obstinate1 incorrigible1 because ,i don't dismiss the poor old creature1 as she calls her1 and have a fashionable ,french maid4 ,dear aunty6 ,i'm afraid she would think me a fit subject for the lunatic asylum if she knew where ,hepsey and ,i go4 ,i'm afraid1 ,marion1 that ,i shall have to agree with ,mrs4 ,williamson that you are a little wilful4 ,put yourself in my place1 and ask yourself whether it would be right for me to consent to your going into those infected regions in ,new ,york4 ,you might catch small-pox1 or cholera1 or something dreadful4 ,she caught his arm1 and gave it a loving squeeze1 then with an arch glance in his face1 exclaimed1 ,you ought to praise me for telling you all this4 ,i have never told ,uncle nor ,aunt ,williamson4 ,but seriously1 uncle1 ,i haven't a particle of fear4 ,the sanitary arrangements in a city like ,new ,york are excellent4 ,i love life too well1 and ,i have too great a work in it to put myself in danger4 ,besides1 ,i have the earnest approval of dear ,helen4 ,i talked with her more freely than ,i ever did with any one1 and she1 standing on the border land between this life and the next1 with ,heaven's own light on her1 said1-- ',go on1 ,marion4 ,yours is a blessed work4 ,god will protect you in it4' ,oh1 how that benediction has encouraged me6 ,what could ,mr4 ,asbury answer to such pleading8 ,and so ,marion had gone on1 from step to step1 till ,mr4 ,williamson was fain to resign his ward to other and firmer hands4 ,her aunt1 having exhausted all the adjectives in her denunciations1 and having informed her thousand and one friends that her niece was a bigoted fanatic1 who1 if permitted1 would convert their house into an asylum for paupers1 coolly turned her back upon her1 entirely ignoring her existence4 ,in consequence of all this1 ,marion's twenty-first birthday found her in apartments of her own1 with ,hepsey for her confidential adviser2 not satisfied1 as her aunt explained1 with a life of luxurious refinement1 such as befitted her wealth and position in society1 but actually engaged as music teacher in ,madame ,la ,vergne's institute4 ,this last step1 indeed1 had been earnestly protested against by her ,uncle ,asbury1 and she was obliged to bring all her powers of coaxing1 arguing1 and pleading to bear upon him before he would yield a reluctant consent4 ,these young girls are just entering life1 was her concluding plea1 without either chart or compass to guide them4 ,they will by and by exert a powerful influence either for good or evil4 ,in no other way can ,i so readily gain an influence over them4 ,if ,i can win only one of them to higher aims in life1 will it not be worth the effort8 ,even ,mrs4 ,asbury expostulated with her niece4 ,you are free1 she urged1 to go into any society you please1 and you surely can find young ladies quite as much in need of good influences as those connected with ,madame ,la ,vergne's school4 ,you will1 when too late1 perhaps1 find it very irksome to be confined to certain hours4 ,now aunty1 dear1 don't you turn against me4 ,i have thought so much of this plan1 and my conscience approves1 but ,i want your approval also4 ,well1 ,i may as well confess it2 there are certain reasons why ,i want to influence these particular girls1 two of whom are in danger4 ,they were my pets when ,i was their schoolmate1 and think ,i have already gained their confidence4 ,after all that is said1 resumed ,mr4 ,asbury you have power to do as you please4 ,you are absolutely your own mistress1 with an independent fortune1 but-- ,marion drew up her queenly form and for an instant looked seriously displeased1 but quickly recovering herself1 said1 ,i'm sure1 uncle1 you do not mean to hurt me4 ,you and aunty are all ,i have who really and truly love me1 so if you positively refuse your consent to my devoting a few hours in a day to an employment which is congenial to me1 with the hope of being useful to two motherless girls1 ,i will relinquish my project4 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,asbury glanced at each other as ,marion quietly left the room1 when with a laugh the gentleman said1-- ,what a way the girl has of carrying all before her4 ,she must try her plan1 ,i suppose4 ,i wonder who those two girls are4 ,and ,marion did try it4 ,how well she succeeded in her efforts for their good will be revealed in the pages of our book4 ,her life was a busy one4 ,often1 when she retired to rest1 both body and brain were weary1 and yet she was very happy4 ,in her own home she tended her flowers and fed her birds with a song on her lips4 ,she met her friends with a smile so sweet1 joyous1 and free from care that they envied her4 ,naturally1 she was overflowing with fun2 indeed1 her vivacity1 her quickness at repartee1 made her the life of any circle1 and her company1 while she resided with her uncle1 was sought by the young of both sexes4 ,it was not her intention to exclude herself wholly from society1 but she was resolute in her determination not to become a slave to fashion1 the degrading effects of such slavery having1 even at her age1 been forced on her notice4 ,i never saw any one who enjoyed life more than ,miss ,howard1 was the remark of an old gentleman1 after watching her at a musical party4 ,she was surrounded by a group of young people to whom she was relating a story1 the arch expression on her face bringing into play all her dimples4 ,gradually one and another1 some advanced in life1 drew nearer1 eager to share in the enjoyment4 ,perceiving this1 ,marion skilfully drew her story to a close1 and engaged others in conversation1 asking questions1 and showing herself so anxious to please that a half-hour passed most delightfully4 ,singular being1 muttered ,mr4 ,lambert1 an irascible old man who had been introduced to her4 ,not a word of scandal1 thirty-five minutes1 and no gossip4 ,pshaw6 ,fact1 no talk about religion either4 ,a strange fanatic that4 ,stranger still1 perhaps1 that the old man persistently lingered in the neighborhood of ,miss ,howard1 leaning forward to catch every word1 drinking in the musical ripple of laughter1 which ,marion's friends used to call one of her greatest charms1 watching the pure1 fresh countenance1 the merry1 earnest eyes1 until the ice about his heart began to thaw4 ,when they parted1 to no one's surprise more than to his own1 he extended his hand1 and gave hers a warm pressure as he said1-- ,i am glad that ,i have met one who has no trouble4 ,i am an orphan1 responded ,marion1 tears suddenly dimming her eyes1 but ,i have a dear ,father who is so very good to me4 ,you do love life then1 even though your parents have left you4 ,there was a touch of sarcasm in his voice which made her pity him4 ,oh1 yes2 ,i am very happy to be alive4 ,there is so much to be done4 ,i envy nothing so much as the leisure hours some do not know what to do with4 ,yes1 it is good to live4 ,what can you find to employ other people's leisure beside your own8 ,she gave one quick1 earnest glance into his face1 paused a moment1 and then answered1-- ,i try to make others happy4 ,she was turning away when he caught her hand1 and with a strange twitching around his mouth1 said1-- ,you seem to be in earnest4 ,i1 who doubt every one1 find it hard to doubt you4 ,if you mean that you try to help the poor1 you will find it a thankless task4 ,it doesn't pay4 ,there was intense bitterness in his tone4 ,but1 my dear sir1 that is because you go to the wrong paymaster4 ,he has promised that even a cup of cold water given for ,his sake shall receive its reward4 ,poor man6 ,doubting every one1 endured only for the sake of your money2 how ,i pity you1 was ,marion's reflection1 as she drove swiftly with ,hepsey beside her4 ,i wish ,i could give you a lesson in true happiness4 ,i'll try6 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,,games ,,and ,,entertainments4 ,,all this had occurred long before our first introduction to the young lady4 ,she still continued to give lessons in music at ,madame ,la ,vergne's school1 but received no compensation except in the case of three wealthy pupils4 ,the amount received from these three just defrayed the expense for tuition1 etc41 for two misses she was educating4 ,one of these1 ,annie ,leman1 gave promise of great proficiency in music4 ,marion had speedy occasion to remember her resolution with regard to ,mr4 ,lambert4 ,she was making some visits in a street crowded with tenement houses1 and had for the moment become separated from ,hepsey4 ,with a basket on her arm she was trying to make her way up a crazy flight of stairs when she heard a quick step behind her4 ,you have caused me a pretty race1 shouted a man's voice1 which she instantly recalled as belonging to her irascible friend4 ,good for heart complaint1 very6 putting his hand upon his breast and breathing quickly4 ,possessing himself of her basket1 he lifted the cover1 and said with a sneer1 ,just as ,i supposed2 tea and sugared dainties--ought to be arrested--idiotic--pests to society--humbug --sentiment and nonsense6 ,he was muttering away1 when he caught her look of pity1 which rendered him furious4 ,how dare you come here8 he shouted4 ,you1 who claim to belong to decent society4 ,you1 a chit of a girl1 alone and unprotected in such a region of filth and pollution4 ,marion's cheeks flushed with anger1 and she was going to retort in a like strain1 but something in his appearance checked her4 ,he looked so thin and wan and friendless4 ,suddenly the anger faded away and with a smile she held out her hand for the basket1 saying playfully1-- ,if you had waited a minute1 you would have seen that ,i am not alone here2 and ,i have good company while you are near to protect me4 ,nonsense6 ,his mouth twitched and she was sure his eyes twinkled at this unexpected retort4 ,when finding herself mistress of the situation1 she asked1-- ,how dare you come here8 ,it is very dangerous1 pointing to the staircase1 which ,hepsey at this moment was trying to climb4 ,saw you--thought you--danger--better send police--not fit for one of your sex4 ,he turned off into one of the filthy rooms1 and they heard him scolding the inmates as though he enjoyed it4 ,what a brute6 muttered ,hepsey2 but ,marion ,only laughed1 adding1 ,i'm not a bit afraid of him4 ,as they were leaving the court he came up out of a cellar and joined them4 ,delightful vicinity2 very healthy1 too6 pointing to a stagnant pool of filth in which a pig was wallowing4 ,he shrugged his shoulders1 chuckling with mirth4 ,i see you enjoy it as much as we do1 ,mr4 ,lambert4 ,it's so good for the spirits to see people enjoying themselves4 ,a group of boys were playing marbles on the uneven pavement1 and scarcely moved for them to pass4 ,get out of the path1 he shouted1 striking his cane right and left4 ,don't you see you're in the way of your betters8 ,oh1 ,mr4 ,lambert6 exclaimed ,marion1 you have hurt that boy1 as one of the lads put his hand to his head1 sending after them a terrible oath4 ,pshaw6 they're not tender--good for them--business to get out of the way4 ,but when they were about to turn out of the street and parted company1 they saw him hurrying back to the group1 shaking his cane and shouting1 ,wait6 ,wait6 ,curious to know what he would do1 ,marion went back to the head of the street1 and saw the eccentric old man throw a handful of coins to the boys1 as he could not get them to wait for another beating4 ,what a disappointed life he must have had1 she said to ,hepsey1 after walking in silence for some minutes4 ,i wonder whether he has any heart left4 ,not likely1 miss1 was the brief reply4 ,a few weeks later ,marion was having quite a jubilee in her parlors4 ,she had invited all the older classes in the mission school1 and was entertaining them with a play called ,shadows4 ,at the end of the back parlor was a wide door across which a white curtain was stretched1 and the children sitting in the darkened rooms saw behind the curtain scenes which made them open both eyes and mouth in astonishment4 ,a man was sitting in a chair in a doctor's office and the physician was examining him4 ,first the outside of his head1 then the inside1 taking out with pincers1 one tooth after another and putting them in again1 taking from the patient's throat tumblers1 plates1 long-handled kitchen spoons1 a hammer1 and at last an umbrella1 which had to be pulled and jerked1 till the patient shrieked4 ,they were in the midst of all this when ,marion heard a familiar voice muttering1-- ,fool's play1--miserable waste--time1--money1--better send them to the penitentiary at once4 ,since their late interview ,marion had thought much of the strange1 lonely old man1 and had nearly made up her mind that he only tried to disguise his real feelings by his outlandish manner4 ,she gave him her hand cordially1 as she said1-- ,i did not invite you to my party1 ,mr4 ,lambert1 but ,i am very glad you came4 ,i was just needing some help4 ,my doctor in there needs a new patient3 come1 ,i will introduce you to him4 ,patient1 eh6 ,well1 ,i need a doctor badly enough4 ,what do you want me to do8 ,only to have your head cut off1 sir4 ,hem6 modest request1--very civil1 must say4 ,my head is as 'valuable to me as--yours1 for instance4 ,but he followed her to the hall1 from which they could pass to the room in the rear4 ,your head will be restored in as good a condition as it is now1 she explained1 with an arch smile4 ,presently the children saw the old gentleman take his seat in the chair1 his long beard distinctly visible through the curtain4 ,what do you complain of8 they heard the doctor ask4 ,liver6 shouted the patient4 ,haven't slept a wink for ten years4 ,not liver1 but conscience1--diseased conscience4 ,this was ,miss ,howard's voice4 ,it needs reorganizing1 sir4 ,it affects the whole body1 sir4 ,i shall begin with the head and cut away all the diseased part until we come to soundness1 sir4 ,is this the way you treat your patients8 ,i'll not stand it4 ,cut off my head1 indeed6 ,absolute necessity1 sir4 ,if you wish to be cured1 there must be no delay4 ,pretty sight for the public1--man minus head4 ,my salve1 sir1 my famous ,royal ,recuperative ,salve1 known throughout the world1 sir1 will make your head grow again in a few hours1 sir4 ,don't believe a word of such humbug2 but cut away2 something must be done4 ,the spectators held their breath as they saw the knife cut deep into the flesh1 then heard the saw cracking the bone1 and1 presently1 after a terrible groan1 the head was severed from the body and thrown to the floor4 ,just in time1 sir1 exclaimed the doctor1 cheerfully4 ,disease checked in time2 heart and lungs1 and liver too1 all right4 ,now for the salve6 ,they saw him rub the neck thoroughly with ointment from a box1 and then the patient was carefully moved from the chair4 ,the children remained in their seats awestruck1 but the gas was relit and ,miss ,howard came into the parlor looking particularly smiling4 ,wonder of wonders4 ,it was scarcely fifteen minutes before the patient appeared1 leaning on the arm of the doctor1 his head erect and firm as ever4 ,miraculous cure1 he muttered4 ,yes1 ,i'll write an account for your advertising paper4 ,head all right2 little tenderness here1 that's all1 pointing to his throat4 ,then1 said ,dr4 ,james1 laughing heartily1 as he took off his false mustache1 ,i will bid you good day1 sir1 and wish you joy of your new head4 ,mr4 ,lambert threw himself into a chair and went off into convulsions of laughter4 ,outdoes the theatre by all odds4 ,hurrah for the ,royal ,recuperative ,salve to cure diseased consciences6 ,i'll take twenty bottles6 ,hurrah6 ,in the mean time ,marion took the children behind the curtain and explained to them the method by which these wonders were accomplished4 ,she recalled ,james1 to show them that he only passed his hand down by the side of the throat1 when ,hepsey1 concealed from view1 passed to him tumblers1 umbrella1 etc41 all of which1 in the shadow1 seemed to come from the throat4 ,the decapitated head was made of pasteboard1 cut to resemble an old man with a beard4 ,the apartments occupied by ,marion were situated in a fashionable part of the city4 ,wishing to be entirely independent1 and yet desirous of avoiding the publicity of a hotel1 she had persuaded ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,mitchell1 friends of her parents1 to hire this house next to a hotel and allow her the entire use of the second floor4 ,her meals being sent in from the table d'hte1 she could indulge her hospitality without burdening her friends1 who were advanced in age4 ,besides ,hepsey1 she had a boy of sixteen years1 whom she employed in various ways1 accompanying her in stormy weather in her visits to the poor1 going errands1 etc4 ,this boy1 ,jim1 or1 as she called him1 ,james ,kelly1 was one of the first-fruits of her mission work1 and1 being an orphan like herself1 she was deeply interested in his welfare4 ,at the death of her parents1 their home in the country was rented1 the furniture1 with the exception of certain costly articles1 pictures1 etc41 being allowed to remain in the house4 ,these had been brought to the city1 and now beautified her pleasant home4 ,marion had a passion for flowers1 and at her own expense had built out from her parlor a small conservatory1 which was filled with her favorite plants4 ,one seldom saw her without a bud of some kind doing service for a brooch at her throat2 and in her calls upon the sick1 a few fresh-cut violets or a sweet rose-bud proved a great help in gaining the confidence she so earnestly sought4 ,believing1 as she did1 that our social qualities were given us to be cultivated1 our young friend gave frequent entertainments1 always supported by the presence of ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,mitchell4 ,to further her own plans she selected games1 encouraged charades1 improvised characters1 occasionally taking part herself1 on which occasions she abandoned herself to the enjoyment with the freshness of a child4 ,i believe1 she responded to a ,christian friend1 who was taking her to task for encouraging a taste for the theatrical1--,i believe that ,i have done more good by my charades than ,i could have hoped for in any other way4 ,in one instance ,i have in mind1 at a critical period for a young favorite1 ,i persuaded her to come to a charade ,i got up especially for her2 and ,i am satisfied the result was happy4 ,she was in danger of giving way to evil influences2 her conscience troubled her2 she became very irritable4 ,i had a little talk with her1 took her with me to visit a poor family1 who were indeed rich in faith1 and then invited her to my entertainment4 ,she came to me the second day after and1 with a burst of joyful tears1 threw herself into my arms1 exclaiming1-- ',i'm so happy3 the struggle is over4 ,oh1 ,i can never tell you how ,i thank you6' ,she had given up the acquaintance of one who was leading her astray1 who would have made her a wretched husband1 who had denounced ,christians as gloomy fanatics1 who considered laughing a sin1 etc4 ,my party1 mirthful and gay as it was1 commended itself to her conscience2 even the play itself conveyed to her excited mind a high moral sentiment1 as ,i had intended4 ,she went home1 passed the night pacing the floor1 while she asked help of ,god to decide aright4 ,she is now an earnest1 cheerful1 ,christian worker4 ,unsolicited1 she left the fashionable church which she had been attending1 and is my powerful alto singer at our mission4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,,pleasant ,,projects4 ,,on ,ethel's fifth birthday she claimed the promise of her mother1-- that she should sit up to family prayers4 ,except on ,sunday night1 when supper was served at an earlier hour than on other days1 it was her habit to eat her simple meal of bread and milk and be in bed before the ringing of the supper-bell4 ,sitting up for prayers was quite an era in her young life4 ,no sooner was the meal concluded than she brought her low chair and placed it close to ,mr4 ,angus4 ,it was the custom to sing a hymn before reading the ,scriptures1 and the pastor held the book so that ,ethel could look on the page with him4 ,as he named the hymn he merely remarked1 ,it is pleasant to have all join in this social worship4 ,the child1 considering herself included in this invitation1 as indeed she was1 began in a low timid tone to sing her own little hymn1 but presently1 becoming used to the sound of her voice1 sang so loud as almost to drown the tones of the piano1 upon which ,annie was playing4 ,over and over again she repeated the words1 ,jesus1 come and make me good1 good1 ,jesus come and make me good4 ,the tune as well as the words were improvised for the occasion1 and did not in the least chord with the notes they were singing4 ,most of those present smiled1 ,gardner tittered behind his book and about ,mr4 ,angus's mouth a suspicious twitching was noticed1 but no one interfered with the child's evident enjoyment of the occasion4 ,i'm quite sure1 remarked ,mr4 ,angus afterward1 as he seated ,ethel on his knee1 that ,jesus will hear and answer your prayer4 ,would you like to learn a hymn to sing with us8 ,ask your sister to teach you one1 and you can learn the tune also4 ,you have a very good voice4 ,a powerful one1 certainly1 added her father1 laughing4 ,mr4 ,angus early formed the acquaintance of ,mary ,falkner1 the crippled girl4 ,as ,marion had told him1 she was truly happy1 though at times a great sufferer4 ,in every event of her life she recognized a ,father's loving1 protecting hand1 and was so truly thankful for every favor received that it was a privilege to bestow kindness4 ,on one occasion1 when the pastor was sitting by her bedside1 realizing1 as afterward he insisted1 that he was receiving rather than giving consolation1 the door softly opened and ,marion1 unannounced1 walked in4 ,perceiving the visitor1 she was retiring when ,mr4 ,angus rose to leave4 ,don't go1 please1 ,mary said to ,marion1 ,i was just intending to ask the pastor to pray4 ,mr4 ,angus gave the sick girl his hand when his prayer was concluded saying1 as he bent over-her1 ,remember your promise to pray for me2 pray that1 whether led through a stony or a flowery path1 ,i may have my ,father's guidance as you have4 ,marion drew near the bedside as the pastor left the room1 and was not surprised at the enthusiasm manifested for him by the cripple4 ,he is such a kind friend1 so humble1 so devout4 ,his prayers raise me to heaven2 and he is mindful of my earthly wants too4 ,look here1 taking from an envelope a piece of silver1 he always leaves a token behind him1 laying it on my pillow without a word1--sometimes a dollar1 never less than half a dollar4 ,i was sure1 answered ,marion1 in a hearty voice1 that he would be a comfort to you4 ,you like him so much1 ,i have a great mind to ask you a question4 ,have you ever noticed any peculiarity in his prayers or in his manner8 ,tears gushed to ,mary's eyes which no physical suffering could have forced from them1 and1 clasping her hands1 she exclaimed1 ,oh1 how ,i wish ,i could comfort him6 ,and he says ,i have4 ,he has a deep1 abiding sorrow4 ,it is living sorrow1 too4 ,it cannot be grief for the dead4 ,once he quite forgot that ,i was present1 and he prayed2 but it is too sacred to repeat4 ,oh1 how my heart ached for him6 ,mary covered her face and wept4 ,i wish he would unburden his heart to you1 ,mary4 ,i'm sure you could comfort him4 ,he is a puzzle to me4 ,there is a weight on his spirits4 ,i have seen an expression of agony come over his face when he thought himself unobserved4 ,well1 we can pray ,god to appear for him4 ,i have never spoken of him in this way before4 ,grief is too sacred to meddle with1 at least such grief as his1 ,marion4 ,i have told my ,saviour about it4 ,when the young lady left the humble roof she repaired to the station near by to get her satchel1 and found ,mr4 ,angus just sending a telegram to the city4 ,he advanced eagerly to meet her1 holding out his hand4 ,you are the very one to advise me1 he said1 his whole face beaming4 ,i am a poor physician1 but ,i know something of medicine4 ,i have learned about ,mary's case1 and ,i do not feel hopeless of her recovery4 ,you live in the city of ,new ,york1 and have probably heard of the ,home for the ,sick4 ,certainly ,i have4 ,i often go there to visit my sick friends4 ,then you will agree with me that1 if ,i can procure a place for her in that ,christian home1 she will have a fair chance for recovery4 ,strange ,i never thought of it before1 murmured ,marion1 as though speaking to herself4 ,not at all strange4 ,it did not occur to me till this morning1 and ,i have just written a message to ,dr4 ,b-1 the superintendent1 asking to have a surgeon sent to examine the case4 ,i have myself been an inmate of the ,home1 and have the most entire confidence in the care and skill she would receive4 ,will they send so far1 ,mr4 ,angus8 ,i mean1 will there not be great expense8 ,excuse me1 but ,i would advise another plan4 ,mary is a great favorite of mine2 indeed1 ,i am under obligations to her4 ,there is an eminent surgeon in the next town1 whom ,i will take to see her this very day4 ,if he gives us hope1 ,i will go to the hospital at once on my return to the city4 ,i only wish ,i had thought of it years ago4 ,a curious expression on ,mr4 ,angus's face startled ,marion1 with a slight shrug of the shoulders1 which was strangely familiar to her4 ,it was as though he had said1--,you are taking the matter out of my hands with a vengeance4 ,marion laughed aloud4 ,don't think me officious in meddling with your plan1 she urged4 ,i'm a teacher1 you know1 and accustomed to give orders4 ,i shall at least claim the pleasure1 ,miss ,howard1 of bearing the expense necessary for placing her in the ,home4 ,i'll see about that4 ,marion gave one of those arch glances which brought her dimples into full play4 ,when she smiled1 it was like a child's face1 pure and fresh1 and sweet and loving4 ,for one moment1 as he gazed1 ,mr4 ,angus forgot his burden4 ,there might yet be something bright for him in life4 ,with a deep sigh he shouldered his burden again1 and this time it seemed weightier than ever before4 ,they walked in silence for a time1 the young lady puzzling herself to account for the strange associations connected with that peculiar expression on ,mr4 ,angus's face which had so startled her4 ,somehow it was connected with the ,home for the ,sick4 ,rousing herself1 and forgetting that his thoughts had not followed hers1 she asked1-- ,is it long since you were an inmate8 ,do you mean of the hospital8 ,yes4 ,it is five years this very month4 ,it was there ,i was healed not only in the body1 but the soul4 ,never did any poor mortal need a divine physician more than ,i did4 ,words cannot express my gratitude that a merciful ,father directed me to that spot4 ,the faithful chaplain found me weighed to the ground1 and persuaded me to allow an ,almighty ,arm to be placed beneath me4 ,pardon me1 he added1 suddenly interrupting himself1 ,i did not remember that to a stranger this must be a wearisome story4 ,i am not used to forget myself in this way4 ,he turned toward her a face drawn with pain1 to meet eyes full of sympathy1 and when she murmured softly the words1 ,i am not a stranger1 ,i am a friend1 his feelings almost overcame him4 ,thank you1 he said1 extending his hand1 but instantly withdrawing it2 then1 controlling himself by a visible effort1 went on1 ,i found my ,saviour within those blessed walls1 and was encouraged both by the pastor and chaplain to hope that1 by consecrating my life to the service of my divine ,master1 ,i might be useful to some poor soul as burdened as myself4 ,has not that hope been fulfilled1 ,mr4 ,angus8 ,has not ,jesus ,christ kept his gracious promise to you and given you rest8 ,pardon me1 ,i am a missionary too4 ,i have thought much of you1 and prayed for you1 as ,i do for all my friends4 ,i have feared that--that you have not cast all your burden upon ,him4 ,you are trying to bear part of it alone4 ,sorrow or sin ,he has atoned for and has promised to take4 ,oh1 do give it all up to ,him6 ,for your own sake1 for the sake of those in your charge1 ,i entreat you1 try ,his love in all its fulness4 ,it cannot1 will not1 fail you4 ,her voice trembled in her eagerness4 ,suddenly catching a glimpse of his pallid countenance1 she stopped short in her walk4 ,you will forgive1 you will understand me1 she pleaded4 ,i for a moment forgot that ,i am too young to advise you4 ,miss ,howard1 even you will turn from me in despair when ,i ask1 can these hands1 which have shed the blood of a brother1 ever be clean8 ,even you have seen the mark of ,cain on my brow4 ,startled as she was1 ,marion realized that in order to give comfort to this burdened soul1 she must control herself4 ,with a face blanched1 and shaking voice1 she repeated the gracious promise1-- ',him that cometh to me ,i will in no wise cast out4' ,such a promise holds good1 even to the shedder of blood4 ,do not understand1 he exclaimed1 in great excitement1 that it was prompted by malice4 ,it was an accident4 ,i--,but the scene is too ghastly to recall4 ,to no mortal have ,i ever breathed the words before4 ,into the ears of a merciful ,god ,i pour my complaint day and night4 ,into ,marion's eyes came a strange light4 ,the color surged back into her face4 ,memories of the past1 forgotten for years1 came rushing over her4 ,she was wholly unaware that she had stopped again1 that her eyes were fixed on his1 that she was trying to read his very thoughts4 ,it required a great effort to come back to present realities4 ,i must say something1 was her reflection4 ,oh1 that ,i was sure6 ,god grant ,i may be6 ,mr4 ,angus1 she began1 her face beaming with a strange expression of hope and tenderness1 forgive me for saying it1 you have grown morbid1 brooding over your past4 ,with all my heart ,i thank you for your confidence1 which ,i consider as sacred as the grave4 ,let me say that ,i look forward confidently to the hour when the sorrow which has weighed you down to the dust will be driven away like the morning cloud4 ,pray for that time as though you believed ,god has power to help you4 ,have entire faith in ,his promise4 ,before he could answer she had turned into side path and was presently lost to view4 ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,,the ,,doctor',s ,,diagnosis4 ,,on going to dinner1 ,marion was not much surprised to hear that the pastor had requested to be excused from the table on the plea of a headache4 ,mrs4 ,asbury was preparing tea and toast1 which the servant stood waiting to take up on a tray4 ,at this moment ,ethel came running up1 her face flushed1 exclaiming1-- ,mamma1 may ,i stay with ,mr4 ,angus8 ,he is sitting in the chair with his eyes shut1 and he looks real sick4 ,i'll carry the tray myself1 said ,mrs4 ,asbury1 glancing at her husband4 ,no1 ,ethel1 stay here till ,i come back4 ,he is worse than usual1 she explained presently1 as she brought back the food untouched4 ,ethel1 dear1 as soon as you have eaten1 you may go to him4 ,strange what an influence she has1--turning to the family4 ,he asked it as a favor1 if ,i could spare her4 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,asbury were so occupied with anxiety about ,mr4 ,angus1 whose strength seemed always on the point of giving way1 that they did not notice ,marion's abstraction4 ,as they were rising from the silent meal1 she asked1-- ,can ,i have the horse and buggy1 uncle8 ,i want to drive to ,n--4 ,i am going for ,dr4 ,moore to see ,mary ,falkner4 ,why not ask him to make a professional call on ,mr4 ,angus8 ,you might propose it to him1 but ,i doubt whether he would require a surgeon4 ,that's so2 but ,i mean to have a serious talk with him as soon as he recovers from this attack4 ,it is wicked for him to neglect these warnings4 ,annie eagerly offered to accompany ,marion to ,n--2 but she only desired to be alone to have time to recall fleeting memories1 to reconcile coincidences1 and decide how it was best for her to make her surmises known to ,mr4 ,angus4 ,she had driven slowly over the four miles to ,n-- before her final decision was reached4 ,it would be cruel to hold out hopes which might prove fallacious4 ,no1 ,i must go home1 to make sure4 ,then1 if it be as ,i hope and believe what a joy4 ,marion stopped1 wholly unable to express in words the deep emotions which agitated her4 ,all the time she was tying her horse to the post1 she was saying to herself1-- ,did she mean murder8 ,an accident is not murder4 ,it was with a real effort that she roused herself to tell the physician her errand4 ,he had just returned from a long drive to visit a patient1 and told her he would accompany her at once after eating his dinner1 and return in the cars4 ,on the way ,marion related all that she knew of ,mary's case1 and then described the arrangements at the ,home for the ,sick4 ,her enthusiasm made him laugh4 ,i know all about that1 he explained4 ,i was one of the staff of house surgeons there at one time1 and ,i can say it is truly a home4 ,very few1 even of the wealthiest1 can command the care and skill which falls to the lot of the poorest patient there4 ,i remember a wealthy lady coming with a valuable servant who had fractured her arm4 ,when the patient was comfortably placed in bed she was leaving the room1 when she met ,dr4 ,b-1 the pastor and superintendent4 ',i want to recommend to your special attention the woman ,i have just brought here1' she began4 ',certainly1 madam1' was his polite answer as he passed into the ward1 'certainly2 all our patients have special attention4 ,she shall be well cared for4' ,i have taken many patients there1 rejoined ,marion1 her eye kindling with pleasure4 ,i should say that if there were any favorites1 they are the very sickest and poorest1 and sometimes the most repulsive4 ,but after all1 the care of their bodies is only one part4 ,they are led to think of the end of life1 and in their enforced seclusion1 with the most loving influences about them1 they often1 very often1 come to better thoughts of their ,maker1 and go out with new hopes and new resolutions in regard to life4 ,dr4 ,moore was introduced to the patient by ,marion1 who only said that he had called as her friend1 to find out whether she could be relieved by treatment from her spasms of pain4 ,he made a careful diagnosis of her case1 after which he gave her some powders for temporary relief1 bade her take courage1 and returned to ,marion1 who was waiting in the buggy4 ,i have been to the station1 ,doctor1 she explained and there is no train to ,n- for a couple of hours1 so ,i will take you home4 ,i see by your face that you have good news for me4 ,nonsense6 ,a doctor's face goes for nothing4 ,he has to train it to look expressionless1 or he would soon get into trouble4 ,you can't deceive me1 ,doctor4 ,i know you are going to say she can be relieved4 ,i will say more4 ,she will always be lame1 one limb being shorter than the other1 but1 with the help of a thick sole to her shoe1 ,i don't see why she should not walk about with as little difficulty as you and ,i do4 ,marion gave a cry of joy1 clasping her hands4 ,o ,doctor6 she exclaimed1 what a blessed profession yours is6 ,if ,i were a man ,i would be a physician before any other calling4 ,i do thank you so much4 ,how soon may ,i take her to ,new ,york8 ,i've been thinking1 he said1 gayly1 of indulging myself with a trip to the city4 ,how would it do for you to see ,dr4 ,b-- and engage a bed for her1 and leave me to take her there8 ,will you1 ,doctor8 ,she gave him a glance brimful1 overflowing with delight1 and he answered1-- ,yes1 ,i will do all that4 ,i shall be glad of the opportunity to see the ,home once more4 ,now ,marion1 ,i have earned a right to ask you a question4 ,why don't you get married8 ,marion threw back her head and laughed heartily4 ,your question is so entirely unexpected1 ,doctor1 that ,i shall have to think before ,i answer4 ,well1 first1 ,i am too busy to go about the country and select the right man4 ,second1 ,i have formed such an elevated idea of the being whom ,i would be willing to see in that relation1 that in case ,i had leisure ,i should be appalled at the difficulties in my path4 ,thirdly1 ,i am just as happy now as ,i can be4 ,i have my good old ,hepsey and ,james ,kelly1 and all my poor people to take care of now4 ,i'm sure ,i can't imagine what ,i should do1 even with my ideal man4 ,the laugh which followed was heart whole4 ,nevertheless1 urged ,dr4 ,moore1 describe this ideal man to me4 ,his image is scarcely distinct enough for that4 ,first of all1 he must be a man who loves ,god and his neighbor as himself1 as our ,saviour has commanded4 ,humph6 ,i don't know him1 but go on4 ,he must be both strong and tender1 firm and gentle1 courageous1 kind1 and courteous1 capable of sympathy both in joy and grief4 ,he must be humble in his opinion of himself4 ,here a sudden reflection checked her1 and she added1 softly1 ,not too humble1 then came to an abrupt pause4 ,appearance and manners1 suggested the doctor1 without glancing at her4 ,poor or rich is of no consequence2 but he must have ability4 ,whatever his calling is1 he must excel in it4 ,physician preferred1 probably4 ,ye-es1 or some kindred profession4 ,lawyer1 eh8 ,no2 oh1 no1 indeed1 not a lawyer6 ,minister to a foreign court1 perhaps8 ,no1 not connected with politics in any way4 ,there is nothing left but a shoemaker1 or a country parson4 ,merchants of every grade watch the bills in ,congress with eagle eyes4 ,but how does he look8 ,like an athlete4 ,suddenly catching a twinkle in her companion's eye1 ,marion's cheeks and brow became suffused1 and she burst out1 ,how ridiculous ,i have made myself6 ,i never thought so much of my husband before in all my life4 ,i'm well acquainted with him1 said the doctor1 demurely4 ,he's all right2 even your parents would be satisfied with him4 ,what can you mean1 ,doctor8 ,she was startled now4 ,was there ever such a man8 ,they had reached his home1 and he quietly resigned the lines to her hand4 ,just as he stepped to the ground1 he fixed an earnest eye on her as he said1-- ,the portrait is excellent1 even to the too humble4 ,doctor6 ,dr4 ,moore6 called out ,marion1 as with an arch smile he was turning away1 you haven't given me your bill4 ,i shall go to-morrow to see ,dr4 ,b--1 and will write you at once2 ,a friend of ,mary's is to bear all expenses of her recovery2 and1 ,doctor1 ,i haven't told you how very1 very grateful ,i am to you4 ,for approving your choice of a husband8 ,you know1 ,doctor1 ,i was thinking of some thing very remote from an ideal man1 whom it is very unlikely ,i shall ever see4 ,i may tell ,mary now1 mayn't ,i8 ,certainly4 ,and in the pleasure you will have in telling her the good news1 you will forgive an old friend of your father for making a careful diagnosis of your heart4 ,he gave her another quizzical glance and turned away4 ,how absurd he is6 murmured the young lady4 ,how could ,i have been betrayed into such nonsense8 ,i wonder whether he was in earnest1 in saying he knew any one to whom the description would fit4 ,he would be a wonder of goodness1 and ,i-- ,here ,marion astonished the faithful old horse1 who was going on in his quiet jog1 by a sudden jerk of the lines and a peremptory order to quicken his pace4 ,on consulting her watch1 she found it nearly five o'clock4 ,she must call at the thread and needle store1 give ,mary the joyful hope recovery1 and then hasten home4 ,to one who is always looking to her ,father in heaven for the gifts which flow into her daily life it is not surprising1 but only an increased reason for gratitude1 when unlooked-for mercies are bestowed4 ,so it was with the poor cripple4 ,as ,marion cautiously conveyed to her the opinion of ,dr4 ,moore that her suffering might be relieved1 and in time perhaps she might be restored to active life and its duties1 the quick gasp1 the tightened clasp of her emaciated hands1 the moistened eye raised in silent gratitude to ,god1 were the only tokens of the fervent thankfulness which almost overcame her4 ,when ,marion had explained the doctor's view of her case1 she went on3 ,you must give your pastor the credit of the plan4 ,he was just sending a telegram to the ,home when ,i met him at the station1 and-- and--she hesitated1 surprised at herself for her reluctance to talk of ,mr4 ,angus--he offered to bear all the expense of having you conveyed to ,new ,york4 ,but ,i speedily convinced him that ,i had the first claim to that privilege4 ,how good ,god is1 raising up friends for me on every side6 ,good by1 ,mary1 for the present4 ,i shall expect to see you very soon in one of the nice beds at the ,home for the ,sick4 ,,chapter ,x4 ,a ,,ray ,,of ,,hope4 ,,the family were all seated at the tea-table when ,mr4 ,angus came in from the street4 ,he apologized for being behind time by saying that a parishioner had sent for him1 and it was a longer walk than he expected4 ,his countenance bore marks of excitement1 but he entered into conversation with the others1 and seemed desirous of averting attention from himself4 ,after family prayer1 which directly followed supper1 he rose as though he was going to retire when ,ethel caught his hand1 saying1-- ,my ,marion is going to sing a hymn before ,i go to bed4 ,please stay and hear it4 ,marion had already commenced1 and1 without noticing who was near her1 went through the hymn4 ,we give thee but thine own1 ,whate'er the gift may be1 ,all that we have is ,thine alone1 ,a trust1 ,o ,lord1 from ,thee4 ,may we ,thy bounties thus ,as stewards true receive4 ,and gladly as ,thou blessest us1 ,to ,thee our first-fruits give4 ,oh hearts are bruised and dead1 ,and homes are bare and cold1 ,and lambs for whom the ,shepherd bled ,are straying from the fold6 ,to comfort and to bless1 ,to find a balm for woe1 ,to tend the lone and fatherless1 ,is angels' work below4 ,the captive to release1 ,to ,god the lost to bring1 ,to teach the way of life and peace1 ,it is a ,christ-like thing4 ,and we believe ,thy word1 ,though dim our faith may be1 ,whate'er for ,thine we do1 ,o ,lord1 ,we do it unto ,thee4 ,i propose an amendment1 as the congressmen say1 she urged1 pleasantly1 as she saw ,mr4 ,angus4 ,please stay and sing with us1 and then ,i have some pleasant news for you4 ,he joined her instantly at the piano1 though she saw that he did so reluctantly4 ,she turned to the all-inspiring words1-- ,all hail the power of ,jesus' name6 ,let angels prostrate fall4 ,from the tones of his voice1 as one verse followed another1 she could detect the change in his feelings4 ,in the last stanza it was evident his religious fervor had triumphed over his sadness4 ,the tones1 rich and clear1 thrilled ,marion's heart strangely4 ,happening to meet his eye as she was closing the book1 she saw there evidence of an elevation of soul1 as though the sentiments of the hymn had roused him from his gloom4 ,thank you1 was his low response4 ,i expect to leave early in the morning1 she said4 ,i shall go immediately to see ,dr4 ,b------4 ,dr4 ,moore is very hopeful in regard to ,mary's cure1 though she may always walk lame4 ,she was very grateful that you had thought of sending her to the ,home for the ,sick4 ,i am delighted1 ,miss ,howard4 ,you have indeed been an angel of mercy to the poor girl4 ,she speaks of your thoughtful kindness as one of the chief blessings of her life4 ,isn't it fortunate that ,dr4 ,moore was once house physician there8 and he will convey her to the city himself4 ,no1 ,mr4 ,angus1 as he held out his purse1 we cannot permit you to have all the pleasure1 though we gladly share with you4 ,you have done your part in suggesting the possibility of her restoration1 and she has a friend who will defray all expenses4 ,by the way1 if you can spare the time1 she would be glad of a call from you before she leaves home4 ,duties never conflict1 ,miss ,howard4 ,if you were not so busy among your pupils1 etc41 ,i would express a wish that you would visit a distressed family ,i saw to-day4 ,they are in deep waters1 and need a kind friend of their own sex4 ,who are they8 ,mother1 daughter1 and grandson1--one of the most beautiful boys ,i ever saw4 ,the mother is ill1 ,i fear on the verge of consumption4 ,the daughter1 whom ,i conclude is a widow1 is too young and beautiful to be left to make her own way in the world4 ,the boy1 ,eugene1 won my heart at once1 and under a sudden impulse ,i asked the mother to give him to me3 ,i am fond of children4 ,i can easily believe that1 she said1 with one of her smiles1 which always made his heart so warm4 ,if ,i were not very good-natured ,i should reproach you with winning away ,ethel's love from me4 ,isn't she a darling8 ,for answer he bent down and pressed a kiss on the warm1 red lips held up so temptingly to his4 ,the child at this minute had come into the room to bid him and ,marion good night2 having done so1 she danced away again1 hugging ,frances1 her favorite dolly1 in her arms4 ',of such is the kingdom of heaven1' murmured the pastor1 his eye following her fairy-like figure2 and we are told that unless we are like them1 we cannot be admitted to that glorious home4 ,after a pause he added1 ,eugene interested me deeply1 but not at all in the way ,ethel does4 ,he is as full of mischief as he can hold2 nothing ethereal about him4 ,he is earthly even in his beauty1 while ,ethel seems just fresh from heaven4 ,dear child6 ,i have learned many a lesson from her4 ,you have interested me deeply in your friends1 ,mr4 ,angus4 ,i wish now ,i could stay another day at least1 but ,i cannot4 ,recalling the business which sent her home so soon1 there was an earnestness in her voice1 as she repeated1 ,oh1 no1 ,i cannot stay6 that rather surprised her hearer4 ,meeting the questioning glance1 it was as much as the impulsive girl could do to check herself from saying1-- ,i go for your sake1 to give you that which will restore peace to your heart4 ,but ,i hope to be so successful in my business that ,i can come again soon4 ,i will ask ,aunt ,asbury to visit them1 if you wish4 ,it is not a case of poverty1--at least ,i think not4 ,the mother-- she seems very young--needs sympathy and counsel2 she would only take it from one she loved4 ,he seemed to be urging a duty upon her1 though he did not so intend it2 and ,marion grew excited1 wondering whether she ought to write ,dr4 ,b-- about ,mary1 and postpone her other business for another day4 ,i wish ,i knew which was my duty3 ,i have set my heart on something4 ,i ought not to have delayed it so long4 ,i have been forgetful of a sacred charge1 and ,i wish to atone for it as soon as possible4 ,she gazed wistfully in his face1 longing to give him a ray of the hope she felt almost sure was in store for him1--almost1 not quite4 ,if1 after all1 ,i am wrong1 and he is not the one1 it would be inexcusable in me to excite hopes only to crush them4 ,miss ,howard1 he began1 unable to endure the sight of her distress1 which by turns suffused her cheeks and blanched them1 can you not trust me to decide for you8 ,in almost any other case but this1 ,i could4 ,it would be cruel to tell you now4 ,she stood one moment1 her hands tightly clasped1 her eyes fixed on the carpet2 then1 with a sudden change1 she looked smiling in his face as she said1-- ,give me the exact direction to your protg's1 and ,i'll go to-morrow morning4 ,i can write this evening to ,dr4 ,b--4 ,uncle ,asbury1 inquired ,marion later in the evening1 and when no one but her uncle and aunt were present1 have you ever mentioned before ,mr4 ,angus that ,i have any other income than what ,i earn from teaching8 ,not a word4 ,he considers you suffering from extreme poverty1 and quite worries himself over the time you lose during your visits to us4 ,if you press me to tell you the whole truth1 he is anxious lest your love for dress and jewels should involve you in serious pecuniary embarrassment4 ,he considers that rich silk and point-lace collar1 though extremely becoming1 quite beyond your means4 ,nonsense6 ,now do be serious4 ,i don't want anybody to know1 and especially strangers like ,mr4 ,angus1 that-- ,you can1 if you choose buy up half our congregation1 to say nothing of the poor minister4 ,no1 ,i won't tell him that4 ,don't tease the child1 pa1 put in ,mrs4 ,asbury1 though laughing herself4 ,it is from the clergyman especially you wish this important information kept1 questioned the gentleman1 his eye twinkling4 ,marion looked really annoyed4 ,i see ,i must explain1 she began4 ,there are some poor people ,i am going to help4 ,he offered1 from his salary1 ,i suppose1 to pay ,mary's expenses to the city1 etc4 ,i told him a friend would supply the means1 and ,i don't wish him to think ,i am the one4 ,on the principle of the left hand hiding from the right1 ,i suppose4 ,yes1 ,i see4 ,with a mischievous glance1 he turned to his newspaper1 and ,marion1 informing her aunt that she intended to make a call on a sick lady in the morning1 and had postponed her return till afternoon1 bade them good-night and retired to her chamber4 ,passing ,ethel's room1 she found to her surprise that the child was still awake4 ,please come in a minute1 ,marion3 ,i must get up again4 ,i can't remember whether ,i have said my prayers4 ,i feel prayers in here1 putting her hand to her breast1 and ,i can't go to sleep4 ,well1 darling1 get up1 and ,i'll kneel with you4 ,ethel began with-- ,now ,i lay me down to sleep1 followed with the ,lord's ,prayer1 then began her own simple petitions4 ,bless me1 dear ,god1 and make me as good as ,jesus wants me to be4 ,bless papa and mamma and ,mr4 ,angus1 and all those ,i love1 and keep them all from sin and from crying4 ,i thank you for giving me such a kind papa and mamma4 ,i thank you for sparing them to me so long4 ,i hope you will spare them as long as you think it is safe1 but if you don't think it safe to-morrow or next day1 thy will be done4 ,the little head was scarcely on the pillow1 when ,marion1 much amused by the child's mode of expressing her submission1 ran back to the parlor to repeat it4 ,as she entered she heard ,mr4 ,angus's voice asking permission to use the buggy at an early hour to go to a distant part of the town4 ,seeing her1 he explained that1 as she had been kind enough to delay her return to ,new ,york in order to visit this distressed family1 he wished to make arrangements to take her there4 ,it is in a part of the town with which ,i am least familiar1 he added1 and ,i should find difficult to direct any one4 ,i am sorry1 said ,marion1 frankly4 ,i know your rule about your morning hours for study4 ,i would delay my return longer1 but it is impossible4 ,and it had seemed impossible ever since she had agreed to make the morning visit to his protgs4 ,if he only knew1 she said to herself again and again1 how much depends on my going home4 ,i am confident that package is somewhere among my papers2 and yet it is so strange that ,i have not seen it for years4 ,i had forgotten entirely that ,i had it in possession4 ,i did sympathize deeply with that poor1 friendless girl1 an orphan1 as ,i had so lately become2 but1 with so many different protgs on hand1-- so many orphans and others whom ,i have taken to that blessed ,home1-- she had passed entirely out of mind1 until that peculiar smile of ,mr4 ,angus and the expressive shrug of his shoulders brought her up before me4 ,let me think4 ,when ,i left ,uncle ,williamson's1 my letters1 papers1 etc41 were all packed up and sent to my present home4 ,strange ,i haven't seen them4 ,no1 some were sent here4 ,she gave a scream of joy1 and1 running to the kitchen for a hand-lamp1 called a servant to go with her to the attic1 where a box marked with her name was stored4 ,at the breakfast-table1 when ,mrs4 ,asbury remonstrated against her niece's plans1 while she looked so pale and haggard1 no one present1 and least of all the pastor1 suspected that it was interest in his future which had kept her till midnight searching among her papers for what she could not find1 that disappointment and bitter regret that she had not more carefully guarded so sacred a trust had caused her many tears4 ,to add to her embarrassment1 ,mr4 ,asbury1 just as he rose from the table1 approached her and said1 ,marion1 ,i fear it is your pecuniary situation which troubles you4 ,promise me that you will apply to me in any need4 ,why1 pa6 began ,annie in surprise2 but she never finished her sentence4 ,marion1 noticing that ,mr4 ,angus was within hearing1 gave her cousin a warning glance1 coolly said to her uncle1 ,i promise1 and then walked away4 ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,,an ,,appeal ,,for ,,sympathy4 ,,the family to whom ,mr4 ,angus wished to introduce ,miss ,howard lived in a small cottage in the outskirts of the town of ,n-4 ,on their way thither he repeated the impression they had made upon him1--that they had seen better days4 ,i have been enough among the poor in ,new ,york1 he said1 warming1 with the subject1 to be sure that these are not of the kind who would ask for assistance1 even though they were suffering4 ,i am eager to know how they will impress you4 ,he turned to look in her face1 which seemed to be unusually thoughtful1 but with a bright smile1 she explained1-- ,i was trying to reconcile irreconcilable facts4 ,for instance1 ,i know a gentleman in ,new ,york who has more leisure and money than he knows what to do with1 and ,i was wondering why ,i should be so very busy and have so little time for work that ,i like best4 ,i have solved worse puzzles than that1 ,miss ,howard4 ,can you not imbue your friend with love for your favorite work8 ,gentlemen with too much leisure are not to be classed with the most favored beings4 ,he is one of the most wretched men ,i know1 sarcastic and cynical to such a degree that his society is shunned by every one2 and yet ,i can't help pitying him4 ,i believe that he has a passion for making himself appear worse than he is4 ,i have taken a fancy1 she added1 with a hearty laugh1 to try some experiments on him4 ,of what nature8 ,why1 ,i have been told again and again that he has no heart4 ,i am applying tests to find out the fact for myself2 so far1 that important organ seems to be in a state of ossification2 but ,i am not discouraged4 ,if ,i were your uncle1 ,i should warn you that ossified hearts1 when wakened from their torpor1 sometimes become dangerously active1-- ,i mean dangerous for their own happiness4 ,marion's eyes twinkled with mirth4 ,i do not fear too much activity1 ,i fear too little4 ,but is not that the house8 ,mr4 ,angus had told her the child was beautiful2 but this had by no means prepared her for the lovely1 enchanting face which burst upon her as1 advancing into the room1 a boy of three or four years sprang out from an inner apartment4 ,oh1 you darling little fellow6 she cried1 catching him in her arms1 and bestowing kiss after kiss upon him4 ,so absorbed was ,marion in delight and wonder that she did not notice the entrance of a young lady from a door in the opposite direction1 until the voice of ,mr4 ,angus saying1 ,miss ,howard1 ,mrs4 ,cheriton1 roused her to present realities4 ,excuse me1 she began1 cheeks and chin dimpling with amusement4 ,i forgot that ,i was a stranger1--everything in my admiration for--4 ,she interrupted herself to place the child on the floor2 but he had no idea of being abandoned so suddenly4 ,he clung tightly around her neck1 his face sparkling with mischief4 ,genie1 don't tease the lady4 ,the mother's voice was soft1 and she spoke with a pretty accent2 but the boy paid not the slightest attention to his mother's mild suggestion4 ,he clung to his new friend1 occasionally holding himself off far enough to look in her face4 ,catching a glimpse of ,mr4 ,angus's tall form standing over near the door1 his hat in his hand1 keen appreciation of the scene stamped on every feature1 ,marion's color surged to her very brow4 ,she whispered1 ,go to the gentleman now1 ,genie1 and put the boy to the floor4 ,will you take a drive with me1 ,eugene8 ,this being soon arranged1 ,mr4 ,angus carried the child to the buggy1 merely saying to ,marion1-- ,i will be back in half an hour4 ,mrs4 ,cheriton looked so very youthful that it was hard for ,marion to believe she could be the mother of ,eugene4 ,she was very beautiful1 of the ,southern type of beauty1--large1 liquid eyes1 regular features1 abundant tresses of blue-black hair1 which on the present occasion were wound gracefully around her head1 arched eyebrows1 and a pleasant smile when she addressed you4 ,this tout ensemble the visitor took in at a glance1 and all the time she was asking herself1 ,shall ,i like her8 ,after speaking for a moment of ,eugene1 ,marion said1-- ,mr4 ,angus tells me your mother is very ill4 ,yes2 and she has heard your voice4 ,will you go to her8 ,gladly4 ,on the bed1 but raised almost to a sitting posture1 lay a lady4 ,one glance proved her to be such4 ,there was an air of refinement and culture about her which proved her to belong to the best-educated class of society4 ,she met ,marion's sympathetic glance with an earnest gaze1 as though she would read what manner of spirit she was of2 then a beaming smile lighted her whole face1 as she said softly1-- ,you are very welcome1 my dear4 ,i felt then1 said ,marion afterwards to her aunt1 as though ,i could take her right into my heart of hearts4 ,what she did at the moment to show what she felt was to bend over and press her lips to the pale cheek of the sufferer4 ,a few words of explanation as to her present visit1--of sorrow that it must be a hurried one1--and then ,marion said1-- ,i am sure you will not consider my question prompted by curiosity1 if ,i ask1 why are you here in this out-of-the-way part of the town8 ,necessity compels it1 my dear4 ,i need perfect quiet4 ,would you prefer the city8 ,greatly1 in many respects1 if ,i were well4 ,you could have a physician near you there4 ,no physician can avail me now1--at least such is my belief4 ,except the great ,physician4 ,an expression of heavenly peace stole over the wan face4 ,she held ,marion's hand in a closer grasp1 as she said fervently1-- ,god be praised6 ,he has applied healing balm4 ,my sins1 which were many1 are forgiven4 ,oh1 if you knew all1 you would not wonder that ,i look forward with longing to the hour when he will call me home6 ,you would feel like a poor sailor ,i found just redeemed from the very depths of woe4 ,he was singing from morning to night1-- ',love ,i much1 ,i'm much forgiven2 ,i'm a miracle of grace4' ,marion's clear voice as she sang the lines rang through the room4 ,will you sing a hymn for me1 ,miss ,howard8 ,without a moment's hesitation the young began one which was a favorite with herself4 ,whate'er my ,god ordains is right2 ,his will is ever just2 ,howe'er he orders now my cause1 ,i will be still and trust4 ,he is my ,god3 ,though dark my road1 ,he holds me that ,i shall not fall1 ,wherefore to him ,i leave it all4 ,whate'er my ,god ordains is right2 ,he never will deceive4 ,he leads me by the proper path1 ,and so to him ,i cleave1 ,and take content ,what he hath sen ,his hand can turn my griefs away1 ,and patiently ,i wait his day4 ,whate'er my ,god ordains is right2 ,though ,i the cup must drink1 ,that bitter seems to my faint heart1 ,i will not fear nor shrink4 ,tears pass away ,with dawn of day2 ,sweet comfort yet shall fill my heart1 ,and pain and sorrow all depart4 ,whate'er my ,god ordains is right2 ,my ,light1 my ,life is he1 ,who cannot will me aught but good1-- ,i trust him utterly2 ,for well ,i know1 ,in joy or woe1 ,we soon shall see1 as sunlight clear1 ,how faithful was our ,guardian here4 ,whate'er my ,god ordains is right2 ,here will ,i take my stand1 ,though sorrow1 need1 or death make earth ,for me a desert land4 ,my ,father's care ,is round me there2 ,he holds me1 that ,i shall not fall1 ,and so to him ,i leave it all4 ,before she had ended1 the door softly opened and was left ajar4 ,marion started at the sound of wheels4 ,there is ,mr4 ,angus6 she exclaimed2 but ,i cannot go yet4 ,i feel as though ,i had known you all my life4 ,i have to go to ,new ,york to-day4 ,i want you to go to the city4 ,why will you not come to me8 ,i have room for all of you4 ,yes1 that will be best4 ,it will be next to having my mother with me4 ,i can insure you a quiet room4 ,will you come8 ,mrs4 ,douglas closed her eyes2 tears called forth by such kindness from a stranger1 trickled through the eyelids4 ,striving for self-control she said1-- ,mr4 ,angus told me you were an angel of mercy4 ,never did any strangers in a strange land need friends more than we do4 ,i have prayed night and day that my heavenly ,father would raise up for my poor ,juliette and ,eugene ,christian friends4 ,he has answered my prayers4 ,i will consider your proposal to go to ,new ,york1 where board within our means can perhaps be obtained near you4 ,for ,juliette's sake ,i would be glad to be there4 ,i regret so much that business of importance calls me home to-day1 but ,i will find a place at once1 if you will not accept my invitation4 ,i am sure ,i can promise for ,mr4 ,angus that he will be a good friend to you and attend to your removal4 ,mamma1 ,i'm going home with ,mr4 ,angus1 shouted ,genie1 bursting into the outer room4 ,i'm tired of staying here4 ,miss ,howard1--the voice was so full of solemnity that ,marion bent over the bed again to listen1 her breath coming quickly1--you do not seem like a stranger4 ,mr4 ,angus told me ,i might confide in you4 ,if ,i had time and strength ,i would tell you the sad story of my past life4 ,i was gay and thoughtless1 living for this world alone4 ,i have been justly punished4 ,some time1 if ,god gives me strength1 ,i would like to tell you my sad story4 ,if1 after you know all1 you are willing to be a friend to the dear ones ,i leave behind1 the only burden left me will be removed4 ,i will gladly listen4 ,with moistened eyes she had just answered1 when ,mrs4 ,cheriton opened the bedroom door1 saying1 ,your husband has returned1 madam1 and asks whether you are ready4 ,marion bent over the bed and kissed the sick lady1 glad to hide her blushing cheeks caused by ,mrs4 ,cheriton's blunder4 ,then saying1-- ,please explain that ,mr4 ,angus is only my friend4 ,i shall see you again before long1 hastened to the door4 ,eugene was still in the arms of the clergyman and it required much persuasion on the part of his mother to coax him to remain with her4 ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,,marion',s ,,sickness4 ,,the drive back to town was a silent one1 and not until they were within a short distance from home was a word spoken4 ,mr4 ,angus seemed absorbed in thought1 and his companion1 with the added care of the friends she had just left1 was little inclined for conversation4 ,a sigh from her at last caused the gentleman to ask1-- ,have ,i done wrong in bringing to your notice these strangers8 ,no1 sir4 ,no1 indeed4 ,what a dear old lady she is6 ,and not very old either4 ,sorrow1 ,i imagine1 more than time1 has aged her4 ,eugene is a perfect dream of boyish beauty4 ,what of the young mother8 ,marion sighed again4 ,i don't know4 ,i have been trying to decide4 ,i have seen somebody whom she resembles4 ,she does not attract me as her mother does4 ,eugene scarcely has a feature like hers4 ,no1 he is more like you than like her4 ,she had entirely forgotten her high praise of the boy's beauty2 but a little twitching about the muscles of his mouth proved that he remembered and was far from displeased4 ,do you know1 she asked quickly1 as they drew up to the door of her uncle's house1 that ,i am going to take your new parishioners to ,new ,york8 ,for some reason1 ,madam ,douglass prefers being there1 and ,i have promised for you that you will aid them in their removal4 ,pecuniarily1 do you mean8 ,certainly not4 ,only as a friend1 in getting to the right train1 etc42 but even that is not necessary3 ,uncle ,asbury will attend to it4 ,just as you please1 ,miss ,howard4 ,she sprang from the carriage without giving him an opportunity to help her1 and ran into the house4 ,his voice1 so sad and cold1 had hurt her4 ,seeing no one in the hall1 she went in haste to her own room1 to pack her satchel for her journey home1 saying to herself meanwhile1-- ,if he knew all that ,i do1 and all that ,i can guess about his sad past1 and how shamefully ,i have neglected my promise to that poor1 dying girl1 he would be justified in never speaking to me at all4 ,at the dinner-table ,marion gave a description of ,madam ,douglass and ,eugene1 merely mentioning ,mrs4 ,cheriton as the boy's mother2 and easily won a promise from her aunt to go and see them4 ,i wish1 aunty1 she added1 after the conversation had turned to another subject1 that you would notice whether ,mrs4 ,cheriton resembles any one you know4 ,her eyes haunt me4 ,i have tried in vain to account for the resemblance4 ,once on the train1 ,marion acknowledged to herself the need of rest4 ,with one hand to her throbbing temples1 she took memorandum book and pencil from her pocket4 ,two visits to some very destitute families ought to be paid1 and ,hepsey must take her place for this time4 ,she noted down the following words3 ,board for three1 not too far away4 ,home for the ,sick4 ,letter to ,dr4 ,moore4 ,search for lost package4 ,the carriage1 with ,james on the box with the driver1 met her at the station1 as she had telegraphed him to do4 ,seizing a letter from ,dr4 ,b-1 she read hastily1 and1 finding that ,mary could be received at once on the recommendation of ,dr4 ,moore1 countermanded her order to be driven to the hospital1 and said ,home4 ,here she only remained long enough to dash off a letter to ,dr4 ,moore1 enclosing the one from the superintendent1 and then went to ,mrs4 ,mitchell for advice about a boarding-place4 ,four or five were advertised as desirable situations2 and ,marion1 putting by her anxiety to begin her search for the package1 hurried off in the carriage to examine for herself4 ,two or three hours were consumed in going from one house to another1 finding each that she visited more unsuitable than the one before it1 and at last only engaged rooms conditionally1 in a private family1 recommended to her by a friend1 whom she met near the door4 ,enclosing the street and number to her aunt1 she requested that ,madam ,douglass might be informed of the place and price1 and an answer returned at once4 ,hepsey was just about starting on her mission when she caught a glimpse of her young mistress1 and exclaimed1 in great excitement1-- ,you are ill1 and have not told me4 ,i must see you in bed before ,i go out4 ,it was indeed true that a terrible lassitude had been stealing over her ever since the excitement of the morning4 ,for two nights she had scarcely slept1 and since breakfast she had barely tasted food4 ,a cup of tea will revive me1 she said1 trying with a smile to allay ,hepsey's too evident anxiety4 ,then feeling herself grow more languid1 she said1 aloud1-- ,i can't give up now4 ,i must find that package1 ,i must1 if ,i search all night4 ,the tea was brought and eagerly swallowed1 but the temples still throbbed1 and at last the young girl reluctantly acknowledged that she felt ill and must rest for a few hours4 ,hepsey quietly laid off her bonnet and shawl1 called ,james1 and gave him the address of the poor she was going to visit1 with directions as to procuring them food1 etc41 and then devoted herself to her young mistress4 ,an hour later ,marion woke from the heavy sleep into which she had fallen with a shriek of distress4 ,her eyes were wide open1 but she did not recognize the faithful nurse who was bending over her4 ,a physician was instantly summoned1 who found her in a high state of mental excitement4 ,how long has this been coming on8 ,i ought to have been called earlier1 he said1 in some irritation4 ,she only returned from the country this afternoon1 explained ,hepsey4 ,he went back to the bedside1 re-examined the pulse of his patient1 listened to her incoherent mutterings1 and then said gravely1 ,she has symptoms of a contagious fever4 ,i have had a few cases already among the poor4 ,james has just returned from an errand to one of her protgs1 a mission boy4 ,he had just been buried1 and a flag was hung from the window to prevent people from entering4 ,well1 if people will go round to these filthy haunts1 they1-- but it's no use to think of that now4 ,i'll do my best to save her4 ,i'll have a flag out here1 unless you will promise that no one shall come in3 perfect quiet is a necessity4 ,hepsey promised1 but the next morning1 after a short absence from the room1 she found a young lady sitting by the bed1 bathing the hot temples of the sufferer4 ,i have come to stay1 she said softly1 as she rose and beckoned ,hepsey into the hall4 ,mrs4 ,mitchell told me last night how ill she is1 and ,i have come prepared to act as nurse4 ,you will let me help you2 and the young girl gazed wistfully in ,hepsey's face4 ,it was ,annie ,leman1 a favorite protg of ,marion1 whom she was educating for a music teacher1 and1 looking in her earnest face1 ,hepsey had not the heart to deny her request4 ,we'll see what the doctor will say1 she murmured1 and then they both returned to the room4 ,what the doctor said at first sight of this girlish figure was1 ,i won't have her here4 ,what he said after the second day was1 ,what could we do without her8 ,and so the sun rose and set while in that quiet room the fever raged1 for ,marion had been in the full vigor of health1 and the heated blood rushed rampant through her body4 ,sometimes she tried to spring from the bed1 calling out1-- ,i must find it1 or ,here it is1 and laughed aloud for joy4 ,at other times she lay for hours in a heavy stupor1 while rich and poor besieged the door with inquiries concerning her4 ,among others who came was ,dr4 ,moore4 ,he had safely conveyed ,mary ,falkner to the ,home for the ,sick1 where he learned from ,dr4 ,b-- that ,miss ,howard was dangerously ill1 and went at once to her house to learn who was her physician1 when they came together to see her4 ,marion woke suddenly1 to find her old friend from ,n-- bending over her4 ,a momentary consciousness caused her to call him by name1 and then1 associating him at once with her friends in ,grantbury1 she said1-- ,tell him there is hope1 then fell back into heavy sleep4 ,every morning came a bunch of cut flowers of the choicest varieties from ,mr4 ,lambert1 with a request to ,mrs4 ,mitchell to be informed whether any change had taken place in ,miss ,howard4 ,day after day as it passed proved to all ,marion's friends that the young girl who glided so noiselessly around the bed was possessed of a native skill just fitting her to take a part in the struggle between life and death going on in that chamber4 ,she was never seen to sleep1 and yet she never seemed weary4 ,not a movement of that prone figure escaped her notice1 not an order or prescription of the physician was forgotten4 ,when the doctor asked in wonder1-- ,what sustains you8 her brief answer was1 ,love1 sir4 ,love and gratitude4 ,she deserves from me all that ,i can give her4 ,hepsey told ,mrs4 ,asbury1 who came from ,grantbury to see her niece1-- ,we have all cause to thank ,god for sending ,miss ,annie here4 ,the doctor says1 if our dear ,marion lives through this dreadful time1 it will be the loving care1 which1 with the blessing of ,god1 has brought her through4 ,if ,mr4 ,lambert believed what he was so fond of affirming1 that the poor are a thankless set1 who will steal your purse the minute your back is turned1 his faith in this assurance might have been shaken by the genuine sorrow manifested during ,miss ,howard's illness4 ,one instance of affection and gratitude he was himself a witness of4 ,he was approaching ,miss ,howard's door early one morning with a bunch of exquisite blossoms in his hand1 carefully shielded from sun and wind by the tissue paper covering1 when he saw a little girl approaching from the opposite direction4 ,she had on a thin shawl1 which she held out from her person as though shielding something precious4 ,curiosity prompted the gentleman to watch and see what she was going to do4 ,he held back till she ran down the basement steps and timidly rang the bell of the lower door of ,mr4 ,mitchell's house4 ,cautiously he stepped forward1 and saw her hold out one little pink4 ,will you please give the kind lady this8 she asked1 in a pleading tone4 ,when ,i was down with fever1 she brought me a beautiful bush all covered with flowers1 and she told me how to water it1 and put it in the sun4 ,this flower came out last night4 ,there are no more1 or ,i would have brought them4 ,she's been ever so good to mammy and me4 ,there were tears in her voice as she spoke1 and the listener1 grumbling under his breath at his own folly1 put up his finger to prevent a tear from falling from his own eye4 ,what's your name8 asked the woman at the door4 ,nanny ,morse1--she'll know4 ,well1 ,i'll see that she has it1--if it's only to hold in her poor1 unconscious fingers1 she added1 as the child1 after an earnest ,thank you1 ma'am1 turned away4 ,mr4 ,lambert afterwards confessed that he felt like throwing his costly flowers into the street4 ,he did not1 however2 he rang the bell1 delivered them to ,james1 the servant in waiting1 received the sadly spoken message1 ,no change1 sir1 and then hurried away1 muttering1-- ,world upside down2 just my luck2 only girl in all the crowd worth that1 snapping his finger2 and she going-- ,he stopped suddenly at sight of the little flower-girl again4 ,she was talking to a disreputably dressed lad1 who1 with a rimless cap stuck on one side of his head1 was evidently annoyed at the detention4 ,don't go1 ,jack4 ',t would grieve her1 even in heaven1 if she knew you'd turn back to the bad after all she's done for yer4 ,i'm hungry1 and if ,i go home mammy'll beat me1 sure4 ,no1 she won't1 ,jack1--not when ,i tell her about the kind lady4 ,come1 go with me4 ,take this and buy a cake1 exclaimed ,mr4 ,lambert1 thrusting some silver pieces into ,nanny's hand4 ,not waiting for any thanks1 he strode off in the opposite direction1 muttering1 ,old fool6 ,just like you6 ,meddling1 always meddling4 ,after using his handkerchief vigorously1 he went on3 ,what business is it of mine1 if she dies to-day8 ,i don't care4 ,yes1 that's a lie3 you do care1 you old sinner6 ,you only say that because you're so hateful1--you know you care4 ,you'll never see another like her4 ,there6 ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,,annie',s ,,letter4 ,,the third week of ,marion's sickness there came a crisis and hope4 ,yes1 it was evident to all there was hope now1 where fear had prevailed4 ,the doctor's mouth1 which had been so firm and rigid1 relaxed2 and there was a suspicion of a smile4 ,hepsey's eyes were less watery1 ,james opened and shut the outer door in a jubilant manner1 proud of being the one to say to the anxious inquirers1-- ,the doctor begins to hope4 ,on ,annie ,leman's pale face had come beams of light1 which made her beautiful4 ,scarcely conscious of her own action1 she went forward to the physician1 caught his hand and pressed it in both hers4 ,how can ,i thank you sir1 she said1 softly4 ,pshaw1 ,miss ,annie6 ,she owes more to you than to me4 ,we can both thank ,god4 ,she has been so close to the open gates1 ,i think she can tell us something of what is inside4 ,one ,thursday morning1 twenty-six days from the time she left ,grantbury1 ,marion opened her eyes and the light of consciousness dawned in them4 ,for one instant there was a bewildered expression as she gazed at her faithful watcher1 who sat by her side2 then she smiled1 and said faintly1-- ,it's ,annie4 ,yes1 dear4 ,how came ,i in bed8 ,i remember ,i felt ill in the cars4 ,you have been sick1 but you are much better now4 ,take a spoonful of this1 dear1 and go to sleep again4 ,lie down by me1 ,annie1 and ,i'll try to sleep4 ,you look pale and tired4 ,annie smoothed the pillow1 changed ,marion's position1 and then lay down on the outside of the bed1 as she had done so many times during the last weary weeks4 ,miss ,howard's excellent constitution is doing wonders for her1 remarked ,dr4 ,ross1 as1 after the crisis1 she seemed to make a leap into the arms of health4 ,no more drugs3 ,nature will do her own work now4 ,this was ,marion's first experience of severe illness1 and it was difficult to make her understand that for a time she must be economical of her newly gained energies4 ,i feel so strong1 she insisted1 that ,i ought to be waiting on ,annie1 instead of her waiting on me4 ,speaking of ,miss ,annie1 said the doctor1 ,i have two little girls old enough to learn music4 ,by-and-by1 when you are well1 ,i shall ask her to take them into her care4 ,how do you know she is competent1 ,doctor8 ,you ought to consult me1 urged ,marion1 with her old beaming smile1 as she saw that her favorite pupil had difficulty in controlling her gratitude at this unexpected offer4 ,i'll test her capabilities now4 ,come1 ,miss ,annie1 into the parlor1 and give me a piece offhand4 ,with many blushes she obeyed1 and1 seating herself at the piano1 played from memory an accompaniment to a simple ballad1 which she sang with so much sweetness that the physician was delighted4 ,teach my girls to play and sing like that1 he exclaimed1 and your fortune is made4 ,teach them another accomplishment1 too1--to play when they are asked1 without excuses1 as you did4 ,i more than half expected you would say1 ',i'm all out of practice1 ,doctor'2 or1 ',i'm far from strong4' ,teach them all that1 and you'll win the gratitude of one father4 ,before ,marion was able to drive out herself1 she insisted that ,annie should spend several hours every day in the open air4 ,indeed1 she contrived so many errands which it was imperative must be attended to immediately that the young girl could not refuse4 ,she early learned that ,mary ,falkner came to the city soon after the place in the ,home for the ,sick had been secured for her1 that ,dr4 ,moore had seen her safely in the bed in her ward1 and had afterward had a consultation visit on her own case with ,dr4 ,ross4 ,she seemed to have forgotten all about her new protgs1 ,mrs4 ,douglass and ,mrs4 ,cheriton2 but one day1 on looking over the cards left during her sickness1 she found one which brought the crimson tide back to her pale cheeks4 ,it was a card with the name in print1--,harold ,angus2 and underneath1 in a fine hand1 was written ,juliette ,cheriton1 with the street and number of her boarding-place4 ,oh1 how much ,i have to do6 ,marion said4 ,i forgot this lady entirely4 ,annie wondered what caused the pained voice and firmly set lips of her friend1 but she only said soothingly1-- ,don't worry1 dear4 ,tell me if there is any thing ,i can do to help you4 ,marion put her hand wearily to her head1 and in answer to ,annie's earnest remonstrance1 pleading that she would think of nothing about business now1 she only asked1--,how soon will the doctor be here8 ,not for some hours yet4 ,you will have time for a good nap4 ,please give me my pen and paper3 ,i must write a few words1 then ,i will try to rest2 and1 ,annie dear1 will you leave me alone a few minutes8 ,the table was drawn nearer1 materials for writing placed within reach1 and ,annie1 after a wistful glance at her friend1 left the chamber4 ,if she could have looked back and seen the weary1 tired1 pained expression which came over her friend's face as she seized the pen1 she might have doubted whether she was acting wisely to leave her4 ,the note was quickly written1 indeed the words were dashed off with a fierce energy1 as though she doubted her ability to finish1 unless at once4 ,it read thus3-- ,mr4 ,harold ,angus3-- ,life is uncertain4 ,i hope to live to restore to you a packet from one whom ,i strongly suspect was dear to you4 ,to find this package drove me home from ,grantbury1 where ,i first heard that which connected you in my thoughts with a young girl called ,stella4 ,i am not aware of its contents1 and can only say now that ,stella died of consumption at the ,home for the ,sick1 loving and forgiving and blessing all those who had been dear to her4 ,,marion ,,howard4 ,having sealed this1 and written the address1 she added this direction3 ,if ,i should die1 please deliver this at once2 then1 enclosing the whole in a blank envelope1 she touched her hand-bell and requested ,annie to place it in her desk4 ,i must rest my head now1 she said2 but first1 ,i want you to promise me that1 in case anything should happen to me1 you will forward any letters you may find in my desk4 ,don't look so frightened1 dear4 ,i shall try to get well1 for ,i have a great deal to do1 and life is so pleasant2 but there are duties which ,i dared not defer4 ,at this moment ,james knocked at the door1 and passed in a letter just delivered by the postman4 ,it is ,annie ,asbury's handwriting1 explained ,marion1 in a glad voice4 ,it will soothe me to sleep1 perhaps4 ,annie is a dear child4 ,the letter read thus3-- ,,dear ,,marion1-- ,imagine me sitting by the east window1 where ,i can look out on the great elm-tree1 and hear the robin-redbreasts as they are calling their mates to join them in a morning song4 ,i wish you could see the grass4 ,it looks greener than green1 now that the sun is touching it4 ,i guess somebody else is feasting his eyes on the emerald greensward 7that's quoted71 for ,i hear a curtain rolled up and window-sash raised1 so ,i am going to quit this highfalutin style1 and let my pen run on as it will2 but1 before ,i forget it1 ,i must tell you that ever since ,mr4 ,angus ran up to town the day he called to inquire for you there has been a change in him4 ,before that he had one of his worst attacks of depression1 or dyspepsia1 as ,aunt ,thankful calls them2 but now he seems to have made up his mind not to give way4 ,i don't mean that he is cheerful1 and ,i don't know as ,i can explain what ,i do mean4 ,you must see him1 before you will understand4 ,last night1 after prayers1 ma must have noticed something different in him1 for she went to him and held out her hand in that kind way of hers4 ,i thank you for your prayer1 she said3 it has done me good4 ,all the answer he made was to repeat these words1-- ,god is my refuge and strength1 a very present help in trouble4 ,as he stood with his eyes fixed full on hers1 ,i saw a new light in them1 as though he had said to himself1 ,i'm going to take courage and go ahead4 ,if he had seen you1 and you had talked to him as you did to pa and ma after dear ,helen died1 ,i should have expected to see just such a look4 ,i suppose you know1 dear1 that those foreign people went away the week after you did4 ,ma went with ,mr4 ,angus and brought ,eugene here4 ,he is so beautiful he almost took my breath away2 but ,i am sorry to say he is so far from good in ,ethel's meaning of the word that she considers it necessary to pray for him very often4 ,not a soul would he obey but ,mr4 ,angus4 ,i laughed so much ,i had to go out of the room3 there was that boy with eyes flashing1 defying everybody to make him stop teasing the cat1 and holding her up by the tail2 and there was ,ethel perfectly dumb with astonishment1 eyes wide open1 pale cheeks1 and that little quiver of her lips she has when grieved4 ,mr4 ,angus took in the situation at once and said1-- ,come to me1 ,eugene4 ,the boy did not stir4 ,if ,i were an artist ,i would try to sketch ,mr4 ,angus's eyes1 as he fixed them on the defiant little fellow4 ,there was power in them4 ,i think ,ethel would be frightened into fits if he looked at her in that way4 ,eugene endured it a minute and then ran1 throwing his arms around the neck of the conqueror1 who looked lovingly enough then4 ,i only waited to see whether ,ethel would be jealous2 but the precious child went up and held up her sweet lips to kiss ,eugene and show him she forgave him2 then ,i ran to my room and had a hearty laugh all to myself4 ,mr4 ,angus told ma that ,eugene was a ,spanish ,creole1 and that it is natural for him to be hot-blooded4 ,ma said you wanted me to write a whole letter about ,ethel1--all her funny sayings and doings4 ,i'm sorry now ,i didn't begin with these1 for ,i fear my letter will be too long4 ,first1 she is a darling4 ,yesterday she came running in from the garden1 her hair all in a friz about her forehead1 her cheeks of a brilliant color4 ,oh1 my6 she cried1 throwing off her hat4 ,i'm all in a sweatperation4 ,a what8 repeated ,gardner1 trying not to laugh4 ,a sweatperation4 ,isn't that right8 she asked quickly1 as he burst out laughing4 ,it's perspiration1 dear1 ,i explained4 ,she was a little mortified4 ,she has begun to learn the ,commandments1 and applies them to herself and her dolls on all occasions4 ,do you remember that habit she used to have of twirling a piece of her dress or apron when she was talking8 ,she made a clean dress look so mussed1 ma told her she mustn't do it4 ,a few days ago ,i heard her talking to her favorite doll1 ,frances4 ,you have been a very naughty girl3 you have broken the ,commandments4 ,don't deny it1 ,frances4 ,i saw you do it4 ,what has poor ,frances done8 ,i asked4 ,mussed her nice dress all up1 so she can't go to the party4 ,it wasn't pretty for her to do it2 but ,i don't think it was breaking the ,commandments1 dear4 ,why1 yes1 it is1 ,annie1 because ,i forbid her to do it4 ,oh6 it comes under obedience1 then4 ,yes1 she is very naughty4 ,two weeks ago ,mr4 ,angus asked ma to let ,ethel and ,i go on the lake with him4 ,ma is afraid of the water1 you know1 and so she asked1 anxiously1-- ,are you used to rowing8 ,he seemed very much amused as he said1 ,yes1 ,mrs4 ,asbury4 ,pa laughed as he explained1 ,our pastor is a regular sailor1 ma3 ,i'll trust him4 ,when we were getting into the boat ,i was a little afraid myself1 it tipped so2 and there stood dear little ,ethel shaking from head to foot4 ,will it tip over8 she asked1 as ,mr4 ,angus lifted her carefully in4 ,no1 dear4 ,i think ,god will take care of us4 ,he looked very lovingly at her as he put her down on the cross seat in the centre1 while ,i sat at one end and he at the other4 ,there was not a sign of fear after that4 ,she sat up straight1 looking at him1 but not saying a word till he asked1-- ,do you like it1 ,ethel8 ,yes1 sir4 ,the next day she was in his room1 and he saw her take her five dollies out of the locker and make them all kneel down by her doll's bedstead4 ,she was just going to kneel too1 when he asked1-- ,what are you doing1 ,ethel8 ,she came right up to him and said1 ,ma is going to take me to ,new ,york when my ,marion is well enough1 and ,i'm going to ask ,god to make the boat go softly4 ,that's right1 he told her2 and then he heard her whisper a little prayer4 ,he told ma that she seemed perfectly sure after this that the boat would go softly1 as she said4 ,he often says1 ,she is a blessed child4 ,he never praises her1 as so many do2 but ,i know he thinks her beautiful1 from the way he spoke one day when a lady was comparing her with another child4 ,he said1 ,there can be no comparison4 ,for purity and sweetness of expression1 she is beyond any child ,i ever saw4 ,i must tell you one thing more about our pet1 and then ,i think you will credit me with four letters of common length4 ,you know we have always wondered that ,ethel should remember so much about her nurse ,bridget1 who died a year ago4 ,she always seemed troubled about her1 and used to look up and say1 ,can't you speak to me out of heaven8 ,can't you just whisper a little8 ,a few days ago she went into the kitchen and sat down very soberly4 ,it's very bad1 she began1 to have naughty legs go into heaven4 ,naughty legs had better be cut off than to try to get into heaven4 ,cook told ma1 and we all thought she had heard somebody read about2 ,if thy right hand offend thee1 etc42 but she came to ma the same day1 sat down1 and began to sigh4 ,she looked anxiously in ma's face as she said1-- ,i suppose ,bridget has told ,god by this time that ,i kicked her4 ,ma says she was very much surprised1 as she never knew ,ethel to kick any one2 but she answered calmly1-- ,if ,bridget told ,god1 she told him also that you didn't mean to4 ,but ,i did mean to4 ,she held her finger up to emphasize it1 and repeated1 ,i did mean to4 ,well1 then1 dear1 she told him that you were sorry4 ,yes1 sighing4 ,i'm sorry now4 ,i wasn't sorry then1 when she went away4 ,i'll tell you1 darling1 what you can do1--ma saw she was really troubled and conscience-stricken1--you can kneel down and tell ,god yourself that you are sorry4 ,he will forgive you4 ,she knelt for some time by her little chair1 whispering her prayer in ,god's ear4 ,since that she has never mentioned ,bridget's name4 ,she must have suffered all that time from the pricks of her tender conscience4 ,i'm sure ,i saw tears in ,mr4 ,angus's eyes when ma told him about it4 ,good-by1 dear ,marion4 ,the breakfast-bell is ringing1 and ,i'm sure ,gardner is doing it1 for it is done with a will4 ,he's hungry1 ,i suppose4 ,from ,,cousin ,,annie4 ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,,the ,,lost ,,package4 ,,don',t wake her2 ,i'll call again4 ,i think1 ,doctor1 she wished to see you specially4 ,yes1 ,i do1 called out ,marion1 awaking from a refreshing nap1 with ,annie's letter still in her hand4 ,doctor1 ,i'm almost well4 ,decidedly4 ,are you dismissing me8 ,no1 indeed2 but ,i want to ask you something4 ,she waited a moment1 as though uncertain how to state her business4 ,doctor1 ,i have something on my mind that troubles me4 ,i feel sure ,i should be well at once if it were decided4 ,is it a case of blasted affections1 or-- ,don't joke1 ,doctor3 it's a serious affair4 ,it's a breach of trust on my part1 and ,i can't rest until ,i have done all in my power to remedy the injury4 ,why do you tell me this8 he asked1 evidently startled4 ,go to your lawyer1 or--perhaps your clergymen would do better4 ,because you were my father's friend1 and you are my friend4 ,i only tell you now to get your consent to my doing what my conscience tells me is my duty4 ,i can't give advice on such general information4 ,i must know particulars4 ,i will state a case4 ,suppose a very sick and dying girl confided to your care a letter or letters containing her last words to a dear friend1 name unknown4 ,suppose that years passed and you never thought of the trust1 and at last1 when you had reason to suspect you had found the right person1 the letters were lost4 ,suppose that this person was a dreadful sufferer for want of the words which are probably in those lost letters4 ,what would you do1 ,dr4 ,ross8 ,i am very sorry for you1 my dear child1 if you are in such trouble as that4 ,can't you inform the person of the contents of the letters8 ,if ,i only knew what the contents are1 and that he is the right one to receive them4 ,years had passed since she had heard from her friend1 and she often said it would be a relief to know that he had repented and died4 ,i inferred that he had done her some great wrong1 and she had told him she never would forgive him4 ,before she died she did forgive him with all her heart1 and with almost her last breath left him her love and her blessing4 ,tell the person that4 ,how can ,i be sure he is the one1 without the packet8 ,it is enclosed in a business envelope1 directed to me4 ,it is very aggravating that ,i cannot recollect her name--but that ,i could find at the ,home for the ,sick4 ,i knew her as ,stella4 ,have you made a thorough search8 ,oh1 no6 ,i have not thought of it for years4 ,just before ,i was taken sick1 something occurred of a confidential nature1 which led to a suspicion that he is the one ,i ought to give it to4 ,i began to search at once for it among papers ,i sent to the country when ,i left ,uncle ,williamson's4 ,i have not looked for it here4 ,i cannot recollect seeing it for years4 ,now ,i want you to consent that ,i go to work in earnest4 ,if ,i don't find it1 sighing heavily1 what shall ,i do8 ,let me think a minute4 ,he rose and paced the floor1 while she gazed at his knitted brows1 clenching her hands in impatience for him to speak4 ,he came back to his seat1 and counted her pulse4 ,well1 he said1 with a grave smile1 as he glanced into her eager1 wistful face1 if you feel pretty sure you have a clew to the right individual1 ask him some leading questions4 ,has he ever heard of such a lady1 naming her8 ,if he is ignorant1 or pretends to be1 you are relieved from that responsibility4 ,if he should prove to have known her1 you can state the circumstance3 of her sickness and death1 and the messages she left for a dear friend4 ,but1 ,doctor-- ,yes1 ,i know2 and ,i am trying to choose between two evils4 ,you are recovering from a dangerous illness1 and are not fit for any excitement4 ,on the other hand1 it is possible that the worry of mind1 while waiting for strength1 will do you equal harm2 so ,i will make a compromise4 ,your pulse is pretty steady4 ,you may have as many papers as you please brought here1 where ,miss ,annie can help you search1 if you will promise to stop at once if you feel tired1 take one of those sweet-tasting pills1 and go to bed4 ,thank you1 ,doctor4 ,i promise4 ,will you please ring the bell8 ,he laughed as he complied4 ,then saying1 ,i wish you great success1 left the room4 ,in ten minutes ,marion was dressed and seated in an old-fashioned armchair1 while within her reach was a drawer of papers1 pamphlets1 etc41 etc4 ,annie ,leman sat on a cricket near by1 while ,james was bringing drawers and boxes from the storeroom4 ,having explained what she wanted to find1 the work proceeded in silence1 occasional sighs from ,marion being the only interruption4 ,in less than two hours every paper had been handled and thrown back4 ,are you sure1 ,james1 that you have brought all8 ,the tone was sharp and decided4 ,yes1 miss4 ,mrs4 ,mitchell came to the attic and told me which to take1 and she says there are no more in the house4 ,take them all away1 again4 ,she sank back and covered her face with her hands1 but starting presently1 she said1-- ,i am not keeping my promise to the doctor1 ,annie4 ,i must take one of those horrid pills1 and go to bed4 ,i want to sleep and forget everything4 ,the next day was so pleasant that ,mrs4 ,mitchell proposed she should take a drive2 but ,marion had no heart for anything1 unless1 indeed1 ,i could go to the ,home for the ,sick and see ,mary ,falkner1--and ,i don't believe the doctor would let me do that4 ,i could ask ,dr4 ,b-- to examine the record too4 ,if ,stella's name was ,angus1 ,i-- she stopped suddenly on hearing the doctor's step4 ,he came in while they were discussing the subject1 and ended it by saying she was to go and drive around the park for an hour4 ,he contrived to send every one from the room1 and then asked1-- ,what success8 ,none at all4 ,i have no hope1 now1 and have made up my mind to be as patient as ,i can till ,i am well enough to see the one to whom ,i referred1 and tell him what ,i know4 ,i think he will forgive me1 but ,i can never forgive myself4 ,after this1 she went out every pleasant day for a week1 and gained strength rapidly1 notwithstanding her abiding regret in regard to the lost packet4 ,then came a few days of wet weather1 when she was obliged to keep in-doors4 ,she sent for her pupils1 gave them lessons1 and heard them sing and play4 ,she sent for new music for ,annie1 and tried to interest herself in it4 ,she purchased flowers and sent them to ,mrs4 ,douglass1 who1 under the care of an experienced physician1 was gaining strength daily4 ,the first pleasant day she resolved to go to ,grantbury1 taking ,james with her4 ,annie ,leman had returned to her aunt1 and was giving lessons to her first pupils4 ,one morning she stood watching the cloud1 which seemed to be blowing over1 and said to herself1 ,to-morrow1 if it clears up1 ,i shall be off4 ,what a relief it will be to tell him1 and be forgiven for my neglect of so sacred a trust6 ,she heard the bell ring1 and then ,james's voice asking whether she would see ,mr4 ,belknap4 ,certainly2 ask him up at once4 ,she advanced eagerly to the door to meet her father's aged friend1 and her own legal adviser4 ,marion's manner was always charming in its heartiness1 but towards her aged friends there was almost a filial warmth1 which made them feel that they were special favorites4 ,she seated the white-haired old man in her most comfortable chair1 putting an ottoman near him1 where she could sit and look in his face4 ,you have been near death1 ,i hear1 he said tenderly4 ,yes1 sir2 but all that time was lost to me4 ,i was not conscious of danger4 ,god has been good to you1 my child4 ,he has raised you up to new duties4 ,you must be thankful for all ,his mercies4 ,i must1 indeed4 ,i want to be better for this sickness1 more helpful of others not so favored as ,i am1 more humble and charitable4 ,that's right1 dear child4 ,ask for grace to improve each day's joys and sorrows1 and you will get it4 ,he then talked to ,marion of business1 saying1 ,there are some papers which it will be necessary for you to sign4 ,he had made a long call1 when the doctor came in1 and1 seeing ,mr4 ,belknap1 telegraphed to ,marion to speak to him in the hall4 ,when there he only said1-- ,tell your story to him3 he's a good friend to you4 ,and she did tell him1 relating the death scene in the hospital more in detail than she had done before4 ,she told him also that she had accidentally met a person who was burdened with a heavy grief1 whose name1 as nearly as she could recollect1 was the same4 ,she had always called her friend by her first name1 and the belief grew stronger and stronger in her mind that he was the one to whom her dying friend referred4 ,an expression on the gentleman's face had first startled her and carried her back in mind to her friend1 and the recollection of the letters left in her care4 ,he listened attentively1 not saying a word till she had finished the recital4 ,you say she died in the ,home1 in the year #ah--4 ,yes1 sir4 ,and that he also was in the same ,home for months1--that he told the chaplain his story1 as she had told hers1 probably4 ,yes1 sir2 but ,i didn't think--she stopped abruptly1 staring in his face1 and then exclaimed1 ,oh1 if ,i could find that packet of letters6 ,i begin to think he cannot be the one after all4 ,perhaps her friend has long been dead4 ,where did you keep the packet8 ,i must have put it where ,i considered it safe at the time2 but her story was so vague1--and she never mentioned the relation in which this person stood to her4 ,i fancied he might have been her lover4 ,i was young1 and thought ,i was to keep it till called for4 ,i remember thinking as she was a foreigner it was not likely it would ever be delivered to any one4 ,when ,i left ,uncle ,williamson's1 ,i kept some papers here and sent the rest to ,grantbury4 ,except the green box of deeds1 etc41 etc41 we keep in our safe4 ,marion started to her feet1 exclaiming1 ,it is there6 ,it is there6 ,let us go and get it4 ,she rang the bell1 told ,james to have the carriage round as quickly as possible1 hurried on her hat and sacque1 looking so eager and hopeful that her old friend said1 cautiously1-- ,don't be too sure1 my child4 ,she turned to him1 her whole face dimpled with smiles4 ,i'm almost as sure1 she said1 as though ,i had it in my hand4 ,in a few minutes she stood at the lawyer's table1 while a clerk was sent for the green box4 ,one minute more1 papers tied with red tape1 worth thousands of dollars1 and nicely filed receipts were scattered over the table4 ,near the bottom lay the missing packet1 which1 with a scream of joy1--,that's it1--she caught and held to her breast4 ,i can't sign anything to-day1 she answered1 as the younger partner requested her to wait a few minutes4 ,if you will send the papers round1 ,i'll do it3 ,i'm too excited now4 ,she ran down the stairs1 whispering over and over1-- ,god has been very good to me2 then to the coachman1-- ,illustration3 ,,she ,,fell ,,on ,,her ,,knees4 ,page #afi4 ,home as quickly as possible4 ,once in her own chamber1 she locked the door and1 not waiting to remove her hat1 tore off the envelope2 and there1 written in a feeble hand1 was the address1--,harold ,angus1 formerly of ,doncaster1 ,yorkshire1 ,england4 ,she fell on her knees1 and thanked ,god4 ,a strange calm stole over her1 as she began to realize that it was her privilege to lift the heavy burden from one whom she so greatly respected1 so admired for his many noble qualities4 ,she summoned ,james1 and sent him off to the telegraph office with this message3-- ,,rev4 ,,harold ,,angus1 ,grantbury1 ,conn4 ,please take the afternoon train1 #b3ej1 for this city4 ,a carriage will meet you at the station4 ,,marion ,,howard4 ,,chapter ,,xv4 ,a ,,sad ,,story4 ,to describe the scene which followed1 ,i will quote from the words of an eminent author4 ,have you ever watched the sun rise upon a landscape that has been1 but a few moments before1 a world of gray and black shadows8 ,have you seen the rosy flush of dawn creeping in lines of tender light across the hills1 and shining down into the valleys8 ,if you have seen this beauteous birth of day1 and felt its full significance of life renewed1 then your imagination can fancy the dawn of the new and perfect joy with which the young pastor received the intelligence contained in the letters4 ,i have come at your call1 he had said1 as he entered her parlor1 where she met him with outstretched hands4 ,looking full into his face she saw there the change of which ,annie had written4 ,his eyes shone with a quiet courage1 more touching than the wildest despair4 ,it was as though he had said1 ,my ,father has sent me a cross4 ,i will bear it manfully1 looking to ,him for strength4 ,marion had been for hours planning how she would break the news to the pastor4 ,all was forgotten now4 ,her voice rang with joy1 as she said1-- ,i have news for you1--good news4 ,i knew your ,stella4 ,she gave me this for you4 ,only this morning ,i first knew the address4 ,she put the precious parcel in his hands1 adding1 ,when you have read it1 ,i will come back and tell you of her happy death4 ,please touch the bell when you are ready4 ,it was more than an hour before the signal was given4 ,when she re-entered the parlor his face bore the marks of deep emotion2 but the new light ,i have described at the beginning of my chapter was shining from it4 ,have you read this8 he asked1 leading her to a seat1 and taking one beside her1--,no1 ,i do not mean that1--did she tell you8 ,when ,i first found her1 she talked of one who had blighted her life4 ,she never named you4 ,i had no idea she alluded to a brother4 ,after she went to the ,home she became a humble ,christian1 loving and tender to every one4 ,he was struggling hard to control his emotion1 but presently said3 ,how wonderful that1 when you were tending her and ministering to her wants like a sister1 ,i was within a hundred feet of her1 crying and praying ,god so to soften her heart that she might accept ,his forgiving love6 ,how wonderful that my ,father1 in ,his wisdom1 has withheld this1 holding up the letters1 till by ,his grace ,he enabled me to say from the heart1 ',thy will be done'6 ,and gave me the privilege of restoring to you the last token of her affection4 ,as she spoke1 ,marion's tears flowed fast4 ,will you thank ,him for me8 ,as they knelt1 he poured from a full heart words of praise and thanksgiving4 ,he consecrated his life and all its powers anew to the service of the ,saviour4 ,he asked that through these events1 so mysterious1 bringing to him1 after the lapse of so many years1 the knowledge of his sister's acceptance of ,christ as her ,saviour1 they might both be more trustful1 resting all their cares upon ,him who had done all things well4 ,again and again ,mr4 ,angus asked for reminiscences of his sister4 ,again and again ,marion related in detail the account of their first meeting1--,stella's despair when first told she could not live1 her removal to the blessed ,home1 the sermon on forgiveness from the chaplain1 the arrow of the ,spirit which sent it home to her heart1 the sweet and abiding peace which followed when she gave up her burden of sin and sorrow to ,christ4 ,where is her grave8 he asked1 concealing his face4 ,in ,greenwood4 ,i will take you there in the morning1 and you will want to see ,dr4 ,b- at the ,home4 ,in what words can ,i thank you1 ,miss ,howard8 ,you not only befriended a poor orphan while living1 but provided a place for her in that lovely home for the dead4 ,it was a precious privilege1 ,mr4 ,angus4 ,seizing her hand for a moment1 he dropped it suddenly and walked away to the window4 ,tea is served1 announced ,james1 opening the door4 ,one word1 ,miss ,howard4 ,will you listen to my story8 ,i want you to read my sister's letters4 ,if you will listen to me first1 you will then understand the cause she had to consider me her enemy4 ,i should consider it a sacred privilege4 ,my good ,hepsey1 ,miss ,prime1 ,mr4 ,angus1 she added1 advancing to the table1 where ,hepsey sat4 ,mr4 ,angus is my ,grantbury pastor1 ,ethel's friend1 she explained1 as they took their seats4 ,after grace had been said1 the conversation turned naturally to the family of ,mr4 ,asbury1 and especially to ,ethel4 ,after a while ,mr4 ,angus asked1-- ,have you heard from ,mrs4 ,douglass of late8 ,yes1 she has revived in a wonderful manner4 ,i intend to visit her as soon as my doctor removes the embargo he has placed on me4 ,he has the lowest opinion of my prudence1 and imagines me incapable of caution4 ,and he is right1 insisted ,hepsey1 laughing4 ,once you begin your visits1 there is no knowing when they will end1 until you are brought up again by some other contagious disease4 ,i am engaged this evening1 ,james1 if any one calls1 remarked ,marion1 as they rose from the table and returned to the parlor4 ,now1 ,mr4 ,angus ,i want to introduce you to my dear friends1 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,mitchell1 who have kindly made a home for me4 ,the conversation for a few moments was of a general character1 and then ,mrs4 ,mitchell said1-- ,we should be happy to entertain you to-night1 ,mr4 ,angus4 ,james will show you to your room1 when you wish to retire4 ,i will not say good-by1 as ,i shall see you at the breakfast-table4 ,it was evidently a relief that the restraint of others' presence was removed4 ,the pastor wanted time to realize his new situation1--freed from the harrowing reminiscences which had so long oppressed him1-- and especially he wanted to narrate to the dear friend who had done so much for him and his sister the actual experiences she now only surmised4 ,he sat quietly following with his eyes her movements as she placed a screen on the gas-shade1 moved a vase of flowers to the table1 folded a newspaper1 and performed those little acts of womanly refinement which make the delight and comfort of a home4 ,may ,i tell you now1 he said1 softly1 as she seated herself opposite him2 and will you be charitable toward the faults of a wayward youth1 as you have been to the failings of the man8 ,her bright smile encouraged him1 and he dashed into his story at once4 ,i was born in ,doncaster1 ,yorkshire1 twenty-nine years ago4 ,two years later ,i had a sister ,stella4 ,when ,i was ten and ,stella eight1 my mother died1 leaving behind her an infant boy1 whom father named ,wilson1 for his maternal grandfather4 ,a sister of my father came to keep house1 and care for the baby4 ,i might have helped her1 but ,i fear ,i made her hard task harder4 ,stella was naturally wilful1 strong in her likes and dislikes1 capable of the warmest affections4 ,she took little ,will1 as we always called him1 to her heart1 and made an idol of him4 ,father never seemed the same after mother's death4 ,i can remember him sitting1 his arms folded1 lost in his own thoughts and memories of the past4 ,i grew up with little restraint4 ,to do myself justice1 ,i pitied father so much that ,i often went away and wept4 ,i loved ,will too2 but ,stella was jealous if ,i separated him from her1 and ,i gradually let him alone1 except as ,i wanted to tease her4 ,occasionally1 when ,i was too abusive1 she appealed to father2 otherwise she took ,will and shut herself in a room with him1 where ,i could not get at her4 ,in my thirteenth year father woke to the face that ,i needed a master4 ,he sent me to a military school1 and promised that if ,i would do my best he would purchase a commission for me in the army4 ,i did fairly well in my studies1 and went home in my uniform1 carrying a prize for good conduct4 ,as ,i recall my actions at that time1 ,i must have been a great nuisance4 ,stella told me frankly that she wished ,i would go back to school and never return4 ,aunt ,sarah was almost beside herself1 settling disputes between us4 ,poor little ,will used to scream and run away when ,i went near him1 at which ,i did not wonder1 for he was taught to consider me an enemy4 ,father was more feeble than ever1 and passed much of his time in his chamber4 ,i might have been a comfort to him1 but ,i was not4 ,it was nearly three years before ,i was allowed to go home again4 ,aunt ,sarah told me that ,stella persuaded father to keep me away4 ,i had grown in that time from a boy to a man4 ,my military drill had made me strong and vigorous4 ,i was fond of athletic games1 and my companions thought ,i excelled in them4 ,i could hunt and row all day long without fatigue1 and was never so happy as when excited by competition in study or in athletic exercise4 ,but there were hours when ,i longed for home1 for a mother's unexacting affection4 ,i accompanied my classmates to their homes and witnessed the mother's pride in her boy1 her lavish affection poured out on him1 notwithstanding his faults4 ,i realized that ,i should be better with the incentive of a mother's approbation to spur me on4 ,i was fond of children too1 and in my long1 enforced absence1 ,i came to idealize my little brother4 ,i planned how ,i would win his confidence1 and help him to a happier life than ,i had had4 ,i was summoned home to father's death-bed4 ,dear father6 ,when it was too late1 he realized that he had allowed his grief to swallow up every other feeling4 ,he--asked my forgiveness1--dear father6 ,his choking voice interrupted the story for a few moments1 and ,marion's moistened eye2 showed that her interest was intense4 ,after pause1 he went on1-- ,father had settled his worldly affairs before my return4 ,his property was not large4 ,it was equally divided between my sister1 my brother and myself4 ,part of mine was to be spent in the purchase of a soldier's commission4 ,he lived two days after ,i reached home4 ,i am glad to remember that he forgave me all my waywardness and folly1 commending me at the last to the care of my mother's ,god4 ,this affliction drew ,stella and myself together and for a few weeks we lived more peaceably than we ever had done2 but she was still jealous of any interference with ,will1 so that my dreams of winning his love ended suddenly4 ,i had my gun at home1 and ,will used to beg ,stella to let him go with me4 ,he was continually saying that he would be a soldier when he was a man4 ,he used to look after me as ,i went out with my gun over my shoulder4 ,i gratified him a few times firing at a mark1 and then ,i allowed him from the window to see me load my gun4 ,one morning1--oh1 how vividly every circumstance comes back to my mind6 even the fragrance of the white rose-bushes1 and the pretty hedge all in bloom1--,i was unusually aggravated by poor ,stella's unreasoning jealousy1 and ,i answered with some hard words4 ,i reproached her with having made my life miserable4 ,i told her ,i came home resolved to be loving and patient4 ,i reminded her that we were orphans1 and ought to love each other2 and then1 as she called me some undeserved names1 ,i retorted angrily that ,i was the eldest1 the proper guardian of the family1 and that ,i would use my authority to take ,will from her to prevent his being ruined4 ,will stood by me1 and listened to all the talk4 ,then1 as ,i angrily left the house1 he ran after me and had to be carried back by force4 ,i was frightened at the violence of his temper1 and1 to soothe him1 said1-- ',if you'll go back1 you may play soldier with my gun4' ,i had fired it off in the early morning1 and left it standing behind the door4 ,i soon repented of my anger1 and was ready as usual to blame myself4 ,i will be more patient1 ,i said1 over and over again4 ,i had always trusted in my own strength1 and of course had failed4 ,i turned back and entered the house4 ,will was alone4 ,stella1 not expecting me1 had left him by himself1 for a punishment4 ,he looked guiltily in my face1 and ,i said1 ',come1 let's make up and be friends4 ,i'll teach you to be a soldier4' ,i took the gun and playfully aimed it at him1 knowing it was not loaded4 ,alas6 alas6 ,there was a loud report1 and ,will1 my poor little ,will1 fell to the floor4 ,my aunt and ,stella rushed to the room and found me with the gun in my hand1 dumb and immovable with horror4 ,with a shriek ,i shall never forget1 ,stella caught ,will in her arms2 but when ,i approached she waved me off1 calling me a murderer1 and shouting again and again1 ',i will never forgive you1--never6 ,never6' ,aunt ,sarah helped move ,will to a bed1 sent for the doctor1 and then1 beckoning me into another room1 shut the door1 and said1-- ,harold1 tell me truly4 ,how did it happen8' ,somebody loaded the gun after ,i went out4 ,i thought it was empty4 ,i wish it had killed me1 instead of my brother4' ,six feet tall as ,i was1 ,i laid my head on the table and sobbed like a child4 ',you must get away from here1' ,aunt ,sarah said1 putting her hand softly on my head1--the first caress ,i had had for years4 ',stella is wild with anger4 ,will is dyin and she will say you murdered him4' ',where shall ,i go8' ,i cried4 ',i'm an outcast1 like ,cain2 and yet the moment it happened loved my brother better than ,i ever did in my life4' ,i was delirious with grief and remorse4 ,i went from the house1 and passed the night on mother's grave4 ,i can recall little after that time1 till found myself on board a vessel bound for the ,united ,states4 ,stella's letter will tell you what happened in the interim4 ,what comfort the knowledge of those weeks would have been to me all these years1 you can scarcely imagine4 ,will died of the wound inflicted by my hand1 but not until he had confessed that he had loaded the gun while left alone4 ,he called for me continually but poor ,stella was1 as she expresses it1 possessed of a devil1 and would not send for me4 ,she continually denounced me as a murderer1 and ,aunt ,sarah had to explain again and again how it had happened4 ,i resolved then and there to leave the money father left me for her use4 ,i was reckless1 and did not desire to live4 ,as you will read in her letter1 ,stella says that she saw me at the funeral1 and almost repented when she perceived how changed ,i was4 ,i have not the slightest recollection of being there4 ,i landed in ,charleston1 ,s4 ,c41 and made my way to ,philadelphia1 where ,i found the means of living while ,i pursued my studies4 ,i gave up military life1 and thought ,i should be content if ,i could fit myself for an editor of a paper4 ,i was in an editor's office in ,new ,york1 when ,i was seized with fever and carried to the ,home for the ,sick4 ,i came away with new aims1 and only longed to benefit some poor afflicted ones as ,i had been benefited there4 ,you know the rest4 ,i studied three years at the seminary1 working among the poor meanwhile1 and had just begun to preach when ,i was requested to supply the pulpit for a pastor who had been my most faithful adviser4 ,i was called to ,grantbury1 and accepted the call4 ,how nearly ,i retracted my acceptance1 weighed down with a sense of my unfitness for the work1 how ,i besought ,god with strong crying and tears to appear for me and let me know ,his will1 no on but ,he knows4 ,there are poor ,stella's letters4 ,i have blamed her1 but not half so much as she blames herself4 ,marion covered her face with her handkerchief4 ,the story was sad indeed4 ,perhaps ,i have done wrong to tell you all this1 he urged1 rising and walking the room4 ,you are the only confident ,i ever had4 ,no1 no1 not wrong4 ,i thank you4 ,if deal ,stella could only have lived to tell you herself how fully she forgave you1 how earnestly she longed for your forgiveness6 ,at first1 added ,mr4 ,angus1 ,i used to pity myself2 but when ,i had received forgiveness of my heavenly ,father1 my pity was for her4 ,i remembered that the unforgiving cannot receive forgiveness of ,god4 ,i felt that my life was rendered desolate1 but ,i was willing to receive that as a chastisement4 ,my prayer was1 ',lord1 let her forgive that she may be forgiven4' ,the idea of her suffering from poverty never occurred to me4 ,of late1 when ,i have witnessed the happiness of home life1--fathers and mothers with their children growing up around them1--,i have thought that1 had my life been different1 ,i might have been blessed with a paradise of a home4 ,all the sadness is over now1 murmured ,marion1 softly4 ,do you think a man with such a past as mine has a right to ask any one to share his future8 ,what ,marion might have answered had there not been a knock at the door1 ,i cannot tell4 ,james entered1 and carried to his mistress a note on a salver4 ,i told you ,i could see no one to-night4 ,yes1 miss1 but the messenger persists4 ,he's from the ,home for the ,sick4 ,,chapter ,,xvi4 ,,stella',s ,,confession4 ,,mrs4 ,,asbury was sitting at work in her room when she heard the outer door open and a quick step on the stairs4 ,who can that be8 she asked1 somewhat surprised4 ,no one but ,mr4 ,angus has a key1 ma4 ,he never steps like that1 ,annie4 ,open the door and see4 ,before she could do so1 the step came down again and ,mr4 ,angus came into the sitting-room holding out his hand as he greeted them4 ,both mother and daughter started up to meet him1 and ,ethel1 hearing his voice1 came running in1 and stood for a moment gazing in wonder4 ,in her childish way she gave expression to their thoughts4 ,it's a new ,mr4 ,angus4 ,yes1 it is1 darling1 he said1 catching her in his arms4 ,that other ,mr4 ,angus has gone away1 and ,i hope never to see him any more4 ,turning to ,mrs4 ,asbury1 he said1 ,god has been very good to me1 and sent me the best of news from an absent friend4 ,i have long mourned her as dead2 now ,i learn that she died in faith1 trusting in the blood of ,christ to wash away all her sins4 ,i am truly glad for you1 was her earnest reply4 ,the intelligence ,i have received renders it necessary for me to go to ,england for a short time4 ,i want to ask your husband's advice concerning arrangements for my pulpit during my absence4 ,how long shall you be away8 ,probably three months4 ,you have six weeks' vacation4 ,why not include those1 and get a supply for the rest8 ,thank you for the suggestion4 ,it is my wish to leave as soon as possible4 ,this was all the explanation he gave as to the change in his conduct1 a change recognized by every one in the parish4 ,his voice1 his step1 his manner1 were cheerful even to buoyancy4 ,his smile was more frequent1 and had lost forever the sadness which formerly often accompanied it4 ,the very boys in the street watched and wondered4 ,formerly1 when he passed the play-ground1 he gazed at them1 but in so serious a manner that they felt almost guilty2 now it was very different4 ,he stood one day at the entrance to a large field1 given up to the use of the boys for base-ball1 watching the game with great interest4 ,no1 that is not the way1 he shouted at last1 leaping at one bound over the high fence4 ,this was the way when ,i was a boy4 ,he gave the ball a kick1 which sent it to the farther corner of the field1 and stood laughing at the loud cheers which rent the air1 then saying1-- ,play fair1 boys2 cheating don't pay1 he gave another leap and passed on1 taking off his hat and waving it high in the air as they cheered again4 ,a supply for the pulpit was readily obtained from a theological school1 and passage engaged in a ,cunarder2 but1 as the reader may not understand the necessity which called him to leave ,grantbury1 ,i will take the liberty to insert here extracts from the letters in the recovered package4 ,these were now in the hands of ,marion1 and he was to receive them when he went to ,new ,york to take the steamer4 ,it is unnecessary to say that the young lady1 having listened to the story of the brother1 devoted her first leisure to reading the confession of the sister4 ,the very first lines deeply moved her1 recalling1 as she did1 ,stella bolstered up in her bed at the ,home as she wrote1 her curtain drawn closely to shut out the sight of her companions4 ,the letter began3-- ,if ,i have a brother1 and these words ever meet his eyes1 let him read them as coming from one who has deeply sinned against him1 but who has also deeply repented4 ,judge her as charitably as you can1 my brother1 even as ,i trust ,god will judge me2 and remember that my prayers have gone up to ,god continually for you1 and my loving thoughts reach far away across the waters1 where1 if still among the living1 ,i suppose you are now4 ,how strange6 reflected ,marion1 that when she wrote that her brother was in an adjoining ward1 and that one minute's walk would have taken him to her side4 ,later4--,i had to lay aside my pen and rest1 and now my hands tremble with weakness2 but justice to one who has never received justice at my hands urges me to make my confession4 ,harold1 ,i cannot remember the time when ,i did not feel jealous of you4 ,as a child1 you were loving in nature1 winning your way without effort to every heart4 ,you were mother's pet and pride4 ,father could scarcely see a fault in his big1 brave1 and beautiful boy4 ,when ,aunt ,sarah came1 all that ,i could say to prejudice her against you had no effect4 ,she loved and trusted you4 ,she said you would love me if ,i would let you4 ,she said few had so forgiving a nature4 ,she tried to persuade me to be at peace and allow ,will1 my idol1 to love you4 ,i will say that when we used to walk into church1 ,i was proud of you4 ,all my companions envied me and my brother4 ,this made me hate you more than ever4 ,if you had been plain and unattractive1 ,i think it would have been different with me1--but perhaps not1 for my heart was full of envy and jealousy4 ,now you know the secret of all my conduct4 ,i was possessed with a devil and1 instead of trying to cast him out1 ,i cherished him4 ,harold1 before you reached home to see father die he begged me to love you as ,i loved ,will4 ,he gave ,will into your special care4 ,he wrote you a loving letter1 telling you his plans and wishes for your future1 that he left the care of ,will's education and his little property to you4 ,if he died1 it was to be yours4 ,if you died1 ,will was to inherit what you left4 ,how ,i hated him for this6 ,i had a legacy from ,aunt ,mary which1 with my share1 would be enough for me1 he said4 ,how ,i hated him for writing this6 ,the breath had scarcely left his body before ,i tore the paper to pieces4 ,will you forgive me1 brother8 ,later4--,i must hasten on1 for my life is fast drawing to a close1 and ,i have that to tell you which will relieve you of a great sorrow1 --,i mean in regard to the last dreadful scene at home4 ,tears stream from my eyes as ,i remember your patience with me1 your efforts to win my sisterly love4 ,oh how one expression of yours has rung in my memory6 ,sister ,stella1 why won't you let me love you8 ,i will try to please you1 and we might be so happy8 ,oh1 why6 why6 ,you asked ,will to go to walk4 ,he started1 and ,i ran and forced him back4 ,to punish him1 ,i shut him up in the room1 forgetting that you had placed your gun behind the door4 ,in my insane terror ,i charged you with murdering him1 ,harold4 ,before he died he confessed that he had loaded it1--put in the very bullet that was to end his life4 ,harold1 can you forgive me when ,i say that ,i knew this when ,i saw you at his funeral1 and did not tell you8 ,yes1 when ,i saw you so changed that ,i scarcely recognized you1 ,i kept his dying messages1 which would have relieved your sorrow4 ,i charged you with being his murderer1 but no one believed me4 ,aunt ,sarah did you justice4 ,she told every one you loved the boy1 and that he loved you1--that it was an accident4 ,after ,will confessed that he loaded the gun1 she repeated this to every one4 ,you were pitied1 and ,i1 who so idolized the boy1 was looked on with suspicion4 ,even ,aunt ,sarah told me that ,i had ruined ,will by indulgence1 or he would never have touched the gun contrary to your orders4 ,i hated her for saying it1 but ,i knew that what she said was true4 ,later4--,i am already relieved by my confession1 and1 as ,i feel stronger this morning1 ,i will write while ,i can4 ,i shall commit this to the care of a dear friend1 who first led me to hope for pardon through ,christ4 ,i can never tell any one how much she has been to me4 ,beautiful1 accomplished1 and rich1 she devotes herself and all she has to the divine work of winning others to her ,saviour4 ,dear brother1 ,i wish you could meet such a friend4 ,if you have never sought ,christ let a sister's dying words prevail4 ,his love is more precious than all the world beside4 ,if ,i1 with all my load of guilt can receive forgiveness1 no one need despair4 ,i told you ,i would never forgive you4 ,one day ,i heard a sermon from the young chaplain of the ,home1 where ,i was staying4 ,he repeated the words of our ,saviour1 ,if ye forgive not men their trespasses1 etc41 and explained the wretched1 despairing condition of those who cherish a spirit of unforgiveness4 ,every word applied to my case4 ,the gracious spirit of ,god carried home the truth to my heart1 and helped me to accept his conditions of mercy4 ,the whole room seemed filled with light4 ,never had ,i conceived such joy1 such peace1 as flowed in upon my soul4 ,from trying to invent excuses for my own base conduct1 ,i saw myself the vilest of the vile4 ,i realize now that murder had been in my heart1--murder of a brother4 ,i love you now4 ,i wonder at your forbearance when ,i reproached you4 ,how pityingly you used to gaze on me6 ,i seem to see your eyes now1--eyes like our mother's1 so sweet1 so sad1--looking into mine as though you would say1 ,stella1 ,i want to love you4 ,why can't we be at peace8 ,o ,harold1 my brother1 would that ,i could see you once more and ask your forgiveness6 ,aunt ,sarah often said that ,i had driven you from home and friends4 ,it is true4 ,i grieve over it1 and have asked ,god to forgive me4 ,i pray that we may meet in heaven3 you will forgive me there4 ,before ,i close1 ,i must tell you that immediately after ,will's death ,i went home with ,aunt ,sarah1 and remained till she died4 ,in the bank where father left your money1 you will find my share and ,will's4 ,i have never drawn one pound4 ,i could not1 as ,i had made it over to you4 ,my legacy has sufficed4 ,i want you to accept mine 7,will's is yours by right7 from a sister who has learned not only to love but to admire you4 ,i found letters from your teachers in the military school to father4 ,they wrote of you in the highest terms4 ,father used to read them over and over4 ,i did not see them till after his death4 ,one favor ,i would like to ask4 ,if you ever receive this1 will you repay the faithful friend ,i have mentioned the amount she has expended for my lot in ,greenwood1--she has promised to follow me there1--and any other expense incurred for my sickness beyond the #fj ,i leave in my purse8 ,later4--,the end is drawing near4 ,i am not afraid3 ,christian friends are about me4 ,my own loved ,marion will be here presently1 and will not leave me till ,jesus1 my ,saviour calls me home4 ,i have an assurance this morning that my prayers for you will be answered4 ,we shall meet father and mother and all our loved ones in heaven4 ,farewell1 dear ,harold1 farewell6 ,afternoon4--,god has seen fit to keep me here a little longer4 ,i have not told you that ,i came to ,america two years ago1--after ,aunt ,sarah's death4 ,i was in a boarding house with an acquaintance from home1 and taught music when a sudden cold settled on my lungs4 ,miss ,howard heard me sing once at a party given by one of my pupils and afterward called when she learned ,i was sick4 ,she is a great lover of music4 ,she has been such a friend to me as ,i cannot describe4 ,this ,home for the ,sick has proved a paradise to many4 ,thank ,god1 who sent me here4 ,once more1 brother1 farewell6 ,meet me in heaven4 ,,stella ,,angus4 ,,chapter ,,xvii4 ,,the ,,crippled ,,boy4 ,,during ,marion's call at the ,home for the ,sick in company with the pastor1 they examined the record of patients1 etc41 and related to ,dr4 ,b-- the singular circumstance of the brother and sister1 natives of another country1 being there at the same time1 each longing to find the other1 and remaining unknown4 ,there were the names and dates fully recorded3-- ,men's ,medical ,ward1 ,harold ,angus1 ,new ,york1 aged twenty-four4 ,disease1 typhoid fever4 ,entered ,march #g1 #ah--4 ,discharged cured ,june #bj1 #ah--4 ,address of friends1 ,mr4 ,james ,whitney1 ,new ,york ,city4 ,women's ,medical ,ward1 ,stella ,angus1 ,doncaster1 ,england1 aged twenty-two4 ,second admittance4 ,disease1 consumption4 ,entered ,may #b1 #ah--4 ,died ,june #d1 #ah--4 ,place of burial1 ,greenwood4 ,address of friends1 ,miss ,mary ,angus1 ,leyden1 ,england4 ,i recollect perfectly1 remarked ,dr4 ,b--1 that ,stella1 as we called her1--from ,miss ,howard introducing her by that name1--often spoke to the chaplain and to the nurses of one whom she had injured1 and that she wished to atone for it4 ,i never heard1 ,mr4 ,angus1 that you mentioned her name4 ,i never did4 ,i supposed her to be in ,england4 ,i can only believe that ,god1 for ,his own wise purpose1 kept the knowledge of her triumphant death from me till ,i could say1 in regard to all ,his dealings1 ',thy will be done4' ,from the ,home they drove at once to ,greenwood4 ,the lot was small and inexpensive1 but it had been well cared for1 and the grave1 covered with myrtle1 was green and beautiful4 ,marion led the way to the spot and then retired to a distance1 leaving the mourner alone with his sorrow4 ,not yet did she know how deeply ,stella had injured her brother1 and so she could not appreciate1 as she did afterward1 the abandonment of his grief as he fell on the grave1 saying1-- ,my sister6 ,my sister6 ,is it thus we meet8 ,still1 as she walked away1 with bent head and fast-falling tears1 she repeated to herself the familiar quotation1-- ,to err is human1 to forgive1 divine4 ,at the head of the grave ,marion had caused a simple stone to be erected1 with merely these words1-- ,,stella4 ,,asleep ,,in ,,jesus4 ,as they were turning to leave the sacred spot1 he pointed to it1 and tried to utter the words1-- ,thank you1 but his voice choked4 ,now1 he in whom she had taken so deep an interest1 whose happiness had for a time been so intimately interwoven with her own1 had sailed for ,england4 ,he had made a hasty call1 on his return from ,grantbury1 and received from her the precious letters assuring him of his sister's affection4 ,he had seemed ill at ease when she thanked him for allowing her to peruse them1 pressed her hand warmly as he bade her farewell1 took his hat from the table in the hall then suddenly threw it down again1 exclaiming1-- ,i cannot leave you without saying1 if we never meet again1 ,i shall die blessing you for your goodness to ,stella and to me4 ,miss ,howard1 you have opened a new future before me4 ,you--but ,i cannot1--,i ought not to say more4 ,will you add one favor to the many ,i have received at your hands8 ,will you answer a letter from me8 ,may ,i tell you of my visit to my native land1 to the graves of my parents8 ,he fixed his eyes full on hers1 which at last fell before the ardor of his gaze1 while she answered frankly1-- ,mr4 ,angus1 for ,stella's sake and for your own1 ,i shall be very glad to hear from you4 ,my time will be spent among my poor4 ,if ,i find anything to interest you1 ,i will certainly write in answer to yours4 ,marion was practical rather than sentimental1 and she plunged into the business of life as though nothing more than usual had occurred4 ,in one day1 she visited ,mary ,falkner at the ,home1 gave music lessons to four pupils1 went with ,hepsey nearly a mile to inquire for one of her mission boys1 and brought home for evening work one of the rolls from the mission chapel1 in order to stencil an additional hymn upon it4 ,still1 wherever she went1 however employed her thoughts were with a lonely traveller whom the waves were every hour carrying farther and farther away4 ,while driving1 with ,hepsey by her side1 through the thronged thoroughfares1 or sitting at her own well-spread board1 the question constantly recurred3 ,why did he say1 'if we never meet again'8 ,does he not expect to return8 ,then her pulse beat more warmly as she recalled the expression of his eye1 and added1 ,i know he hoped we should meet again4 ,in the morning ,mr4 ,lambert called1 and found her leaning over the large table in the dining room1 printing with the stencil plate the hymn1 work which company had obliged her to postpone the previous evening4 ,he had scarcely taken his seat before he began to scold her4 ,you ought to have a guardian1 he began1 in loud voice4 ,pale as ashes1--taking work out of the printer's hands1 too4 ,well1 they may starve for all ,i care4 ,world upside down1 as usual4 ,will you please help me roll this8 asked ,marion1 turning an arch1 smiling face full upon him4 ,it must be held very tight1 or it will wrinkle4 ,mr4 ,lambert1 why don't you help me in my mission school8 ,help--mission school--insane idea--couldn't get any scholars-- pretty teacher1 indeed6 ,he grumbled away for some time to himself1 and finally ended with a fit of laughter4 ,all nonsense1--throwing away money on bummers1 stuff and nonsense--embryo thieves and murderers4 ,he walked to the window1 pretended to be examining the flowers in the conservatory1 pulled out his purse and quickly concealed a bill in his hand just as ,marion1 who had finished her work1 said1 pleasantly1-- ,you needn't try to deceive me with your grumbling3 ,i found you out long ago4 ,you would go a mile any time to carry food to the hungry1 only you would want the privilege of scolding them afterwards4 ,the eccentric old gentleman hung his head1 too much confused even to grumble at her4 ,how guilty you look6 laughed ,marion4 ,you took me in1 once upon a time4 ,aye6 aye6 ,frightened you well1 that's some comfort4 ,i don't think ,i was much frightened1 though ,i confess ,i considered your manner rather rough4 ,i recollect well that ,i pitied you for being so suspicious of everybody4 ,he sprang from the floor1 shouting1-- ,suspicious1 eh8 ,suspicious1 is it8 ,pitied me1 did you8 ,if any one else had dared1--well1 ,i'm an old fool1 anyway4 ,he sat down and wiped the perspiration from his forehead1 looking so pale and hurt that ,marion pitied him more than ever4 ,she drew a chair close to his side and said1 soothingly1-- ,now that we understand each other1 ,i want to tell you a story1-- a true one4 ,you know ,hepsey and ,i go out sometimes to see our friends in the back alleys4 ,humph6 ,yes1--and bring home fevers1 and all that4 ,one day ,i heard a woman crying1--and true enough she had cause4 ,her boy had been crushed by a wheel which ran over his legs2 and there he lay on a pile of straw1 in a fainting fit4 ,i tried to bring him to while ,hepsey went for an ambulance1 and we soon had him in the care of the doctor1 on his way to the hospital4 ,hepsey and ,i followed with the mother4 ,to make a long story short1 the injury was so great that ,neddy--that's his name--had both his legs amputated just above the knees1 and he is well again4 ,now the question is1 ,what can he do to earn his living8 ,he's a dear1 patient little fellow1 and he has made friends of everybody at the hospital4 ,one of the doctors has given me five dollars for-- ,mr4 ,lambert threw down his cane1 and pulled out his purse again4 ,no1 ,i don't want money now1 ,i want advice4 ,he can't earn his living yet awhile2 but what can he be fitted for8 ,i'll get him a place in a printing-office4 ,in his excitement1 ,mr4 ,lambert forgot to grumble4 ,his voice was natural and agreeable4 ,just the thing6 ,but isn't he too young1--he's only nine8 ,that's a fault easily cured4 ,he must be put into the ,five ,points ,mission ,school till he's twelve1--learn to read and spell1 and all that sort of thing4 ,where is he8 ,in the hospital4 ,will you go with me to see him8 ,certainly not4 ,why should ,i go8 ,i've nothing to do with it1 any way4 ,you wanted advice and ,i gave it1--that's all4 ,don't be nonsensical now1 putting another bill stealthily on the table4 ,what did you say the fellow's name is8 ,neddy ,carter4 ,he isn't strong enough to be carried to that old1 tumble-down attic1 and so ,i have engaged a friend to take him home with her till he can have his artificial legs made4 ,that's what the doctor subscribed five dollars for4 ,wooden legs1 eh6 ,that's the plan1 is it8 ,five dollars6 ,tell this doctor to mind his own business4 ,i know a man--that is1 he owes me-- that is1 he will owe me--a bill1 and ,i'll get the legs out of him-- see if ,i don't4 ,i'll--grumbling4 ,well1 ,i'm going4 ,i don't find your story very entertaining4 ,it's lucky ,i'm forgetful3 shan't know anything about it to-morrow4 ,good-day1 ,miss ,howard4 ,don't make a fool of yourself more than you can help4 ,he caught his cane and was crossing the room when he saw the bill he had first taken from his pocket and forgotten lying on the floor4 ,pretty way to use good money1 he said1 with a sneer1 pointing to it4 ,with all your teaching business1 you'll never get rich that way1 ,miss ,howard4 ,illustration3 ,,marion ,,and ,,the ,,crippled ,,boy4 ,page #bjg ,i saw that bill drop from your hand1 sir4 ,marion laughed till all her dimples came into play4 ,but you can't have it1 she insisted1 as she saw his look of disappointment at being found out4 ,you've forfeited the right to it1 and ,i shall add it to my fund for ,neddy4 ,pretty sharp practice that1 he grumbled1 looking intensely relieved4 ,well1 good-day to you4 ,the next time ,marion went to the hospital a singular circumstance occurred1--a circumstance which unravelled for her quite a mystery4 ,she inquired for ,neddy ,carter1 and was allowed to proceed at once to the convalescent ward4 ,the boy was sitting in a low chair1 which he had learned to wheel about with great rapidity4 ,as soon as he saw her1 his face brightened1 and before he could reach her side he shouted1-- ,miss ,howard6 ,miss ,howard6 ,mr4 ,regy's been here6 ,and he's such a funny man1 said one of the older boys4 ,i wish ,i had seen him1 was ,marion's answer4 ,what did he come for8 ,to see me4 ,he was awful cross at first1 and scolded me for getting under the wheel like sixty2 but ,i know him1 and he's real good for all that2 and ,i like him2 and when ,i told him ,i didn't get under the wheel on purpose he gave me this1 pulling a silver dollar from his pocket4 ,will you please take it to help buy my wooden legs8 ,no1 indeed2 those will be ready when the doctor says you can wear them4 ,mr4 ,regy says ,i'm to be a printer1 continued the boy1 fixing his large brown eyes on hers2 and ,i'm to go to school at the ,five ,points1 and learn to read and spell1 and by-and-by1 he says1 there's no knowing but ,i may be a great man1 and print newspapers4 ,marion started4 ,this was ,mr4 ,lambert's plan4 ,had he told ,mr4 ,regy of it8 ,how does ,mr4 ,regy look8 ,this inquiry was addressed to one of the nurses1 who was passing4 ,very oddly1 she replied1 laughing4 ,he's about fifty or sixty years old1 very gray hair1 which he wears long1 floating over his shoulders4 ,marion laughed too as she said1 ,i've often heard of him1 but ,i never saw him4 ,mr4 ,lambert was over sixty2 but his hair1 naturally light1 had not turned gray1 and was cut short to his head4 ,he stoops a little1 added the nurse1 and makes frightful faces4 ,some of the little ones were afraid of him1 but before he went away he coaxed them to sit in his lap and put their hands in his pockets1 where they found nuts and raisins and candy in abundance4 ,a lady came in to see a little cripple1 and as she passed him surrounded by a group of them1 ,neddy's chair rolled as close as he could get it1 she remarked1 smiling1 ',it's a blessed work1 sir4' ,mr4 ,regy had not seen her before1 and he started to his feet1 looking very angry4 ',troublesome little brats6' he shouted1 pushing them away4 ,just like ,mr4 ,lambert1 was ,marion's reflection4 ,how very strange there should be two such men6 ,just then she noticed that several of the boys were putting their heads together1 whispering and gesturing as they looked toward her4 ,presently one came forward1 and asked1 timidly1-- ,will you please sing us a tune1 ,miss ,howard8 ,how do you know ,i can sing8 she asked1 with one of her brightest smiles4 ,i heard you at the mission ,sunday school4 ,i'm ,maurice ,long1 what used to be sent to the back seat for being allus in mischief4 ,maurice looked anything but humble1 as he confessed his faults4 ,why1 ,maurice6 exclaimed ,marion1 holding out her hand4 ,you have grown so much ,i did not know you1--and you are so pale1 too4 ,yes1 miss4 ,me and another boy got into a fight1 and ,i had my head smashed in1 and the p'lice brought me here4 ,i'm going out next week4 ,o ,maurice6 ,marion was interrupted by several voices shouting1 ,he'd fight agin1 ma'am4 ,he'd oughter4 ,it was ter save a feller littler than him4 ,hurrah for ,maurice6 ,how was it1 ,nurse8 ,i want to hear the story4 ,maurice had a chance to earn a dime carrying a bundle for a gentleman from the cars4 ,a little fellow came along1 leading a poor1 half-starved dog of which he seemed very fond4 ,just then a big bully of a boy met them1 and began to tease the dog4 ,when his owner timidly begged to be let alone1 the bully flew at him1 and then ,maurice thought it time to interfere4 ,he caught the bully by the hair1 and would not let go till he was terribly bruised4 ,a policeman came up and arrested both the boys1 just as ,maurice fainted from loss of blood4 ,the gentleman had seen the whole fight from beginning to end1 and he followed the bully to the court-room and gave his testimony1 and called ,maurice a hero4 ,and a good fighter1 too1 added ,maurice1 who had stood by1 listening to all with a kind of proud humility4 ,i am glad you were not fighting to defend your own rights1 said ,marion1 approvingly4 ,but who was the gentleman8 ,he gave his name as ,lambert1 said the nurse4 ,there is a very curious sequel to the story1 she added1 in a low tone1 as they turned away4 ,mr4 ,lambert came here twice before ,maurice was well enough to know him1 and showed a good deal of anxiety till he was out of danger1 growling to himself that he ought to have stopped the fight earlier4 ,he gave the doctor some money for ,maurice when he goes away2 but the boy knows nothing of that yet4 ,when ,mr4 ,lambert saw ,maurice he scolded him well2 said a street fighter was a mean fellow and ought to be arrested1 and hoped he should never hear of his street brawls again4 ,his voice was so loud that some of the little ones began to cry1 but ,maurice spoke up rather saucily1-- ,i'd fight for you1 sir1 to-morrow1 if you was hit4 ,i know you're jolly1 for all your scolding4' ,well1 said ,marion1 laughing heartily1 what did ,mr4 ,lambert say to that8 ,not a word that we could understand4 ,he went away with his handkerchief to his face1 but when he reached the street he shook all over with laughter4 ,shall ,i sing for the children now8 ,they will be delighted to hear you4 ,standing in the midst of the ward1 with the little ones pressing to her side1 ,marion sang the sweet melody set to the words1-- ,will you come where the sweet-briar grows1 ,where the heath flower blossoms around8 ,will you come where the hyacinth blows1 ,and the daisy just peeps from the ground8 ,there's a bower by the side of yon lake1 ',tis the chosen abode of the rose2 ,where the wings of the linnet awake ,the leaves from their calm repose4 ,every word was distinctly enunciated1 and the children1 with bated breath and sparkling eyes1 proved their appreciation by calling out1 ,more6 ,please1 ,miss ,howard1 sing more4 ,smiling1 she gave them the mocking-bird1 which was followed by shouts of applause4 ,,chapter ,,xviii4 ,a ,,mystery ,,solved4 ,,miss ,,howard was leaving the hospital when she met the doctor in charge1 who invited her to his private parlor1 as he wished to consult her in regard to her protg ,neddy ,carter4 ,i suppose you are acquainted with ,mr4 ,regy1' he said4 ,he knew your wishes about the boy4 ,i know him well by report1 she answered1 but ,i have never seen him4 ,indeed6 ,he is certainly the most eccentric individual ,i ever met4 ,benevolent and tender-hearted to an extreme1 he seems to me like a man who has learned to mistrust humanity so generally that he hides every evidence of weakness as carefully as though it were a crime4 ,why1 the good deeds that man does almost defy belief4 ,i can easily credit your statement1 doctor4 ,in my visits to my poor friends1 ,i am constantly hearing of him4 ,i have known of his paying rent for a widow who had a sick daughter1 month after month1 and at the same time providing her with medicines and food4 ,yet he would talk to her about her untidyness till he made her cry2 and then he would go away grumbling that all he could say did no good4 ,i heard some facts concerning his eccentricities from a gentleman who owns the place next his in the country1 continued the doctor1 which1 if they had not come to me from the best authority ,i would not credit2 but my friend vouches for the facts4 ,near them lives a woman whose husband was killed on the railroad4 ,she has two young children1 is pleasing in appearance1 but wanting in force4 ,they had always lived in comfort1 on the wages her husband earned4 ,when he was killed1 she seemed crushed with grief4 ,the neighbors made up a purse for her1 and ,mr4 ,regy1 who had given generously1 was requested to carry it to her4 ,he learned that she owned her small cottage1 to which a barn was attached1 but had no money4 ,he found she had no idea of earning her own living1 but when he proposed that the children be sent to the asylum1 and she go out to work in a mill or family1 she cried herself into hysterics1 calling him a cruel1 hard-hearted brute for proposing it1 wished he would go away and never come again4 ,this is all my friend learned from ,mr4 ,regy1 who denounced her as ungrateful1 unnatural as a mother1 a pest to society4 ,her neighbors supposed1 of course1 he gave her up2 but he never did1 for a day4 ,he went and berated her till he quite roused her into action2 and finally she said she had been brought up on a farm1 and knew how to make butter and cheese4 ',what good will that do you8' he asked her1 with a sneer4 ',where are your cows1 to make butter from8' ,it was some time before she learned what a true friend he was2 but two excellent milkers found their way to her barn1 and1 in time1 pans and a churn4 ,then she complained that she was sure she never could sell her butter and pot-cheese and cried a whole day at the scolding he gave her4 ,to make a long story short1 he sold all her butter and cheese for her at the highest price1 taking the basket on his own arm1 and carrying it to the houses of the regular customers4 ,a lady on ,forty-,second ,street told my friend that he brought butter there regularly every week for more than a year4 ,she supposed it was from his own farm2 and she has a pile of his receipts signed ,m4 ,regy4 ,once she remonstrated in person with him for his high prices1 when he flew into such a rage that she never dared approach the subject again4 ,very1 very strange1 remarked ,marion4 ,i have a friend who is extremely odd and uncouth in manner1 but is always doing kindnesses for the poor4 ,his name is ,lambert4 ,in many respects your description of ,mr4 ,regy would answer for both4 ,do you refer to ,mr4 ,m4 ,r4 ,lambert1 a rich old bachelor8 ,why1 ,i always thought him the most sarcastic1 sour1 crusty1 old man in my acquaintance4 ,only in manner1 doctor4 ,he possesses the milk of human kindness in an uncommon degree4 ,he is a second ,mr4 ,regy4 ,i am confident that any sum of money ,i would consent to ask him for in behalf of my protgs would not be refused2 and all the time he would be grumbling that it was good money thrown away on a thankless class of vagrants4 ,what is ,mr4 ,lambert's full address1 inquired the doctor1 rising in an excited manner4 ,m4 ,r4 ,lambert are his initials4 ,i have scores of his cards4 ,regy is1 ,i believe1 his middle name1 and he uses it for a nom de plume4 ,it can scarcely be credited that there would be two so similar in their eccentricities4 ,i am almost sure of it4 ,then he must disguise himself3 ,mr4 ,lambert's hair is short1 and only beginning to turn gray4 ,a gray wig is easy to procure4 ,what can be his motive8 ,it is difficult to conceive1 ,doctor4 ,i have sometimes imagined that ,mr4 ,lambert had a motive in so constantly visiting the poorer classes2 but it is only a suspicion4 ,i feel sure1 if it were true1 it would do honor to the kindness of the man4 ,i told him the story of ,neddy ,carter's injury4 ,he entered into it with great interest1- said he would get him a place in a printing-office and was almost angry that any one else had thought of purchasing artificial legs for the boy4 ,just what ,i wished to tell you from ,mr4 ,regy4 ,they are one and the same4 ,mr4 ,regy ,i shall continue to call him4 ,see1 here is the address he gave me4 ,m4 ,,regy1 ,p4,o4 ,,box #ajji4 ,on her way home1 ,marion's thoughts were absorbed in trying to solve the motives which could govern such a man as ,mr4 ,lambert1 and induce him to figure in so many different characters2 for the more she reflected the more she felt assured that he and ,mr4 ,regy were the same4 ,it might be that some early disappointment had thus twisted and gnarled a naturally lovely character4 ,it might be that some one he had once loved and trusted had betrayed his confidence1 and thus rendered him suspicious of all mankind4 ,she resolved to watch him closely1 and to endeavor to lighten his burden1 whatever it might be4 ,approaching her own door1 she perceived a carriage standing there4 ,with her thoughts still on the discovery she had made1 she ran up the steps and encountered ,eugene ,cheriton struggling in the arms of ,james1 who had been told to take him back to his mother in the parlor4 ,the boy readily yielded to her wish1 and went upstairs with her1 where she was both surprised and pleased to find not only ,mrs4 ,cheriton but ,mrs4 ,douglass awaiting her arrival4 ,the latter lady seemed to have taken out a new lease of life1 since her return to the city4 ,she acknowledged that she liked ,new ,york1 and should leave it with reluctance4 ,i hope you do not intend to leave it1 urged ,marion4 ,the lady glanced anxiously at her daughter before she answered4 ,necessity may compel us to do so4 ,mrs4 ,cheriton's countenance had no reflection of her mother's anxiety4 ,she sat as usual1 with her handsome head thrown a little back1 her large1 black eyes lustrous as ever1 her lips wreathed in the same set smile2 but there seemed no soul in her face4 ,she appeared to have wrapped herself in a veil1 which1 in ,marion's presence1 had never been lifted for one instant4 ,eugene1 beautiful and restless as ever1 ran here and there unrestrained1 demanding the reason for this or that1 preventing so effectually any attempt at conversation that ,marion1 who wished for an opportunity to talk with ,mrs4 ,douglass1 at last persuaded her to remain for the day1 insisting that she herself had no engagements which would interfere with the pleasure of such a visit4 ,while you are taking your siesta1 she urged1 ,i can go to my pupils2 and then we will have quiet chat1 or drive in the park1 as you prefer4 ,this is just the opportunity ,i have long desired1 remarked ,mrs4 ,douglass1 as after an hour's rest she had partaken of a nice lunch1 and was seated in ,marion's most comfortable chair4 ,i want to tell you some facts in my early life which will account for my being here in ,america4 ,i shall feel honored by your confidence1 returned ,marion1 gazing with affection into the still beautiful face1 so like and yet unlike her daughter's4 ,let me bring my crocheting1 and we can be as cosey as we please4 ,i told ,mr4 ,angus some things about our history4 ,he may have repeated them to you4 ,not a word1 dear lady1 bending over her work to conceal the rosy hue which colored her cheeks at the mention of his name4 ,i told him1 that1 although ,juliette and myself are living alone1 we are neither of us widows1--at least we are not knowingly such1-- but let me go back to early days4 ,my father was an ,englishman1 and in his thirty-first year was sent to ,spain as minister from the court of ,england4 ,he was stationed at ,madrid1 where he met my mother1 daughter of a nobleman in that city4 ,the liking between them was mutual1 and ended in marriage after an acquaintance of a few months4 ,i have heard it said that seldom had a couple so distinguished for beauty1 and every charm which makes life desirable1 been witnessed in our proud old city4 ,a year after their marriage a son was born1 who was named ,henreich1 for my maternal grandfather4 ,three years later ,i appeared on the scene4 ,as no other children followed1 and we were the only grandchildren on the mother's side1 you can easily imagine that our wishes1 whims1 and caprices ruled the entire household4 ,henreich1 beautiful1 bold1 wilful1 and unrestrained1 became at last a terror to both parents and servants4 ,to me only was he loving and gentle2 but even when in a fury of rage1 he would yield to my entreaties and tears4 ,i need not say that he was my idol4 ,i loved him as sister never loved brother before4 ,what ,i suffered when1 unable longer to endure the anxieties and terror which his bold daring continually occasioned my parents1 he was sent to ,england to be educated1 ,i have no words to describe4 ,it could scarcely be expected that a high-spirited lad1 accustomed to have his own way1 would yield at once to authority2 at least ,henreich did not1 and soon fell into such disgrace that he was expelled from the school4 ,my uncle1 to whose care he had been committed1 wrote1 resigning the charge4 ,he reproached my father in the most unmeasured terms for neglecting to restrain the boy's temper1 which had led him in an ungovernable fit of fury to attempt the life of one of his teachers1 after which he fled1 and nothing could be heard from him4 ,father went to ,england at once4 ,i never knew what occurred there1 but when he came home he said ,henreich was dead to us1 and forbade that his name ever be mentioned4 ,you will see later why ,i dwell so long on these sad events4 ,i mourned over my brother1 and1 not being allowed to speak of him1 ,i brooded over his troubles until at last ,i forgot that he had been to blame for them4 ,i even came to regard him as a hero1 who had been unjustly treated4 ,all the fond pride which would have been cherished for both of us was now lavished on me4 ,i scarcely had a wish but it was gratified4 ,with the exception of my trouble at the separation from my brother1 ,i scarcely knew the meaning of the word1 till in my fourteenth year ,i accompanied my parents to ,england1 and they left me to finish my education4 ,i was now in the same country where ,henreich had been1 but ,i never1 except on one occasion1 heard his name mentioned4 ,i asked my uncle ,douglass if he knew where my brother was1 and was answered1 with a terrible frown1-- ',no1 ,i do not4 ,he may be dead1 for all ,i care4' ,i never inquired again4 ,i was in ,england two years1 and returned to ,spain 'finished1' as my graduation from school with high honors was called4 ,it was then ,i entered on a course of gayety1 such as ,i had never even imagined4 ,though very young1 my hand was asked frequently in marriage2 but my heart was never touched till one evening1 at a gay assembly1 ,i met a young ,american1 with whom ,i danced nearly all night4 ,only the third time we met he told me he loved me1 and asked me to be his wife4 ,i confessed that ,i returned his affection1 and sent him to my father4 ,but now1 for the first time in my life1 ,i met opposition4 ,my father and mother1 foolishly fond and proud of their only child1 considered it quite beneath me to marry an untitled foreigner4 ,they talked as though royalty itself might be honored by an alliance with me4 ,this opposition naturally fixed my determination to marry the man of my choice1 notwithstanding all obstacles4 ,i instantly invested him with the whole catalogue of virtues and when1 added to these1 sadness on his part proved his undying attachment1 ,i made a martyr of him1-- a martyr dying for my love4 ,under these circumstances ,i gave my parents no rest4 ,my lover offered letters to prove that he was worthy2 and at length1 worn out by my entreaties and my evident loss of bloom1 father did secretly write to a friend in ,london1 requesting him to ascertain from ,mr4 ,post1 banker in that city1 in regard to his position and prospects4 ,this it was easy to do through correspondents from the ,london ,banking ,house1 and the result was so satisfactory1 both as to character and wealth1 that my friend was allowed to renew his visits1 which speedily terminated in my betrothal4 ,i have often thought since1 that1 had my parents allowed the acquaintance to proceed at first without opposition1 all would have ended differently2 for as the intimacy advanced1 even before our marriage1 ,i discovered certain traits which greatly annoyed me4 ,i had been accustomed to the expression of admiration1 and enjoyed it2 but ,i was faithful and true to my lover4 ,he considered the looks and tones of flattery an insult both to me and to him4 ,he constantly urged our immediate union2 but to this my parents would not consent1 except on one condition4 ,until ,i was twenty-one1 my home must be with them4 ,on my eighteenth birthday1 with the reluctant consent of all my relatives1 ,i became a wife4 ,for a month or two ,i was very happy4 ,i found my husband intelligent1 with a cultivated mind1 and a kind heart4 ,we were alone in a villa belonging to my grandfather1 and proved so sufficient for mutual happiness that ,i returned home with great regret4 ,oh1 that we had never returned6 ,marion had been so absorbed in the recital that she had failed to notice the increasing pallor of the narrator4 ,struck with the intense sadness of the last tone1 she started to find her visitor sinking back in her chair1 her lips blanched1 her hands trembling4 ,throwing aside her work1 she ran to her chamber for cologne1 with which she bathed the forehead and hands of the lady1 then rang for ,james to bring her a cup of fresh coffee4 ,she insisted that ,mrs4 ,douglass should rest before she continued her interesting story2 but the lady1 with a sigh1 urged1-- ,i may never have so favorable an opportunity to finish4 ,my sad tale is nearly ended1 and ,i shall be greatly relieved when ,i have told my only ,american friend my folly and my punishment2 so resume your work1 and let me end the recital as briefly as possible4 ,,chapter ,,xix4 ,,tears ,,of ,,repentance4 ,i ,,had only been in ,madrid a few weeks before ,i found that my husband was jealous1 unreasonably jealous4 ,he was so exacting that he demanded all my attention4 ,if ,i conversed with my old acquaintances1 young or old1 of either sex1 he made a scene4 ,my father remonstrated1 and they came to open fight1 my husband declaring that he would have no interference with his wife4 ,to avoid quarrelling ,i gave up society1 and even at my father's table became constrained in manner1 scarcely daring to speak lest ,i should meet the reproachful eyes of my husband fixed upon me4 ,finding that even this reticence did not satisfy him1 ,i went to the other extreme1 talked and laughed--yes1 and flirted too1--with any one4 ,this went on for more than a year4 ,i need not say that we were both wretched2 for1 strange as it was1 ,i still loved my husband1 in memory of the few weeks of unalloyed happiness after our marriage4 ,i think he loved me1 too1 though he had greatly changed1--grown cold and sarcastic4 ,i was driving out one afternoon in company with a servant1 when ,i met a traveller1 alone and on foot1 who started at my approach1 gazed fixedly in my face as we slowly passed1 and then ran after the carriage4 ,i was in delicate health1 and his sudden reappearance greatly startled me4 ,in his excitement he did not notice my fright2 but1 speaking a few words in ,english1 he forced me to alight and join him at a distance4 ,it was ,henreich1 my brother1 my long-lost idol1 shattered and destroyed4 ,the fiercest passions lighted his magnificent eyes4 ,he asked for father1 and cursed both him and his own bad luck that our parents still lived4 ,when ,i hurriedly told him ,i was married1 he was so angry he would have struck me4 ,he asked for money1 saying1 repeatedly1-- ',i must have money4 ,i will have my portion of the estate4 ,by fair means or foul1 ,i will have what ,i want4' ,i could not get away from him till ,i had given him my purse and every jewel ,i had about me1 and had promised to meet him at night in a retired part of our grounds1--,i thought ,i could steal away unobserved4 ,perhaps ,i could have done so but for the servant1 who was afterwards discovered to be a spy my husband had set upon me1 who told him of the strange meeting as soon as we returned home4 ,he had never heard my brother's name1 and must have wondered at my conduct4 ,i went instantly to my chamber1 where ,mr4-- soon joined me1 coming to the couch where ,i lay1 and gazing in my face with such marks of agony as ,i could not account for4 ,at that moment my love came upon me with all its fervor4 ,i put up my arms and drew him down to me1 and wept on his shoulder4 ,i kissed him repeatedly1 and did not notice at the time that my caresses were not returned4 ,i was so exhausted by what had passed that ,i fell asleep4 ,i woke1 shouting1-- ,henreich6 ,o ,henreich1 go away6 ,why did you come back8' ',who is ,henreich8' ,my husband's voice was so stern1 so unnatural1 that it frightened me4 ,in one instant ,i realized that if ,i said1 ',he is my brother1' he would not believe in the existence of one of whom he had never heard4 ,indeed1 my father often spoke of me as his only child4 ,if he did believe me1 ,henreich would be discovered1 and my father's name disgraced2 for1 from what ,i had seen1 ,i was sure his life had become wholly corrupt4 ,these thoughts flashed through my mind1 as my husband stood with blanched face and eyes protruding looking into mine4 ,would that ,i had explained all to him6 ,i am sure love for me was struggling in his breast with the contempt he imagined ,i deserved2 but ,i did not explain4 ,i resolved that ,i would give all the money ,i could raise to my brother1 and send him away2 that when he was out of reach ,i would tell my husband the whole story1 under a promise from him of secrecy4' ,mrs4 ,douglass hid her face in her hands1 unable to proceed4 ,tears were trickling down ,marion's cheeks4 ,perhaps ,i am doing wrong to tell you all this1 ,miss ,howard4 ,you blame me for my want of frankness1 but not half so much as ,i deserve1 and you will see that ,i have been terribly punished4 ,i stole from the house at the hour ,i had promised to meet my brother1 with a large sum of money in my hand1 and a letter in which ,i told him it was the last time ,i would help him4 ,i begged him to go away1 and begin a life of honesty and virtue ,i signed myself your affectionate sister4 ,my husband was watching1 and saw me go out4 ,he followed1 heard the sound of excited voices1 saw ,henreich take me in his arms1 and1 as he thought1 strain me to his breast4 ,alas6 it was a ruffian who held me1 while he tried to force me to yield to him my betrothal ring1 a superb diamond4 ,he succeeded in wrenching it from my finger4 ,how ,i regained the house ,i never knew4 ,i found myself in my own room on a couch1 with my maid bending over me4 ,i was told afterward that one swoon had succeeded another1 physicians had been summoned1 and remedies administered4 ,at the sound of my voice mother came forward with our attending physician4 ,another spasm came on4 ,two days later ,i lay hovering between life and death1 and my little babe lay beside me1 the very image of ,henreich as he was when ,i first remembered him4 ,i was too sick at first to notice the absence of my husband4 ,i learned later that he saw me fall in trying to reach the house1 caught me in his arms1 and laid me on the couch4 ,he summoned my own maid1 who saw him seize a few papers from the drawer and go out into the darkness4 ,from that day to this ,i have never seen him4 ,all these years1 if he has lived through them1 he has believed me to be a guilty thing1 not worthy even of his contempt4 ,all these years his child has never heard her father's name1 and he whose heart was always touched with the sorrows of a child has never heard the sacred name of father from his child's lips4 ,too late ,i learned to love him with an intense affection1 which1 if it had been cherished earlier1 would have led me to overlook faults of manner and roughness of speech which1 perhaps1 after all1 were put on to disguise deep feeling4 ,only once in all these long1 weary years have ,i heard from him4 ,our beautiful babe was two months old when my father received a letter1 stating that a sum of money had been placed in the hands of trustees1 who were named1 for the benefit of my child1 if living4 ,he said that he considered the marriage tie broken1 and that he should never trouble me again4 ,he was right3 believing of me what he did1 he could not do otherwise4 ,i honor him for it1--but ,i must hurry to a close4 ,henreich did not succeed in escaping the vigilance of persons who were in search of him4 ,he had hoped to secure enough from me to reach a foreign land and chide justice4 ,when his arrest was made public1 the servant who had been with me on my first meeting ,henreich confessed1 with bitter tears1 that she had told my husband that which caused him to watch me on that dreadful night4 ,she said his agony of grief at what he called the certainty of my unfaithfulness frightened her1 and she ran away1 repenting that she had told him4 ,henreich's arrest and death1 though under an assumed name1 threw my mother into a fever1 from which she never recovered4 ,two years later1 father married a ,spanish widow1 with several sons and daughters4 ,the eldest son was ten years older than ,juliette1 and was being educated in ,france and ,germany4 ,he returned to his home when she was only a few months over fourteen1 became enamoured of her beauty1 and a secret engagement took place4 ,when ,i learned of it ,i refused my consent2 but the infatuated child followed the example of her mother1 and would not yield her own wishes4 ,his mother agreed with me2 but my father said there was no blood relation between them1 and if they would wait till she was of proper age there was no objection4 ,this half-consent was enough for ,arthur ,cheriton4 ,he took ,juliette out for a drive one day4 ,when they returned they were man and wife4 ,after living together a year1 he found her unformed in mind and wilful in temper4 ,he went to ,england on the plea that after obtaining a situation he would send for her4 ,eugene was just one month old when his father left home4 ,we have never seen him since4 ,a small fortune from my father at his death1 together with the income from the sum my husband settled on us1 has sufficed for our maintenance4 ,it will support ,juliette and her boy in comfort2 but it is for her ,i fear4 ,she has many of poor ,henreich's traits1 and her beauty attracts many admirers4 ,my prayer is that the heavy afflictions which have separated us from those we love may wean her from earth as they have the mother2 that she may find in the exercise of the duties of a ,christian life the solace nothing else can give4 ,one word more and ,i have done4 ,once a year we have heard from ,arthur1 whom ,i have always kept advised of our place of residence4 ,i have reason to suppose he is in ,america1 perhaps in ,new ,york4 ,this was what led me to say that we might be compelled to leave the city4 ,juliette has lost all her love for him1 and insists that she will never recognize the tie which binds them together4 ,as long as ,i live1 ,i shall go with her where she goes2 but ,i know death may claim me at any time1--and then what will become of my child8 ,was your husband's name ,douglass1 too8 ,i took my father's name when he cast me off4 ,,chapter ,,xx4 ,,letters ,,from ,,the ,,pastor4 ,,how true it is1 said ,marion1 as1 after she had taken ,mrs4 ,douglass to her home1 she was seated in her own parlor1--how true that the sins of the parents are visited on the children6 ,god's threatenings are as faithful as his promises4 ,i cannot be thankful enough that ,i have had a pious ancestry1 and that their prayers may be answered in blessings on their descendants4 ,how little that father realized that1 in allowing his son and daughter the indulgence of every caprice1 they were sowing seed which would spring up to their own sorrow and shame6 ,how little even ,mrs4 ,cheriton realizes that she is pursuing the same evil course with her boy1 and that from being her idol he will become her tyrant6 ,i promised ,mrs4 ,douglass that ,i would be a friend to the youthful mother2 indeed she urged that ,mr4 ,angus had advised her to confide her story to me1 and had been confident that ,i would not forsake her4 ,i will try to keep my promise4 ,mr4 ,angus sailed early in ,june1 and1 except a notice in the papers of the safe arrival of the steamship in ,liverpool1 no news from him had been received4 ,mrs4 ,asbury wrote ,marion that her long-promised visit would be paid the last week in the month1 and that she expected her niece to return with her to ,grantbury4 ,at the close was the following hurried postscript3-- ,i have opened my letter to add that ,mr4 ,asbury has just received a brief communication from our dear pastor4 ,he is well1 preached on ,sunday in ,london1 both morning and afternoon1 sent affectionate regards to all friends including you and ,ethel1 of course4 ,marion read the message with a heightened color4 ,her heart rebelled against being remembered in this general way2 then1 reading again1 was pleased to see that this was only her aunt's rendering of his message4 ,she fell into a revery concerning the absent one4 ,he told me ,i was the only confidant he ever had4 ,in aunty's last letter she narrated exactly what he told her in regard to the triumphant death of a friend4 ,she has no idea that ,i knew his sister1 nor of the painful events of his early life4 ,i will not betray his confidence2 and yet it will be a trial to me to keep anything of interest to myself from my dear1 kind aunty4 ,i wonder whether he will write me1 and when4 ,she was interrupted by ,james1 who brought the morning paper4 ,nothing else8 she asked1 in a tone of disappointment4 ,nothing at all4 ,looking at her watch1 she saw there would not be time to read the news before the carriage was due4 ,she folded it in an abstract manner1 walked to the rack to put it in1 when she saw the end of a letter protruding from a newspaper inside4 ,as this was not the place for letters1 she took it out1 and found to her surprise it was unsealed1 and--,yes1 it is1 she said aloud1 it is postmarked ,london4 ,mr4 ,angus began by asking1-- ,am ,i intruding too much on your kindness by sending you a few lines at so early a date8 ,if so1 forgive me1 and remember that though ,i am in my native land1 standing on the spot where my fathers stood1 yet ,i am a stranger4 ,i feel lonely to-night1 and would gladly transport myself back to my adopted country4 ,we had a prosperous voyage1-- prosperous so far as it could be to one who was being removed farther and farther from home and home friends4 ,how much would ,i give to have my little ,ethel in my arms1 and hear her sweet voice whispering in my ear1 ,i love you6 ,you will turn from my page1 ,i fear1 disgusted with my home-sickness1 and ,i will tell you of other things4 ,i have been occupied with business in ,london1 but start to-morrow for ,doncaster1 and from that place shall proceed to ,leyden4 ,there is a post-office in ,leyden4 ,if ,i should find there a letter directed to me1 it would make me very happy4 ,i write ,mr4 ,asbury by this same steamer1 and shall send my messages direct to them4 ,may ,god bless you1 my dear ,miss ,howard1 and reward you for all your kindness to me and mine1 is the sincere prayer of your friend1 ,,harold ,,angus4 ,there was one person only to whom ,marion spoke of the relief which had come to the ,grantbury pastor1 and this was to ,mary ,falkner4 ,this young girl1 in the midst of her own suffering1 never forgot to pray that ,god would lead him into the light4 ,it was ,marion's precious privilege to change these prayers to praise for mercies already bestowed4 ,it was during a visit made to the ,home1 and when the conversation had reverted to friends in ,grantbury1 that ,mary inquired who was preaching there4 ,mother goes every ,sunday to church1 she went on1 and says she enjoys it4 ,she told me word had come across the water from the pastor1 that he was safe on land the other side4 ,marion laughed at the curious phraseology of the widow1 and then said1 ,your prayers for him have been answered1 ,mary4 ,he is no longer weighed down by sad memories4 ,i will report to you what he told ,aunt ,asbury4 ,the cripple clasped her hands1 while a fervent expression of joy stole over her face4 ,god be praised6 she ejaculated4 ,he will be far more useful in his work now4 ,he can 'rejoice with those who do rejoice1 as well as weep with those who weep4' ,,part ,,ii4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,grantbury ,,and ,,the ,,first ,,church4 ,,grantbury is a manufacturing town4 ,it has six churches1 of the different denominations4 ,the largest and most flourishing church was the one over which ,mr4 ,angus was settled as pastor4 ,a branch of this church had gone off some years before and had built a chapel near one of the factories1 hoping to bring in many of the employs1 who were neglectful of public worship4 ,this had not been as successful as had been hoped2 the clergyman was so poorly supported that he left1 and of late the effort of the ,christian workers had been concentrated on the ,sunday school4 ,the usual attendance here was about one hundred4 ,two years before the commencement of our story1 an unusual excitement prevailed in the town1 caused by the proposition of a few speculators to build a new railroad direct to the principal cities east and west of them1 thus connecting them with the great thoroughfares4 ,the capitalists who owned most of the stock in the branch railroad which connected them three times in a day with the next town at first opposed the new project2 but ,mr4 ,asbury1 with a wider and more far-reaching view of the results1 advocated it both by public speeches and offers of money4 ,as he was a large land-owner1 and the railroad would have to pass through one of his most valuable farms1 it was argued by those wishing the new road1 that he must be advocating it for the good of the public against his private interests4 ,so1 indeed1 he was4 ,the new road was chartered1 and in time in working order4 ,a compromise to purchase from the owners of the branch road twelve miles which came in their direct route satisfied all parties2 so that1 when1 the new1 tasteful depot with the long baggage-room replaced the forlorn little station with shed attached1 there was a general burst of enthusiasm4 ,the two years following this made a marvelous change in the old1 quiet village4 ,mr4 ,asbury had given a beautiful site for the new depot1 on conditions which had been complied with4 ,the grass land belonging to his largest farm had been laid out in squares1 with a park in the centre1 and sold for house lots4 ,the buildings put up there according to the terms of sale1 must not be less than a stipulated cost2 and thus a pretty village was growing up in this part of the town4 ,mr4 ,angus's church was half a mile from the station1 and quite near ,mr4 ,asbury's dwelling house4 ,the stimulus in all branches of business had been so great since the new railroad had been built that the main street had been widened1 and set out with shade trees at the border of the flagged sidewalks4 ,nor was the prosperity confined to the vicinity of the depot4 ,the increased demand for vegetables1 milk1 etc41 from the new-comers made the land too valuable for the farmers to cultivate grass and corn for their own use4 ,large fields with southern exposures were planted with early and late vegetables and small fruits1 which found a ready sale at their own new market4 ,this was the condition of the town when ,mr4 ,angus became the pastor of the ,first ,church4 ,during the nine months following his ordination1 the church building had become so crowded that a suggestion of enlarging by transepts had been made4 ,it was an old-fashioned edifice1 with unnecessarily roomy slips1 white walls1 high pulpit1 and poor ventilation4 ,mr4 ,asbury was opposed to enlarging1 but did not consider it time to give his reasons4 ,at a meeting of the trustees directly after ,mr4 ,angus went abroad1 it was proposed that the work of enlarging be entered upon immediately1 and finished by the time of the pastor's return4 ,some money was subscribed2 but when the paper was passed to ,mr4 ,asbury1 he refused to sign any thing4 ,as a large subscription had been hoped for1 this refusal threw a damper on the undertaking2 but a committee was appointed to report in one week1 and the meeting adjourned4 ,during this very week a fire broke out in carpenter's shop filled with combustible matter4 ,the flames carried sparks and half-burned sticks to several houses in the vicinity1 and among them to the building belonging to the ,first ,church4 ,the committee met1 and all the male members with them1 not to report on the cost of the proposed alterations1 but to consult what was to be done in this sudden and terrible emergency4 ,the old sturdy farmers were near despair1 but supposed they must do something to repair the temple of the ,lord1 and were thankful that the walls1 being of brick1 were still standing4 ,others had a plan that a new town hall1 just finished1 should be hired1 and public worship held there till such time as they were able to recover from the effects of the terrible calamity which had overtaken them4 ,mr4 ,asbury and a few friends belonging to the wealthy portion of the church remained silent listeners to the views of the older brethren4 ,at length1 after an hour spent in lamentations over the calamity1 and propositions which were considered impracticable1 the moderator of the meeting remarked1-- ,we have talked an hour to no purpose4 ,will some one make a proposition as to a place of worship for us next ,sunday8 ,after a momentary pause1 ,mr4 ,asbury quietly rose from his seat with an open paper in his hand4 ,there was not the least trace of excitement in his manner1 as he said1 ,i have here a letter1 which ,i will read4 ,it is from the trustees of the ,methodist ,episcopal ,church in our town1 and is addressed to me4 ,,mr4 ,,edward ,,asbury3 ,dear ,sir1 ,at a meeting of our board of trustees the day following the burning of your church edifice1 a resolve was unanimously voted that we deeply sympathize in your loss of your house of worship1 and that we tender to you the free use of our church building till such time as you may repair your edifice or otherwise provide for yourselves4 ,with fraternal love and good-will1 ,very respectfully ,,moses ,,hunt4 ,by order of trustees of ,methodist ,episcopal ,church1 ,grantbury4 ,a motion to accept this friendly offer was at once passed1 and then ,mr4 ,asbury rose again and said1-- ,i have a proposition to make2 but1 first1 ,i ask you to listen to a few facts4 ,i have made a careful investigation into the state of our church building1 the walls of which are still standing4 ,it is fifty-eight years old2 the beams are rotten4 ,it ought to be a source of gratitude that we have escaped a greater calamity by reason of the falling in of the walls1 from the cellar being unventilated4 ,it cannot be repaired4 ,this is the opinion of the best experts ,i have been able to obtain4 ,i propose1 then1 that we sell it as it stands1 to some gentlemen who offer five thousand dollars for the site4 ,they intend1 if they obtain it1 to put up a large hotel4 ,it's a good offer4 ,take it4 ,i object4 ,we must have the land to build again4 ,we need a hotel for summer residents4 ,we can worship in the town hall4 ,or disband altogether1 grumbled a man who never contributed a penny4 ,altogether the clamor following this proposition prevented any further remarks from ,mr4 ,asbury1 if he had wished to make any1 and he sat down with a smile on his face4 ,several groups were at once formed1 and loud1 excited voices were heard discussing this unexpected proposal2 some were for accepting1 others positively refused to quit the old spot dedicated by their fathers to the worship of ,god4 ,at length the moderator1 with a loud rap on the table1 called the meeting to order1 and inquired whether any gentleman had anything further to say before the proposal was put to vote4 ,mr4 ,asbury rose again1 this time with a little flush on his face1 as he remarked1 ,i am not in the habit1 as you1 my friends1 are aware1 of speaking of myself2 but ,i would like to say that ,i have the welfare of this parish greatly at heart4 ,we are blessed with a good pastor1--a live1 working man4 ,i believe he will be more useful in the future than he has been in the past2 that he is a growing man4 ,i believe that he will return to us with greatly improved health and spirits1 and enter on his work again with new hope and confidence of success4 ,i want to show him that we appreciate him by building him a new church large enough to accommodate all the new families who wish to join us4 ,when a proposition was made at our last meeting to enlarge our old building1 ,i did not subscribe1 because ,i knew the work would cost more in the end than to begin a new one4 ,i have had some sad experience1 as many of you know 7smiling71 as to the cost of repairing old buildings4 ,now that the fire has rendered that undertaking impracticable1 ,i propose to your board of trustees to accept a lot of land on the rising ground1 half-way between this and the new depot1 which ,i freely tender to them4 ,shouts of ,yes1 ,we will1 etc41 were checked by a wave of ,mr4 ,asbury's hand1 as he added1-- ,wait a little3 ,i have not done yet2 there are conditions4 ,i wish to say that a subscription paper has already been started for a new edifice costing not less than twenty thousand dollars1 and the sum of fourteen thousand eight hundred dollars1 including five thousand for our old church building1 already subscribed1 on condition that the whole amount be raised1 and no mortgage ever be allowed upon it4 ,profound silence followed this speech1 which was like a bombshell thrown into an unprotected house2 then a few whispers were heard1-- ,five thousand and more to raise4 ,where will it come from8 ',t would have cost ten to repair1 and 't would have been an old building after all4 ,at last1 ,mr4 ,rand1 an aged1 white-haired farmer1 stood up4 ,i'm an old man1 he said1 and not long for this world2 but ,i hope to live to see the new church built on that 'ere spot yonder1 which1 in my opinion1 is the pootiest place for a church in the hull town1-- yes1 and to worship ,god in it1 too4 ,i'm not rich1 and ,i'm not poor4 ,i've got nigh upon two thousand dollars in the savings bank1 laid up for a wet day4 ,my children are all married and settled on farms of their own2 so ,i sha'n't do any of 'em wrong if ,i add my name to ,mr4 ,asbury's paper1 holding out his hand for it4 ,there1 he said1 deliberately taking off the glasses he had put on to write1-- there's fifteen thousand three hundred subscribed on the above-named conditions4 ,if necessary1 ,i'll add another five hundred2 and ,i'm sure my old woman will say so1 too4 ,after this noble example1 rejoined the moderator1 more moved by the old man's words than he liked to show1 ,i'll put down my name for the same sum as he did4 ,smaller sums were at once added1 so that when the meeting adjourned1 after the appointment of a building committee1 only one thousand more was necessary to make up the entire amount4 ,this was to be obtained by personal solicitation from the families of those not represented at the meeting1 and a committee of ladies was requested to take this work in hand4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,visit ,,to ,,ingleside4 ,,the architect employed by the building committee had submitted a plan for the new church1--,gothic1 high spire1 and stained-glass windows4 ,it was accepted1 the foundation laid1 the walls1 which were to be of native stone1 raised to the height of seven feet1 when a letter was received from ,mr4 ,angus1 enclosing a slip cut from a ,london newspaper4 ,a very innocent-looking paragraph1 exclaimed ,mr4 ,asbury to his wife4 ,but what a stir it will make in the parish6 ,it was the announcement of an urgent call given to the ,rev4 ,harold ,angus1 of ,new ,york ,city1 ,united ,states of ,america1 to settle over the --,church1 --,street1 ,london1 at a salary of one thousand pounds4 ,in addition to the printed paragraph1 ,mr4 ,angus had written1-- ,,dear ,,friends1-- ,mail going out4 ,only time to say that the call alluded to1 and the enclosed slip1 in which it was announced1 came to hand by the same mail1 and was wholly unexpected4 ,fearing you might see it copied into a ,new ,york paper1 ,i forward it1 and will write more at length by next steamer4 ,h4 ,,angus4 ,before the close of the day in which the letter was received1 few belonging to the ,first ,church were ignorant of its contents4 ,mr4 ,asbury was right4 ,the news created a great excitement1 not only in their own parish1 but throughout the town4 ,a meeting of the voters in the ,first ,church was called to express their opinions in regard to the subject of the paragraph4 ,after the opening exercises1 ,mr4 ,asbury stated the object of the meeting4 ,mr4 ,rand then started to his feet1 and with a quick glance around the room1 said1 in a loud voice1-- ,i'm as deaf as a post1 from a cold ,i got down on my medder1 and ,i can't hear a word you say2 but my wife1 she's heerd that some folks 't other side of the water are trying to get our pastor away from us1 and she told me to come here and vote it right down4 ,it's a shame1 anyway1 for ,christians to be a-pulling and a-tearing of one another4 ,we've got the first right to ,mr4 ,angus1 and ,i vote that we hold on to him1 and let them get a minister nearer home4 ,that's all ,i've got to say4 ,if it's more salary than we pay him1 ,i guess ,i can help make up the difference between what they'll give and what we do4 ,a hearty laugh followed this speech1 and1 as ,mr4 ,rand had expressed in brief the wishes of all present1 the meeting soon adjourned1 after a unanimous vote to hold on to their pastor1 and make the question of salary satisfactory to him4 ,one of his neighbors having screamed this result into ,mr4 ,rand's ear1 he mounted his farm-wagon with a significant nod of his head4 ,all right6 he shouted1 at the top of his voice4 ,i darsn't go home till ,i knew the parish would hold on to him4 ,my old woman would--you know4 ,his voice was lost in the distance4 ,perhaps if the good farmer had known the contents of a letter which at this very hour was being carried by wind and steam across the ,atlantic he would have been still more jubilant as he sat eating his supper of cold corned beef and greens1 and telling his wife1 between the mouthfuls1 the news he had learned at the meeting4 ,mrs4 ,asbury made her visit to ,marion at the time she had promised1 taking ,ethel with her4 ,of course all the ,grantbury news was rehearsed1 in the course of which the pastor's name was frequently mentioned4 ,ethel1 meanwhile1 had succeeded in coaxing ,gypsy1 a pet spaniel belonging to ,mrs4 ,mitchell1 to allow herself to be dressed in one of her dolly's cloaks4 ,now1 she said1 we are going to sail on a voyage to ,europe1 to see ,mr4 ,angus4 ,you must sit very still1 doggy1 because it's ,sunday4 ,i shall teach you a hymn by and by1-- ',i must not play on ,sunday4' ,when we get to ,europe1 ,i shall let you go with me to ,ingleside1 you know4 ,there is a pretty garden at ,ingleside1 with an arbor all covered with grape vines4 ,if you are good till we get there1-- sit still1 ,gypsy1--oh1 how naughty you are to pull off your nice cloak6 ,by this time ,gypsy thought she ought to be released1 and jumped from the sofa1 where ,ethel had placed her1 at which the little girl burst into a merry laugh4 ,what is she talking about8 asked ,marion1 in a low tone4 ,where is ,ingleside1 ,ethel8 inquired her mother4 ,why1 don't you know8 ,it is ,mr4 ,angus's home1 where his grandfather used to live4 ,when he was a little boy1 his mamma let him go there sometimes2 and he had hens and little goats to play with4 ,we talk about it when we are taking a walk1 you know4 ,what a pretty name ,ingleside is1 remarked ,marion1 without raising her eyes from her work4 ,she was making a fine dress for ,frances1 ,ethel's favorite doll1 and of course the excitement of this was what made her cheeks look so rosy4 ,during ,ethel's visits ,marion invited ,geenie ,cheriton to take a drive with them and pass the rest of the day with the little girl4 ,they all gave a sigh of relief1 however1 when ,james started with him for his home1 and ,mrs4 ,asbury said1-- ,i wonder how ,mrs4 ,douglass can endure that child's noise4 ,it is such a pity that he should be ruined by indulgence4 ,i wouldn't be that boy's nurse for a fortune1 exclaimed ,hepsey1 who was putting up the toys ,geenie had pulled about4 ,they'll have a time with him if he lives4 ,mr4 ,lambert called during ,mrs4 ,asbury's visit1 and was introduced to the guests4 ,he seemed greatly attracted by ,ethel1 who fixed her large violet eyes seriously upon him4 ,he succeeded at last in coaxing her to his side1 when they had quite an animated conversation4 ,before they parted he gave her a beautiful little charm1 whist he unhooked from his watch-chain4 ,this was the first time ,marion had seen him since her discovery that ,mr4 ,regy1 of whom she had heard so much1 was only the double of her old friend4 ,she longed to ask him about it1 but would not before strangers4 ,she contented herself with inquiries about ,neddy ,carter1 who was soon to be admitted to the mission school4 ,only two days after ,mrs4 ,asbury's return to ,grantbury1 ,marion received a thick letter with a foreign postmark1--,leyden1 ,yorkshire4 ,she retired quickly to her own chamber1 and sat down with blooming cheeks to its perusal4 ,i have no intention of copying the letter1 but will say that1 after giving her an account of his visit to his home1--a visit which almost overwhelmed him with its painful memories1--and visiting the graves of father1 mother1 and brother as they lay side by side under the old yew-trees1 he took the cars for ,ingleside1 his father's ancestral home in ,leyden4 ,he told her he found only an old servant1 a retainer of the family1 who received him as one from the dead4 ,his grandfather had four children born here1--one son and three daughters4 ,when he died1 in ,harold's twelfth year1 his property was divided equally between them1 except ,ingleside1 which was always to be kept in the family1 and after the death of his daughters to revert to his oldest grandson4 ,estelle ,angus1 for whom ,stella was named1 made a will and left her namesake her heir4 ,mary and ,sarah died without making a will1 and the property came to ,harold1 as the nearest of kin4 ,it was not a great fortune that he found awaiting him1 ,mr4 ,angus told ,marion1 but1 with the money left in the bank by his father1 it was sufficient to enable him to carry out some cherished plans4 ,one of these plans was to build a pretty home on a certain knoll in ,grantbury 7the very one ,mr4 ,asbury had given to the church71 to be called ,ingleside2 but there was one word from her which must come before the new ,ingleside could be built4 ,then followed certain statements in regard to a diagnosis recently made of his heart1 which conveyed to the young lady a pretty accurate idea of what the word must be1 in order that the ,english cottage be erected4 ,by this time ,marion1 by certain unwelcome symptoms1 which had forced themselves on her notice was aware of the strength of her own attachment for her pastor1 and1 being naturally frank and outspoken1 she wrote the word 7a very short one71 which1 could he have known it1 would have set good ,farmer ,rand's mind at rest in regard to holding on to his pastor4 ,in a note added to his letter1 immediately following the receipt of the call from the ,london church1 ,mr4 ,angus added3-- ,i have just forwarded to ,mr4 ,asbury an invitation to settle in our great metropolis4 ,would you prefer to live in ,england8 ,of course ,i could not give the parish an idea of what my answer will be till ,i hear from you4 ,am ,i presumptuous8 ,you first taught me to be hopeful4 ,am ,i too daring to hope now8 ,early one morning soon after this1 ,mrs4 ,douglass sent ,marion a note1 requesting her to call at her earliest convenience4 ,on entering the house where ,mrs4 ,douglass had rooms1 ,marion met in the hall a dashing young man1 dressed in the height of the fashion1 with a lighted cigar in his hand4 ,she would have passed him without notice1 but for a bold stare1 which sent the indignant blood to her cheeks4 ,the knock at ,mrs4 ,douglass's door was for a minute unanswered2 then ,mrs4 ,cheriton opened it1 her eyes still flashing defiance1 her head thrown back1 but looking more brilliantly beautiful than the visitor had ever seen her4 ,mrs4 ,douglass had evidently been under some strong excitement3 her eyes were red with crying1 and her hands trembled4 ,eugene came forward with a rush to meet the lady4 ,he was dressed for a walk and insisted that ,marion should accompany him4 ,i am on my way to my music scholars1 explained the visitor1 taking the little fellow in her arms4 ,some time you shall go with me4 ,i'm going to walk with you1 said his mother haughtily4 ,how can ,i aid you1 dear friend8 asked ,marion1 when the outer door had shut upon the others4 ,did you meet a gentleman as you came in8 ,i did4 ,i can guess that he is ,mr4 ,cheriton4 ,oh1 no6 no6 ,would that he were here4 ,juliette is so young3 she does not consider2 she is--,i am pained to say so--she is imprudent4 ,arthur has no right to leave her unprotected4 ,she wrung her hands in great distress1 her eyes full of tears4 ,who is he8 ,his name is ,alford4 ,juliette accompanied one of our fellow-boarders to the theatre1 and was introduced to him there4 ,he has been here every day since4 ,she has just promised1 in my presence1 and contrary to my wishes1 to go to the theatre with him to-night4 ,i am powerless to prevent it4 ,what must ,i1 what can ,i do8 ,alford1 repeated ,marion4 ,do you know his ,christian name8 ,there is his card1--,c4 ,w4 ,alford1 ,new ,york ,city4 ,a very indefinite address4 ,will you let me take it8 ,i will make inquiries concerning his character4 ,i am sorry to say ,i was not favorably impressed with his appearance4 ,but ,juliette has a husband4 ,whatever his moral character may be1 she must not receive attentions from him4 ,if the poor child has a father living-- ,a burst of tears interrupted her4 ,she has a heavenly ,father1 urged ,marion1 deeply moved4 ,he will never lose sight of her for a moment4 ,his eye sees her when no earthly eye can follow her1 and ,his arm can protect her from harm4 ,dear ,mrs4 ,douglass1 don't weep so4 ,let us ask ,his guidance4 ,seldom had the young ,christian poured forth such earnest petitions for help as now4 ,realizing1 as she did1 the impulsive passion of the young wife1 the excuses she would make to her conscience1--that her husband had forsaken her1--the impossibility of earthly effort to restrain her1 ,marion called upon ,god to appear for them in their trouble1 to touch the heart of the young mother1 to put barriers in her path to ruin1 to fill her soul with purer joys4 ,feeling as she did at that moment1 perhaps as never before1 how sheltered and protected her own life had been1 how brightly the future was opening before her own path1 her tears gushed forth afresh at the thought of the dangers threatening this beautiful1 unprotected child-wife4 ,she prayed too that the absent husband might be brought to a sense of his wrong-doing in forsaking her whom he had sworn to cherish1 and return to them with new purposes and new resolves4 ,nor did she forget the absent father1 so long unknown to those connected with him by the closest ties4 ,she prayed that if he were still an inhabitant of earth1 ,god1 who knew all things1 would lead him back to them1 to be their comfort and joy4 ,o ,miss ,howard6 cried the afflicted mother1 clasping her hands1 what a blessing that we can go to our heavenly ,father and tell him all our sorrows6 ,i have an assurance that ,he will answer2 that ,he will in some way protect my dear1 deluded child4 ,it may be by my death4 ,i would willingly give up my life1 could ,i be assured of her safety4 ,it may be that ,he will touch ,arthur's heart1 and bring him home to his family4 ,i would submit to any privation1 any inconvenience1 to have him1 her lawful protector1 with her4 ,or1 added ,marion1 ,he may restore to you the husband you have so long mourned4 ,a father would be a great blessing to ,juliette now4 ,a ,christian father1 murmured the lady1 raising her eyes to heaven4 ,every day my prayer for him is1 ,lord1 if he is living1 lead him to ,thyself4 ,after a short silence1 the lady added1 ,i thank ,god ,i can say with truth that1 since the hour my husband left me1 believing ,i was lost to virtue1 ,i have always maintained the strictest reserve toward all of the opposite sex4 ,i was young1 and often called handsome4 ,i believe my husband had been proud of my beauty4 ,i could play the piano and guitar as an accompaniment to my voice2 but ,i only played for my parents and most intimate friends4 ,i have always tried to impress upon ,juliette1 both by example and precept1 that a wife so unfortunately situated must be doubly guarded in her conduct4 ,character is a plant which must be kept in good soil1 free from blights and mildew4 ,it must be watched and tended with care4 ,it is too sacred to be trifled with4 ,mrs4 ,douglass wept as she talked1 and ,marion1 desirous of soothing her1 said1-- ,mrs4 ,cheriton's love for ,eugene is a great preservative4 ,yes1 that is true1 sighing4 ,poor boy6 ,he needs a father's restraining hand4 ,we have asked our heavenly ,father to preserve them both from all evil1 and ,i believe ,he will1 rejoined the visitor1 hopefully4 ,god did answer the prayers so earnestly offered1 but in a way entirely unlooked for4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,without ,,christ4 ,,mrs4 ,,cheriton did not return from her walk for an hour after ,marion left4 ,she came in looking so brilliantly beautiful that it made her mother's heart ache4 ,her eyes always shone like stars1 and the rich color crimsoned her cheeks when she was excited either by joy or anger4 ,eugene1 too1 seemed overflowing with spirits4 ,his hands were full of toys and sweetmeats1 given him1 he said1 by the nice gentleman4 ,when he threw off his cap1 his grandmother noticed that his hair was wet with perspiration1 and told her daughter he ought not to sit in the draught2 but she retorted with some indifferent reply4 ,finding she could not induce the child to move1 nor to give up the colored candies he was eagerly devouring1 with a sigh the grandmother left the room4 ,during the rest of the day1 the young mother went about with a smile on her lips1 quite absorbed in thoughts of a pleasant nature4 ,toward night her boy coughed two or three times2 but she1 usually so ready to take alarm1 laughed at her mother's suggestion that he must have taken cold4 ,at an early hour ,mr4 ,alford called to accompany her to the theatre1 and poured out such a torrent of flattery at her beauty as quite turned her head4 ,scarcely bidding her mother good by1 she went gayly down the stairs1 little imagining what her return would be4 ,the clock was just striking twelve when1 in turning the corner of the street1 the house she called home came into view4 ,at this hour it was usually dark4 ,now the hall and her mother's room were brilliantly lighted4 ,just at this moment a carriage dashed up to the door4 ,what does it mean8 she cried1 in a startled voice1 trying to pull her hand from her companion's arm4 ,when can ,i see you again8 ,the insinuating tone was lost on her1 for with a sudden fear she had released herself and flown away4 ,bounding up the stairs1 she stopped one instant to gaze into the lighted room4 ,on her mother's lap lay ,geenie1 struggling for breath4 ,before them stood the doctor1 with a spoonful of medicine in his hand1--just brought by his servant1-- which he was vainly trying to force down the child's throat4 ,one of the servants was bringing through another door a foot-tub filled with boiling water1 while another was pulling the blanket from the bed4 ,all this the mother took in at one glance1 then sprang forward with a loud shriek and threw herself on her knees before her boy4 ,mamma1 help ,geenie6 ,make the bad man go away6 ,geenie can't breathe6 ,it's the croup1 gasped her mother1 in reply to her agonized gaze into the child's face1 darkened and convulsed with this struggle for breath4 ,it is a case of life and death1 added the physician1 in a solemn voice4 ,if you love your brother1 persuade him to take this medicine4 ,my brother6 ,he's my boy1 my own1 my precious child6 ,her voice rose to a shriek1 as she saw that his features became more convulsed4 ,she cried1 she wrung her hands1 calling continually1 ,eugene1 my pet1 my darling6 ,i won't give you up6 ,you sha'n't die6 ,he will die1 and very soon1 if you do not control yourself4 ,you must be calm4 ,addressing one of the servants1 who had just returned with the prescription1 he ordered ,eugene's head to be held1 while he forced down the medicine4 ,then turning to ,mrs4 ,douglass1 he said1 ,madam1 will you try to bring your daughter to reason8 ,every moment of delay makes the boy's situation more dangerous4 ,with the aid of the servants1 ,i wish to use the steam4 ,he really pitied the child-mother1 as he saw her fixed gaze in her son's convulsed face2 but he knew that unless vigorous measures were used1 a short time would end the struggle4 ,taking ,eugene in his own arms1 he directed the girl to wrap the boy in the large blanket and hold him over the boiling water4 ,the other girl was to furnish a fresh supply4 ,mrs4 ,douglass tried to persuade her daughter to leave the room2 but she would not4 ,she sank into a chair and watched every movement which took place4 ,she seemed suddenly to be turned into an automaton1 only that those wondrous eyes flashed so continuously they seemed to light up the room4 ,in half an hour the medicine began to take effect1 the terrible sound1 never to be forgotten1 grew less harsh4 ,the doctor1 with his coat off1 worked like a hero4 ,it was evident that the steam produced relief in breathing4 ,more and more heavily drooped the child's head1 his eyelids closed1 the terrible heaving of his breast was more natural4 ,the doctor put his hand under the blanket1 found the pulse1 and nodded approval4 ,without awakening the boy1 he put a small powder on his tongue and sat down to watch4 ,another hour passed4 ,mrs4 ,douglass had quietly retired to the next room4 ,eugene slept still4 ,he had been removed to the sofa4 ,the doctor still waited4 ,the struggle for life had been so great1 he did not like to leave his patient till assured that he would have no return of the frightful convulsions4 ,he was a father too1 and aside from his desire as a physician to control the disease1 he was interested in the unusual circumstances of the patient4 ,at home1 he had a daughter growing up1 now in her seventeenth year1 who looked more fit to be a mother than this passionate girl1 who at one moment gave free vent to her frenzied agony1 and the next controlled herself so wonderfully that she had sat for hours scarcely daring to breathe4 ,he could not comprehend1 skilled as he was in controlling disease1 the torture which that poor girl was undergoing from an accusing conscience4 ,she saw herself at last as in a mirror1--wilful1 proud of her outward charms1 undutiful to her long-suffering1 self-sacrificing mother1--her best friend1--idolizing her boy1 but blind to his faults1 and not restraining her own temper that she might teach him self-control4 ,then her thoughts reverted to her absent husband1 and conscience1 resolved to be heard at last1 set before her a catalogue of her offences toward him1--wilful neglect of his wishes1 too evident want of affection1 etc41 which had at last weaned him from her and sent him far away4 ,where is he now8 ,it seemed to her that this question was screamed in her ears4 ,you drove him wild with your taunts and neglect4 ,at length she remembered the events of the previous night4 ,how long ago that seemed6 ,the whispers of flattery that had sounded so sweetly in her ears1 how she loathed them now6 ,how she loathed herself1 that they could have pleased her6 ,she seemed to herself to have been suddenly snatched away from the very brink of a precipice1 and to be frantically seizing some sure support which would prevent her from falling back into the dreadful abyss4 ,oh1 how dark it looked6 ,and yet how eagerly only last night she had rushed toward it6 ,oh1 my boy6 my boy6 ,if you die your mother is justly punished4 ,mrs4 ,cheriton had not lived nineteen years with her mother without understanding that this dearest friend was of late governed by different principles from those which controlled her in earlier life4 ,she acknowledged in this dark hour that when all other help had failed1 the poor widow1 bearing alone her heavy burden of grief and self-reproach1 had found comfort and solace in the truths contained in the sacred book hitherto so little prized4 ,god was no longer to her an angry judge1 but a tender1 loving father1 whose heart yearned over her4 ,jesus ,christ was her sympathizing ,saviour1 who had voluntarily come to earth1 suffered poverty1 temptation1 and ignominy1 that he might know how to succor his children in like sorrow4 ,many1 many times ,mrs4 ,douglass had endeavored to impress these blessed teachings on her daughter2 but they only seemed to her like idle tales4 ,of late1 since her acquaintance with ,marion ,howard1 she had been urged to trust in the kind care of ,one whose eye of love was always watching her2 but these faithful words1 instead of drawing her heart toward the friend who uttered them1 had led her to treat ,marion with cold contempt4 ,as is frequently the case with persons in the near prospect of death1 the events of the past life flash like lightning through the mind1 so in ,juliette's agony1 circumstances connected with her childhood1 youth1 and brief married life rushed to her memory with a force and vividness which well nigh overwhelmed her4 ,as she afterward described it1 ,i seemed to be living my life over again3 ,i was wooed and won4 ,i tasted the purest joy of all when my child was placed in my arms4 ,i sinned and was punished4 ,i went on sinning and repenting4 ,i went headlong into the arms of a destroyer1 when a hand was stretched out and saved me4 ,i can never make myself believe that all this occurred in only five hours4 ,at last the physician1 who had for some time been dozing in his chair1 rose quietly1 and1 coming toward the rigid figure1 said1 encouragingly1-- ,he is sleeping quietly now4 ,be careful that he does not get a chill4 ,i will be in again at nine4 ,she gazed in his face1 scarcely understanding his words1 looking so bewildered that he mechanically placed his fingers on her pulse4 ,her hand was like ice4 ,he1 your child1 is better4 ,i am quite hopeful now4 ,you have controlled yourself admirably4 ,do you mean that he will not die8 ,that ,god will not punish me by taking him away8 ,yes1 my poor child4 ,i mean that ,i hope ,god in mercy intends to spare him to you4 ,he is given to you afresh1 to train up to a good and useful life4 ,what a change came over that young face1 on which despair had been stamped6 ,the hard eyes softened1 the lips quivered1 the crimson tide came rushing back1 painting cheeks and brow2 the whole countenance grew luminous1 as with quickened breath the child-mother clasped her hands1 exclaiming1-- ,oh1 how ,i will love ,him6 ,he is so good1 and ,i have been so bad4 ,forgetful of the physician's presence1 or of anything1 except that the ,god1 whom she had not loved1 had dealt with her in such infinite mercy1 she fell on her knees and buried her face in her hands4 ,lord1 help me6 ,save me6 she cried4 ,i have tried living without ,thy help4 ,i was all but lost4 ,do help1 dear ,lord4 ,these words1 so different from what he expected under the circumstances1 seemed too sacred for a stranger's ears1 and the kind physician silently took his leave1 wiping his eyes as he went down the stairs1 then walked quickly to his home in the gray dawn of a new day4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,with ,,christ4 ,,mrs4 ,,cheriton',s trials had only begun4 ,eugene's croup was followed by congestion of the lungs1 the attack assuming from the first alarming symptoms4 ,he would not bear his mother out of his sight for a moment4 ,indeed the result of her injudicious fondness showed itself during these sad weeks in a manner which would have been a warning to any one4 ,though she deprived herself of sleep1 and almost of food1 in order to be always at hand to minister to his wants1 he showed no gratitude4 ,he exacted everything as a right1 and1 if there was the slightest opposition to his wishes1 he screamed with passion1 often exclaiming1 ,i hate you4 ,go away1 bad mamma4 ,he would not take medicine from her1 shrieking1 ,you tell lies4 ,you told me it was good and it wasn't4 ,i'll let ,miss ,howard give it to me3 she never tells lies4 ,from ,marion1 too1 he would submit to any treatment1 even to the blisters upon his chest4 ,it will hurt you1 ,geenie1 she said1 but if you don't have it on for a few minutes that dreadful pain will come back4 ,be a good boy1 and ,i will tell you a nice story about ,gypsy4 ,will you bring ,gypsy to see me8 ,yes1 ,i will4 ,in addition to ,eugene's sickness1 the doctor's services were in daily requisition for ,mrs4 ,douglass1 who had never risen from her bed since the night of her grandson's seizure4 ,the agony of mind she had suffered on account of her daughter1 followed so speedily by ,eugene's dangerous illness1 proved too much for a frame enfeebled by disease4 ,violent pain in the head was succeeded by nervous chills1 until ,dr4 ,danforth became alarmed for her life4 ,under these circumstances ,marion proved her real friendship by spending as much time as possible with the patient sufferer1 and thus was at hand when poor ,juliette1 driven to her wits' end by the insubordination of her darling1 was unable to control him4 ,as the young mother had not spoken of the events of that never-to-be-forgotten night1 neither ,mrs4 ,douglass nor ,marion could account for the entire change in her manners and appearance4 ,they supposed her fright at the sudden illness of her boy had for the time driven all other thoughts from her mind4 ,indeed1 ,mrs4 ,douglass1 with many tears1 thanked ,god that in his wonder-working providence he had taken any means to prevent a career of gayety which must have ended in her ruin4 ,it would have been an immense relief to her could she have known that a card with the name ,c4 ,w4 ,alford had been sent to her daughter the day following ,eugene's attack1 that the question written with pencil underneath his name1 ,when can ,i see you8 had been hastily answered with one word1 ,never4 ,yes1 her ,father in heaven1 more ready to grant our requests than we are to ask them1 had indeed answered the ,christian mother's prayers1 though as yet she knew it not4 ,through all these anxious1 weary days and nights1 in the midst of her duties1--and they were onerous1--,mrs4 ,cheriton was supported by the thought1 ,god will help me3 he has promised to help those who ask him4 ,in after-days she used to say1 ,i seemed to be living in a dream4 ,whenever the thought of ,mr4 ,alford came into my mind1 or the recollection of his vague suggestions recurred to me1 ,i shivered1 while my cheeks burned like fire4 ,then the conduct of ,geenie1 ungovernable and unloving1 continually reminded me of another precipice from which ,i had been drawn back4 ,on the other hand1 ,i wondered at myself1 at the sweet peace which at times filled my soul4 ,how good ,god has been to me6 ,how kind1 how loving1 how tender6 ,sometimes when ,geenie slept ,i found time to read a few verses in the ,bible4 ,i found verses written expressly for me3 ',like as a father pitieth his children1 so the ,lord pitieth them that fear him4' ',for he knoweth our frame1 he remembereth that we are dust4' ,i could scarcely believe that these precious words were in ,god's own book4 ,i put in a mark and read them again and again4 ,but it was impossible for such a radical change to take place in ,mrs4 ,cheriton without the fact becoming visible to those about her4 ,even before her mother noticed anything1 the servants talked about it4 ,she must believe he is going to die1 one girl said to another1 else she wouldn't speak so kindly1 and thank me as she does4 ,the first thing indicating a change noticed by her mother was one morning1 when the chamber-girl1 having put everything in order1 had left the room1 ,juliette came from the adjoining chamber with a smile on her face4 ,approaching the bed1 she kissed her mother1 saying1 softly1-- ,geenie is asleep4 ,if you like1 ,i'll read to you1 laying her hand on the ,bible as she spoke4 ,thank you1 dear4 ,that would indeed be a pleasure4 ,where shall ,i read8 ,but here is your mark in ,st4 ,john's ,gospel4 ,in a low1 and1 to her mother1 inexpressibly sweet voice1 she read the last words of ,christ to his disciples1 frequently pausing as she read1 as though applying the precious words to her own case4 ,mrs4 ,douglass lay with her eyes fixed on the pale countenance of the reader1 wondering what made her so beautiful4 ,the rich bloom had gone1 the dark eyes no longer flashed2 but never had there been such a serene smile wreathing the lips4 ,it seemed to indicate an inward peace4 ,at last1 ,juliette1 raising her eyes from the book met her mother's gaze fixed intently on her4 ,can ,i do anything more for you1 dear8 she said1 rising and leaning over the bed4 ,o ,juliette6 ,if you could1 if you would1 pray3 we need help so much4 ,there was a momentary struggle in the breast of the young convert1 and then1 throwing herself on her knees by the bed1 she hid her face in her hands and poured out from a thankful heart prayer for ,christ's presence1 such as he had promised his disciples1 and praise for the blessed hope of acceptance and pardon4 ,with the simplicity of a child who has scarcely learned the language of prayer1 but whose soul is fully alive to the value of the blessings to be asked for1 she plead for wisdom equal to every emergency1 grace for every trial her ,father in his love might see fit to send4 ,she prayed for her dear mother1 so weak and suffering1 for her boy1 not yet out of danger1 that ,he who loved them better than any earthly love would do for them according to his will4 ,but1 oh1 dear ,jesus1 who loves little children1 she cried1 clasping her hands1 if he must die1 and it is ,thy blessed will1 prepare my boy1 my poor1 neglected child1 for heaven4 ,let him not suffer eternally for his mother's sinful neglect of ,thy commands4 ,then her sobs became so violent that she was obliged to rise hastily and leave the room4 ,mrs4 ,douglass closed her eyes1 while she murmured the inspired words1 ,lord1 now let ,thy servant depart in peace1 for mine eyes have seen ,thy salvation4 ,i asked ,god1 and ,he has heard my prayers4 ,she has learned to pray4 ,that was not her first prayer4 ,o my ,saviour1 help me to thank ,thee as ,i ought4 ,when ,dr4 ,danforth made his next visit1 he found ,mrs4 ,douglass bolstered up in bed1 ,hepsey1 who had for a day or two supplied ,marion's place1 arranging her still abundant hair4 ,they were engaged in animated conversation when he entered4 ,he had become deeply interested in the strangers1 having never forgotten the scenes of the night of his introduction to them4 ,to no one had he ever mentioned the young mother's prayer1 the burden of which was help for herself from some great danger1 not for relief and returning health to her child4 ,you are better1 he said1 cheerfully1 after having counted her pulse4 ,yes1 ,doctor1 ,i have had a restorative4 ,wine8 ,i wish you had taken it sooner4 ,no1 ,doctor4 ,i have heard my daughter pray4 ,the mother's face beamed with joy4 ,what is so great a beautifier as happiness8 was the doctor's thought4 ,she looks ten years younger4 ,he spoke seriously1 but with the greatest tenderness1 saying1-- ,i have heard her pray1 and ,i think her prayers have been answered4 ,she has borne the trials of these sad weeks with a sweet submission and patience ,i have seldom seen surpassed4 ,god has given her grace according to her day4 ,yes4 ,he has indeed fulfilled ,his promise to the widow and orphan4 ,my daughter is not a widow1 ,doctor1 murmured the patient1 her cheeks flushing4 ,you have been such a kind friend1 ,i may confide so much of our story to you4 ,juliette was married at the early age of fourteen1 and her child was born within the year4 ,geenie was only a few weeks old when his father left home for ,england1 ostensibly to obtain a situation where he might support his family in the luxuries to which they had been accustomed4 ,we hear from him occasionally1 but have never seen him since4 ,unnatural monster6 cried the doctor1 indignantly4 ,he thought of his own little girl1 and wondered how she would endure such a living trial1--she to whom the loss of a pet dog had been the greatest grief she had known4 ,it was a minute or two before he could rally sufficiently to remark1 ,eugene is better too4 ,i am sorry to say my patient will soon be dismissing me4 ,we have so few friends in ,america1 we cannot give up your visits without regret1 ,doctor4 ,but it is selfish for us to keep you longer than is necessary1 when so many need you4 ,is a physician to have no friends1 then8 queried the doctor1 assuming a gruff voice4 ,you will find it hard1 madam1 to get rid of me4 ,then1 with an emphatic shrug of his shoulders1 he went away1 and drove nearly a mile out of his course1 while he was wondering what kind of a man ,mr4 ,cheriton could be who would forsake a wife like ,juliette4 ,in another respect the young mother showed that she had taken ,god's word as the rule of her life4 ,this was in the management of her child4 ,formerly1 when herself provoked at his rudeness or impatient at his exactions1 she had dealt him a sudden blow1 which1 however1 always seemed to rouse his combativeness to such a degree that it required much skill to soothe him4 ,she usually had to buy him off from the exhibition of temper by confectionery or some new toys4 ,now1 feeling her own weakness1 she daily sought strength from ,god4 ,she had noticed1 too1 how easily ,mr4 ,angus and ,marion had made him obey1 not by blows or threats1 but by a firm and gentle kindness1 which won his confidence4 ,it was her aim to imitate this method4 ,as soon as he was able to sit up1 ,eugene felt rather than understood that his mother would no longer submit to be struck in the face or called bad mamma when his wishes were crossed4 ,she talked to him1 explained that he must obey1 that ,jesus ,christ loved good children1 and that she would teach him to pray1 and ask this best ,friend to help him be good4 ,there is a sacredness in religious teachings which always arrests the attention of a child4 ,no stories are so much delighted in as the stories of ,joseph and ,samuel and ,daniel1 and particularly the story of our dear ,saviour4 ,over and over again these stories may be repeated2 yet the little one never tires1 but will ask new questions concerning the wonderful characters4 ,juliette had thus a double incentive to read her ,bible4 ,she wished to find in the sacred pages strength for daily duties2 and she also read for the instruction of her boy4 ,marion came in one day and found ,geenie dressed in a wrapper1 sitting in his mother's lap4 ,in her hand she held the ,good ,book1 and they were talking eagerly of the story she had read4 ,marion wrote afterwards1 in her letter to ,mr4 ,angus1 that she seldom had seen a prettier picture1--the beauty of both so softened by the subjects on which they were talking4 ,marion bent over and pressed her lips to the fair forehead of the young mother1 and ,eugene made them laugh by imitating her example4 ,she's nicer than she was1 he exclaimed1 patting her cheek4 ,she doesn't tell lies any more4 ,she tells me when the medicine is going to taste badly1--but ,i take it all the same4 ,after talking for a few minutes with ,mrs4 ,douglass1 ,marion hurried away1 saying to herself1-- ,what a glorious change6 ,what a purifier and refiner ,christianity is6 ,how ,mr4 ,angus will rejoice that ,juliette has accepted her ,saviour6 ,before ,i close this chapter ,i must tell the reader that ,marion showed ,mr4 ,alford's card to ,mr4 ,lambert the very day ,mrs4 ,douglass had given it to her1 only asking whether he knew the man4 ,he did not1 but soon found a man of his description was a frequenter of gambling-saloons and other disreputable places of resort1 that the name ,alford was one of several aliases1 and that he was a man wholly unfit to be trusted4 ,to neither ,mrs4 ,douglass nor her daughter did she repeat this information1 the change in ,juliette rendering it unnecessary4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,,home ,,in ,,the ,,stable ,,loft4 ,,this is only a stable1 ,miss ,marion4 ,the place must be here1 ,hepsey3 the number three hundred and sixty is plainly marked4 ,the young lady reverted to her paper again4 ',esther ,cole1 three hundred sixty4' ,three hundred fifty-eight1 the last house is marked4 ,i must inquire4 ,one of the hostlers came forward to the door of the stable4 ,do you want a carriage1 lady8 ,i am looking for a number which ought to be here4 ,is it a tenement house you're after1 ma'am8 ,yes1 and a family by the name of ,cole4 ,it's aloft their house is4 ,walk right through ma'am1 to the ladder beyont4 ,thank you1 replied ,marion1 giving him a smile which quite won him4 ,how very clear your floor is6 ,i was never in a stable before4 ,look1 ,hepsey6 ,see how nicely the carriages are covered2 and really there is quite a pretty parlor1--and such a row of whips hanging up4 ,that room is for ladies and gentlemen to wait while their horses are harnessed1 ma'am4 ,the hostler was doing the honors in his best style4 ,they had now reached the ladder1 as he called it by which they were to ascend to the room aloft1 and he said1 ,it's a poor place1 ma'am1 for a lady the likes of yees4 ,it's a heathenish place1 retorted ,hepsey ,not fit for ,christians to live in4 ,are you sure1 young man1 that the steps are safe8 ,he laughed merrily1 exhibiting a row of even white teeth4 ,if it's afraid ye are1 ma'am1 he explained1 looking at ,marion1 sure ,i'll bring 'em all down to yees1--every mother's son of 'em4 ,oh1 no1 indeed6 ,we will go up4 ,many thanks for your courtesy4 ,her face was all dimpled with smiles as she prepared to mount the steps1 while the hostler walked away1 saying to himself1-- ,a rale lady that is4 ,the man that owns her must be a happy one4 ,at the top of the steps a door opened into a large room rudely partitioned off from the hayloft and smelling strongly of the fumes from the stable below4 ,seven people called this room their home1-- father1 mother1 grandmother1 and four children of different ages under eight years4 ,unlike many who live in more spacious apartments1 their hearts were larger than their home1 and they had recently welcomed a poor waif thrown upon the cold charities of the world4 ,esther ,sims was an orphan who had been connected with the mission ,sunday and sewing schools in which ,miss ,howard was interested4 ,this lady had never considered her very intelligent1 but she had a pretty face1 with childish features1 and an appealing glance in her deep1 gray eyes which made her many friends4 ,marion had lost sight of her for more than a year1 and only the day before her visit to the stable learned her sad story4 ,not being very happy in the family where one of the mission-school teachers had placed her1 she was easily persuaded to leave it for employment in a cigar factory4 ,there she formed the acquaintance of a young fellow by the name of ,cole1 and soon after was married to him4 ,if she had taken to heart the instructions of her faithful teacher1 she would have distrusted the principles of a man whose first act in connection with her was deceit4 ,as they were both infants in the eye of the law1 ,esther being but sixteen1 and her husband to be but eighteen1 the clergyman refused to perform the ceremony unless one of the parents1 was present and wished it4 ,leaving her sitting on the steps to the house1 he hurried off1 and soon returned with a woman who said she was his mother1 and who declared her willingness for her bye to be married4 ,they were married1 and young ,cole took his wife home to a house where he had lodgings1 where they had many a laugh about the ease with which he had found a mother in his emergency1 he having given the woman twenty-five cents to personate such an individual4 ,esther's character was so yielding that she got along for a few months without much trouble4 ,she never knew what her husband's business was1 and often wondered why it kept him so long into the night4 ,at last he began to abuse her1 and grew so irritable that she begged to be taken back to her old place in the cigar factory1 where1 at least1 she had kept herself from starving4 ,now young ,cole had been arrested for burglary1 tried1 and sentenced to prison for three years1 and ,esther1 innocent1 ignorant even of his ever having committed crime1 was suspected of being connected with the plot4 ,even ,hepsey1 who tried to harden her heart against pity1 having been so often deceived1 was affected by the utter abandonment to grief of the young girl4 ,she was sitting on a bed of straw1 with a child of her sister-in-law across her lap1 her head fallen forward on her breast1 her tears falling on the sleeping babe's face1 seemingly unconscious of the presence of any one4 ,she's just gone daft with her trouble1 poor thing1 explained the woman1 as she saw the eyes of her visitors fastened on the child-wife4 ,it was difficult to rouse her from her grief4 ,when addressed1 she looked up frightened1 supposing officers had come to take her to jail4 ,then1 recognizing ,miss ,howard's kind face1 she asked1 piteously1-- ,will they keep me in prison long8 ,mrs4 ,cole took the babe from her arms1 explaining1 ,i thought maybe 't would divert her thoughts1 and then went on to say that ,jo1 her husband's brother1 had always been a bad boy4 ,he had no business to deceive a young girl1 and get married when he had no home4 ,that ,esther was steady and honest1 and was never up to knowing his wicked goings-on4 ,then she touched her head and pointed to the poor girl in a significant manner4 ,as to the robbery1 she's as innocent of it as a babe unborn4 ,no one could doubt it who witnessed the appealing glance in those wondering eyes2 at least ,miss ,howard did not1 but she could not at once decide what course to pursue to clear the child from the suspicion of crime4 ,having ascertained that ,mrs4 ,cole was willing to keep her for a few days1 ,miss ,howard put a sum of money into her hands1 and1 promising to do what she could1 took her leave4 ,she's no more guilty than ,i am1 exclaimed ,hepsey1 indignantly4 ,that woman thinks she isn't bright1 but it's only because she's been cowed down and abused till she darsn't say her soul is her own4 ,i remember her when she was as tidy and spry as the best of 'em4 ,why1 ,hepsey1 where did you ever see her8 ,at the sewing school1 ma'am1 where ,i used to go in yer place while yer was in ,grantbury2 and ,esther ,sims1 as they called her then1 was the most respectful and the best behaved of the whole class4 ,hepsey1 do you think she could be trained by kindness to be a good servant8 ,marion's voice was abrupt in her earnestness4 ,indeed ,i do1 ma'am4 ,to be sure1 it would take time1 but it would be a deed o' mercy1 and like as not be the saving of her soul4 ,well1 my dear1 good ,hepsey1 you have helped me through a great many difficulties4 ,if we can get the poor child away from her surroundings1 you shall have the chance to try and save her4 ,hepsey was startled4 ,this was rather beyond what she had thought of4 ,presently she asked1 abruptly1-- ,what will she do with her thief of a husband8 ,she must be made absolutely free from him1 of course4 ,i will take advice about it4 ,i suppose you're thinking of yer own home in the country1 ma'am1 and that is where ,i'm to train her1 added ,hepsey1 with a sly glance into her young mistress's face4 ,a rosy blush was the only reply4 ,while ,marion was hesitating to whom she should apply for advice in regard to poor ,esther1 ,mr4 ,mitchell came home4 ,he assured her that by the laws of the ,state the husband's incarceration in prison rendered the wife free from the marriage tie4 ,he also comforted her by saying1 that even if ,esther were arrested1 unless some one appeared against her1 the case could not be carried on4 ,marion1 however1 with the recollection of the child's look of terror at the very thought of being arrested1 was determined to prevent it if possible4 ,suddenly recalling to mind ,mr4 ,lambert's promise to aid her in her works of charity1 she sent ,james to his house to request him to call at his earliest convenience4 ,when he came1 which was almost immediately she was struck with a change in his appearance2 and inquired1 anxiously1-- ,are you ill1 sir8 ,what makes you ask that8 ,i'm in rollicking health and spirits4 ,she doubted it1 however1 for even while talking with her he seemed to fall into fits of revery4 ,what a fool she was to marry so young6' he said1 with a sneer2 but1 as you say1 that can't be helped now4 ,my advice is1 let him go to--anywhere that will keep him out of her way4 ,but what is to be done with the child8 ,i think ,hepsey means to take her1 replied ,marion1 showing all her dimples4 ,i hope she can be got off without going to court4 ,hepsey1 hem6 ,well1 never fear4 ,i'll see the judge and settle that4 ,if he won't believe my word1 ,i'll make him go to the stable1 mount the ladder1 and see for himself4 ,he leaned back in his chair1 laughing heartily but ,marion noticed that there was no ring of mirth in his laugh4 ,suddenly she said1 ,o ,mr4 ,lambert6 ,are you acquainted with ,mr4 ,regy8 ,i hear of him everywhere among the poor1 and ,i long to see him4 ,better not1 he grumbled4 ,take my word for it1 he is a good-for-nothing fellow4 ,i know him well4 ,you must be prejudiced1 ,mr4 ,lambert4 ,his heart is just as warm as yours2 indeed1 in many things he must be like you3 he delights to relieve suffering and he delights to--to--what shall ,i call it8 ,call it abuse2 that's the right name4 ,he's a hard-shelled old sinner4 ,he tries to salve his conscience by giving away what he don't want4 ,keep clear of him1 as you would of the plague4 ,now ,i must be going1 or ,i sha'n't see that judge4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,the ,,simple ,,prayer1 ,,the very next day he called again4 ,it's all right1 he said4 ,the girl is free to go where she chooses4 ,now ,i want to ask you a question4 ,where do you go to church8 ,i attend -,church4 ,dr4 ,m- is my pastor4 ,but you're not a member4 ,oh1 yes6 ,i have been for a great many years4 ,his countenance expressed real disappointment4 ,i could have sworn you didn't believe in such humbug4 ,o ,mr4 ,lambert1 don't say so6 ,marion'6 eyes filled with tears4 ,she had always supposed that he was a ,christian and a member of some church4 ,i've never seen any cant about you4 ,in fact1 ,i took it for granted that you were a good1 common-sense girl4 ,why1 all that nonsense about joining a church and taking an oath that you believe such and such doctrines has exploded long ago6 ,don't you believe any doctrines8 ,i believe this3 that it's the life we must look to4 ,why1 ,i've seen men1--and women too1--who swallowed the whole creed1 covers and all1 stiff and straitlaced1 thought it a sin to smile1 but who wouldn't give a penny to a poor man to save his soul4 ,i'm sick of this talk about doctrine4 ,give me the life1--that's what ,i look at4 ,but how shall we know how to live unless we study ,god's ,word8 ,we have exact directions there1--and these are what ,i call doctrines4 ,i am sure you believe that ,jesus ,christ came to set us an example of a perfect life4 ,i'll allow that for the sake of argument4 ,did ,he ever sin8 ,not that ,i ever heard of1 but ,i don't know much about it4 ,can you name any other man who ever lived without sin8 ,perhaps not4 ,i always said the world was up side down4 ,but what does that prove8 ,i don't know what you are driving at4 ,then the claim of ,jesus ,christ himself1 that ,he was the ,son of ,god1 in a peculiar sense1--that no man can come to the ,father except through ,him1--is a claim we must acknowledge4 ,i don't know anything about that4 ,you are taking too much for granted4 ,why1 if any other man should claim to be divine1 saying1 in plain terms1 ',i and my ,father are one1' he would be seized and punished for blasphemy4 ,it would be monstrous1 presumptuous in the last degree4 ,the fact that ,jesus ,christ claimed that he was one with the ,father1 the fact that he was a sinless being1 and could not therefore be such a wicked impostor1 that he proved his assertion by his life1 his teachings1 and his power to work miracles1 is the great central truth on which ,christianity is based4 ,if you read your ,bible prayerfully1 as ,i earnestly hope you do1 you must concede so much4 ,mr4 ,lambert twirled his glove1 looked grave1 and then said1 ,well1 what of that8 ,how do you suppose the world came to be upside down1 ,mr4 ,lambert8 ,can't say4 ,can vouch for the fact1 though4 ,everything and everybody is helter-skelter4 ,including ,mr4 ,regy1 ,i suppose4 ,yes2 he is as bad as any of them4 ,and needs a power out of himself to put him right4 ,that's true4 ,this power we have in our blessed ,saviour4 ,he came to save us from sin and from all its dismal consequences4 ,well1 admit that too1 for the sake of argument4 ,now1 my dear friend1 urged ,marion1 seizing his arm and gazing wistfully in his face1 believing so much1 as ,i am sure you do1 you have the very root and foundation of the ,christian doctrine4 ,a good life must and will grow out of such a belief4 ,jesus ,christ1 who was rich1 became poor for our sakes4 ,he sacrificed ease1 comfort1 home on earth1 and all that makes life dear4 ,i say nothing of the glories of heaven1 the worship of myriads of holy beings1 which ,he willingly exchanged for disgrace1 ignominy1 and death4 ,i am only speaking now of ,him in ,his human nature4 ,he loved us to that extent ,he was willing to do and bear all this for us1 to make us happy here and hereafter4 ,we must acknowledge ourselves degraded indeed1 if we are not willing to do something to show our appreciation of such love4 ,what does ,he ask of us8 ,only that we return ,his love1 and cherish kindly feelings toward each other4 ,love ,god1 and our neighbor as ourselves4 ,this is the life you so rightly urge that we must live4 ,it flows naturally from the doctrine4 ,any other motives than love to ,god and to our fellows fail of power to help us live this life4 ,you see ,i have not said a word about the theories that man1 in different stages of the world1 has built on these fundamental truths4 ,there always has been and always will be different ways of explaining ,god's truth2 but speculation is outside of fundamental truth4 ,man a sinner1 ,christ a ,saviour1 is enough for me4 ,any man1 woman1 or child1 really desirous of showing his love to ,christ1 can find rules in ,god's ,word to guide him in every emergency4 ,about joining a certain church1 for instance4 ,there was an ill-concealed sneer in ,mr4 ,lambert's voice4 ,yes1 we have the example of companies of disciples gathering themselves together to recount what ,god had done for them4 ,our ,saviour himself honored and showed ,his approbation of these gatherings by being present with them4 ,the most affecting of all ,his dying messages to ,his disciples was that they should eat bread as a symbol of his body broken1 and drink wine as a symbol of ,his blood shed for them4 ,this was to be a continual reminder of what ,he had done4 ,i can say from my own experience1 that this communing with ,christ in ,his sacrifice brings ,him nearer to me not only as a ,saviour but as a friend1 or elder brother1 than anything else could do4 ,i don't see any ,christianity in one soul de-crying another1 and calling each other hard names4 ,i don't see any ,christianity in one man stealing his neighbor's coat1 or his property of any kind4 ,one act is as much ,christian as the other4 ,if the disciples of ,christ would only live up to the example ,he set for us1 one man would never decry or call his neighbor hard names merely because they differ on non-essentials4 ,people's likes and dislikes are as wide apart as their countenances4 ,because one man has blue eyes1 he needn't decry a man who has black4 ,all that is required of him is that he shall use aright the eyes ,god has given him4 ,one man is so constituted that in his worship of ,god he prefers liturgy and certain prescribed forms4 ,this mode1 which we call ,episcopalian1 helps his fervor1 and the very forms assist him to keep his mind from wandering4 ,others find these written prayers1 etc41 irksome and monotonous3 they like more stir and bustle2 such become ,methodists4 ,god never expected or intended that we should all be patterned in the same mould4 ,social intercourse would be very tame if we were4 ,mr4 ,regy1 for instance1 has his own method of relieving the poor1 and ,i have mine1 she added1 smiling4 ,mr4 ,regy is an old humbug1 growled ,mr4 ,lambert4 ,i'm always ashamed when ,i've been in his society4 ,he's the most provoking man ,i'm acquainted with4 ,and yet he is in a fair way to attain a high position3 ',he that humbleth himself shall be exalted4' ,mr4 ,lambert's face crimsoned1 and he muttered some unintelligible words4 ,he caught up his hat and cane in a hurry1 when she said1 tenderly1-- ,may ,i say something to you1 my dear friend8 ,humph6 ,that's cool6 ,here you've been driving into me with hammer and tongs1 and now you ask very meekly1 may ,i say something to you8' ,well1 say on2 a few hits more or less won't kill me4 ,it is only this1 dear sir4 ,when we accept ,jesus ,christ as our own personal ,saviour1 ,he will flood our souls with such peace and joy as we never before conceived4 ,his love helps us to bear trials1 to meet disappointment with true fortitude1 to look forward without fear to the time when we shall walk through the dark valley4 ,i shall pray daily that such love as this may fill your soul4 ,his face became so convulsed while she made this personal appeal that she was really alarmed4 ,putting a violent restraint on himself1 he rallied and exclaimed in a light tone1-- ,you were cut out for a theological professor ,i was not aware of this accomplishment4 ,he would not notice the hand she held out to him1 but with a gruff ,good day1 left the room4 ,after his departure1 ,marion found herself so shaken that she could scarcely collect her thoughts4 ,she went to her chamber1 and with tears plead for her friend4 ,o ,god1 show ,thy self to him in the face of thy ,son1 ,jesus ,christ4 ,this was the burden of her petitions4 ,fortunately for her1 this was the day of the week when the foreign mail came in4 ,a letter from her dearest friend would restore her spirits4 ,while she was waiting for it1 thoughts of ,mr ,lambert would intrude1 and she was surprised that1 knowing him so intimately as she had for some years1 she was so little acquainted with his early life4 ,i wish ,i could comfort him as daughter would4 ,did he really disbelieve every thing1 as he pretended8 ,she at last put on her hat and1 summoning ,hepsey1 went to call on ,esther4 ,she was recovering from her fright1 and seemed relieved that she was freed from a bond which had proved such a burden to her4 ,i advise her to go back to her old name again1 explained ,mrs4 ,cole4 ,esther ,sims she is to be from this time4 ,miss ,howard promised that ,hepsey should accompany ,esther to a clothing store1 where suitable outfit would be provided for her1 which she could pay for with her after-earnings4 ,am ,i to go into the cigar factory8 inquired ,esther1 with a shudder4 ,oh1 no6 ,you are to live with me4 ,hepsey has adopted you1 laughing4 ,i can speak for her that she will be strict1 but kind4 ,esther looked up suddenly1 as though she scarcely understood1 but1 seeing the bright smile on ,miss ,howard's face1 her own grew radiant then1 with a quick movement1 she threw herself on her knees before the lady1 while tears of joy ran down her cheeks4 ,poor child6 murmured ,marion4 ,she has known so little the comfort of a home4 ,or having real friends to care for her1 interrupted ,hepsey1 wiping her own eyes4 ,it was indeed a change in ,esther's life1 difficult for her1 at least1 to comprehend4 ,for days after she went to live with her kind friends1 she seemed to herself to be in a dream4 ,nothing made it seem so real as the prayers ,mr4 ,mitchell offered when they all gathered around the family altar4 ,as she told ,hepsey afterward1 she would go without food rather than to lose the opportunity of being present4 ,do you recollect a little prayer you taught us at the mission school1 ,miss ,howard8 ,this lady and ,esther were sitting at their sewing when the child timidly asked the question4 ,she was gradually becoming accustomed to kind words1 losing the habit of starting1 when suddenly addressed1 as though she feared a blow4 ,esther's hands trembled with eagerness as she asked the question4 ,do you mean the prayer which begins1 ',help me1 dear ,lord'8 ,yes1 ma'am4 ,the child closed her eyes1 bent her head forward just in the old way she had been taught1 and repeated the whole prayer with a solemnity and fervor which deeply affected the hearer4 ,help me1 dear ,lord1 this day1 to be honest1 faithful1 and true toward my fellows1 and above all to love ,thee1 blessed ,saviour1 with all my heart4 ,help me to remember that ,god sees all that ,i do1 and hears all that ,i say1 and that ,he is able to protect and guide all those who put their trust in ,him4 ,for ,jesus ,christ's sake1 we ask this4 ,amen4 ,with a half-checked sob the child went on1 gradually forgetting her timidity1 and giving to her faithful teacher an insight into her poor1 lonely1 repressed life which was never forgotten4 ,o ,miss ,howard6 it frightens me to think how bad ,i was at the mission school4 ,i used to whisper and set the girls to laughing1 and waste my thread1 and do so many naughty things4 ,miss ,farnum ought to have put me out4 ,but if she had1 sighing1 ,i never should have learned that good prayer 7speaking with great awe7 and then what should ,i have done when ,i was in such trouble8 ,i used to kneel in the corner and repeat it over and over till it seemed like ,i heard ,jesus' voice say1 ',i will1 child4' ,once when he--she always alluded to her husband as he--came home drunk1 and beat me1 ,i worried 'cause ,i couldn't get to my corner and kneel down4 ,i did manage to sit up in bed and put my hands together as you told us1 and ,i said it over and over in my heart4 ,i thought1 maybe as ,he knows all about us1 ,he'd know how it hurt me to move1 and wouldn't mind if ,i did cry and moan1 'cause ,i couldn't help it4 ,my poor child4 ,i am very glad you knew where to go for comfort4 ,did you ever try to form a prayer for yourself8 ,no1 ma'am1 not a prayer4 ,i wasn't fit for it1 you know2 but when he was swearing and threatening to kill me1--not him1 but rum1--,i used to whisper1 ,o ,god1 pity me4 ,dear ,jesus1 take away the bad heart that makes him treat me so4 ,once after ,i had asked ,god to make him good and help me to be patient1 he came and looked at me as ,i lay on the straw4 ,he wasn't drunk then1 and he said1 ',i'm sorry for your sake you ever saw me1 ,esther4' ,his voice was real kind1 like as though he pitied me4 ,when he'd gone1 ,i told ,jesus about it4 ,was it naughty8 as she saw ,miss ,howard suddenly put her handkerchief to her eyes1 and ,i loved ,jesus ,christ so much that ,i forgot all the pain in my head and my side1 so ,i fell asleep4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,,esther',s ,,forgiveness4 ,,no one but a faithful ,christian worker in ,christ's vineyard can understand the encouragement such a revelation as that described in the last chapter is to those who have been for years sowing good seed and waiting for the harvest4 ,esther1 for years a member of the mission ,sunday school1--light and frivolous1 seemingly almost incapable of retaining any of the teachings repeated ,sunday after ,sunday in her hearing1--had been impressed by something in this simple prayer which the gracious spirit of ,god had fixed in her memory4 ,it seemed to have been the word in season1 which had come back to her in her hours of deepest need1 and proved to her in truth that ,god was really a loving ,father watching over and pitying ,his sorrowing children4 ,marion related the incident which had so deeply affected her to her friend in ,england adding1 ,i suppose ,i may learn from this a lesson of trust4 ,we have the glorious privilege of sowing the seed in the hearts of these poor waifs4 ,it is ,god's part1 which ,he has promised to do1 to help it to sink into the light soil and spring up to everlasting life4 ,how many times ,i have heard people say1 ',such work does no good4 ,the influences around these poor creatures are all against them4 ,once in seven days they repeat the command not to swear1 not to steal1 not to lie1 and every hour of the other six days they hear the vilest oaths and are witness to a breach of every other command4 ,if it were any truths but ,god's own truths1 which ,he has promised to bless1 we might well be discouraged2 but in the case of ,esther1 when to human appearance all her surroundings were against her1 one little seed of divine truth sank into her heart and bore such wonderful fruit that ,i take fresh courage and feel that ,i can labor with fresh diligence4 ,never in all her acquaintance with ,mrs4 ,douglass had our young friend enjoyed her visits there as now4 ,the lady had recovered from her recent illness1 and was able to take a short walk every day1 supported by her daughter's arm4 ,in ,mrs4 ,cheriton's countenance there was an added beauty4 ,her eyes no longer flashed defiantly1 as of old4 ,her head seemed to have forgotten its fashion of throwing itself back1 as she haughtily refused any request which crossed her own inclinations4 ,upon her brow there was a sweet serenity that spoke to the observer of inward peace4 ,i have already spoken of the change in her treatment of her boy4 ,her resolutions made during that dreadful night were never forgotten4 ,conscience1 once aroused1 did not slumber again4 ,she prayed earnestly that she might have help to command her own temper1 and thus be able to teach ,geenie to conquer his4 ,the resemblance in many of her traits to her uncle ,henreich1 which has caused her mother hours of anxious forebodings1 grew less and less every day4 ,she saw that her daughter was making a great effort to correct her faults1 and that in her government of her son she was kind but firm4 ,formerly1 as ,marion went into their room1 she was aware that her entrance had interrupted some unpleasant discussion4 ,mrs4 ,douglass would either be trembling with agitation or in tears while ,mrs4 ,cheriton was flushed and defiant4 ,now what a pleasing change6 ,the two ladies sat at their work1 regarding each other with the tender affection natural to the tie between them1 while ,eugene1 sometimes boisterous indeed1 was growing every day more willing to yield to authority4 ,one morning ,marion called on her way to her pupils1 who1 by the way1 were making their best efforts to show her they appreciated her self-denying efforts1 as she had informed them she intended to resign her place in the school4 ,she met ,eugene1 dressed for a walk1 with a young companion from the house2 and descending the stairs1 found the ladies improving the time in reading an interesting book4 ,i want you to tell ,miss ,howard about ,geenie's prayer1 remarked ,mrs4 ,douglass to her daughter4 ,i really hope1 began ,mrs4 ,cheriton1 that he understands what ,i have told him1 that ,god sees us1 though we can't see ,him4 ,yesterday afternoon we were sitting here with the door open into the next room4 ,i heard a noise like driving a nail1 but supposed he was busy with his toys1 and presently ,i heard his voice4 ,we both listened and heard him say1-- ',god1 don't look this way6 ,turn your eyes the other side4 ,i'm very naughty1 ,god4 ,don't see me6 ,look over there6 ,i'm ,,so naughty1 ,god1 ,i don't want you to see4' ,by this time ,i concluded it was best for me to see what the hammering meant4 ,i went in and found him driving tacks into the trunk4 ,he made no resistance when ,i took away the hammer1 but looked ashamed when ,i said1-- ',o ,geenie6 ,how could you do so8' ,you can imagine how he would have resisted once1 added the boy's grandmother4 ,he would have kicked and screamed and tried to bite4 ,i am thankful those days are past1 murmured ,marion1 noticing the mother's flush of painful recollection caused by this allusion4 ,he will reward you for all the pains you take to control him4 ,he has already1 exclaimed the young mother1 clasping her hands in her impulsive manner4 ,geenie was never so affectionate as now4 ,i do believe that he never loved me so well as when ,i had to punish him the other day4 ,he hung around me1 kissing me again and again4 ,when he saw tears in my eyes1 he took his own little handkerchief to wipe them away1 saying repeatedly1-- ',geenie will be good all the time1 mamma4 ,geenie won't make mamma cry any more4' ,marion was sometimes very curious to know whether1 with the many obvious changes in ,mrs ,cheriton's character1 her feelings of aversion to her husband remained4 ,she was well aware that many of the former disagreements with the mother arose from the fact that ,mrs4 ,douglass urged ,juliette to write kindly to her husband1 from whom they had heard within a few months4 ,to be sure1 he had not sent them any intelligence1 but in a newspaper accidentally falling under their notice1 they had seen his name and knew he was then in ,new ,orleans4 ,if there was any return of affection on the wife's part1 no one knew it1 for on this subject she maintained the most rigid reserve4 ,indeed1 ,mrs4 ,cheriton could never be called a frank person4 ,it was only under the influence of very strong emotion that she gave utterance to her deepest feelings4 ,from the first1 ,marion had noticed this trait1 and wondered at it in one so young4 ,with another child-wife it was exactly the reverse4 ,to her earliest friends--,miss ,howard and ,hepsey--,esther laid bare all that was in her childish and grateful heart4 ,marion often came upon her1 singing in a low musical voice1 a refrain from the hymn sung at family prayers1 and when spoken to she had a way of looking up with her large1 deep-set eyes1 and smiling1 as she said softly1-- ,i'm so happy1 ma'am4 ,everybody is so kind to me4 ,and this was while the great ridges on her slender body1 caused by her husband's brutal beatings1 were still unhealed4 ,in regard to this husband she did not hesitate to speak1 though at first with tears4 ,would it be wicked1 ma'am1 to let him think ,i belong to him now8 ,she asked this one morning when she was braiding her young mistress's abundant tresses and could keep her own face concealed4 ,what do you mean8 ,marion was startled and spoke in a sharp voice4 ,i mean1 ma'am1 he's shut up now and can't get rum2 and he was kind1 once2 and wouldn't he feel better if he knew that ,i cared for him a little8 ,you said you did not care for him2 that you never wanted to see him again4 ,would you go back to him8 ,would you submit to his ill treatment1 his profanity and abuse8 ,esther was silent1 and glancing in the mirror1 her mistress saw that her eyes were full of tears4 ,at last she said1 in a tone of deep sorrow1-- ,i'm sorry ,god heard me say that4 ,i was angry at the bad rum1 and ,i was afraid of being shut up in a cell with him4 ,i--,i asked ,jesus to put my naughty feelings away4 ,i--,i found the place in your prayer-book1 ma'am1--,i mean the marrying place4 ,it's solemn words1 ma'am2 ,i didn't know that marrying was such a solemn thing4 ,i was too young1 and ,i had no mother1 and my mates thought it would be fun to be married1 and ,i didn't remember that ,i should have to stay married whether ,i liked it or not and so when he praised me and said he loved me best of all the girls in our court1 though they all wanted him1 ,i said ,i'd go to the parson4 ,i had no call1 ma'am1 to let him say that bad woman was my mother4 ,she was old ,nan1 the worst woman among them all1 but that is over now4 ,i'd die before ,i'd do so naughty again1 but1 ma'am1 the minister asked me those solemn words1 and ,i said yes1 so ,i've been thinking that1 sighing heavily1 'for better for worse1 till death us do part1' means that ,i do belong to him1 ma'am and so ,i-- ,her voice was stopped suddenly for she fell on her knees1 and with her head hidden in her arms1 sobbed without restraint4 ,marion's own tears flowed4 ,as she told the story afterward to ,mrs4 ,mitchell and ,hepsey1 ,when ,i saw her in a perfect abandonment of grief1 sobbing her heart out at the recollection of the man who had so abused his trust1 ,i resolved that1 if the law could prevent it1 she never should live with him again4 ,but at the same moment ,i felt for her such an increase of respect that folded her in my arms and kissed her4 ,a few days after this ,miss ,howard was dressing to go out when ,esther came forward1 blushing painfully1 and holding out an awkwardly folded paper1 asked1-- ,may ,i go out1 ma'am1 to put this into the box at the corner8 ,the lady took the letter and glanced her eye over the address1 ,joseph ,cole1 ,sing-,sing ,prison1 ,auburn1 ,new ,york ,state4 ,the writing was scarcely intelligible1 but ,marion was not thinking of that4 ,she could not endure the thought that ,esther in her childish trust might bind herself irrevocably to his future4 ,his sister told me how to write that1 murmured ,esther1 in a hesitating tone4 ',t isn't my place1 ma'am1 to ask you to give your time to it2 but if you'll please to read it1 and say ,i may send it to him1 ,i shall be very happy4 ,this was what ,marion wished to do4 ,she seated herself instantly and unfolded the paper1 not yet sealed1 ,esther meanwhile ruffling the edge of her apron as though her life depended on her doing it quickly4 ,marion had never perused a letter in which all the rules of grammar and spelling were so wholly set at defiance2 but seldom had she read one which touched her heart more4 ,it was very brief1 but to the point1 and correcting the spelling1 read as follows3-- ,dear ,jo1-- ,it's a good while now since you and me see each other4 ,i thought1 maybe1 you'd like to know that a dear1 kind lady1 as used to teach me in the ,mission1 is giving me a home4 ,i'm happy1 or ,i would be if ,i could forget where you are4 ,i'm learning to pray1 ,jo2 and when ,i say my prayers ,i never forget that ,god can look right into your cell and see you1 though ,i can't2 so ,i tell him all about you1 and ask him to make this the best time in your life1 as it may be if you will learn to love ,him4 ,you are not yet twenty years old1 and when you come out of prison you will be young enough to begin life again4 ,this is what ,i am praying for you all the time4 ,your little wife1 ,,esther4 ,if she had left out the words 'your little wife1' said ,marion to herself1 ,i would not have objected to her writing him for once4 ,then glancing up1 she saw ,esther's eyes fixed upon her with a mournfully earnest expression1 and without another word went to her desk1 took out an envelope1 enclosed the letter in it1 copied the address1 and let it go4 ,afterward she confessed1 ,i believe at that moment ,i felt far more unforgiving toward the prisoner than the innocent victim of his brutality did4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,,games ,,and ,,entertainments4 ,,all this time the building committee in ,grantbury were pressing on the work most vigorously4 ,the edifice was unlike any other in the town4 ,it was of ,gothic architecture4 ,the walls were1 as ,i have mentioned of native stone1 the windows high1 narrow1 with stained glass4 ,they will have a cross on the spire1 said one1 ,i'm sure of it1 and ,i'll tell you what it will end in1 they'll all go to ,rome together4 ,the work proceeded so well1 notwithstanding these prophecies1 that it was hoped it would be ready for occupation by ,christmas4 ,mr4 ,angus's taste was consulted during the entire progress4 ,the plan had been copied and sent to him for approval4 ,all the committee agreed that some suggestions made by him were a great improvement on the original plan4 ,in his last letter he had told them he expected to sail for home the #agth of ,september1 and this the committee said would be in time to decide about frescoing and other interior decorations4 ,no member of the parish1 outside of ,mr4 ,asbury's family1 was aware that a new tie had been formed which would strengthen his affection to the country and home of his adoption4 ,a few persons knew that a cellar was being dug on a house-lot not two hundred feet from the new church1 but these few supposed ,mr4 ,asbury was going to erect a house to rent1 as he was often seen directing the workmen4 ,the fact was that our church1 with its rafters exposed to view1 its spire towering every day nearer to heaven1 its ample porch of solid stone1 absorbed all the interest of the congregation4 ,every week a letter came to the church or the ,sunday school in which the pastor spoke most hopefully of what they might together accomplish for the cause of ,christ4 ,he told them what he had seen in ,england and ,scotland1 among congregations he had visited1 of united effort4 ,he reminded them1 that if they so labored and prayed1 ,god would surely add ,his blessing1 until there was not one in the limits of the town who did not love ,christ and try to serve ,him4 ,to the ,sunday-school children he wrote of schools in ,london and ,edinburgh1 where all were wide awake with interest to gather in the poor waifs who knew nothing of ,jesus except ,his name1 which they heard mingled with the most dreadful oaths4 ,he spoke of the reward these workers received in their own hearts1 and urged them to follow so worthy an example4 ,he mentioned at the close of this letter that he had subscribed for one of the best ,english ,sunday-school papers1 and offered it for a reward to the child who would bring into their own ,sunday school the greatest number of scholars4 ,these must be from families not connected with any other church4 ,for the first time in her life dear little ,ethel had a secret1 and it was her own ,marion who told her of it4 ,by and by1 when the new house was done1 she knew that her dear ,mr4 ,angus would bring ,marion from the city and go there to live4 ,she knew that a beautiful conservatory was to be built on the south side of the new house1 and that ,marion's flowers and birds would be brought there4 ,she knew that ,hepsey and ,esther and ,james would all be in the pretty home at the new ,ingleside1 and that she could go to see them as often as she pleased4 ,she knew why it was that ,marion came from ,new ,york so often1 and why papa spent so much time talking with her about some large charts spread out on the dining-room table1 about an oriel window here1 and a balcony there1 and why they always waited till she was in bed before they walked over to the spot where the new house was being built4 ,one thing more connected with this wonderful secret she had been told later1 and this came near letting the whole thing out1 which would indeed have set the congregation connected with the ,first ,church into a blaze of excitement4 ,marion had promised that on a certain occasion1 not very far distant1 she should go to ,new ,york with her papa and mamma and ,annie and ,gardner1 and stand up with ,marion as bridesmaid1 while she promised to love ,mr4 ,angus and take good can of him as long as she lived4 ,it was something to be remembered1 the wonder and delight of the child as she came to understand all this4 ,her eyes grew darker1 and her whole face radiant1 as she glanced slowly from one to another1 and her mamma added1-- ,yes1 darling1 cousin ,marion is going to live in ,grantbury and be ,mr4 ,angus's wife4 ,and ,i'll be his wife1 too1 she exclaimed1 with a little hop of delight4 ,i'll promise to love him and take care of him4 ,he can be the broom to both of us4 ,the broom6 ,yes1 mamma1 you said that she would be the bride and he the broom4 ,groom1 you mean1 you precious pet1 said ,marion1 catching the child in her arms and hiding her burning cheeks in ,ethel's neck4 ,mamma thought this too good to keep from papa1 and even threatened ,marion that she would acquaint ,mr4 ,angus with the double honor that awaited him2 but the young lady's entreaties prevailed1 and the letter went off without the joke4 ,the rise of ground on which the new church was being built was in a part of the town not yet much occupied by families4 ,the road from the old church1 school-house1 etc41 to the depot wound gracefully around the foot of the hill1 and had been widened and improved within a short time4 ,it was about one quarter of a mile to the railroad station1 and an equal distance from the village1 which had grown up in what was once the centre4 ,prior to the existence of the railroad1 it was ,mr4 ,asbury's most profitable grass land1 and he now owned as far as the depot on one side1 and quite down to ,shawsheen ,lake on the other4 ,the elevated situation of the land1 together with the picturesque views it commanded1 rendered it peculiarly eligible for building lots4 ,speculators from the city had already made favorable offers to the owner for the whole field1 but1 with the exception of one hundred feet front by one hundred and fifty deep1 donated to the church1 and a house-lot nearly four times the size1 next adjoining1 ,mr4 ,asbury refused to sell4 ,mr4 ,angus's letters to ,marion kept her informed of his visits to ,london1 ,edinburgh1 and ,glasgow1 where he was studying into the best-approved methods of church work in reference to his own labors among his chosen people4 ,he told her of sewing schools1 not only for children1 but for mothers1 where they were taught to cut and make garments for boys and girls1 given simple recipes for cooking1 and taught in general how to make home happy4 ,he narrated cases where1 in consequence of these teachings1 the husband had been won from the alehouse to the pleasures of his own fireside1 where the savory soups the wives had learned to make had weaned them from liquor3 and made them into peace-abiding citizens4 ,he wrote of libraries and reading-rooms established for the poor1 and also of societies for social pleasures1 amusement1 etc41 to which all were invited to contribute their share4 ,i accompanied a friend1 he wrote1 to one of these gatherings1 which reminded me of a description ,annie ,asbury gave me of one of yours4 ,the ball accommodated about five hundred1 and was as full as was comfortable4 ,fathers and mothers1 and not a few grandparents1 were there1 with youth not under fourteen4 ,entertainments for the little ones are provided on separate occasions4 ,i cannot describe to you vividly enough the inspiration ,i derived from the scene1-- the smiling faces1 the merry voices1 the ring of real1 healthy enjoyment of the whole company4 ,surely ,i thought1 to provide healthful and innocent amusement for young and old is an important part of church work4 ,to stand still a moment and listen to the hum and buzz of cheerful voices1 with now and then a burst of laughter1 sent a glow of kindly interest for every one present through my whole being4 ,there were games and puzzles and comic readings with an occasional tragedy1 and singing from boys in chorus1 and boys or girls in solos1 and a couple of street boys with bagpipes1 until the allotted hour to close arrived4 ,then ,i as a stranger from the far-off ,america1 was requested to make a brief address and close with prayer4 ,when the bell calling to order was rung1 ,i was surprised to see how quickly every one found a seat1 waiting to hear what was said4 ,i had just commenced to tell them about my home across the water1 when a small hand near me was raised1 and a boy asked timidly1-- ',tell us about the bears and ,indians1 mister4' ,i had some difficulty in convincing them that in the ,united ,states we had cities and towns1 as they had1 and that our bears were kept in cages or pits1 as theirs were4 ,i told them ,i was very glad to be with them when they were having such a merry time2 and that ,i wanted to join my thanks with theirs to the kind ,christian ladies and gentlemen who had provided such an entertainment for us4 ,to the loving ,father who watches over us all1 to the sympathizing ,saviour who endured temptation and want that ,he might know how to help us1 to the gracious ,spirit1 who is ready to lead us into every good way1 ,i then committed them1 and we separated4 ,i forgot to tell you that ,i was persuaded in the course of the evening to sing a comic song1 which ,i learned while in ,new ,york4 ,of course this 'brought down the house4' ,how would my dear little ,ethel have looked could she have seen me8 ,in another letter he said3-- ,i have conversed with many clergymen and other ,christians of ripe experience on this same subject of amusement4 ,all classes of persons1 with rare exception of peculiar individuals1 agree that some relaxation is necessary to a healthful state of body and mind4 ,if no innocent and proper amusements are provided1 young and old1 rich and poor1 will seek entertainments for themselves1 and too often these will be the lowest class of theatres1 shows1 etc4 ,let ,christian parents and teachers make it a part of the business of education to provide suitably for this want of our nature1 and these objectionable1 immoral places would have to be closed for want of patronage4 ,in the neighborhood of the church where was the entertainment ,i have described1 a low theatre of the worst description had been abandoned1 simply because the ground was occupied in a worthier way4 ,i am looking forward to inaugurating some plan of this kind1 and ,i confidently expect help from a merry girl from whom ,i purchased my first pair of gloves in ,grantbury4 ,illustration3 ,,she ,,was ,,finishing ,a ,,letter ,,to ,,send ,,by ,,the ,,steamer1 ,,when ,,dr4 ,,ross ,,was ,,announced4 ,page #cdi ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,,true ,,friendship4 ,,it was a sultry ,august day4 ,most of ,miss ,howard's acquaintances were out of the city4 ,she had just returned from ,grantbury1 and was finishing a letter to send by the steamer1 when ,dr4 ,ross was announced4 ,one minute1 ,doctor1 pleaded ,marion1 sealing her letter and ringing for ,james to take it to the post2 now ,i will have a glass of lemonade for you in a trice4 ,i met ,hepsey1 he said1 or ,i should not have known you were at home4 ,your call is very opportune1 sir1 said ,marion smiling1 as she added1 ,i want to ask about ,annie ,leman4 ,is she as good a teacher as you expected8 ,next to yourself1 ,miss ,howard1 bowing formally1 ,i do not know her equal4 ,then you will add your influence to mine to secure for her the position ,i am about to resign in ,mrs4 ,la ,vergne's school8 ,with great pleasure1 if you will promise for ,miss ,leman that she will still teach my daughters4 ,but why do you resign8 ,marion had more than once asked herself whether she were treating her father's old friend with sufficient frankness in not telling him of her engagement to ,mr4 ,angus2 and now his question gave her the opportunity to do so2 so with rosy cheeks she said1-- ,i'm going to leave the city before long4 ,not permanently1 ,i hope8 ,i am going to be married1 ,doctor4 ,wh-e-e-w-w6 ,marion laughed till all her dimples came into view4 ,to whom1 in the name of wonder8 ,to a clergyman1 a country parson4 ,just like you4 ,i might have known no other man would have dared aspire4 ,well1 tell me all about it4 ,you'll ask me to the wedding1 of course4 ,is he presentable1 in person1 ,i mean8 ,you shall have a chance to judge for yourself1 ,doctor4 ,i will tell you one thing about him4 ,he has recently declined a call to a large church in ,london1 with a generous salary1 preferring to remain with his country flock2 and when they offered to make the support received from them equal to the other rather than to lose him1 he declined that1 too1 insisting that there would be so many calls for money in connection with church work that he preferred they would give that way4 ,the ,doctor laughed4 ,i see he has found out the method to gain your confidence4 ,where is the parish8 ,i shall expect an invitation to visit you and hear your parson preach4 ,when ,i have a home of my own1 ,doctor1 you will always be welcome4 ,thank you4 ,you are a good girl2 and if you can say my old friend1 ,dexter ,howard1 would approve this new arrangement1 ,i must give my consent4 ,i wish you weren't going out of the city1 though4 ,what will all your poor people do8 ,by the way1 ,i'm forgetting in my astonishment at the news what ,i came for4 ,did you know ,mr4 ,lambert was sick1 confined to his room8 ,i'm very sorry to hear it4 ,that isn't the worst of it4 ,he charges you with being the cause4 ,charges me8 ,what have ,i done8 ,i have not even seen him for weeks1 and supposed him out of the city4 ,he has been in bed4 ,he is hollow-eyed and nervous to a degree-- that is not particularly agreeable to his household1 ,i imagine4 ,i can't make out whether the man is out of his mind1 or what is the matter with him4 ,when he had berated you as much as ,i thought prudent1 ,i apologized in your name2 was sure you had no intention1 and so forth2 but he only grumbled the worse4 ,he was sure you did mean it2 and if you saw him you would do it again4 ,i couldn't make out what you had done1 except that he said you had hurt his feelings4 ,oh1 ,i know now6 exclaimed ,marion1 with a breath of relief4 ,i'm so glad1 so very glad6 ,glad8 ,he said you would be1 but ,i indignantly denied it4 ,may ,i go and see him1 ,doctor8 ,please let me4 ,i don't believe he would admit you4 ,yes1 he would4 ,i must go1 dear ,doctor4 ,so you may as well say yes4 ,the physician looked her keenly in the face1 as though considering1 when she interrupted him by a burst of feeling1 eyes moist1 lips tremulous1 as she exclaimed1-- ,i'm so glad6 ,it's just what ,i've been praying for4 ,hem6 ,well1 ,i hope you'll continue to be glad when you see him4 ,oh1 ,doctor1 you've lived in ,new ,york a long time4 ,do you know anything about his early history8 ,a shake of the head was the only answer at first1 then1 after a pause1 ,he is a native of this city1 ,i think2 and1 by the way1 one of his most fidgety crotchets now is about making a will4 ,shall he make a will8 ,if he does1 who shall he leave his money to8 ,is there a boy by the name of ,carter8 ,neddy ,carter8 ,yes1 his feet were crushed and had to be amputated4 ,mr4 ,lambert has been a generous friend to him1 but the boy knows him only by the name of ,regy4 ,whew6 you don't say that the eccentric individual known as ,regy is ,mr4 ,lambert in disguise4 ,why1 the manner in which the man abused him this very morning was a caution4 ,i feel quite sure they are the same1 replied ,marion1 laughing4 ,tho doctor lay back his head in perfect amazement4 ,at last he said1 ,lambert and old ,regy the same4 ,it's the richest joke of the season4 ,what can be his motive8 ,did you ever hear of an adventure in ,richmond in which he figures prominently8 ,no1 sir4 ,he was passing a few days there1 when one morning early he signalled to an omnibus to stop4 ,two or three vehicles were in the way1 so that when the driver was able to draw up toward the curbstone ,regy stood back twenty feet or so4 ,he came on growling and stood outside1 berating the driver for not attending more promptly to his signal4 ,i'll have you dismissed1 you rascal1' he shouted1 his arm upraised1 when he happened to notice the driver's face4 ,it was drawn with pain4 ,regy jumped up on the box without another word1 learned that the driver's wife lay dying at home1 dismissed him at once1 and drove the omnibus himself all day4 ,then he found the house where the driver lived4 ,the wife was dead and the children mourning over her cold body4 ,regy went to the office1 got the driver off for a week1 paid the funeral expenses1 and then secured a place for the man on a farm1 his oldest daughter keeping house4 ,those were exactly the facts1 as ,i was told them by a gentleman from ,richmond4 ,it was just like him1 said ,marion1 with a merry laugh4 ,i wonder what his motive is for disguising his real nature4 ,now1 ,doctor1 warm as it is1 ,i must go to see him4 ,it was1 however1 with a quickened beat of the pulse that1 after her ring at the door-bell1 she awaited admittance to the spacious1 old fashioned house4 ,the servant was a man who had been in ,mr4 ,lambert's employ for many years4 ,he recognized ,miss ,howard1 but was doubtful whether his master would see any one4 ,tell him ,i have just heard of his sickness and am very anxious to see him4 ,stay1 wait a minute6 she cried1 with a sudden resolve1 say that ,i want to tell him a piece of news personal to myself4 ,even when she sat in the parlor she heard the loud growling of the master as the servant announced a guest4 ,it was several minutes before the man came back1 with a troubled countenance1 to say that ,mr4 ,lambert would see her4 ,i told him he'd better not1 he explained1 and that set him that he would4 ,he's very1 very bad to-day1 miss2 perhaps you'd better say nothing to cross him4 ,i'll be close at hand if you want me4 ,for one instant her courage failed1 then with an earnest lifting up of her heart to ,god for help she ascended the stairs and passed into the room4 ,mr4 ,lambert had often surprised her with his eccentricities1 but never so much as now4 ,he was lying dressed in a suit of white duck1 on a luxurious lounge1 his face almost as colorless as his dress1 and altogether so changed that she felt a disposition to scream4 ,he held out his hand1 saying in a most polished manner1 ,you must excuse me1 my friend1 for not rising4 ,i am quite reduced by illness4 ,trying not to show her surprise1 ,marion cordially seized his hand and drew a chair close to his side4 ,i'm so sorry ,i didn't know it before2 ,i'm a very good nurse1 and you must let me try my skill on you4 ,his chin began to twitch with his efforts at self-control1 so she added at once1 hoping to change the current of his thoughts1 ,we've been such good friends that ,i know you will be glad to hear some news about me from myself4 ,i'm going to change my name soon4 ,her cheeks1 dyed with blushes1 explained her meaning4 ,is it to that bow-legged donkey you've pledged yourself1 he shouted1 starting from his pillow4 ,if it is1 ,i protest6 ,no1 indeed1 it is not he1 she laughed1 understanding to whom he referred1 as he had warned her against him4 ,my friend is a clergyman1 a real1 working ,christian4 ,i must tell you how ,i first met him4 ,she related the incident of selling him the gloves1 at which he laughed heartily1 and when she went on to tell what ,mr4 ,angus wished to do for his people1 he caught her hand and gave it a hearty shake1 saying1 ,he's the kind4 ,i'll consent to that4 ,you must treat me as you would a daughter1 she said1 putting her hand on his forehead1 and tell me when you're tired of hearing me talk4 ,don't you like to hear reading8 ,sing1 he said1 sing something lively4 ,she sang several secular songs1 and then one beginning1 ,jesus1 ,thou art all compassion1 which brought the tears to his eyes4 ,another1 he said1 briefly1 when her voice ceased4 ,yes1 ,mr4 ,lambert1 ,i'll sing a favorite hymn1 which ,i am sure you will like4 ',lord1 lead the way the ,saviour went ,by lane and cell obscure1 ,and let love's treasures still be spent1 ,like ,his1 upon the poor4 ,like ,him through scenes of deep distress1 ,who bore the world's sad weight1 ,we1 in their crowded loneliness1 ,would seek the desolate4 ',for ,thou hast placed us side by side ,in this wide world of ill1 ,and that ,thy followers may be tried1 ,the poor are with us still4 ,mean are all offerings we can make1 ,but ,thou hast taught us1 ,lord1 ,if given for the ,saviour's sake1 ,they lose not their reward4' ,when she sang the last lines he suddenly covered his face1 but while she was hesitating how to begin a conversation on another subject1 he exclaimed1 irritably1-- ,it's no use trying to make one's self believe what he knows can't be true4 ,i am sure of that1 dear friend4 ,you1 sure8 ,then how am ,i to blame for not believing8 ,suppose ,i was stricken down with want4 ,i was dying of hunger4 ,just before me there is abundant supply of food1 but ,i can't raise myself to get it2 my weakness has rendered me powerless4 ,you come in1 and seeing my condition1 point to the food4 ,i can't see it1 or ,i can't reach it4 ',try1' you say4 ,i try1 but fall back4 ',ask me1 and ,i'll give it to you4' ,you kindly urge this upon me1 but ,i refuse4 ',no1 ,i don't believe it's for me4 ,that food is for somebody else'2 and so ,i lie there and die for want of the food1 stubbornly resisting every motive you urge--that it is free to all1 the only condition being that ,i ask for it4 ,that is a very weak illustration of what we1 as sinners before ,god1 do continually4 ,christ has provided an abundant feast2 we are starving for want of that very food4 ,he graciously invites us1 ',come without money and without price1' but we persist in saying1 ',i know it can't be true1 ,that food looks inviting1 but it is not for me4' ,now comes in the gracious ,spirit1 with ,his soft1 pleading voice4 ,he repeats ,christ's words1 ',i came not to call the righteous1 but sinners4' ',to ,him give all the prophets witness1 that through ,his name whosoever believeth on ,him shall receive remission of sins1' --shall be welcomed to the feast2 and by it be restored to life4 ,one hand covered ,mr4 ,lambert's face1 and through the fingers ,marion saw the tears trickling down4 ,i'm tired1 perhaps you've stayed long enough1 he said softly4 ,she rose at once1 gazed in his face1 longing to comfort him4 ,stop a minute4 ,pray for a poor old sinner1 who has never before had a daughter to comfort him4 ,her breath almost stopped4 ,can ,i pray before him8 ,but before he noticed her hesitation she was on her knees at his side4 ,like a little child1 running to his father whose arms were outstretched to fold her in his embrace1 so she ran to her ,heavenly ,father1 and told ,him all her desires for this dear friend4 ,she asked the ,saviour to reveal ,himself to the poor1 desolate heart1 wearied with carrying its burden alone4 ,she pleaded with the gracious1 waiting ,spirit to help him open his heart to this dearest and truest of friends2 that the ,holy ,spirit would take of the things of ,christ1 and show them unto him2 that1 like the man dying of hunger1 he might ask for the food from the abundant supply before him1 and be filled4 ,poor ,mr4 ,lambert6 ,he wholly lost control1 and1 before she rose from prayer1 sobbed without restraint4 ,as she took his hand to wish him good by1 he looked up into her face with such a pitiful expression that it almost overcame her4 ,oh1 she exclaimed1 do trust ,him6 ,he is waiting for you to say1 ',lord1 ,i believe6' ,,chapter ,x4 ,,neddy ,,carter',s ,,mission4 ,,when ,neddy ,carter was carried from the hospital1 he was at once admitted to one of the mission schools2 but he begged so hard that he might still make his home with his mother that he was permitted to do so4 ,he said nothing of his motives in preferring a bed on a pile of straw to a comfortable cot in the mission house1 but he had a strong motive1 which soon began to appear4 ,unassisted and even unknown to his best friends1 he gathered a few little ones in his mother's garret1 and then repeated to them the instructions he had gained4 ,perhaps his pleasant blue eyes1 gazing so frankly into theirs1 had made him a favorite before2 or it might be that the sight of him1 wheeling about in his chair1 enduring so bravely the great trial that had come upon him gave him influence over his companions4 ,at any rate1 he had influence and he used it to win them to better paths4 ,miss ,howard learned something of this1 and was so rejoiced at it that she resolved to visit him in his home4 ,she had never been there since the day of ,neddy's accident1 when1 with ,hepsey's help1 she had had him conveyed in the ambulance to the hospital4 ,this visit occurred on the ,sunday afternoon following her call on ,mr4 ,lambert1 described in the last chapter4 ,it so delighted her that she longed for ,mr4 ,lambert to know how the boy he had befriended was using his influence for ,christ4 ,on ,thursday of the following week she called upon the sick man1 and found he was out for a drive4 ,sitting in his room1 she wrote him a hurried note1 asking him to accompany her to see a mutual friend on ,sunday afternoon1 enclosing in the note a piece of poetry she had selected for him4 ,she left the whole with the servant1 requesting an answer to be sent to her house4 ,let us look upon ,mr4 ,lambert as he enters his chamber1 leaning upon the arm of his valet4 ,the note has been placed in plain view from his lounging chair1 and he notices it as soon as he has taken his seat4 ,who sent that8 he asks4 ,the tone is much softer than when ,marion called last4 ,perhaps his sickness has weakened him4 ,miss ,howard called1 sir1 and finding you out1 wrote her errand4 ,glad ,i was away4 ,even while uttering the words he felt that they were untrue4 ,he took the note in his hands1--thin1 bony hands1 showing his sickness4 ,get me some gruel1 he said1 ,i'm tired1 and shall try to sleep4 ,shall ,i say you cannot see any one8 ,how many times must ,i repeat that ,i see no one but the doctor8 ,illustration3 ,,who ,,sent ,,that8 ,,he ,,asks4 ,page #cff ,there is an answer required to the note4 ,as soon as he was alone he tore open the envelope1 took out the half-sheet on which ,marion had copied a beautiful extract from ,schiller1 laid it without reading on his knee1 and then1 slowly adjusting his glasses on his forehead1 began to read4 ,after all1 he said to himself1 ,i needn't have dreaded it so much4 ,i was unnecessarily alarmed4 ,i thought she meant to bring another sledgehammer to bear on my conscience4 ,yes1 ,i'll go and see our mutual friend4 ,i wonder who it is4 ,he took up the other paper and read1-- ,dear ,friend1-- ,i came across these words of strength from our favorite ,schiller's poems1 and thought of you while reading them4 ,that they may prove real words of strength to you is the earnest prayer of an attached friend4 ,,marion ,,howard4 ,there are three lessons ,i would write1 ,three words as with a burning pen1 ,in tracings of eternal light1 ,upon the hearts of men4 ,have hope4 ,though clouds environ now1 ,and gladness hides her face in scorn1 ,put thou the shadow from thy brow1 ,no night but hath its morn4 ,have faith4 ,where'er thy bark is driven-- ,the calm's disport1 the tempest's mirth-- ,know this3 ,god rules the hosts of heaven1 ,the inhabitants of earth4 ,have love4 ,not love alone for one1 ,but man as man thy brother call1 ,and scatter1 like the circling sun1 ,thy charities on all4 ,thus 'grave these lessons on thy soul1 ,hope1 ,faith1 and ,love2 and thou shalt find ,strength when life's surges rudest roll1 ,light when thou else were blind4 ,notwithstanding the twisted and gnarled branches of this old oak1 there was a time1 years back1 when it was a straight and vigorous young sapling4 ,it was beautiful to behold1 and gave promise of becoming a lofty1 stalwart tree1 under which many might find refreshing shelter4 ,on this thrifty sapling grew an ugly wart1 called by some horticulturists jealousy4 ,at first it might have been removed without injury to the tree1 but it was not4 ,it grew and grew1 diffusing it3 poison through all the cellular tissues1 until it became deformed1 disfigured1 and unsightly4 ,strange1 but true1 this process of degeneration had been going on in the character of ,mr4 ,lambert1 until1 at the time we first knew him1 there was only one trait left of his original nature4 ,this was a peculiar1 unquenchable tenderness of feeling toward the poor and distressed4 ,suspicious as he had become of all around him1 ever toward the very ones he was trying to save from their own thriftlessness or crime1 this one trail urged him on to give relief2 and in this way kept alive one of the healthiest avenues to real goodness1 even though his charities were often accompanied by a torrent of reproach4 ,it was this trait1 so congenial to ,marion ,howard1 which drew her to him and led her to suppose he was actuated by love to his ,divine ,master4 ,in this she was mistaken4 ,in his inmost soul ,mr4 ,lambert accused ,god of having dealt hardly with him1 more hardly than he deserved4 ,he had been wounded in the house of his friends4 ,when his heart had been most vulnerable1 there it had been pierced4 ,he had never forgiven nor forgotten the blow4 ,sometimes1 when the recollection of all he had been made to suffer came upon him1 he hated himself that he did not revenge himself on all mankind4 ,i owe no man anything1 was one of his favorite mottoes2 but after he became acquainted with ,marion ,howard he did not take much comfort from it4 ,how closely after their first meeting he had watched her6 ,how he longed to find her halting6 ,but no1 her motions were too transparent4 ,she had genuine love to ,god as her ,father1 to ,christ as her ,saviour1 and it was from this love her kindness to all around her sprang4 ,this he had been forced to acknowledge when analyzing her character4 ,it unsettled him and made him more irritable4 ,sometimes1 when he found himself softened under her influence1 he would recall all the injuries heaped on him1--injuries that had blasted his happiness forever4 ,in his early days he had been a ripe scholar1 a graduate from one of our best colleges4 ,he had read on many subjects1 and among others on the subject of ,christianity4 ,he had read in the ,old and ,new ,testaments1 but his heart remained cold in the midst of sacred fire4 ,at times in his life he had taken pleasure in railing and ranting against everything sacred4 ,in connection with the holiest ,bible teachings he had used the words bigotry and humbuggery and cant1 till he almost convinced himself that what he said was true4 ,almost1 but not quite4 ,there was still a spark of truth left in him1 if only it could be ignited4 ,he had been thinking of these questions when he called on ,marion and asked whether she believed in churches1 dogmas1 etc4 ,her words1 the earnestness1 the assurance she expressed that the ,gospel of ,christ was indeed good news to men1 that in order to live a good life we must believe on ,him and follow ,his example1 came home to his heart4 ,he could not shake off the fear that he had been mistaken4 ,he lost his sleep1 and at last became so nervous and unsettled1 so irritable and unmanageable1 that his valet insisted he should summon a physician4 ,this was his state when ,marion came to his bedside4 ,after she left he called for pen and ink1 and wrote out1 as well as he could recall it1 every word of her prayer4 ,this he put in his pocketbook and read over many times in a day1 never without tears4 ,the gracious ,spirit of ,god was near1 watching1 waiting to be gracious4 ,how many times in the course of the few days following he put ,marion's character to the severest test6 ,he applied the touchstones of love1 charity1 and good-will1 and found she answered to them all4 ,yes1 her life was a good one1 even judged from his standpoint4 ,she did not act from a desire for the praise of men1 but from a genuine love to ,christ1 and a desire1 in her humble manner1 to do good to those around her4 ,her note found his heart more tender than it had been for years1 more amenable to good influences4 ,he was not likely to refuse any request she might make1 even to the half of his kingdom4 ,he sent her word that he would be ready to accompany her at the time appointed4 ,on ,sunday morning the weather was so extremely sultry that ,marion doubted the expediency of taking an invalid to a hot1 unventilated attic where the air must necessarily be vitiated4 ,indeed1 she was herself oppressed with such debility and general lassitude as disinclined her for any exertion4 ,but ,sunday was one of her busiest days4 ,she had a ,bible class in the morning with her own servants and those living with ,mrs ,mitchell1 church at eleven1 and her mission school in the afternoon1 to which she usually devoted two hours4 ,then church in the evening4 ,mr and ,mrs4 ,mitchell being in the country1 she felt that the ,bible class was more than ever important to their servants4 ,it had been her intention to call for ,mr4 ,lambert in her carriage on her way home after the mission school1 but1 considering the intense heat had just resolved to postpone her visit to ,neddy ,carter till another ,sunday1 when she heard the welcome sound of distant thunder4 ,before it was time to start for church1 the heavy shower had cleared the air and revived her drooping energies4 ,neddy ,carter's home was only a few blocks from the ,five ,points mission4 ,miss ,howard's carriage was no novel sight in that vicinity1 but1 notwithstanding1 a group of boys and girls gathered around1 gazing with open mouths as the old gentleman alighted--and followed the lady slowly up the steps4 ,nothing could have happened more favorably for her project4 ,the room was full1 as not only the little ones1 but their fathers and mothers1 drawn to the room by the singing1 had crowded in1 filling up even the open door4 ,from an adjoining tenement ,miss ,howard procured a chair for ,mr4 ,lambert1 which she placed in the passage1 and an unpainted stool for herself4 ,an opening hymn had been sung1 and then the children united in repeating with the young teacher the ,lord's ,prayer4 ,peeping through a space formed by a man's uplifted arm1 ,mr4 ,lambert could see the crippled boy seated in his wheeled chair1 in front of group of wondering children4 ,his back was toward the door1 but the spectator could easily imagine the expression of fervor there would be in his soft brown eyes1 the sweet serenity of the brow as he talked to them on the subjects he held most dear4 ,you said ,i might tell about ,jesus being born in a stable to-day1 began one little boy1 raising his hand4 ,you may tell it now1 ,neddy said1 in a cheerful voice4 ,questions and answers followed1 showing that many present had been told of the love of ,jesus ,christ1 even for the most sinful2 and then the little missionary1 wholly unconscious that others beside the inmates of the neighboring tenement houses were present1 with a little wave of the hand to command silence1 began1-- ,i'm going to tell you the story our teacher told us at the mission school to-day1 and then we will sing our favorite hymn4 ,a great many years ago there was a rich man4 ,he had two sons4 ,one was good and one was bad4 ,i guess it was the youngest that was bad4 ,he didn't like to work4 ,the other helped his father on the big farm4 ,teacher said he thought the good one went around and told the servants what to do1 and was not afraid to work himself4 ,they had cows and calves and sheep1 and all kinds of animals1 ,i guess4 ,by and by the lazy one said he was tired of staying at home4 ,he wanted to travel1 and he asked his father to give him his part of the money and let him go4 ,his father said yes4 ,so the father and the good son went on together for a great many years4 ,they were pretty happy1 but not very4 ,can you guess why8 ,maybe the father was a sorrering for the boy who had quit his home1 murmured a mother in the farthest corner of the room4 ,that's a good guess4 ,yes1 that was the reason he wasn't happy4 ,he loved his boy and he didn't like to have him away4 ,why didn't he get a letter writ8 questioned a man who was holding a child on each knee4 ,i don't know1 answered ,neddy4 ,i'm sorry ,i didn't ask teacher that4 ,p'r'aps he didn't know where to send the letter4 ,but now ,i'm going to tell you about the bad son4 ,he had a whole bagful of money1 and he thought it would last him forever4 ,so he kept buying things and spending his money till one day he put his hand in his bag and it was all gone1 every bit4 ,he was hungry1 but he had not a penny to buy food4 ,he didn't dare to kneel down1 as we do1 and say1 ',our ,father1 give us this day our daily bread1' because he had been awfully wicked1 getting drunk and lying and swearing1 and doing everything bad4 ,you can't guess1 any of you1 what he did at last4 ,why1 he was that hungry he had to hire out to a farmer who kept pigs1 and he watched his chance when nobody was looking1 to steal some of the pigs' food4 ,before this he used to wear gay clothes1 now he was all in rags4 ,one day he sat down on a stump of a tree4 ,he was awful homesick4 ,he was tired of being so bad4 ,he thought about his old home1 and how kind his father used to be1 and what good things he had to eat1 ,he remembered how the men working on the farm had enough to eat4 ,all at once he began to cry1 ',i wish ,i was home4 ,i'm awfully lonely way off here1 and nobody speaks a kind word to me4 ,nobody gives me even the pigs' food4 ,i'm ragged1 too1 and filthy4 ,oh1 what a fool ,i was to leave my dear old home6' ,he cried and sobbed1 but nobody pitied him4 ,say1 ,neddy1 did he die among the pigs8 asked a big girl1 putting a finger in her eye to keep the tears back4 ,i'm coming to the good part now4 ,after he'd been crying a good while1 and feeling real sorry he had been so wicked1 he thought he heard a voice asking1-- ',why don't you go home8' ',oh1 father wouldn't have me back6' ',yes1 he would4 ,he loves you still4' ',loves me6 ,can it be true8 ,then ,i'll go right off4' ,so he got up off the stump and started4 ,teacher didn't say how far it was1 but at last he came to a place where he could see his home4 ,his heart beat dreadfully4 ',will he take me in8 ,will he8' ,now ,i'm going to tell you the very words he told himself he would say to his father4 ,teacher made us all learn them1 'cause she said every one of us could say them to ,god1 our ,heavenly ,father4 ',and he arose1 and came to his father4 ,but when he was yet a great way off1 the father saw him1 and had compassion unto him1 and ran1 and fell on his neck1 and kissed him4 ,and the son said unto him1 ,father1 ,i have sinned against heaven1 and in thy sight1 and am no more worthy to be called thy son4 ',but the father said to his servants1 ,bring forth the best robe1 and put it on him1 and put ring on his hand1 and shoes on his feet4 ,and bring hither the fatted calf1 and kill it2 and let us eat1 and be merry3 for this my son was dead1 and is alive again2 he was lost1 and is found4' ,is that 'ere a true story8 ,you don't say he took him right back again8 ,whew6 ,i guess he was glad he went home4 ,there's only one thing more1 added ,neddy1 when the astonishment had somewhat subsided4 ,teacher said that the good father in the story means ,god4 ,everybody who wanders away from being good1 is like the bad son4 ,just as quick as we are sorry and ask ,him to forgive us1 ,he will4 ,she said that we must remember that ,he is ready just as quick as we say we're sorry4 ,now we'll sing1 and then the school is done4 ,you must all begin with me1-- ,i am so glad that our ,father in heaven ,tells of ,his love in the book ,he has given1 ,wonderful things in the ,bible ,i see1 ,this is the dearest1 that ,jesus loves me4 ,though ,i forget ,him and wander away1 ,still ,he doth love me wherever ,i stray ,back to ,his dear loving arms would ,i flee1 ,when ,i remember that ,jesus loves me4 ,oh1 if there's only one song ,i can sing1 ,when in ,his beauty ,i see the great ,king1 ,this shall my song in eternity be1 ,oh1 what a wonder that ,jesus loves me4 ,during the whole exercises1 ,marion had been aware that her companion was deeply affected4 ,she had refrained from looking at him1 but now1 as the school was breaking up1 she asked1-- ,shall we stop and speak to him8 ,no1 no6 ,i must get home4 ,i'm too ill to be here4 ,she had ordered the carriage to be back in an hour1 and was glad to see that it was at the door4 ,they were seated in it and driving off before the crowd came tumbling down the stairs4 ,mr4 ,lambert sank back in his seat1 looking so pale that his companion was really alarmed4 ,she said nothing1 however1 but fanned him continually till they reached his own door4 ,she herself alighted and rang the bell for the valet to assist his master1 who muttered to himself1-- ,whatever he's been up to1 he looks like death4 ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,,many ,,blessings4 ,,there could scarcely be a greater contrast in two characters among ,miss ,howard's associates than ,mr4 ,lambert and ,esther ,sims1 or ,esther ,cole1 as she asked ,hepsey to call her for the present4 ,poor to the extent that1 when she left the home in the stable loft1 she had not a penny in the world and not a garment fit to wear to her new service1 unlearned and ignorant in worldly wisdom1 she yet seemed to absorb into her heart as governing motives to her life such sweet and restful views of ,god as her ,father and ,jesus as her ,saviour as caused her young mistress to exclaim1 ,thou and hast hid these things from the wise and prudent1 and hast revealed them unto babes4 ,with a childlike frankness so peculiar to her1 she confided to ,miss ,howard her increasing trust that ,god would answer her prayers for her husband's conversion4 ,in that case you would return to him1 ,i suppose4 ,marion wished to test her feelings as a wife4 ,a pretty pink flush flew all over ,esther's face as she lifted her eyes wistfully to the lady's4 ,god will take care of me1 she said4 ,i am sure ,he will4 ,it is of him ,i'm thinking4 ,now that he is away from bad people and can't get rum1 it is such a nice time for him to become good4 ,when he comes out of prison1 if ,god wants me to go back to him1 ,he will let me know it4 ,sometimes1 she added1 in a timid voice1 ,i think ,he will1 because ,i promised for better1 for worse1 you know4 ,would you live with him if he were to beat you and abuse you as he did before8 ,yes1 ma'am1 if ,i were sure ,god meant it so4 ,i can never be as miserable again as ,i was before4 ,why can't you8 ,because ,i have a friend now who would be close by me always4 ,you mean ,jesus ,christ4 ,yes1 ma'am4 ,even if he did get--get out of his mind with drink1 and treat me unkindly1 ,i would tell ,jesus1 and ,he would help me to forgive4 ,if ,i never answered back and always tried to have a smile and the best home ,i could make for him1 perhaps he might try to be better4 ,oh1 ,i should be too happy6 ,she clasped her hands to her breast1 and looked so like an innocent child in her perfect trust that ,marion shed tears of delight4 ,during the first week in ,september1 ,marion went to the ,home for the ,sick1 to see ,mary ,falkner1 who1 with the aid of a cane1 was able to walk the length of the ward4 ,isn't it wonderful8 she exclaimed4 ,the doctors say1 with the exception of a limp in my gait1 ,i shall be as well able to walk as any one4 ,they are all so kind to me4 ,who knows but ,i shall be able to do some church work in your parish8 ,if you are able we will give you enough to do1 answered ,marion1 blushing4 ,on her way out the superintendent met her and asked her to step to the parlor for a moment4 ,he took from his pocket a letter recently received1 and handed it to her with an arch smile4 ,though he did not know1 he suspected the truth of a rumor he had heard concerning her4 ,the letter read as follows3-- ,dear ,sir1-- ,in memory of ,god's goodness to my deceased sister and to myself1 while we were within the walls of the ,home for the ,sick1 and in gratitude for the faithful care to our bodies and our souls1 by pastor1 chaplain1 and nurses1 ,i send you the enclosed check1 which ,i think you once told me was the sum necessary to found a permanent bed in your blessed institution4 ,that your labors may be as useful in the future as they have been in the past is the sincere prayer of a fellow-laborer in ,christ's vineyard4 ,,harold ,,angus4 ,the check was for five thousand dollars1 added the gentleman4 ,it was an unexpected thank-offering1 and we are very grateful for it4 ,marion expressed her pleasure1 adding that ,mr4 ,angus had told her how much he owed to the faithful teachings he received while in the ,home4 ,this seemed to our young friend to be a day to mark with a white stone1 it was so full of blessings4 ,when she reached home she found a letter from ,mr4 ,lambert which overwhelmed her and sent her to her knees to thank ,god for answering her humble prayers4 ,it was characteristic of himself in its brevity4 ,kind and faithful ,friend1-- ,the prodigal has returned4 ,the ,father met and embraced him4 ,he has put off his tattered garments4 ,he has a new robe on him4 ,his voice rings with a new song4 ,in the better words of another1 this is the language of his heart1-- ',i cannot love thee as ,i would1 ,yet pardon me1 ,o ,highest ,good6 ,my life and all ,i call mine own ,i lay before ,thy mercy throne4 ,and if a thousand lives were mine1 ,o sweetest ,lord1 they should be ,thine6 ,and scanty would the offering be1 ,so richly ,thou hast loved me4' ,a few days later ,marion went to ,grantbury in answer to a summons from her uncle4 ,the outside walls of the church were finished1 with the exception of the spire4 ,the men were at work on the dizzy height1 and expected to finish it by the middle of ,september4 ,the frame to the new house was raised and nearly boarded in4 ,mrs4 ,asbury said people were beginning to take quite an interest in it4 ,one lady asked her point-blank if the clergyman intended to bring home a wife from ,england1 to which she returned a decided ,no4 ,during her stay ,marion made a hasty call at the thread and needle store to see the ,widow ,falkner4 ,mary had kept her mother informed of her condition1 and also of the great kindness all the patients received1 but she was delighted to see ,miss ,howard and learn particulars about her daughter4 ,then ,marion drove half a mile in another direction for a call on ,farmer ,rand's wife1 who was still an invalid4 ,seldom had her appearance created such an excitement4 ,it was evident something pleasant had happened4 ,talk of an angel1 etc41 said the farmer1 with a grand flourish of his hand4 ,sit down1 miss4 ,you're as welcome as roses in ,june4 ,how are ye8 ,we've been thinking a sight about ye1 added the gudewife4 ,we've had a letter4 ,maybe ye know it4 ,s-sh-sh1 wife1 making a sound like what he would make to quiet his oxen2 wait a bit1 ,i've something to say4 ,now1 miss1 did ye ever hear about our church meetin'8 ,yes1 indeed1 ,i heard all the items in detail4 ,wall1 then1 't won't be breaking no ,scripter rule if ,i do tell that ,i was moved to draw a few hundreds out of the bank and gin 'em to the ,lord4 ',t isn't that ,i'm a speakin' of4 ,that 'ere's only the text to my sarmon1 you see4 ,the good book says1 ,the ,lord loveth a cheerful giver1' and ,i will say for myself and my good woman that the ,lord ,he helped us to give that 'ere money with as good a will as though we were spendin' on 't to build a new bedroom out on our south side1 as we've been a plannin' to do for a score o' years4 ,speak for yourself1 ,lucy4 ,am ,i stating your opinions correct8 ,yes1 ,i was very glad you did it4 ,well1 then1 said the farmer1 laughing as he flourished his hands again1 the first part o' my sermon is 'stablished1 and ,i'll go on4 ,wife1 give me that 'ere ,bible1 will ye8 ,now ,i stan' to it that ,god holds to ,his promises even when men aren't looking for ,him to do it4 ,here it is1 ,he that watereth shall be watered himself'2 and here's another1 ,the liberal soul shall be made fat4' ,now look here4 ,out there on the very edge of my farm there's a piece o' ground o' no airthly value to me4 ,there's nothin' but sorrel'll grow on 't4 ,i'd ha' given it to any friend for the askin'4 ,wall1 one day in come that prince of a man1 ',squire ,asbury4 ,i knew by the look o' his eye he meant business4 ',mr4 ,rand1' says he1 ',i ain't no hand to circumvent' round matters2 ,i go straight to the p'int4' ',go ahead1' says ,i4 ',i ain't no hand for circumventing1 neither4' ',mr4 ,rand1' says he1 'what will you take for that 'ere corner lot o' yourn that runs out towards the railroad track8' '',squire ,asbury1' says ,i1 'if you're in want o' that 'ere lot you're as welcome to it as the flowers in ,may4 ',t ain't no vally to me at all4' ',no1 no1' says he1 laughin'4 ',i'm a bargaining for the railroad1 and they want to put up a freight depot there4 ,the lot almost touches the rails4 ,set your price4' ',oho6' says ,i1 'if that's the talk ,i calkerlate they're able to pay a little suthing4 ,i'll agree to any price you'll name4 ,don't you say so1 wife8' ',yes1 ,i will1' ,lucy answered up1 loud and prompt4 ',squire ,asbury kind o' laughed and repeated it over again4 ',you both agree1' says he1 'to stick to the price ,i name1 be it more or less8' ',yes1 we do4' ',well1 then1 ,i want the lot just as it lies1 sand and all1 coming down to a p'int near the railroad1 and a runnin' back one hundred feet to the rail fence put across where the land lies even1 and ,i'll give you five hundred dollars for it4' ',good land1 ',squire' says ,i1 ''t ain't wuth it4' ',it's wuth every dollar of five hundred to the road1' says he2 'if they have to go a mile farther either way1 they'll have to give six or eight4 ,i'll have the deed drawn up ready for you and your wife to sign4' ',squire ,asbury1' says ,i as soon as ,i could catch my breath1 ',i believe the ,lord sent you here4 ,when ,i give that five hundred to the ,lord ,i never thought o' getting it back again1 but you see here 't is1 dollar for dollar1 and more1 too1 for the pleasure o' giving my mite towards the ,lord's new meeting-house was wuth the whole sum4 ,sure as you live1 ,lucy and ,i1 we give thanks to ,god for lettin' of us have the privilege4' ',yes1 yes1 ,i know that1' says he1 and so he does4 ,if ever a man was blessed in his basket and store it's that same ',squire ,asbury4 ,his hand1 as the ,scripter says1 'is open to the wants o' the poor4' ,he ended with one grand flourish4 ,marion laughed heartily as she said1 ,i wish you'd preach that sermon to some of our rich men on ,fifth ,avenue who don't know the pleasure of giving4 ,it is as practical a sermon as ,i ever heard4 ,now1 wife1 speak up1 if you've anything to say4 ,husband and ,i have had a letter1 ,mrs4 ,rand said1 opening the large family ,bible and taking an envelope from between the leaves4 ,it has made us real cheery coming so far1 and it has good news in it1 too4 ,the pastor is real friendly to think of us4 ,the pastor1 exclaimed ,marion1 in surprise4 ,have you had a letter from ,mr4 ,angus8 ,the farmer evidently understood that he had had his turn1 and that his wife now had the floor4 ,he did not speak1 but he nodded his head and performed other pantomime in such a remarkable manner that ,marion was made aware what news the letter contained before the wife gave it to her to read4 ,yes1 there it was in plain black and white4 ,he told this aged pair that he was going to be married and settle down among them for life1 he hoped4 ,he quoted the words of ,solomon1 ,a prudent wife is from the ,lord1 and he said1 ,i'm sure mine is a prudent one1 a priceless treasure4 ,that she is from the hands of my ,father in heaven ,i am equally sure4 ,you will agree with me when ,i tell you ,miss ,marion ,howard1 your particular friend1 has agreed to cast in her lot with me4 ,marion kept her eyes fastened on the letter long after she had finished it4 ,she did not like her good friends to see how much these manly words had affected her4 ,she folded the sheet carefully and passed it back1 saying1 ,i am glad he has told you4 ,i guess we shall be able to hold on to him now1 rejoined ,mr4 ,rand1 trying to laugh4 ,but as ,marion rose to go his voice changed to the tenderness of a father4 ,he raised his hand over her head and pronounced a blessing on her and on her chosen friend2 then sat down suddenly1 and blew his nose like a trumpet to conceal how much he was affected4 ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,a ,,wonderful ,,discovery4 ,,these were busy days with our young friend4 ,in company with ,hepsey she went to her old home and spent a week in looking over bedding and furniture preparatory to having it removed to ,ingleside4 ,her father's place was let on a long lease1 and she was well satisfied with the care taken of it4 ,mr4 ,angus had written to beg her to consent that the wedding should take place immediately on his return1 but she replied that the house would not be finished till some time later1 and that it was necessary for her to complete her arrangements for her mission and her protgs among the poor before leaving ,new ,york4 ,since the change in ,mr4 ,lambert1 the idea of giving the care of certain families to him had floated through her mind1 but she feared he was too impulsive or would be too easily imposed upon if he undertook mission work4 ,annie ,leman had promised to do all in her power1 and had already proved both willingness and tact in the work4 ,on her return from the country1 ,marion found a note from ,mr4 ,lambert requesting to see her on business4 ,she suspected at once it was in relation to his will1 about which he had already spoken to her4 ,she sent ,james with an answer saying she would call on him at nine the next morning4 ,later in the day she was pleasantly surprised by a call from ,mrs4 ,cheriton and ,eugene4 ,they had advertised for and obtained a boarding-place in the country a few weeks before1 but not being altogether pleased with the class of boarders they met there1 had suddenly returned to the city the day before4 ,mrs4 ,cheriton smilingly remarked that her mother seemed as pleased as a child to be back in her old rooms in ,new ,york2 that she had taken her favorite seat near the window early in the morning1 and had spent an hour or more watching the passers-by2 that it was with difficulty they could persuade her to leave the window even for her meals4 ,geenie gained great praise for his conduct during the visit4 ,he amused himself with a book of pictures ,hepsey brought him1 and did not once touch any article in the room without liberty from his mother or ,marion4 ,at a quarter to nine the next morning ,mr4 ,lambert sent a carriage for ,miss ,howard1 and on her reaching his house waited upon her to his library1 a room adjoining his chamber4 ,she had never seen this room before1 and went around examining the pictures hanging over the well-filled bookcases4 ,he had evidently been writing4 ,papers covered his table1 and his pen was still wet4 ,as he took a seat near her1 the visitor was startled at the marks of the agitation of mind through which he had recently passed4 ,his cheeks seemed sunken and a circle round his eyes betokened want of sleep4 ,i fear you are not strong enough for business yet1 she remarked1 anxiously4 ,i'm all right1 he answered4 ,i've had letters which have disappointed me--personal matters4 ,by the way1 ,i may tell you about them some time4 ,to-day ,i want to talk about other things4 ,miss ,howard1 ,i want to confess ,christ4 ,i want to do just the very thing ,i once thought a humbug1--to join myself to ,god's people4 ,i want the help of a faithful pastor to keep my heart right1 and ,i want the counsel of fellow-,christians as to the best methods of working for the ,master4 ,marion's eyes filled with happy tears4 ,i'm so glad1 so glad6 she murmured4 ,will you allow me to bring ,dr4 ,m--1 my pastor1 to see you8 ,no1 child1 ,i'm a poor old prodigal4 ,i want to go among the poor and do what ,i can there4 ,you told me once about a mission chapel4 ,that is my place4 ,it may be ,i can have courage to do something there1 to help men1 who1 like myself1 have lived for years among the husks4 ,oh1 how ,i wish you would go to our parish in the country6 ,there is a great work to do there1 and you ought to be where your daughter could look after you4 ,that would be a great inducement1 child4 ,you are nearer to my heart than any other4 ,i have no ties of kin1--at least ,i can learn of none4 ,another time ,i may tell you the nature of the disappointment to which ,i referred4 ,you will pity the poor1 lonely man1 ,i'm sure4 ,his tone was so sad that it deeply moved her1 and taking his hand she pressed her lips upon it4 ,don't do that1 ,i can't bear it4 ,i shall be unfit for the business if ,i allow my feelings to have sway4 ,i have been jotting down a few items in connection with the disposal of my property4 ,i have more money than ,i know what to do with4 ,if that interloper had not stepped in1 ,i would make you my heir1 and you could scatter it round as you please4 ,as it is1 ,i have set aside a few thousands to educate our friend ,neddy1 and ,i want you to look after him if anything happens to me4 ,what is the name of that girl-wife you told me about1 whose husband is in prison8 ,i want to give you a thousand for her own use4 ,if she goes back to that scoundrel it must be so tied up that he can't get at it4 ,will you have the goodness to pass me that long paper1 ruled with red ink8 ,that's the one4 ,in selecting this paper from the others1 ,marion had to move several letters lying on top4 ,as she did so her eyes fell on an open page1 with the name ,madrid in full view4 ,madrid6 ,does he have letters from ,madrid8 ,that was ,mrs4 ,douglass's native place4 ,her heart almost stopped beating1 as a sudden possibility flashed like lightning through her mind4 ,she glanced back at ,mr4 ,lambert4 ,could he1 oh1 could he be the cruel1 exacting man whose jealousy and distrust had rendered the life of her friend so miserable8 ,no6 ,oh1 no6 ,and yet the thought1 once entertained1 would not be banished4 ,what if he is8 ,how can ,i find out8 ,how would he bear it8 ,what a happy future he might have6 ,what shall ,i do8 ,what can ,i say8 ,her habitual frankness came to her aid4 ,she had mechanically given him the paper and sank back in her chair1 while he was so occupied in glancing over the items that he had not noticed her wild stare of astonishment4 ,mr4 ,lambert-- ,she stopped2 her heart seemed to rise up in her throat and choke her4 ,mr4 ,lambert1 did you ever live in ,madrid8 ,i saw the address on an open letter4 ,i do not ask from mere curiosity4 ,the most blissful and the most wretched days of my life were passed in that city4 ,mr4 ,lambert1 something has happened to me4 ,i--,i can't think of business to-day4 ,will you excuse and trust me as though ,i were your own daughter8 ,i want to tell you about a dear friend1 the grandmother of the beautiful boy you have heard me speak about with such rapture4 ,i promised to bring him to see you some day4 ,that boy is a native of ,madrid4 ,what is the mother's name8 ,cheriton1 ,mrs4 ,juliette ,cheriton4 ,he shook his head thoughtfully4 ,i never heard the name4 ,he laid down the paper with a little vexed and disappointed air1 adding1 ,i haven't been in ,madrid for more than eighteen years4 ,it is ,mrs4 ,cheriton's mother who is my special friend4 ,she is one of the loveliest1 most accomplished ladies ,i know1 and such an earnest ,christian1 too4 ,is her name ,cheriton8 ,oh1 no6 ,eugene's mother is her daughter4 ,she calls herself ,douglass4 ,douglass6 ,mr4 ,lambert started forward1 then sank back and looked as though he had been struck4 ,presently1 with his hand on his heart1 he said in a choking voice1-- ,tell me all you know4 ,don't spare me4 ,this suspense is killing me4 ,i will tell you all1 though ,i can only suspect the truth4 ,mrs4 ,douglass1 as my friend chooses to be called1 told me this was not her wedded name4 ,just before her daughter's birth1 painful family circumstances arose1 which caused a separation between herself and her husband4 ,she has never seen him since4 ,did she confide these circumstances to you8 ,the voice seemed to come from a tomb4 ,yes1 she did1 and it has been her life-long regret that she could not explain them to the one most interested4 ,you are an innocent child4 ,mrs4 ,douglass1 as she calls herself1 was my wife4 ,she has deceived you4 ,i saw what ,i saw with my own eyes4 ,she even gave up the ring ,i presented her on our betrothal4 ,mr4 ,lambert1 you must be calm4 ,she does not deserve such bitter scorn4 ,you were deceived in one particular4 ,you thought her an only child4 ,she had a brother1 a wild1 reckless man1 who afterward paid the penalty for his crimes4 ,mr ,douglass forbade all mention of his name1 and frequently alluded to his daughter as his only child4 ,it was this wicked1 daring fellow who suddenly appeared to my friend1 and almost drove her wild by demanding money or jewels from her4 ,she agreed to see him once1 and give him all she could raise1 on condition he would never cross her path again4 ,she did see him4 ,he seized her and held her forcibly while he wrested from her finger the valuable ring you had given her4 ,his cruelty nearly cost her her life4 ,she was carried to her bed1 fell into convulsions1 during which her child was born4 ,the resolve she had made to tell you the truth at whatever cost1 even her father's displeasure1 it was impossible for her to carry out4 ,before she was well enough to understand what had passed1 her husband1 deceived and betrayed by a servant1 who with tears and groans confessed her guilt1 was a witness to the meeting between herself and her brother4 ,he believed her lost to him and to virtue4 ,he himself carried her in his arms to her couch1 when1 overcome by her brother's cruelty1 she fainted1 but he never gave her an opportunity to explain the painful meeting4 ,if he had-- ,she was interrupted by a terrible groan from ,mr4 ,lambert4 ,he threw his arms up1 then1 with a gurgling sound in his throat1 he sank back1 insensible4 ,marion flew to the door and screamed for the valet4 ,she loosened the necktie1 and began vigorously to chafe the cold hands1 but it was some minutes before he revived4 ,the doctor cautioned him to avoid all excitement1 said the servant1 with a reproachful glance at the visitor4 ,ever since those foreign letters came he's been terribly took down4 ,marion was bending over him1 with her hand on his forehead1 when he opened his eyes4 ,don't--leave--me1 he gasped4 ,presently he spoke again4 ,do you think ,god will forgive me8 ,the tone was so piteous she found it impossible to control her voice to answer4 ,she bowed her head4 ,will you take a little hartshorn1 sir8 asked the valet4 ,yes4 ,when it had been administered1 he said1 ,stay in the anteroom1 ,miss ,howard may need you4--,pray for me1 he added the moment they were alone4 ,yes1 ,i will2 but first ,i want to tell you that your wife1 if ,mrs4 ,douglass is indeed your wife1 has loved you all these years4 ,she blames herself that she did not insist that her father should tell you of her brother ,henreich4 ,i do not think there has been a day these last ten years that she has not prayed for your conversion4 ,his lip quivered like a grieved child1 while great tears rolled down his pale cheeks4 ,in a voice scarcely more than a whisper1 he said1-- ,do you think it possible that she will forgive me8 ,she has forgiven you already4 ,there was a long silence after this4 ,mr4 ,lambert's countenance showed that a terrible struggle was going on in his breast4 ,marion could not look upon it1 and covered her face1 her cry going up to ,god for help and comfort to this poor man4 ,at last1 recalling his request1 she fell on her knees1 and in a low tone offered up her petitions in his behalf4 ,when she rose to her feet1 she was startled at the awful pallor which had settled on his features4 ,she put her fingers on his pulse1 and to her terror found there was scarcely any beat4 ,go for the doctor as quickly as possible1 she cried to the servant4 ,no1 send some one4 ,don't leave me6 ,he is very low4 ,fortunately the physician was near at hand and was soon at the bedside4 ,in a few words ,marion related the wonderful story1 that she had just made the discovery that ,mrs4 ,douglass was ,mr4 ,lambert's wife1 which accounted for his alarming state of exhaustion4 ,for several hours it was doubtful whether ,mr4 ,lambert would ever speak again4 ,the physician told ,marion that his case was a very critical one1 but at length they were able to force down a tonic1 and soon after he sank into slumber4 ,the room was darkened1 every sound hushed1 and the faithful valet sat alone to watch and wait by his master's bedside4 ,it was night when he awoke2 the physician had been in and out several times1 and ordered a few spoonsful of nourishment as soon as he awoke4 ,this was given him and he tried to speak4 ,miss ,howard4 ,she is not here4 ,she said she would be back early in the morning4 ,i may not live till then4 ,take--a--pen--and--write4 ,with my dying breath ,i ask her to forgive me4--,i leave to her--all--that ,i have --in the--world1--with my dying--love and blessing4 ,she1 ,miss-- ,howard1 will--know who--,i mean4 ,tell her not to let our daughter think too hard of her father4 ,fold--it and direct to ,miss ,howard4 ,meanwhile ,marion had returned home in such a state of excitement and fatigue that the physician1 who took her there1 sent her at once to bed1 and ordered ,hepsey to give her a powerful anodyne4 ,when she woke1 ,mr4 ,lambert's servant had been to say that he wanted to see her as soon as she was able4 ,hepsey insisted that she should not go until she had eaten a hearty breakfast4 ,i think you ought to consider what ,mr4 ,angus would say1 she urged1 and for his sake take a little care of your health4 ,hepsey1 ,i feared last night that ,mr4 ,lambert was dead1 and1 oh1 ,hepsey1 it was what ,i had been telling him that made him fall into the swoon6 ,you will not wonder that ,i was sick with fear when ,i tell you about it4 ,i shall tell ,mr4 ,angus that you've had enough of excitement for one life1 and he'd better get you to the country as soon as he can4 ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,,reconciliation ,,and ,,happiness4 ,,the carriage was already at the door1 and ,miss ,howard drove hastily to ,mr4 ,lambert's residence4 ,she was informed that he was stronger1 had taken more nourishment1 and was again asleep4 ,the valet came from the chamber where the sick man had been carried and gave her the sealed envelope2 and with this in her hand she started for ,mrs4 ,douglass's boarding-house1 scarcely daring to read the words1 lest she should unfit herself for the exciting scenes she must expect4 ,after a cursory glance at the page she thrust it back into the envelope1 and endeavored to form some plan by which she might best convey to her invalid friend the wonderful discovery she had made4 ,early as it was1 ,mrs4 ,cheriton had taken her boy for a walk4 ,mrs4 ,douglass sat reading by the window4 ,she greeted ,miss ,howard with a smile and then1 noticing her flushed face1 asked1-- ,are you well1 dear8 ,can you bear good news1 ,mrs4 ,douglass8 ,good news seldom hurts any one4 ,have you ever thought that your husband might be living near you8 ,i know where he lives2 ,i learned it by accident while in the country and found it impossible to remain away4 ,and that explains your sudden return and your watching so constantly from the windows8 ,marion's tone was full of wonder4 ,i never told you his name4 ,how did you find it out8 ,marion then related all that had passed1 and ended with giving the paper which the sick man had dictated when he thought himself dying4 ,mrs4 ,douglass's countenance expressed the deepest feeling1 but she braced herself against giving way to her excitement4 ,i have been praying earnestly that ,i might be prepared for this discovery1 should it take place1 she said4 ,i will go with you and assure him of my entire forgiveness4 ,juliette knows nothing of her father's desertion1 and she need not be made acquainted with the discovery4 ,oh1 ,mrs4 ,douglass1 ,i am sure he will never part with you again4 ,she shook her head1 rose1 and put on her bonnet and shawl4 ,marion saw that1 while she was making a great effort to appear calm1 her hands trembled so much that she could not tie the bonnet-strings4 ,unobserved by the lady1 she wrote with pencil on a piece of paper3-- ,dear ,mrs4 ,cheriton1-- ,i have taken your mother with me4 ,please remain at home with ,geenie till ,i call or send for you4 ,,marion4 ,this she left in plain sight on the table4 ,on their way little was spoken until they approached the door1 when ,marion said1-- ,i hope the doctor will be there4 ,i dare not take you to ,mr4 ,lambert's room without his permission4 ,the servant who opened the door stared at the new-comer1 and said to ,miss ,howard1-- ,mr4 ,lambert is too ill1 ma'am1 to see visitors4 ,yes1 ,i know4 ,this lady is going with me to the parlor to see the doctor4 ,she gave ,mrs4 ,douglass her arm1 and found from the manner the lady leaned against her that she could scarcely support herself4 ,the valet came at once4 ,mr4 ,lambert is awake1 he said1 and has been calling for you4 ,i cannot leave this lady alone4 ,is the doctor here8 ,he's just going1 miss4 ,i hear him coming downstairs4 ,ask him to come here4 ,dr4 ,danforth1 this is my friend1 ,mr4 ,lambert's wife4 ,can she see him8 ,go and tell him she is here4 ,he is as impatient this morning as ever old ,mr4 ,regy was4 ,the doctor tried to smile1 but looked anxious4 ,i thought you would never come1 said the sick man in a petulant tone4 ,i might have died without ever asking her to forgive me4 ,would you like to see her now8 ,would ,i8 ,he gave a scream which speedily brought the valet to his side4 ,get me up6 ,bring my clothes6 ,where is she8 ,don't let her go6 ,i'll be ready in a minute4 ,the valet was thunderstruck1 and looked at ,miss ,howard helplessly4 ,mr4 ,lambert1 said ,marion1 in an authoritative tone1 if you don't lie down and be calm ,i'll take ,mrs4 ,lambert away again4 ,there1 that is right6 as he assented like a penitent boy4 ,you must be calm1 for her sake4 ,she is an invalid1 and has been for years4 ,will you explain to her why ,i can't go to her8 ,it's my place4 ,are you sure she'll forgive me8 ,yes1 ,i'm sure4 ,now1 said ,marion1 addressing the valet1 who stood in open-mouthed wonder1 you may go to the parlor and ask the doctor to assist ,mrs4 ,lambert up the stairs4 ,the sick man quickly covered his face1 and she heard him whispering a prayer for help4 ,for his sake and for your own1 be as calm as possible1 said ,dr4 ,ross1 leaving the lady at the door and motioning the servant to retire4 ,marion only waited to see the long-deserted wife glide quickly to the bedside1 and then she1 too1 left them alone4 ,the meeting was too sacred for any eye but the omnipresent ,one to witness4 ,marion ,howard was blessed with an excellent constitution1 but of late her keen sympathy with her friends1 her frequent visits to her mission scholars1 in connection with the arrangements she was making to leave1 in addition to her own numerous cares1 the purchase of her trousseau1 etc41 had taxed her strength to an unusual degree4 ,now that the wife was restored to her husband1 ,dr4 ,danforth insisted that she should go home and take some rest4 ,i will1 as soon as ,i have brought ,mrs4 ,cheriton and her boy4 ,she had scarcely finished her sentence before a sudden attack of dizziness made her clutch at a chair for support4 ,you must return1 and at once1 he said4 ,i will do all that is necessary4 ,i prophesy that this discovery will be the most effectual remedy for ,mr4 ,lambert4 ,marion found it most prudent to yield1 and hastily leaving word that ,mrs4 ,cheriton was to be sent for1 she left the doctor to make all needed explanation for her sudden departure4 ,the next morning1 in consequence of a telegram from ,dr4 ,ross1 ,mrs4 ,asbury made her appearance1 and coolly remarked that she had come to stay till her niece was able to return with her4 ,on a bright ,october morning let us take a peep at ,mr4 ,lambert and his now united family4 ,they have left the grand house in the city to spend the autumn months on his farm in the country4 ,to see our friend now we should not imagine him to have been so recently one of ,dr4 ,danforth's sickest patients4 ,his heart and his conscience at rest1 his countenance grows daily more serene1 while he declares he feels as young and fresh as he ever did4 ,his wife1 ,mrs4 ,douglass no more1 moves quietly about1 keeping within sight of the husband from whom she has been so long separated4 ,she is making a study of his character eccentricities and all1 and has already gained such an influence over him that his eye turns naturally toward her for approval4 ,many times in a day he asks for and receives a full assurance of her entire forgiveness4 ,many hours are passed in recounting the events which have occurred since they last met1 the keen disappointment he experienced when at last1 unable longer to endure the suspense1 he wrote a friend in ,madrid for news of her1 and learned that it was supposed she was deceased1 and had been for many years4 ,the ring once wrested from her finger by her unnatural brother was restored to its old place1 it having been taken from the prisoner just before his execution4 ,as they looked at it and called to mind all the wonderful providences which after so many years had brought them together1 their hearts were filled with new gratitude to their ,heavenly ,father1 who had out of these afflictions led them to a knowledge of ,himself4 ,toward his beautiful daughter1 ,juliette ,cheriton1 ,mr4 ,lambert exhibited a ludicrous respect1 mingled with an unbounded admiration4 ,he found it extremely difficult to convince himself that she in reality was his child4 ,he watched her stealthily1 blushing like a boy when caught doing so4 ,on the subject of her husband he was at first reticent4 ,it was1 however1 the occasion of reviving his old habit of grumbling when he heard a wish expressed that ,mr4 ,cheriton would return1 that there might be a complete union of the family4 ,he rushed about the room growling1-- ,he'd better not1 the villain2 ,i'd soon settle him4 ,let him stay away6 ,i'll let him understand ,i don't intend to leave her a penny4 ,in the mean time he lavished every indulgence upon her4 ,she had a pony carriage for her exclusive use4 ,her purse was kept filled to overflowing4 ,if it had been possible to spoil her he would have done it4 ,how often in these days her mother thanked ,god that her daughter had not been brought into such temptations to worldliness until she had learned to place her affections on objects higher and more enduring4 ,for his grandson ,mr4 ,lambert felt such intense pride that he needed constant checks in order that the boy need not take advantage of the foolish fondness bestowed on him4 ,if ,mr4 ,lambert had never had a master before1 he had one now1 and as we enter the house this bright autumnal morning1 a sight meets us which is proof of the fact4 ,a wide hall runs directly through the old-fashioned dwelling1 and racing back and forth through this hall is our old friend1 dressed as his double1 ,mr4 ,regy1 his long white hair floating behind him1 as he obeys the whip of his young driver1 and canters1 trots1 or walks in obedience to the orders of his grandson4 ,get up1 horse2 go faster1 grandpa6 ,geenie in his voyage of discovery has resurrected many old and once familiar objects1 and among them ,mr4 ,regy's dress4 ,what's this8 ,who wears this8 he shouts1 holding up the wig and beard to view4 ,being obliged to confess that he has sometimes worn these singular articles1 the boy demands that they be at once used by his horse2 and the owner1 never dreaming that it was possible to refuse1 donned them1 and with a pair of worsted reins round his body proceeded to jingle the bells1 running and cantering1 to the perfect delight of the young driver4 ,well for all concerned it was that ,mrs4 ,cheriton had learned from sad experience that if she wished her son to love and respect her she must enforce obedience to her own commands and to the commands of ,god4 ,mr4 ,lambert1 though he often pleaded that the child's wishes1 however unreasonable1 might be gratified1 and was once or twice detected in comforting him with confectionery under his disappointments1 yet acknowledged that his daughter's discipline was necessary and must be maintained4 ,a most ludicrous scene had once taken place between ,eugene and his grandfather1 which those who saw it never forgot4 ,the boy had disobeyed1 and his mother placed him in a room by himself to reflect upon his fault1 for which he was to be punished4 ,he was sitting soberly in the chair where she had placed him1 when1 hearing a sound from the adjoining room1 he went in and found his grandfather weeping4 ,what are you crying for1 grandpa8 he asked1 quickly4 ,i don't want your mother to whip you1 but she must2 yes1 it's right for her to do it4 ,don't cry1 grandpa2 ,i don't mind4 ,she doesn't hurt me any2 she only tickles me a little4 ',t isn't nice for a big man like you to cry4 ,eugene1 come here1 called his mother1 taking his hand to lead him back to his chair4 ,she repeated what she had heard to her mother1 saying1-- ,i had as much as ,i could do to keep from showing my amusement4 ,father looking so penitent1 and ,eugene comforting him4 ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,,christmas ,,day4 ,,it is ,christmas day4 ,the chimes in the spire of the new church are playing sweet melodies2 and the ,sunday-school children1 whose gift the chimes have been1 are gathering together from all quarters of the town to practise with their teachers the ,christmas carols they are to sing4 ,this is the first service in the beautiful new church4 ,it is to be publicly dedicated to the worship of ,god on the next ,sabbath1 but for weeks the workmen have put forth all their energies to have it ready for a service on ,christmas day4 ,the choir have been practising1 too2 and it is rumored new organist is expected1 although his engagement does not commence till the first of ,january4 ,the sleigh-bells jingle merrily1 for the ground is covered with snow4 ,even now1 an hour before service1 several stalls in the neat row of horse-sheds are occupied4 ,now here comes ,farmer ,rand1 smiling and nodding1 and shouting his ,christmas salutations to young and old1 as he drives his old horse up the ascent1 through the gate close to the nicely shovelled flagged walk to the front4 ,the good farmer has a precious load to-day1 and he is very careful of it4 ,yes1 that is ,lucy1 his old woman1 so wrapped up in shawls and buffalo-robes-- with a hot brick in her great yellow muff1 and another at her feet1 which just now are cased in a pair of her husband's blue socks-- that she finds it almost impossible to alight from the sleigh4 ,for weeks the good woman has been nursing her strength for this great and joyful occasion4 ,for days she and her man have watched the signs of the weather1 have even prayed that1 if it was ,god's will1 it might be so propitious as to make it safe for her to go up to the house of the ,lord and join with ,his people in their anthems of praise to the new-born ,king4 ,fortunately the sexton has recognized the farmer1 and runs quickly to offer his services it helping her to the porch4 ,one and another come forward to greet her and express their pleasure at seeing her here4 ,the children1 even1 gather round her pew and say1-- ,merry ,christmas1 ,miss ,rand6 ,how do you like the new church8 ,yes1 on this natal day of the world's ,redeemer every face looks joyful1 every voice responds heartily to the kind wishes of his neighbor4 ,it is evident that a great wave of love and good-will is flowing through all their hearts as they suddenly pause and listen to the children's joyous tones chanting the strains the angels sang1 ,glory to ,god in the highest4 ,peace on earth1 good-will to men4 ,the service is to commence at eleven4 ,the hand on the new and elegant clock1 a gift from the ,pastor1 points to five minutes before eleven2 the children have finished their practising and gone quietly to their seats at one end of the organ loft4 ,the slips are all full4 ,there is a hush4 ,there comes the pastor and his bride1 not a stranger1 but known and loved by all4 ,pausing for an instant to show her into the pew1 the first one selected in the house1 he passes on up the aisle into the study at the side of the pulpit4 ,ethel1 the only other occupant of the slip1 causes a smile by her obsequious attentions to the bride4 ,she takes a hymn-book from the rack1 and1 though unable to read a word1 opens it and passes it1 gets as near ,marion as possible1 and finally1 with a burst of affection1 seizes her hand4 ,and ,marion1 her beaming face radiant with happiness1 stands up with the congregation1 while the choir sing the famous old fugue1-- ,while shepherds watched their flocks by night1 ,all seated on the ground1 ,the angel of the ,lord came down1 ,and glory shone around4 ,recalling all the goodness of the ,lord to her during the last year1 the answers to her prayers1 the many friends1 who1 one year ago1 were without ,christ1 now with ,him1 the happiness to which she may look forward with the chosen companion of her life1 her heart swells with gratitude to the good ,father who has directed her path in such mercy1 and to the dear ,saviour whose advent they are so joyously celebrating4 ,she thanks ,god1 and takes courage to go on laboring to bring those about her to a saving knowledge of ,his love4 ,her husband1 glancing at her from the pulpit1 sees that her eyes are filled with tears1 and he1 too1 thanks ,god1 as he says to himself1 ,they are happy tears4 ,as long as we are the inhabitants of this earth1 we must expect occasional clouds with our sunshine4 ,disappointments are the lot of mankind1 and certainly neither ,mr4 ,angus nor ,miss ,howard expected to be exempt from them4 ,the plan from the first had been to have the wedding the week before ,christmas1 and a reception or housewarming at ,ingleside the following ,monday4 ,but1 from one cause and another1 the new house was not finished1 and this plan had to be postponed4 ,it was ,marion's preference to defer the wedding till such time as the house was considered fit for occupation4 ,such a pressure was1 however1 brought to bear on her1 that she yielded to the wishes of her friend4 ,he brought so many arguments to prove that the plan he now proposed was even better than the original one1 that the few weeks before entering on the duties of housekeeping would give her just the leisure necessary for the formation of some of their new plans1 etc41 that1 with a hearty laugh1 she replied1-- ,i see that you intend to have your way1 and as ,i believe that ,god intended the husband to be the head of the family1 ,i suppose ,i may as well begin my obedience now4 ,so on the week before ,christmas the wedding shall be4 ,i am very sure if my reader had not seen ,mr4 ,angus since ,i first introduced him he would not recognize him now4 ,then he was bowed down with grief1 not only for himself1 but for one whom he had every reason to suppose was cherishing as toward her brother such anger in her heart as would cut her off from ,divine forgiveness4 ,he was1 or felt himself to be1 alone in the world4 ,he had no right to form a tie which would make another the sharer of such a burden as his4 ,to be sure1 he had brooded over that one scene in his past life until he had become morbid1 and perhaps had not relief come to him he might have become unfit to preach the gospel of glad tidings to his fellow-men4 ,when he walked1 his eyes were cast down to the ground1 while sighs were much more frequent with him than smiles4 ,now how different4 ,he walked erect1 with elastic tread1 his eyes met yours with a frank smile4 ,one could scarcely be with him five minutes without being drawn to him by a certain magnetism4 ,you felt that his heart was at rest1 and more1 you could not fail to be sure that he was grateful for ,god's goodness1 that he was literally obeying the ,divine injunction1 ,rejoice in the ,lord alway1 and again1 ,i say1 rejoice4 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,asbury cordially extended an invitation to the young couple to remain with them till spring4 ,the gentleman even urged the necessity of having his niece close at hand until certain building plans1 etc41 were complete4 ,but this needs explanation4 ,it was not probable that such grateful friends as ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,lambert would allow so grand an occasion as ,miss ,howard's marriage to take place without some act expressive of their deep affection and respect4 ,now that ,mr4 ,lambert had a wife and daughter with whom he could consult1 he spent much time in the discussion of what would be the most acceptable wedding present4 ,once1 hearing the word jewelry from his daughter1 he shouted1-- ,jewelry6 ,would she like diamonds8 ,i'll buy up a case of them4 ,i said ,i was sure she would not care for jewelry4 ,what shall it be1 then8 ,not that anything we can do will ever prove to her our sense of her goodness and faithfulness to us2 but it must be something to show her that ,i value my family1 owe to her my finding them4 ,one day1 before she left the city1 ,marion accepted an urgent invitation to pass a day at the country home of her friends4 ,she also was requested to bring ,esther and ,neddy ,carter with her4 ,during the day1 the young lady1 wholly unsuspicious of the object of the visit1 frankly narrated her own and ,mr4 ,angus's plans for the good of the town4 ,among other things1 she said that there was no library for free circulation1 adding1 ,one of my most-cherished plans is to build a neat and attractive house1 with two large rooms1 one for a library of well-selected books1 the other a reading-room for both secular and religious papers1 and also some of the best magazines4 ,but we can't do everything in one year4 ,mrs4 ,lambert had suggested to her impulsive husband that it would be more delicate not to allude to the subject of a wedding gift1 but here1 he thought1 is just the way to please her4 ,he rushed from the room1 motioning his wife to follow1 and after sundry antics1 such as would have better befitted ,geenie's years1 he drew a blank check1 and with his fingers on his lips1 held it up before his astonished companion4 ,it's for the library1 he said1 putting his lips close to her ear4 ,she nodded approval with a cordial smile1 but pointed to the blank space4 ,let her fill it up4 ,will ten thousand do8 ,it must be nothing mean4 ,suppose we wait a little and try to ascertain the probable cost4 ,no1 ,i can't wait6 ,i want it off my mind4 ,if you don't want to see old ,mr4 ,regy1 with a comical grin1 you'll help me now4 ,she put her hand lovingly on his shoulder1 which never failed to calm his impatience1 and asked softly1 ,why not1 then1 let her fill it up1 as you suggested8 ,so ,i will6 ,he held the check toward her and motioned her to give it4 ,no1 my dear1 generous husband1 that pleasure belongs to you2 ,i can see just how her eyes will sparkle and those pretty dimples begin to play4 ,he flatly refused4 ,no1 he said1 laughing1 if ,i were to attempt it ,i should be old ,regy again in a minute4 ,she sat down at his desk and wrote1-- ,dear ,friend1-- ,we have tried in vain to think of a gift for your approaching marriage which will in any measure suitably express to you our appreciation of your invaluable friendship4 ,your remark just now in regard to a library and reading-room has suggested the idea of giving to you funds sufficient for that worthy object and letting you use them as you think proper4 ,,juliette ,d4 ,,lambert4 ,m4 ,r4 ,,lambert4 ,she gave it to her husband to read and sign1 enclosed the blank check1 and carried it into the next room and gave it to ,miss ,howard4 ,with what astonishment and delight the young lady read it1 the embraces and thanks which followed1 ,i must leave my reader to imagine4 ,in the midst of the excitement which followed1 ,mr4 ,lambert1 who had chosen to remain behind1 raced from one end of the room to the other1 where he was found by ,eugene holding on to his sides and making the most strenuous endeavors to restrain his laughter4 ,in consequence of this generous gift1 a lot of land was purchased1 not far from the public school1 and the town at a public meeting1 called for the purpose1 added to the library lot a large field formerly used for pasturage4 ,this was to be fitted up for all sorts of games and athletic sports4 ,mr4 ,lambert and his family went to ,grantbury1 and insisted that the library building be two stories1 the upper story to be finished off into a hall for concerts1 school exhibitions1 etc4 ,the eccentric old gentleman was very angry when it was proposed to name this ,lambert ,hall1 in token of gratitude to the giver4 ,i've nothing to do with it1 he insisted4 ,put it ,howard ,hall or ,angus ,hall1 if you please4 ,it's nothing to me1 any way4 ,except that your name stands at the bottom of the check for the cost1 replied ,marion1 with an arch glance in his face4 ,things have come to a pretty pass--wedding present--chose that rather than diamonds4 ,he was growling away in the genuine old style1 when ,geenie made them all laugh heartily by calling out1-- ,grandma1 did you bring ,mr4 ,regy's wig8 ,he has come back again4 ,,chapter ,,xv4 ,,our ,,ingleside4 ,,esther ,,cole had received two letters1 or rather notes1 from her husband since the one she wrote him2 but now months had passed without a word in answer to her regular weekly letter4 ,mr4 ,angus was greatly interested in the young wife who was so patiently enduring her trials1 and insisted that she ought to be allowed to follow the dictates of her own conscience in regard to her connection with her husband4 ,day after day ,esther looked for a letter1 but looked in vain4 ,at length1 pitying her too evident disappointment1 ,mr4 ,angus wrote to the chaplain of the prison1 making inquiries in regard to the man4 ,the letter1 about which he had said nothing1 was answered immediately1 and contained a slip cut from an ,auburn paper4 ,joseph ,cole1 with three of the worst prisoners1 had escaped from their confinement early one dark night4 ,they had nearly killed a watchman who ran to give notice1 and had so far escaped justice4 ,the chaplain added that the criminals had been subsequently traced to ,new ,orleans1 where a gang of roughs had been seized for arson and murder4 ,on the trial it was proved that the younger and apparently the most hardened had a number of aliases1 but that his real name was ,joseph ,cole4 ,my poor1 trusting ,esther6 exclaimed ,marion to her husband1 this will end your faith in your husband's reformation4 ,this will settle the question of your return to him4 ,but greatly to her surprise1 and to the surprise of all ,esther's friends1 though she mourned so deeply over ,joseph's sins that her cheeks grew colorless and her eyes looked into yours more wistfully than ever1 she yet held fast to her belief that ,god had power to touch the hardest heart1 and that in answer to her importunate prayers ,he would1 in ,his own good time1 lead him to penitence and a godly life4 ,whether he ever comes back to me or not is of little consequence1 ma'am1 she said1 as ,marion was trying to comfort her4 ,i don't think ,i shall live many years1 but1 oh1 ,i do long for him to know how ,god can comfort people6 ,what would ,i do now1 ma'am1 if ,i were without ,christ1 as ,i once was8 ,if poor ,joe only had ,christ1 he would be happier than he ever was in his life1 even though he is in his cell4 ,the last was said with a piteous sob1 which went to the listener's heart far more than the loudest wails4 ,and here we must leave our humble friend4 ,we know that ,god did fill her heart with such thoughts of ,himself1 of ,his pitying tenderness toward all ,his creatures1 that she was comforted under the bitterest sorrow a ,christian can be called to endure1--the unworthiness of those we love4 ,we leave her to the gracious sympathizing ,saviour4 ,glancing forward a few years1 ,i am sure the reader will be pleased to learn that ,neddy ,carter is fulfilling the promise of his childhood4 ,meeting him in the street1 one would never imagine that he is indebted to artificial supports for his ability to go from place to place1 while his clear1 brown eyes1 looking you so straight in the face1 his open brow1 and abundant1 wavy locks1 interest the most casual observer4 ,if he were asked1 ,who is the happiest youth in this great city8 he would1 without hesitation1 answer1-- ,it would be hard to find a happier boy than ,i am since my mother goes with me regularly to church4 ,he is and will be for years to come a protg of ,mr4 ,lambert1 who has given over a sum of money to proper guardians for the purpose of educating him4 ,the library building is finished1 the shelves are lined with books selected by the pastor1 who is the chairman of the library association1 and a company of ladies and gentlemen appointed for the purpose4 ,the hall above1 forty feet by sixty1 is fitted up with a curtain1 foot-lights1 etc41 but can never be used except with the consent of ,mrs4 ,marion ,howard ,angus4 ,after many discussions1 the name ,howard ,hall is conspicuous over the desk1 but our old friend ,marion is eager to assure every one who points to it that it is a memorial1 not to herself1 but to her father4 ,a very pleasant circumstance in connection with the library is that ,mary ,falkner1 now confirmed in health and activity1 was unanimously chosen librarian1 with a salary large enough to support herself and her mother4 ,one more scene1 and ,i have done4 ,accompany me1 dear reader1 up this smoothly gravelled walk to the elegant mansion at the summit of ,church ,hill4 ,notice as you pass that luxurious vine winding itself so lovingly around the pillars4 ,the slip from which it has grown was brought by ,mr4 ,angus from the old ,ingleside homestead4 ,although it is ,june1 the mornings are cool1 and as we push open a ,french window and step in from the wide1 uncovered piazza1 we see an open fireplace1 with a few embers smouldering away on the high brass and irons4 ,there is an air of refinement and cosey1 homelike comfort about the room that we would like to describe1 but something of still greater interest attracts us4 ,sitting on a low chair near the fire is a young girl1 whom we soon recognize as the little ,ethel we loved so dearly4 ,as we have seen her so many times1 she is still hovering over a cradle1 but this time the occupant is a living1 breathing1 cooing1 jumping1 heart-winning baby4 ,at this moment the little one is sleeping4 ,ethel gazes lovingly at the fair countenance1 the rosy lips moving in pleasant recollection of the sweets it has tasted1 the long1 curly lashes resting on the plump cheek1 and acknowledges to herself that live babies are a great improvement on dolls4 ,now voices are heard in the hall4 ,just as a lady and gentleman enter1 a carryall drives to the door4 ,the gentleman has on his arm sundry wraps1 an afghan1 a tiny cap being daintily held on his outstretched fingers4 ,there is a new expression on his features1 and we can scarcely believe that this tall athlete1 this noble-looking man1 with a smile on his lips1 which looks as though it belonged there1 is the same gentleman whom we first knew as ,harold ,angus4 ,but how shall ,i describe our ,marion8 ,the eyes are as bright1 the dimples still in view1 but the whole face is flooded with a new light4 ,it is the mother love4 ,she takes little ,stella from the cradle1 uttering those soothing sounds which even the youngest babies so well understand1 and dresses her for the ride1 ,ethel1 meanwhile1 looking on in wondering admiration4 ,they are going to the station to meet their dear friends1 ,dr4 and ,mrs4 ,b-1 from the ,home for the ,sick1 and when they have driven around the town1 intend to bring them home for a quiet ,sunday4 ,and this is our ,ingleside4