,transcriber's note3 ,unusual and inconsistent spelling is as printed4 ,illustration3 ,,improvements ,,had ,,been ,,made ,,in ,,the ,,greenhouse ,,as ,,well ,,as ,,the ,,cottage4 ,,profiles ,,by ,,pansy 7,,mrs4 ,g4 ,r4 ,,alden7 ,,and ,,mrs4 ,c4 ,m4 ,,livingston ,illustration ,,boston ,d4 ,,lothrop ,,company ,,copyright1 #ahhh1 ,,by ,d4 ,,lothrop ,,company4 ,,contents4 ------------ ,,clean ,,hands ,pansy--,mrs4 ,g4 ,r4 ,alden ,,chapter ,i4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,circulating ,,decimals ,,chapter ,i4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,fishing ,,for ,,phil ,,chapter ,i4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,our ,,church ,,choir ,,chapter ,i4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,,his ,,friend ,mrs4 ,c4 ,m4 ,livingston ,,chapter ,i4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,my ,,aunt ,,katherine ,,the ,,day ,,before ,,christmas ,,juana',s ,,master ,,ten ,,bushels ,,miss ,,whittaker',s ,,blankets ,,the ,,doctor',s ,,story ,pansy--,mrs4 ,g4 ,r4 ,alden ,,profiles ---------- ,,clean ,,hands4 ------ ,,chapter ,i4 ,,and ,i hope1 ,elsie1 you will be careful1 all the while you are gone1 not to soil your hands4 ,they stood together in the hall1 ,elsie ,burton and her pastor2 he had held out his hand to bid her good-by1 and added these words which brought a puzzled look to her eyes1 and a rich glow of color to her cheeks4 ,what could ,dr4 ,falconer mean8 ,elsie glanced swiftly down at her delicate1 gracefully shaped hands1 and then back to his face2 he was not laughing2 although there was a smile on his face1 it was backed by an earnest gleam in his eyes that meant business4 ,it was not probable that he was trying to rally her a little on the exquisite care which she took of those same hands1 always managing to keep them in a state of dainty cleanliness1 with the shapely nails of just the right length4 ,no1 that was simply absurd6 ,in the first place1 all respectable people took as good care of their hands as circumstances would admit1 of course2 and1 in the second place1 ,dr4 ,falconer was not the man to rally people in regard to personal habits2 he was too intensely in earnest for that1 unless1 indeed1 there was some important end to be gained4 ,could he possibly mean to refer to the fact that she took out her handkerchief1 and carefully rubbed her hand1 last ,sabbath1 after ,teddy ,reilly had held it6 ,but there was certainly excuse for that2 poor little ,teddy's hand was so exceedingly dirty that it left its stain on the fair skin1 and it was unnecessary1 and therefore foolish1 to draw on her delicate kid gloves over the brown marks1 when a few passes of her handkerchief would efface them6 ,she had waited until little ,teddy was fairly out of sight2 she would not have wounded his loving heart1 nor indeed have missed the caressing from his dirty hand1 for a great deal4 ,dr4 ,falconer certainly could not mean that4 ,she decided for frankness1 as ,elsie ,burton was very apt to do4 ,dr4 ,falconer1 ,i don't in the least understand you2 all people are careful of their hands1 not to soil them more than is necessary in getting through this dirty world4 ,the sentence closed with a little laugh1 but the great bright eyes1 fixed questioningly on his face1 showed that ,elsie was honestly in pursuit of light4 ,do you think so8 he said1 and his voice was grave4 ,on the contrary1 ,i think people are almost more careless of their hands than of any other organ which they possess4 ,and hands soil readily1 and are not easy to cleanse4 ,let me bring you a little book ,i have been reading2 the marked passages in it will show you what ,i mean1 and how ,i came to suggest my caution to you4 ,i must not detain you longer1 or you may miss your train4 ,i have to call at the depot this morning1 and ,i will give you the book there4 ,i hope you will have a happy visit1 and be the means of doing an incalculable amount of good4 ,oh6 ,i shall not have much opportunity for doing either good or evil1 ,dr4 ,falconer2 ,i am not going to be gone long enough4 ,you know ,i have but a week's vacation4 ,and you think a week not long enough to accomplish much6 ,i see ,i shall have to mark another passage in my little book4 ,be sure to read the marked portion4 ,and then he was gone1 and ,elsie ,burton went hurriedly about the final preparations for her journey4 ,clean hands6 she repeated with a curious smile1 as1 having given the final touches to her brown hair1 she applied the sweet-smelling soap lavishly1 making a fine white foam in which to lave them4 ,i wonder what ,dr4 ,falconer is aiming at6 ,if he had told me to guard my tongue1 ,i should have understood him without difficulty2 but if there is anything about me that gets taken care of1 ,i'm sure it is my hands4 ,whereupon she gave them an extra dash of fresh water4 ,fairly seated in the ,east-bound express1 shawl-strap and hand-satchel tucked away behind their proper lattice1 herself by no means tucked into the corner1 but spread out as luxuriously as a young lady of eighteen or so knows how to arrange1 ,elsie ,burton had leisure to draw a long breath of satisfaction and look about her4 ,the last few days had been so full of the bustle of preparation1 combined with the closing hours of school1 that she had had little leisure for anything4 ,now for the long-promised holiday week at ,uncle ,leonard's4 ,elsie ,burton had few fittings from the home nest to remember4 ,indeed ,i may say that she was one of those fortunate young ladies who had never1 until that time1 been on the cars without either mother or father4 ,a sweet1 sheltered1 happy life she had led1 and a sweet1 bright girl was she4 ,occasionally a little restless flutter had shown the mother-bird that her nestling longed to try her wings alone2 hence this visit1 promised and planned4 ,and ,elsie1 curled comfortably in her seat1 with the seat before her turned to receive her lunch basket and any stray apples or papers that she might purchase1 felt that she was a little school girl no longer1 but in the last half-hour had blossomed into a young lady4 ,take care of yourself1 daughter1 had been her father's last tenderly spoken message1 a little anxious look about the eyes telling her that this business of trying one's wings was not so pleasant for the old birds as for those who wire experimenting2 ,dr4 ,falconer had added1 with a meaning smile1 ,and remember the hands4 ,this latter message lingered with her4 ,she meant to take care of herself1 to be so wise and prudent that both father and mother would be delighted with her4 ,and of course she meant to take care of her hands6 ,but the hint half-vexed her2 she did not understand it1 and felt for the little book which she had dropped into her pocket but a few minutes before4 ,what a tiny book it was6 ,paper-covered too1 but daintily illuminated2 looking1 indeed1 as though it had been gotten up for choice moments4 ,i wonder1 said our young lady to herself1 if this bit of a volume can be a dissertation on the care of hands8 ,she laughed a little as she said it1 and stopped to fasten the fourth button of her dark1 neat1 exquisitely-fitting kid gloves2 her hands certainly looked well in them4 ,she could not endure ill-shaped gloves1 and as for wearing ripped ones1 she never did it2 nor1 truth to tell1 did she like to wear mended ones4 ,it would have been a pleasure to her1 on the discovery of the first rip1 to have consigned the offending gloves to the waste bag1 but this was by no means the teaching of her mother2 so the shapely hands were sometimes marred--in the estimation of their owner--by mended gloves1 albeit the mending was very neat4 ,dr4 ,falconer could hardly have meant that4 ,now she began to look for the marked passages4 ,marked passages8 ,why1 the little book was full of them6 ,could her pastor have expected her to spend the hours of her first journey alone in reading them all8 ,ah1 no2 here was one1 marked in different colored ink1 and on the upper margin of the page was her own name1 ,elsie4 ,this1 then1 was the portion meant for her4 7,not a lengthy passage2 she could accomplish so much with a fair hope of remembering it47 ,and she read1 ,it may seem an odd idea1 but a simple glance at one's hand1 with the recollection1 this hand is not mine2 it has been given to ,jesus1 and it must be kept for ,jesus1' may sometimes turn the scale in a doubtful matter1 and be a safeguard from certain temptations4 ,with that thought fresh in your mind1 as you look at your hand1 can you let it take up things1 which1 to say the least1 are not 'for ,jesus'8 ,things which evidently cannot be used1 as they most certainly are not used1 either for ,him or by ,him4 ,can you deliberately hold in it books of a kind which you know perfectly well1 by sadly-repeated experience1 lead you farther from1 instead of nearer to ,him8 4 4 4 ,books which you would not care to read at all1 if your heart were burning within you at the coming of ,his feet8 ,next time any temptation of this sort approaches you just look at your hand4 ,elsie ,burton paused in her reading and looked down at her hand1 a singular expression on her face4 ,given to ,christ6 ,certainly it was true of her2 she had given herself to ,him and promised to be ,his disciple2 yet never until this moment had occurred to her that even her hands actually belonged to this ,master4 ,what a strange idea6 ,how singular it would be for one to stop and think whether her hands were doing what ,he would have them8 ,yet1 why not8 ,if they really were given to ,him1 what more reasonable than that they should be kept for ,his service8 ,would that make any difference with the work of her hands1 she wondered1 supposing she had thought of them in this light before8 ,such dainty care as she had taken of them6 ,had she possibly soiled them in ,his sight8 ,there were other marked bits in this strange little book1 her name attached2 she read on3 ,danger and temptation to let the hands move at other impulses is every bit as great to those who have nothing else to do but to render service3 and who think they are doing nothing else4 ,take one practical instance--our letter writing4 ,have we not been tempted 7and fallen before the temptation71 according to our various dispositions1 to let the hand that holds the pen move at the impulse to write an unkind thought of another2 or to say a clever and sarcastic thing1 which will make our point more telling2 or to let out a grumble or a suspicion2 or to let the pen run away with us into flippant words8 ,the rich color on ,elsie's cheek was deepening every moment4 ,this was certainly narrow ground4 ,she felt herself jostled against4 ,clever and sarcastic things were so natural to her pen that they almost seemed to write themselves4 ,what a ridiculous report she had given of ,ned ,holden's failure in geometry4 ,how skillfully she had turned into ridicule his mortified attempts to recover himself4 ,she had imagined her cousins1 ,carrie and ,ben1 laughing immoderately over the whole thing4 ,well1 what harm8 ,her account of it would never reach poor ,ned's ears3 she would not have given it for anything had there been the least fear1 but--what good did it accomplish8 ,had she written it with a purpose8 ,yes1 she had2 her purpose had been to give a few minutes' fun to her cousins4 ,anything wrong about that8 ,yet the truthful girl admitted to herself almost immediately that it was fun at the expense of certain fine feelings which she had jarred4 ,was she inclined to be so sympathetic with failures as she would be if it were not such fun to write them up8 ,what a caricature she had made of ,ned as he stood there on the platform1 his face aglow1 the eyes of a hundred girls leveled at him6 ,she laughed again as she remembered how funny her picture was2 but then she sighed4 ,soiled hands4 ,was it possible that she had soiled hers that day8 ,did ,dr4 ,falconer mean such things8 ,did he know about the letter and the caricature8 ,she felt her face grow hot over the possibility2 she would not have him know it for anything6 ,here again was a revelation4 ,why not8 ,and if not ,dr4 ,falconer1 surely not the ,lord ,jesus6 ,yet ,he knew4 ,there really was not much comfort in thinking about it4 ,but ,elsie decided that these things must be thought about and decided another time4 ,if it really was wrong to repeat in a ludicrous way the ludicrous things that the boys1 and sometimes the girls1 and sometimes the professors were doing1 why1 then she must give it up2 but it was great fun4 ,another marked sentence--her name again3 ,perhaps one hardly needs to say that kept hands will be very gentle hands4 ,quick1 angry motions of the heart will sometimes force themselves into expression by the hand1 though the tongue may be restrained4 ,the very way in which we close a door1 or lay down a book1 may be a victory or a defeat4 ,at this point ,elsie closed the little book and laid it down with no gentle hand4 ,she was vexed with it4 ,what nonsense was this6 ,the idea that when one banged the door a little with nobody around to see1 and not meaning anything in particular1 only a general vexation1 one had dishonored ,christ6 ,that was straining a point6 ,just as if people could keep from doing those little things6 ,and just as though they did any hurt6 ,the little book was fanatical2 she didn't like it at all4 ,what sent her back1 just then1 to her little class in ,sabbath-school8 seven or eight of the babies under her care4 ,what verse was that which she had taught them only last ,sabbath8 ,who shall ascend into the hill of the ,lord1 and who shall stand in ,his holy place8 ,that was the question she had asked4 ,how had she taught them to answer8 ,she seemed to see the sixteen little hands raised1 while eight little voices repeated3 ,he that hath clean hands and a pure heart4 ,whose fanaticism was this8 ,what had she herself taught those little ones that clean hands meant8 ,had she really meant that they1 those babes in ,christ1 must carefully watch their small hands1 lest they slam the door in anger or throw the book1 and that she1 ,elsie ,burton1 eighteen years old and for four years a ,christian1 could do any of these trifles without soiling hers8 ,it was illogical1 certainly4 ,yet1 can ,i make you understand1 ,i wonder1 what a ferment all these little things set ,miss ,elsie into8 ,they seemed so new to her2 so unexpected4 ,she was a bright young ,christian2 she desired in general1 to honor her ,master4 ,yet1 like many another1 she had selected great ways in which to honor ,him1 and1 occasionally1 at least1 looked about for something large to do in ,his service1 forgetting1 or ignoring1 many small daily opportunities4 ,she liked her own way royally well1 did this young lady2 and when on occasion older wills in authority crossed hers1 she submitted indeed2 it would be unladylike to do otherwise1 and ,elsie ,burton did not like to be unladylike2 but she frowned and banged the door2 yes1 she did1 a little1 a very little1 occasionally1 and threw her books on the table with determination1 and wrote sarcastic letters to her special friend1 and grumbled occasionally to mamma4 ,all these things she had rather looked upon as her perquisites2 little personal rewards for submitting4 ,in what a different way did the tiny book talk about them all6 ,she sat very still and thought it over4 ,it reaches too far1 she told herself1 catching her breath4 ,it would make perfectly awful work of living6 ,just think6 ,one couldn't--oh dear6 one couldn't do anything1 without looking at it to see if it were just exactly the right thing to do4 ,according to that doctrine1 ,i don't belong to myself at all4 ,such fanaticism6 ,ye are not your own2 ye are bought with a price2 therefore glorify ,god in your bodies and your spirits1 which are ,his4 ,who whispered that verse to her8 ,it was not in the offending little book4 ,whose fanaticism was this8 ,meantime the car had been filling up4 ,her luxurious turned seat had been unceremoniously returned1 while she was too busy with her book even to frown4 ,there come next a man with a child in his arms1 and leading one by the hand2 a commonly-dressed1 jaded man2 he looked about him right and left for a seat2 vain hope2 ,elsie's was the only unoccupied one in the car4 ,may ,i sit here8 he asked meekly and prepared to seat himself1 taking the other child on his knee1 her small hand which was not of the cleanest coming in dangerous contact with ,elsie's faultless bronze travelling suit4 ,she saw it and twitched the skirt of her dress1 not gently1 away from the disagreeable member1 muttering low as she did so1 that the seat was not intended for four persons4 ,perhaps one hardly need to say that the kept hands will be very gentle hands4 ,she did not repeat the words1 but they repeated themselves to her1 in a way that startled4 ,once more she looked down at her hands4 ,was ,he actually dishonored by that quick1 irritable movement8 ,the face of the man beside her looked troubled2 he had seen the movement and had reached forth and clasped the offending little hand in his own rough one4 ,he looked very careworn1 and the smaller of the children1 who was but a baby1 began to utter wailing cries which he vainly tried to hush4 ,hopeless little cries they were2 they went1 someway1 to ,elsie's heart4 ,she was sorry her hand had been so un-,christ-like in its movement4 ,how could she atone for it8 ,she reached forth for her lunch basket1 and drawing therefrom a rosy-cheeked apple presented it to the little girl4 ,the small soiled hand grasped after it eagerly1 and the father smiled and leaned forward to admonish the child to thank the giver4 ,they both look very tired1 ,elsie said1 gently2 travelling is hard for children4 ,the man drew a heavy sigh4 ,it is hard for them1 he said4 ,they miss their mother2 they don't know what to make of it1 and ,i don't know how to do for them as she would4 ,i buried her last ,tuesday4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,a ,,dismayed exclamation from ,elsie2 then she added1 ,poor little things6 in a tone that conveyed much to the sad father's heart4 ,you may well say that1 he said1 getting out his handkerchief hastily1 to wipe the great tears that would gather in his eyes4 ,two babies1 you may say1 with no one but a blundering father to do for them6 ,i'm bound to do the very best ,i can1 but what's a man worth when it comes to such work as that6 ,and them crying for their mother every little while6 ,this one1 touching the head of the older child with gentle hand1 couldn't get herself to go to sleep1 no how1 last night4 ,i patted her1 and coaxed her for an hour2 but she said she 'wanted mamma too bad for anything4' ,there were tears in ,elsie's eyes now1 and she reached for the soiled little hand and gathered it tenderly into her gloved one4 ,for the rest of that journey the motherless child had a friend4 ,the baby slept on his father's shoulder2 and ,elsie devoted herself to making the five-year-old happy4 ,among other womanly offices1 she took the child forward to the water-cooler1 and by dint of patient use of handkerchief and some of her own sweet-scented soap1 she made the small hands rosy with cleanliness4 ,this was so that she could have a delicately tinted card from the lady's pocket4 ,an illuminated card1 with an outline picture of two hands clasped2 the one a small1 childish hand1 the other large and firm1 suggestive of strength and protection4 ,there were words underneath1 and the child demanded that they be read4 ,it was one of ,elsie's class cards1 and the verse3 ,who shall ascend into the ,hill of the ,lord1 and who shall stand in ,his holy place8 ,he that hath clean hands and a pure heart4 ,it means1 who shall go to live with ,jesus in heaven8 explained ,elsie4 ,the little girl looked gravely down at her small pink hands4 ,my hands are clean1 she said1 reflectively4 ,i guess ,i can go1 mamma went4 ,it was ,jesus who took her4 ,elsie's eyes dimmed again as she answered the child gently1 ,yes1 and ,he wants you2 wants you to keep your hands clean1 so you can go4 ,not simply clean with water1 you know1 but clean from every wrong and naughty thing4 ,the grave-eyed child considered4 ,i slap ,johnnie1 sometimes1 she said1 sadly1 when he's cross4 ,oh6 ,and that soils your hands with the kind of soil that water will not wash away4 ,look at the picture2 that little hand is clasped in a strong one2 the picture is to make you think of ,jesus' hand2 ,he holds it out for you to put yours in it1 so ,he can keep it safe from getting soiled4 ,how8 said the child1 looking puzzled4 ,where is ,he8 ,why doesn't ,he hold ,his hand out to me8 ,he does1 darling2 you cannot see it1 nor feel it1 because ,he has not given you the kind of eyes yet with which to see ,him2 but if you give your hand to ,him1 and then ask ,him every day to keep it from doing wrong things1 and make it clean1 ,he will2 and by and by ,he will take you up to ,heaven1 where mamma is1 and where you can see ,him1 and feel the touch of ,his hand4 ,such sweet1 serious eyes as that child had6 ,she looked down at her small unmothered hand1 in such a grave1 considering way1 as seemed almost too much for ,elsie to bear2 and at last she said1 ,i will do it2 ,i mean to go to mamma4 ,and the shadow of a smile was on her face--a serious little face1 old beyond its years4 ,elsie did not wonder that the father wiped great tears away2 but he grasped her hand heartily and said1 ,god bless you1 ma'am1 for showing the little girl how to smile4 ,she hasn't smiled since-- and the sentence was left unfinished4 ,there was no time for further words4 ,the car bell was ringing1 and the dinner gong of the eating house was clattering1 and the car was in a bustle of preparation to depart4 ,elsie gathered her wraps and packages1 secured the little book which had told her strange truths1 made tender by the practical commentary on them drawn from her new acquaintances1 then shook hands with the little girl1 bending to kiss her and whisper1 ,remember4 ,i will1 the child said4 ,and ,i will1 murmured ,elsie4 ,i must surely take the counsel which ,i have given her2 else how could ,i bear to meet the child when we both see ,him face to face8 ,hurrah6 here you are4 ,i was afraid you did not come1 after all4 ,i left ,carrie consumed with anxiety lest you had missed the train1 or something4 ,it was ,cousin ,ben1 face and voice full1 of eager welcome4 ,he seized upon ,elsie's belongings as he spoke1 managing shawl-strap and bag and bundles with the air of one long used to business2 called for checks1 and gave rapid1 business-like orders to a porter in waiting1 talking to ,elsie incessantly all the time--at least1 so it seemed to her4 ,now1 shall we take a carriage or a sleigh8 ,we have both at your service1 you see2 and the wheeling is so abominable that there is but one thing worse1 which is the sleighing4 ,the fact is1 we have neither wheeling nor sleighing just now4 ,whichever way you take1 you will be sure to wish you had chosen the other4 ,why can't we walk8 ,elsie asked1 laughing at his description and his volubility4 ,walk6 ,a young lady1 just arrived from a fatiguing journey of three hours' duration1 walking up from the depot6 ,i'm afraid ,carrie will faint4 ,still1 in all sincerity1 it is much the better way1 if one only thinks so4 ,do you honestly vote for it8 ,sensible young lady--the first one ,i have met this winter4 ,halloo1 porter6 ,that scamp has gone already1 ,i declare6 ,he will be back here1 ready to earn another fifty cents1 before we get started4 ,i wanted to palm off some of these dry goods on him4 ,o1 no1 not at all1 as ,elsie tried to offer her assistance2 they are not heavy1 only slippery4 ,this wretched little box is such a nuisance4 ,i found it at the express office1 and ,i wish ,i had left it there4 ,ah1 well1 now1 if you insist1 you may carry the box4 ,it is small1 you see1 but slippery2 seems to have an affinity for the pavement4 ,i've landed it there once1 already4 ,the small1 compact box1 neatly wrapped in paper1 was transferred from ,ben's crowded arms to ,elsie's empty ones4 ,then the walk commenced4 ,a bright sunny day1 the air just keen enough to be exhilarating1 and the business street down which their road lay was aglow with holiday trappings4 ,a walk was certainly not an unattractive thing4 ,yet there was a cloud on ,elsie's face2 and if her gay cousin had been watching her1 he would have discovered that she bestowed suspicious glances on the innocent-looking box which she carried4 ,it was not its weight that disturbed her2 that was a mere trifle4 ,what then8 ,she watched her opportunity1 when ,ben was busy re-arranging his load1 and unceremoniously applied her nose to the box4 ,faugh6 ,it was as she suspected4 ,here was she1 ,elsie ,burton1 who hated the sight and smell and very name of the vile weed tobacco1 actually carrying a box of cigars through the street6 ,she could have dropped them into the muddy carriage drive1 across which they were just picking their way1 with a good grace4 ,i wonder if ,ben smokes6 ,this was her indignant mental query4 ,i declare1 if that boy has gone and spoiled himself in such a hateful way1 ,i shall drop him4 ,there were certain phases of moral courage in which ,elsie was by no means lacking4 ,she was entirely willing to express then and there1 to her handsome young cousin1 her utter and intense abhorrence of everything pertaining to tobacco2 and the probabilities are strong that her very manner of doing so would have outwitted any good which she desired to accomplish2 that is1 if she really wished to accomplish anything beyond expressing her indignation4 ,something quieted her just then4 ,the memory of certain words3 ,can you let it take up things which1 to say the very least1 are not 'for ,jesus'8 ,suppose people really did govern their lives by such rules as that8 ,suppose ,ben did4 ,would he be carrying home cigars to smoke8 ,what a thing it was that he had been the one to lead her unwittingly into this first soiling of her hands6 ,almost before she realized that she was doing so1 she spoke her thoughts aloud3 ,oh1 ,ben6 ,you have made me soil my hands4 ,her cousin turned to her quickly1 his face expressive of concern4 ,i beg ten thousand pardons6 ,was ,i such a stupid dolt as to give you a soiled paper to carry8 ,what is it8 ,are your gloves ruined8 ,but he looked in vain for soil2 the delicate bronze gloves were as delicate as before she touched the box1 and the neat manilla wrapping was guiltless of a stain4 ,elsie laughed a little4 ,i was thinking aloud1 she said4 ,i did not mean my gloves1 but my hands4 ,ben1 ,i don't like the soil of cigars4 ,are they so very offensive to you8 ,this with a puzzled air4 ,it isn't possible that you get their odor at this distance6 ,o1 ,ben6 ,you know you are not stupid4 ,why do you pretend that you don't understand me to mean moral soil8 ,upon my word1 ,i never thought of such a thing6 ,and ,ben stared at his cousin in genuine astonishment4 ,isn't that straining a point1 my wise little cousin8 ,is it8 ,suppose ,i believe that my hands should do nothing to help along anything that is wrong in the world1 could ,i1 in that case1 handle cigars much8 ,that depends4 ,are cigars wicked8 ,elsie flashed a pair of keen eyes on him4 ,are cigars good8 ,he laughed good-naturedly4 ,why1 no2 ,i haven't been in the habit of attaching any moral character to them whatever4 ,very well2 then why do you pretend that ,i am talking about their moral character8 ,the question is1 do ,i believe that it is wrong to spend money for cigars1 and to spoil one's breath1 and poison the air that belongs to other people with their vile odors8 ,in that case1 ,i must be consistent with my belief1 and not let my hands help along that which ,i consider mischievous4 ,pitch them into the gutter if you want to1 he said1 good-humoredly4 ,you see they are not mine2 ,i promised to bring them up for ,hal2 so ,i can afford to be generous4 ,does ,hal smoke8 ,like a furnace4 ,i won't tell him1 though1 that you helped the matter along4 ,i'll appear to have carried the offending box every step of the way myself4 ,but ,elsie did not smile4 ,if ,i were ,emmeline1 she began1 then stopped4 ,what then8 ,supposing ,i can stretch my credulity enough to imagine anything so preposterous4 ,never mind2 perhaps ,i ought not to say it4 ,but it will do no harm for me to guess it4 ,in the light of your last sharp remarks1 ,i fancy you were going to say3 ,if ,i were ,emmeline ,i would not marry a cigar smoker4' ,it is true1 ,elsie said1 laughing a little1 ,i wouldn't4 ,really8 ,are you serious about this thing8 ,do you honestly think there is anything so very wicked about smoking a cigar now and then8 ,what a way to put it6 ,as if a thing must be 'so very wrong' in order to be--not right4 ,as to the 'now and then'--,oh1 if you needed a lecture1 ,ben1 ,i think ,i could give it2 ,i've thought a great deal about the matter2 but just now ,i was looking at it from such a simple platform that it doesn't need argument4 ,hal1 you know1 is a ,christian1 and he professes to govern all his life by one rule1 as a servant who belongs body and purse to ,christ4 ,how very easy it would be for him to decide whether he ought to spend his money on cigars6 ,ben1 ,i regret to say1 was guilty of the ungentlemanly act of whistling4 ,a low whistle1 instantly suppressed1 but it expressed his views4 ,how many ,christians do you suppose govern themselves by any such rules8 ,the question has nothing whatever to do with the argument1 ,elsie said2 but ,i'll answer it4 ,very few1 ,i think4 ,does that annihilate the rule8 ,how fortunate it is for me that we are just at the door1 ,ben answered1 gayly4 ,give me the box of cigars1 quick2 and don't convert ,emmeline to your way of thinking1 or we shall have no wedding to attend4 ,i do not know whether1 had ,elsie known all the temptations and embarrassments to beset her on that very next day1 she would have been able to make so emphatic a resolution as the one with which she left the car4 ,a shopping excursion was in order for the morning4 ,cousin ,carrie had a dozen trifles which must be bought that day1 and it suited ,ben to attend them gallantly all the morning4 ,now shopping was not a trial to ,elsie2 it had all the charm of novelty for her1 for hitherto her busy young life had known comparatively little of it4 ,on this particular morning the circumstances were particularly agreeable4 ,she had no grave responsibilities1 but was merely an interested looker-on1 ready to give bits of advice as occasion offered2 while nestled away in her pretty porte-monnaie were two shining gold pieces which her father had given her that morning to spend as she pleased4 ,oh1 the charming things that a girl of eighteen may please to buy6 ,cousin ,carrie was a helpful companion in that direction4 ,she had wide-open eyes1 and dealt in superlatives3 ,oh1 ,elsie6 ,do look at this lovely shade in kids4 ,aren't they perfectly exquisite8 ,just your number1 too1 and1 match your new hat exactly4 ,really1 ,elsie1 you ought to have a pair of those4 ,i never saw a more perfect match4 ,elsie looked interested but doubtful4 ,i have just bought new gloves1 she said1 and they match nicely1 ,i think4 ,oh1 they do2 they are charming4 ,but these are that lovely1 peculiar shade which one so rarely finds in kid--just the tint of your long plume4 ,oh1 ,i do think they are too lovely for anything6 ,they are expensive4 ,oh1 ,i don't think so4 ,only two and a quarter4 ,you can't get really good kid for less than that1 and poor gloves are not worth buying4 ,besides1 they have the ,foster fastenings4 ,now ,i really dote on ,foster fastenings4 ,elsie was being persuaded4 ,they did look as though they would fit her shapely hand so well1 and they really were a remarkable match4 ,what if she had just bought a pair8 ,gloves would keep and would be always needed4 ,mamma approved of good gloves1 and papa had told her to spend the gold pieces just as she pleased4 ,well1 she said1 a slight hesitation still in her voice1 ,i think ,i'll-- and she glanced down at her hands4 ,next time any temptation of this sort approaches you1 just look at your hand4 ,it was to ,elsie as though the words were written on the back of her glove1 so distinctly did she seem to see them4 ,a temptation of what sort8 ,was this box of gloves in the list8 ,can you let it take up things1 which1 to say the least1 are not for ,jesus8 ,were the gloves for ,him8 ,the question startled her1 seemed a little irreverent1 yet she was a clear-brained girl and knew what the query meant4 ,was she buying them because she felt that she needed them to complete a neat and tasteful toilet8 ,if--it was a sufficiently startling thought to make the color run into her cheeks1 yet she thought it--if the ,lord ,jesus ,christ stood there in the flesh1 occupying the space at her side now filled by ,cousin ,ben1 would she spend two dollars and a quarter for an unneeded pair of gloves8 ,should the hand belonging to ,him do aught that ,his glance would not approve8 ,she was ready to finish her sentence4 ,i think ,i will not take them1 ,carrie4 ,i have gloves enough for the present1 and the styles may change1 before ,i need them4 ,what nonsense6 ,these are in the very latest shade4 ,i never saw any quite like them before4 ,i wish they would match anything of mine and would buy them in a moment1 although ,auntie gave me a full box of gloves at ,christmas4 ,how many pairs have you1 ,elsie8 ,this question amused ,ben wonderfully4 ,an official report1 if you please1 he said1 his eyes twinkling with laughter4 ,how many handkerchiefs have you1 and how many ribbons and how many ruffles8 ,do you young ladies keep an inventory for each other's special benefit8 ,elsie laughed1 but ,carrie turned from her coldly4 ,she set her heart on managing the glove matter1 and it was ignominious to fail4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,this is but a faint specimen of the ways in which temptation assailed the fair hands in whose stewardship two gold pieces had been placed4 ,it seemed to ,elsie a curious coincidence that the first temptation should have to do with a covering for those hands4 ,but for that she might not have gotten through so well4 ,it was wonderful1 the number of articles that ,carrie found which she was sure her ,cousin ,elsie needed and ought to purchase2 delicate laces of a peculiarly rare and choice pattern that might not be found again2 soft1 fluffy ruches particularly becoming to ,elsie's face2 fine handkerchiefs1 delicately embroidered1 sold at a bargain2 a peculiar perfume1 the like of which had never been smelled before2 even scented soaps joined hands with ,elsie's companions that day and tried to beguile her2 yet she stood firm4 ,it was a curious experience4 ,could she have divested herself of personal feeling1 and looked on as an outsider1 she would have enjoyed the study4 ,there was absolutely nothing presented which stood the test4 ,his hands1 they must make no purchase save such as would please their ,master4 ,i cannot think what is the matter with you6 ,carrie said1 watching her cousin curiously4 ,you used to be ready enough to buy pretty things4 ,i've seen at least a hundred and fifty articles this morning that ,i should have bought if ,i had as much spending money as you have4 ,papa keeps me dreadfully close these days2 everything has to be saved for ,emmeline4 ,i tell papa just to wait until ,i get engaged1 and ,i'll be revenged4 ,it can't be that you are saving up for that1 ,elsie2 you are not out of school yet4 ,through it all ,ben watched with amused face1 not helping his cousin in the least2 on the contrary1 he made several wise suggestions as to the utility of some of the temptations4 ,it is worse than cigars1 isn't it8 he queried at last1 his wicked eyes dancing mischievously4 ,elsie felt that he was amusing himself at her expense--turning her scruples into ridicule4 ,would it not be better to lay aside her new ideas1 and change the current of his thoughts by disposing of the spending money that seemed to be the cause of so much trouble8 ,wasn't it a sort of casting pearls before-- and here she paused2 partly because she did not like to apply the simile1 and partly because her brain was too keen to admit of such reasoning4 ,if ,ben chose to be led into sin through her conscientious effort to do right1 he must bear the blame of it4 ,but she was to be tried in a way that was harder to bear4 ,carrie1 positively vexed because she could not persuade her cousin into buying1 at the jewel counter1 a lovely little charm for her chain1 turned from her and spoke to ,ben in a very poor undertone3 ,i don't understand ,elsie4 ,i'm afraid she is growing penurious1 and that is really a more hateful fault in a girl than in a boy4 ,she used to be so free and generous with her money4 ,perhaps ,uncle ,wells keeps her close1 was ,ben's hateful suggestion4 ,he is well off1 to be sure1 but he may not be growing liberal as he grows older4 ,dear6 ,you should have seen the flush on ,elsie's face then6 ,the idea of that upstart of a boy daring to speak so about her dear father6 ,he was not rich either1 and everybody knew he denied himself to have the more to give to others4 ,for a moment ,elsie wondered whether she did not hate her ,cousin ,ben--just a little6 ,also1 she felt just like dashing out in some wild expenditure that would show her cousins how indifferent she could be to money when she chose4 ,what should she buy8 ,there was plenty of opportunity4 ,just next door in the plate-glass window stood temptations enough4 ,grapes1 out of season1 large2 white1 luscious4 ,they were marked fifty cents6 ,suppose she should buy a bunch for herself1 and one each for ,carrie and ,ben1 and two or three bunches to take home to ,aunt ,carrie8 ,beside them was a silver-papered box of choice bonbons1 marked one dollar2 she might add that and a bouquet of rare flowers4 ,would not these expenditures show that she knew how to use money and had it to use8 ,her hand was on the door-knob4 ,she was burning with the desire to slip in next door and make her purchases while ,carrie studied over shades of ribbons4 ,suddenly she withdrew the hand quickly1 as though it had come in contact with something that repelled it4 ,clean hands6 ,to what base uses was she about to put hers6 ,why did she want to buy the fancy bonbons and the fruits and flowers out of season8 ,as a tribute of love8 ,her honest heart told her that it was rather a tribute of anger6 ,did her father's reputation rest on such slight ground that it could be injured by the ignorant chatter of a silly boy1 or be built up by a daughter's ill-humored extravagance8 ,very much astonished with1 and ashamed of1 herself1 ,elsie turned away1 and stood quite still for a moment1 eyes and head drooping4 ,after that1 she was better prepared for the rest of the hour1 even though the cousins chose next a way of being cousinly that was almost unendurable4 ,ben actually bought some of the great white grapes1 and forced a few on her1 though she felt as though it would take but one to choke her4 ,the truth is1 fair ,elsie1 during that and several following days1 took lessons in the fact that ,satan makes sharp battle for every power of our being2 and that the cross is still waiting to be borne2 the only reason that we feel its weight so little being the fact that we have fallen into the habit of slipping quietly around it1 instead of boldly taking it up4 ,the curtains were drawn and the gas was lighted in the cosy back parlor4 ,without the rain was steadily falling1 and there was a rush of wind every few minutes against the casement1 which sharpened the contrast between the dreary outside and the brightness of the home scene within4 ,over the family there had come the sort of lull which follows special days of eager life and keen excitement4 ,there had been the whirl of preparation for1 and then the excitement of participation in1 wedding festivities1 and then the bustle of departure4 ,emmeline and ,hal were made one1 and had gone away together1 ,elsie taking note1 with much inward disgust1 that the groom actually smoked a cigar at the depot1 while waiting for the belated train4 ,now those who tarried behind had reached a stormy ,saturday evening1 with nothing to do but lounge amid the easy chairs and rest and visit4 ,somewhat to their astonishment1 they found this dull work4 ,the reaction from so much excitement was upon them1 and many a yawn was hastily covered so that the others might not suspect4 ,somebody read something1 proclaimed ,ben at last4 ,we are all too indolent to talk--let some fellow who knows how talk for us4 ,who will volunteer8 ,elsie must read1 said ,carrie4 ,papa says she is the best reader in the set4 ,i've been sulky over that remark ever since he made it1 so of course ,i will not4 ,some gay talk followed this statement1 but at last they settled down to listen4 ,elsie1 by no means unwilling to be appointed reader1 for1 like most persons who are accustomed to reading aloud and who like to do it1 she hated to listen4 ,the book selected was a recent publication by a popular author4 ,it opened well1 and in a very few minutes the listless company was giving absorbed attention4 ,a half-hour passed1 and then a dismayed1 ,oh6 ,dear6 ,who is coming to disturb us6 from ,carrie1 mingled with the sound of talking in the hall4 ,a moment more1 and the relieved exclamation1 ,it's only ,freem6 greeted a newcomer4 ,freem1 or ,mr4 ,freeman ,vance1 was a gentleman who was much at home with the young people of the house1 and1 during her visit ,elsie had met him several times4 ,he was older than the cousins1 having passed beyond the age in which he was spoken of as one of the boys4 ,carrie called him a full-fledged young man1 but admitted that he was nicer than most of them4 ,he dropped readily into an easy chair1 drawn up near the grate1 murmured that this was delightful1 and that it was a wretched night outside1 then begged that the reading might go on2 there was nothing that he enjoyed better than listening to a good reader4 ,there was a heightened color on ,elsie's cheeks1 but it was not brought there by the implied compliment4 ,she knew that she was a fairly good reader4 ,to-night1 however1 she was giving only partial attention to the book4 ,with by far the keener portion of her brain she was carrying on an argument somewhat after this fashion3 ,i don't know about this book4 ,there are some queer expressions in it2 ,i doubt whether papa would approve4 ,i wonder if that sentence is really intended as a covert sneer at religion8 ,i don't believe ,i like to hear the ,bible quoted in just this manner4 ,mamma wouldn't call that girl prudish2 she would think she showed a proper degree of self-respect4 ,you are to understand that these mental comments did not all rush forward at one time and demand attention1 but presented themselves at intervals during the reading4 ,yet the doubt in ,elsie's mind about the book grew so rapidly that1 just as ,freeman ,vance was announced1 she had almost resolved to declare boldly her objections and decline to read4 ,but his coming had made this a doubly difficult thing to do4 ,poor ,elsie felt instinctively that she stood alone2 she was breathing an atmosphere so unlike the one in which she had been reared that it would be almost impossible to make her audience understand her scruples4 ,she shrank from trying4 ,what mattered a few pages of a book8 she told her conscience4 ,she need not admire the book2 certainly there was no danger that she should4 ,once through with this disagreeable evening1 and she need never look into it again4 ,so the reading continued4 ,and the mental arguments continued1 also1 for to the reader's wide-open eyes the sentiments expressed did not grow less objectionable4 ,it was not that they were pronounced in their form2 there was neither downright mockery of things sacred nor downright ridicule of things pure4 ,it was simply like many a book which is being read in parlors2 full of delicately-served1 sugar-coated poisons4 ,and it was commended1 too1 in a general way1 by some of the very newspapers that might have been expected to stand guard over its intrusion into ,christian homes4 ,it was charmingly written4 ,the pale hero was so fascinating in his manner that1 when he languidly quoted a moral lie and gracefully propped it with arguments1 you1 being eighteen and guileless1 could not help admiring him a little4 ,yet did ,elsie read under protest4 ,mamma appeared before her frequently1 with keen eyes and clear brain1 and swept away a filmy web which would hide a falsehood from less cultured minds4 ,papa's strong logic came often to mind to overthrow some subtle reasoning4 ,dr4 ,falconer's very last sermon loomed up before her once1 text and all1 to refute utterly a hint which the pale hero put forth4 ,if ,freeman ,vance had not appeared on the scene the book would certainly have been laid aside2 but how utterly foolish would her position appear to him6 ,he would call her a prude1 as she had heard him call a young lady who had been the subject of conversation the other day4 ,she knew just how his lip curled when he said it4 ,not that she cared for ,freeman ,vance's opinion1 she told herself2 but1 then1 nobody liked to be talked about4 ,as she reached this conclusion she turned another leaf4 ,the interesting hero was in the midst of a statement given with as much energy as he ever used1 and1 by way of emphasizing his point1 he used an unmitigated oath4 ,can you deliberately hold in your hand books of a kind which you know perfectly well lead you farther from instead of nearer to ,him8 ,the quotation came to the reader suddenly1 with almost as much force as though it had been spoken by an audible voice4 ,she made an instant's pause--the oath unread--and looked down at her fair hands4 ,they were being soiled6 ,there was no question in her heart about it4 ,with a sudden1 impulsive movement1 she spread open her hands with a repellent gesture1 as though she recoiled from the thing touched1 and the book fell to the floor4 ,freeman ,vance sprang to return it and ,carrie gave a nervous start4 ,why1 ,elsie ,burton1 what is the matter8 ,you made me drop six stitches off my hook4 ,is there a ghost on that page8 queried ,ben1 mischief in his voice4 ,no1 said ,elsie1 her courage and her color rising4 ,i think it is a serpent4 ,thank you1 ,mr4 ,vance2 ,i don't want the thing again4 ,i have had quite too much of it4 ,you must all excuse me from farther reading of that book4 ,i am not in sympathy with the morals or the manners of its characters4 ,i am ashamed that ,i have allowed myself to read it so long4 ,i'll venture that it is another case of 'soiled hands1' ,ben said1 nothing but amusement in his voice4 ,his cousin turned toward him with flashing eyes4 ,yes1 she said1 it is4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,then began a babel of tongues4 ,the book was elegant6 ,charming6 ,everybody said it was the best one from that popular writer's pen4 ,the critics were just raving over it4 ,certainly it was written in a most fascinating manner4 ,these were some of the statements which ,elsie seemed to be expected to answer4 ,she had very little to say4 ,the truth was1 she felt painfully conscious of the fact that many of her arguments would sound to this company like an unknown tongue4 ,what did they know of loyalty to the ,master who owned her1 heart and hands8 ,what wild fanaticism would they think it1 if she said that she felt herself to have dishonored ,christ1 in having lent her hands and her voice to the book which she had just dropped8 ,yet she said this1 speaking steadily1 albeit with glowing cheeks4 ,she felt it to be the least that she could do1 as ,his witness1 to speak the simple truth1 and bear the storm of words1 the incredulity1 the laughter1 the raillery2 and the almost more disagreeable attempt to be patient with her1 as with an ignorant child1 fresh from country life and country ideas4 ,oh1 well6 said ,carrie1 at last4 ,we might as well save our breath1 as to coax her after she has made up her mind4 ,you always were an obstinate child1 you know1 ,elsie1 my dear4 ,ben1 suppose you read4 ,not ,i1 said ,ben1 with emphasis4 ,it is my brains1 instead of my hands1 that ,i am afraid of2 ,i never had the proper amount to bear me out in reading aloud4 ,vance1 will you volunteer8 ,an expressive shrug of shapely shoulders was the young man's only reply1 but it seemed to be considered decisive4 ,then we must give it up1 ,carrie said1 great vexation in her voice4 ,what shall we do8 ,i'm too dull to talk4 ,oh1 ,i'll tell you1 let's have a game4 ,freem ,vance1 ,i owe you a grudge for beating me1 the last time we played4 ,get the cards1 ,ben1 and ,i'll see if ,i cannot redeem my reputation in that line4 ,ben laughed good-humoredly1 but made no attempt to obey4 ,you are dull to-night1 ,carrie1 duller than usual1 that's a fact1 if you have any idea that our fair cousin will let her hands go so far astray as to dabble with cards4 ,well1 ,i should like to know why not4 ,there is no irreligion about them1 certainly1 poor little innocent things6 ,elsie1 you will play a game with us1 won't you8 ,thank you1 ,elsie said1 trying to make her voice sound natural2 ,i never play cards4 ,oh1 that's of no consequence6 ,you can easily learn4 ,ben1 you could teach her in five minutes1 so she could play with you1 couldn't you8 ,doubt it exceedingly4 ,there is an insurmountable objection1 ,i fancy4 ,unless ,i am mistaken1 she will decline to be taught4 ,no1 she won't2 we can't make up a set without her1 and she will not be so disagreeable as to refuse4 ,come1 ,elsie1 you will be accommodating1 won't you8 ,poor ,elsie felt like nothing so much as bursting into tears1 and running away1 but she stood her ground bravely4 ,i am sorry to appear unaccommodating1 ,carrie1 but ,ben is right2 ,i cannot play cards any better than ,i can read that book4 ,what is the matter with cards8 ,there was a sneering tone to ,carrie's voice2 perhaps it was well for ,elsie that such was the case4 ,sneers were apt to give her courage4 ,she choked back the tears1 and tried to answer lightly3 ,they are innocent enough1 ,i suppose2 it is the rough handling that the poor things get to which ,i object4 ,that is begging the question4 ,our professor of rhetoric says people always do that when they are unable to prove their statements4 ,i am tired of hints and sanctimonious flings4 ,everything is wicked nowadays4 ,you used to have as much life in you as anybody2 if there is any reason for such pokiness1 ,i should like to hear it4 ,why won't you play cards8 ,the prisoner will stand and answer to the solemn charge preferred against her4 ,this from ,ben4 ,his sister's manner was so dictatorial that he was ashamed of her1 and was inclined1 in a rollicking way1 to aid ,elsie4 ,she glanced toward him1 smiling1 then turned to ,carrie4 ,why1 ,caroline1 my dear1 you surely do not need the ordinary arguments against card-playing quoted to you6 ,everybody who has given any thought to the subject understands them1 and it wouldn't make them any plainer or more forceful to quote them4 ,for myself1 ,i am sure ,i need only give you one4 ,my father and mother do not approve of the amusement4 ,ben gave a curious little laugh at this point4 ,no more do ours1 eh1 ,carrie8 he said4 ,nonsense6 returned that young lady sharply4 ,i'm sure papa said only the other night that times were changed since he was young1 and lived in the country4 ,a great many people who live in little country towns get narrow views of things1 breathe them in the atmosphere which surrounds them2 but that is no reason they should hold to them when they get a chance to see the world4 ,i don't know what you mean1 ,ben2 ,i'm sure papa has never forbidden us to play cards4 ,i am going to have a game--,i know that2 and if ,elsie won't play1 ,i'll call ,mary down4 ,she will like the fun of joining us4 ,mary was the fourteen-year-old sister who was tolerated only occasionally among the older young people4 ,as ,carrie arose to summon her1 ,mr4 ,freeman ,vance spoke the first sentence he seemed to have considered himself called upon to utter since the conversation commenced4 ,at the same time1 ,miss ,carrie1 suppose you secure little ,belle to take my place4 ,i do not feel equal to cards this evening4 ,whereupon ,ben burst into hearty laughter4 ,amusement under difficulties1 upon my word6 he said1 as soon as he could speak4 ,what shall be done with them1 ,carrie8 ,oh1 well6 ,carrie said1 returning to her seat with an offended air4 ,since you are all disposed to be so very accommodating1 you may entertain yourselves4 ,i'm sure ,i shall make no farther attempt4 ,it is the first time ,i ever knew you1 ,freem ,vance1 to decline cards4 ,you are playing a new game to-night1 ,i should think4 ,whereunto this embarrassing and ill-humored conversation would have grown1 ,i cannot tell you2 for at that point occurred an interruption1 in the shape of a summons for ,ben4 ,his father desired to see him at once1 in the library1 on a matter of business4 ,and no sooner had he1 with a little good-humored grumbling1 departed1 than ,carrie unceremoniously left the room by another door1 and the two guests were alone together4 ,i am aware that ,i have had to present ,miss ,carrie to you in a very unfavorable light4 ,as a rule1 she was good-humored and ladylike1 and1 being a year or two older than ,elsie1 was in the habit of being looked up to by her4 ,but1 being a young woman without a settled purpose of life or a guiding motive for speech or action1 she was left1 more or less1 at the mercy of the passing mood2 and the excitements of the past few days had served to unsettle her nerves to an unusual degree4 ,left to themselves1 an embarrassing silence followed4 ,elsie did not know how to commence a conversation with this cultured man of the world2 especially1 after the experiences of the last hour4 ,it was he who finally led the way3 ,would you mind giving me some of your objections to card-playing for amusement8 ,i think ,i am not well posted as you suppose your cousin to be4 ,there was neither banter nor sarcasm in his voice2 instead1 he seemed to be in earnest4 ,but ,elsie1 full of sparkling logic for the boys and girls1 was unused to arguing with a gentleman1 and hesitated4 ,don't they become snares to some young men1 and lead them into temptation and misery sometimes8 she said at last4 ,he seemed surprised at the answer1 and waited a moment before he said1 ,i think they do2 but it does not seem to me that your cousin ,ben is tempted in that direction4 ,i was not thinking of him at all4 ,if any person came to mind it was little ,teddy ,reilly1 my ,sabbath-school boy1 whose father is a professional gambler1 and who lives in an atmosphere of impurity4 ,i want to keep my hands so clean from all such things that there shall never be the possibility of his associating me with them4 ,and the world is full of ,teddy ,reillys2 we may meet them when we do not know it1 and influence them when we are not thinking of such a thing4 ,besides1 ,i have two little brothers4 ,i don't want them ever to find in gambling saloons anything that will remind them of home and home pleasures4 ,i am answered1 he said1 smiling2 but there was nothing unpleasant in the smile4 ,after a little1 he spoke again1 still in the same gentle tone3 ,would it be disagreeable to you to tell me what you meant1 a little while ago1 about the book1 and what ,ben's reference to 'clean hands' had to do with it8 ,this question caused the color to deepen on ,elsie's cheeks4 ,such things were harder to explain2 she doubted his ability to understand4 ,it began with ,dr4 ,falconer1 my pastor1 she replied1 hesitatingly4 ,he said1 when he bade me good-by1 that he hoped ,i would be careful not to soil my hands4 ,then he lent me a little book of ,miss ,havergal's1 and ,i read it on the cars4 ,there were marked passages in it1 about hands having been given to ,christ and being kept for ,his service4 ,one sentence is1 ',can you let your hands take up things which1 to say the least1 are not for ,jesus8 ,can you deliberately hold in it books of a kind which you know perfectly well lead you farther from1 instead of nearer to1 ,him8' ,i thought of that all the time ,i was reading the book2 and at last1 when it came to a direct profanation of ,his name1 ,i dropped it4 ,i wish ,i had done so before4 ,it is narrow ground1 said ,freeman ,vance4 ,yes1 it is4 ,i am amazed to see how it hedges one in4 ,one of my ,sabbath-school verses is1 ',he that hath clean hands and a pure heart4' ,i have been very careful to teach the children what the words mean1 and that has made them plainer to myself1 ,i think4 ,at home1 with my father and mother1 the way is plain enough1 and bright and pleasant1 but in this atmosphere things are hard4 ,i think ,i need mamma to-night4 ,her lip was quivering4 ,with the quotation of the ,bible verse1 ,freeman ,vance had shaded his face with his hand4 ,he made no response to her words1 and she struggled silently for composure4 ,at last he spoke again2 a quiet voice1 but it revealed a good deal of suppressed feeling4 ,cards are a great temptation to me4 ,i am very fond of them1 and1 like you1 ,i need my mother1 and can never have her any more4 ,oh6 said ,elsie1 and the sympathy she put into that word must be imagined1 not described4 ,you need ,jesus1 ,mr4 ,vance4 ,if you give your hands to ,him1 ,he will keep them and you4 ,there were footsteps in the hall4 ,carrie1 ashamed apparently of her ill humor and rudeness1 had returned in a better mood4 ,but there was no more conversation4 ,freeman ,vance arose almost immediately1 saying that he had but waited to bid her good-night4 ,you have made an enemy of poor ,freem1 ,carrie said1 trying to laugh1 as the outer door closed after him4 ,he thinks an evening without cards is a dreadful bore4 ,people do say that he plays for something besides amusement4 ,but he has so much money that ,i suppose he thinks it no harm to throw away some of it if he wants to4 ,they say he never keeps any that he wins4 ,it seems a pity1 though1 to have him play with those fellows4 ,i always keep him at cards just as late as ,i can1 so that he will not be tempted to go to the saloons4 ,but ,elsie had no answer for this phase of virtuous self-abnegation4 ,she was sore-hearted and disappointed4 ,the world was not the beautiful thing she had thought it4 ,the shelter of home and mother were treasures to be prized4 ,the atmosphere of home was something to look forward to with longing4 ,the week was gone2 she was glad of it4 ,on ,monday she was going home4 ,but--and here was the place for tears--she had disappointed herself4 ,she was not going back with hands as clean as she had hoped4 ,they were stained4 ,his hands8 ,yes1 but not kept always sheltered in ,his grasp4 ,and her lips had spoken few words for ,him4 ,here was this young man1 ,freeman ,vance1 in danger1 it seemed1 and motherless2 and she had met him every day for a week1 several times a day1 indeed1 and to-night's stammering sentence had been the first that she had ever spoken to him of ,christ4 ,what a servant was she8 ,it was evening1 and it was raining2 and in the back parlor there was a fire in the grate1 throwing its bright gleams of light over the room and playing gayly with the pictures on the walls4 ,two easy chairs were drawn near to the grate1 that their occupants might the better enjoy the play of firelight and shadow4 ,in one of them sat ,elsie ,burton4 ,a trifle over a year older than when you saw her last4 ,not changed much1 unless the brightness on her face has toned into something softer1 something which1 while it belongs still to the freshness of girlhood1 hints of the coming woman4 ,the parlor is not the same in which you last saw her4 ,it is her father's own4 ,elsie graduated a few weeks ago1 just a little past nineteen2 but she preferred to spend the following months in the quiet of her own home1 though ,cousin ,carrie eagerly urged the delights of the great city upon her4 ,the other occupant of an easy chair ,i presume you would also recognize1 though he1 ,i think1 is more changed than ,elsie2 but you would like the change4 ,i don't remember whether ,i told you that ,freeman ,vance was a handsome man4 ,a year ago1 if you are a careful student of human nature1 you would have been a little troubled over the face4 ,handsome dark eyes1 but with an unrest about them that made you not sure of his future4 ,handsome1 quiet mouth1 but with a look of strength about it1 or of firmness2 and to be firm in a wrong direction means obstinacy--means danger4 ,and about the whole man there had been a certain something which told you that he thought himself master of himself2 and when a man thinks that1 wise people know that he is a slave4 ,but he was changed4 ,what is the change which comes into these handsome1 manly faces1 when their owners give themselves over1 body and soul1 into the keeping of the ,king8 ,is it a stamp of the ,king's signet ring8 ,is it a hint of the coming fulfillment--,we shall be like ,him when we shall see ,him as ,he is8 ,whatever it is1 you saw it plainly on ,freeman ,vance's face4 ,it is singular that it rains4 ,this was what he was saying4 ,why8 ,the word mellowed into a happy little laugh4 ,the laugh said3 ,let it rain1 and let the wind sigh and moan among the leafless branches2 ,i don't care in the least2 the night1 and the darkness1 and the sighing are as nothing to me2 they are all 'without1' and ,i am hedged in1 and sheltered1 and safe1 and happy4 ,it rained1 that night1 you know4 ,i remember just how the drops sounded on the window-pane1 and how the wind moaned1 and shook the trees angrily because it could not get in at you4 ,it seemed to know that it would never be able to touch you1 and to know1 also1 that in a few minutes ,i would have to come out to it in the darkness and be whirled whither it would4 ,what a dreadful picture6 ,still there was content in the voice4 ,i remember the night1 and the rain1 and the wind2 but ,i did not think you noticed it1 or cared whether it touched me or not4 ,carrie said ,i offended you that evening4 ,poor ,carrie6 ,it is difficult to conceive of a young lady making less of life than she is doing4 ,how is it with ,ben8 ,he is getting on well1 is he not8 ,splendidly6 ,the dear fellow6 ,i saw him last night4 ,some memory of old times came over us1 and he spoke of that very evening2 said he should have reason to remember it forever2 though it was words spoken on the first day of your coming1 during the walk up from the depot1 he said1 which set him to thinking4 ,no one ever acted less as though he were thinking6 ,i was sure that he was simply amused with me1 as a little country dunce4 ,many a time he helped to make it hard for me4 ,i presume so2 trying the temper of the steel4 ,ben is developing well4 ,he is the chief dependence of the young men's meeting in his church2 and he has a great deal of influence over the boys younger than himself4 ,fenton tells me that he has about broken up the card-parties which used to be so fashionable in that set2 not by any aggressive measures1 you know--just a steady1 quiet influence4 ',clean hands1' he said to me last night4 ',that is my motto1 ,freem4' ,and there were tears in the dear fellow's eyes4 ,you did good work in the field during that one week1 little ,elsie4 ,went into the enemy's ranks and captured right and left4 ,i remember1 said ,elsie1 when the laughter and the blushing over part of this sentence had subsided--,i remember ,i cried that night1 because ,i felt that ,i had spent such a useless week1 and1 after all my resolutions1 was coming home with soiled hands and stained heart4 ,god was very good to own my feeble1 blundering attempts4 ,poor ,carrie thought ,i cried because ,i had offended you4 ,poor ,carrie6 repeated ,arr4 ,vance1 laughing a little4 ,then both of them sighed4 ,the year that was past had not improved ,cousin ,carrie4 ,does ,ben know-- began ,elsie1 then stopped4 ,mr4 ,vance seemed able to understand half sentences4 ,ben does not know anything1 except where ,i am gone for vacation2 but ,i think he suspects a great deal and keeps his own counsel4 ,i do not visit often at your uncle's1 now1 for reasons that you may possibly surmise4 ,just a moment of silence1 during which both watched the play of the firelight4 ,then ,freeman ,vance bent toward the other easy chair1 which was lower than his4 ,i have something to show you1 ,elsie1 and something to tell you4 ,will you let me see if this fits8 ,then the firelight flashed about a cluster of small1 pure diamonds1 quaintly set4 ,it was my mother's ring1 ,elsie1 and there is something to tell you about it--something strange1 which will make you feel more than ever that ,god plans all our ways for us4 ,when my mother gave it to me1 a boy of twenty1 she said3 ',it is for your wife1 ,freeman1 with a mother's blessing4 ,and1 my son1 promise me this3 the girl on whose finger you place it must have clean hands and a pure heart4 ,will you be careful of that1 my boy8' ,i promised it on my knees1 by my mother's dying bed4 ,you may judge now something of the thrill it gave me to hear you quote those words4 ,i have carried the ring on my watch-guard1 hidden from sight1 for five years4 ,now it has found its rightful owner1 and1 my darling1 ,i know ,i have obeyed my mother's words4 ,,circulating ,,decimals4 ------ ,,chapter ,i4 ,,the ,sabbath-school library of the ,penn ,avenue ,church was really in a disgraceful condition4 ,for years it had been let alone1 until it had finally put itself into that state of dilapidation which let alone things can so skillfully assume4 ,covers were sadly torn1 corners curled1 fly-leaves gone1 in many cases the first dozen or twenty pages of the book missing1 to say nothing of great gaps in the middle of the story or history4 ,some books had almost every leaf defaced by those irritating scribblers1 who are never safe creatures with a lead pencil in their hands4 ,many of the books were missing1 having been swallowed in that mysterious vortex which ingulfs lost things1 no person living being able to give a lucid account of their departure4 ,and1 to crown all1 according to the statement of ,mrs4 ,marshall ,powers1 who knew most things1 ,not more than half the books were fit for a ,sabbath-school library in the first place4 ,who needs a photograph of a disabled library8 ,alas1 the ghastly remains lie around so profusely that there is no need for more than a word to recall the very bend of their limp covers--those of them which have covers left4 ,such was1 and had been1 the condition of the ,penn ,avenue library for many a month4 ,it had been long since a book had been spoken of by the bright girls and boys who belonged to its ,sabbath-school without a contemptuous curling of upper lips4 ,spasms of interest had been from time to time awakened1 and much talk had been wasted in repeating the patent fact--,we certainly ought to do something about our library1 the main difficulty being that the effort went no farther than talk2 and the day came when a suggestion of this sort would set the aforesaid lips to curling in derisive incredulity4 ,they believed--those boys and girls--that the ,penn ,avenue library was dead4 ,such1 however1 was not the case4 ,one summer morning it revived4 ,the young ladies' society took hold of it with interest2 they would have a fair and festival forthwith2 they would spare no pains and no expense to make the matter a grand success1 and secure the means for a new and complete library1 which should at once be the admiration and the envy of every other church in town4 ,do you need to be told how that society hummed and buzzed after that8 ,meetings were held each week1 sometimes twice a week4 ,committees were formed1 and dashed hither and thither through the crowded streets4 ,worsted1 and canvas1 and embroidery silk1 and ribbon1 and beads1 and lace came to the front1 and became matters of even more importance than usual4 ,the air was full of them1 parlors were full of them1 tongues were full of them2 go where you would1 you were destined to hear about a lovely rose-colored tidy in a new stitch1 or an elegant afghan1 the materials for which were to cost twenty dollars1 or a magnificent ,bible cushion that was all a mass of raised silk embroidery that would take days and days of close work to finish2 or of some other of the endless pieces of fancy work getting ready for the fair4 ,neither was the festival part neglected4 ,the city was districted1 the streets were canvassed1 miles of energetic walking were accomplished1 and the result was cake--black cake1 white cake1 brown cake1 chocolate1 delicate1 cream1 cocoanut1 sponge1 and1 to crown all1 the loveliest great mound of angels' food that was ever made in this town6 ,so one enthusiastic miss reported4 ,think of a company of rational beings1 meeting and eating up a loaf or two of angels' food1 for the purpose of securing a ,sabbath-school library6 ,cakes were not all6 ,jellies1 pickles1 chickens1 ham1 tongue--oh6 ,what not8 ,if you had looked into the receiving room of the ,penn ,avenue ,church1 on the afternoon of the eventful evening1 you would have almost supposed that the dear people were making ready to give a ,christmas dinner to this great1 cold1 homeless outside world1 so bountiful were the provisions4 ,but they were not2 they were only preparing to eat their way into a ,sunday-school library for the use of their own boys and girls4 ,but let no novice suppose for a moment that the afternoon of this day had been reached in peace4 ,if ,i should undertake to give you a history of one third of the troubles through which the self-sacrificing leaders walked1 my story would be far too long4 ,did not ,helen ,brooks say that ,sallie ,stuart's pincushion was a dowdy-looking thing1 and should not be on her table2 that ,sallie did not know how to do fancy work anyway1 and never ought to have tried8 ,did not ,alice ,jenkins say that ,stella ,somebody had marked her sofa pillow ridiculously high2 that it was really a disgrace to a church to charge such exorbitant prices8 ,and did not both ,sallie and ,stella hear of these things1 by that mysterious process which is rife in all society1 and which nobody understands1 and did they not both withdraw in affront1 declaring that they would have nothing more to do with the ,penn ,avenue fair1 nor the ,penn ,avenue ,sabbath-school8 ,this is only a hint of the miasm of which the air was full4 ,but one story ,i must tell you3 an ower true tale it is4 ,if any of the ,penn ,avenue people read this1 ,i ask their pardon for making it public1 but it should be recorded as a matter of history4 ,it was all about a doll4 ,a great1 beautiful waxen doll1 direct from ,paris1 having wonderful real hair1 and wonderful eyes that looked as though they must be real1 and rosy parted lips1 and teeth that gleamed like pearls4 ,this doll was a special grant of grace to the young ladies' society4 ,mrs4 ,archer1 just returned from a ,european tour1 had brought it home for the very purpose to which she now dedicated it1 namely1 the library of the ,penn ,avenue ,sabbath-school4 ,think of the number of children in that ,sabbath-school whose very arms would quiver with the desire to clasp such a treasure as their own6 ,assuredly there were fifty fathers in the congregation who would think nothing of investing a dollar for the possibility of securing it for the darling at home4 ,nothing easier than to sell fifty tickets1 at a dollar each1 and let the child whose fortunate number corresponded with the number on the inside of the ,parisian lady's ,parisian slipper carry off the prize in triumph1 while the forty-nine other children held their breaths and controlled their sobs as best they could4 ,now all this proved to be very correct reasoning4 ,hot buckwheat cakes on a frosty morning never disappeared faster than those fifty tickets were exchanged for shining silver spheres or crisp national currency4 ,with great satisfaction did the committee count out its fifty dollars for the treasury of the ,lord1 mourning over but one thing3 ,we might have had seventy-five or a hundred tickets just as well as fifty4 ,still1 it was not all smooth sailing4 ,murmurs long and deep began to be heard1 and presently they waxed loud enough to claim attention4 ,there were those among some of the fathers and mothers in ,israel who succeeded in making it understood that they had conscientious scruples against gambling1 even for religious purposes4 ,they declared that this thing ought not to be1 and therefore must not be4 ,triumphant were the answers3 ,the tickets are all sold2 what are you going to do about it8 ,but the conscientious element was in earnest4 ,something ought to1 and therefore something could1 be done about it2 the money could be refunded1 the tickets destroyed1 the ,parisian lady valued at a reasonable price and set up for sale1 if they would1 but never raffled for4 ,great was the consternation--loud were the voices4 ,give back the fifty dollars6 ,guess they would1 hard as they had worked for it6 ,great need in being so squeamish6 ,they had heard of people who strained at a gnat and swallowed a camel4 ,they believed1 if the truth could be told1 the trouble started with somebody who was disappointed because his little girl did not get a ticket4 ,they were not going to give up the doll1 not they4 ,did people suppose they would do all the work1 and then be dictated to by a few narrow-minded men and women8 ,the strife ran high2 it threatened to rend in pieces the young ladies' society4 ,there were those who would do nothing if the ,parisian lady was insulted2 there were those who would do nothing if the raffle was permitted4 ,into the midst of the turmoil came the ,sabbath to make what lull it could4 ,the offending lady was carried home on ,saturday by one of her allies1 and securely locked in the spare chamber to spend the ,sabbath in repose4 ,alas1 and alas6 ,the day was warm1 the windows of the spare room fronted the south2 the blinds had been thrown wide-open1 the evening before1 to catch the last rays of light for a special object1 and by some strange mismanagement had not been closed again4 ,the blue-eyed lady in her arm-chair directly in front of the window1 looked her loveliest all day2 and all day the sunbeams hovered around her1 and wooed her1 and kissed her1 and caressed her1 never realizing the fierce heat of their love2 and on ,monday morning1 when the determined committee went to remove my lady to her throne in the church parlor1 behold1 her delicate complexion was seamed and soiled2 what had been red cheeks were simply long faded streaks1 extending in irregular lines to her neck2 her eyelashes were gone1 her nose was gone1 her lovely lips were washed out1 and she was1 in short1 a ruined wreck of her former self6 ,there was no raffling at that fair4 ,the money was returned1 the doll was patched up1 and packed up1 and sent to a little niece of one of the committee--the disappointed auntie having bought my lady for a trifle--mid apparent calm succeeded the angry threatenings4 ,yet1 despite all their efforts at composure1 the young ladies could not get away from the miserable feeling that the trouble was in some way due to the opposition2 and cold looks1 and sarcastic speeches1 and discomfort and distrust had it very much their own way among certain of the workers4 ,well1 the fair was held4 ,tidies1 and tidies1 and tidies6 ,the number and variety seemed endless4 ,tidies to right of us1 tithes to left of us1 tidies before us1 tidies behind us1 tumbled and tangled1 paraphrased a young man who caught his sleeve button in one of the meshes and drew a small avalanche of them to the floor4 ,another1 looking on hopelessly at the mass1 asked what sort of carpets they would make4 ,and another1 turning from them to the pincushions1 wanted to know if some of those things were not large enough for bolsters4 ,all this aside1 of course4 ,sales were brisk1 apparently1 and yet many articles were unsold4 ,the trifles1 the small keepsakes1 the pretty nothings found ready purchasers2 but the pieces that represented miles of silk embroidery1 and hours of toil1 and were to bring large returns1 were still the property of the young ladies when the evening was over4 ,it was over at last1 and weary bodies and excited brains sat down to count the spoils4 ,there was a bill to pay at the fancy store for materials2 there was a bill to pay at the confectioner's2 there was a bill to pay for dishes rented1 and broken1 and otherwise injured2 there was a bill to pay for cream--where do all the little bills come from which swarm round a distracted treasurer at such a time8 ,unexpected expenses1 and enough fancy work on hand to stock a modest store6 ,the bills were paid1 and the wearied soldiers went into camp for repairs--mental and moral2 and there was deposited with the treasurer of the library fund the sum of twenty-two dollars and sixteen cents6 ,after that there was a lull in the ,penn ,avenue ,church4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,the next spasm that seized them started in the choir4 ,they would give an entertainment1 musical and literary4 ,no such gross and material things as food for the body should intrude4 ,committee meetings were again the order of the day4 ,it was soon found that even in preparing for a feast of reason and a flow of soul1 differences of opinion would arise4 ,should it be the cantata of ,queen ,esther1 or the operetta of the ,milkmaid1 or something lighter than either1 say1 the ,dance of the ,fairies8 ,there were those who thought a series of tableaux would be better than any of these1 and there were those who thought there was talent enough in the ,penn ,avenue ,church to get up a genuine play1 instead of one of these milk-and-water affairs4 ,at last1 after some plain speaking1 and a few heart-burnings1 it was decided that the cantata of ,esther should have the right of way1 the casting vote in its favor being made because there was a young man visiting at the ,judsons' who had just graduated from the theological seminary1 and would make a magnificent ,haman4 ,then began rehearsals4 ,music was to be interspersed between the various scenes1 and certain sopranos were asked to prepare choice selections1 such as3 ,i think only of thee1 love1 and ,my heart's dearest treasure1 and ,ever thine own1 love1 and a few other of those gems which we hear screamed out by seraphic voices to large and appreciative audiences4 ,i have never heard it explained why so much of our popular music should be wedded to words which the performer would blush to repeat in prose to an audience of more than one2 but the fact1 ,i suppose1 is indisputable4 ,oh1 those rehearsals6 ,why are they attended with so many trials8 ,does ,satan make special arrangements to be present at all efforts of this kind8 ,and1 if so1 why8 ,does his superior genius recognize in these gatherings fruitful soil for the developments dear to his heart1 ,i wonder8 ,miss ,minnie ,coleman was general-in-chief of this particular entertainment1 and she dropped a limp heap among the cushions one evening and recounted her trials to sympathetic ears3 ,such a time1 mamma6 ,you never saw anything like it4 ,it really is enough to discourage one with any attempt at doing good6 ,who do you suppose wants to be ,vashti8 ,that ridiculous little ,kate ,burns6 ,she says she knows more than half of the part already1 because she helped them get this up in the ,vesey ,street social2 the idea6 ,everything she did was to prompt at one of the rehearsals6 ,she is too dumpy for a queen2 and she has a simpering little voice4 ,oh6 ,it would be just too ridiculous for anything1 and yet she is bent on it2 she has talked with each one of the committee separately1 and hinted that we ought to propose her4 ,then there's that ,jennie ,harmon1 vexed because she hasn't been chosen for ,esther4 ,she makes all manner of fun of ,essie 7whom everybody says is just the one for the part71 and ,i'm really afraid ,essie will hear of it1 and refuse to act2 the girls are so hateful1 mamma1 you haven't an idea6 ,they get so excited about things that don't go just as they want them2 they burst right out with whatever is in their minds4 ,three of the committee went home crying to-night just because of things that they had overheard said2 and ,i'd cry1 too1 if ,i were not so provoked4 ,it does seem too bad when we are working for benevolence1 and trying our best to make a little money1 to have people go and spoil things in this way4 7,jessie ,morrison is fretting1 too2 she doesn't like her part2 says her mother thinks the dress is unbecoming4 ',what of it8' ,i asked her1 somebody had to wear it1 and it might as well be she as any one2 well1 she said her mother did not think it was exactly a proper dress to appear in1 in public4 ,so absurd67 ,i am just tired of the whole thing4 ,i told ,fannie to-night ,i would give anything if we were safely out of it all1 and if ,i once get through ,i shall wash my hands of all benevolent enterprises in the future4 ,fannie was a poor one to talk to1 though2 she is so vexed because she hasn't been asked to sing a solo that she could tear everything to pieces4 ,i'm sure ,i hope those library books1 if we ever get them1 will do a great deal of good2 they ought to1 such a world of trouble as they have made4 ,ah1 well1 they lived through it4 ,it is surprising how many trials we do succeed in pushing through and coming out alive on the other side6 ,the cantata argued and frowned and sparred and grumbled its way into perfection4 ,the large hall was engaged for two evenings1 because a complete rehearsal at the hall was a necessity4 ,the town was duly placarded1 inviting the public to the unique entertainment gotten up by the energetic young people of the ,penn ,avenue ,church4 ,the usual number of street jokes floated through the air1 about the ,penn ,avenue ,theatre1 or the religious opera1 sent afloat by that large class of irreligious young men who inhabit every town and city1 and who seem to know by instinct just what is appropriate to a religious body1 and just what is not4 ,when the church and the world start out to walk hand in hand1 it is a curious thing that it is always the world that sees the inconsistencies1 and laughs1 and always the church that is blind4 ,the modern ,queen ,esther did hear of the trouble1 and1 unlike her great namesake1 faltered and pouted and would have nothing to do with the affair1 so at a late hour a new queen had to be hastily chosen1 who marred the occasion by forgetting some of her parts2 and this is only a hint of the sea of trials which encompassed the executive committee that evening4 ,still1 as ,i said1 they lived1 and came to the hour when they sat down to count their gains4 ,from this exercise they rose up sadder and wiser girls4 ,the costumes had been so unique1 and so rich1 and were of such brilliant colors that1 being available for the occasion only1 many things had to be bought1 and the bills sent to the treasurer4 ,the purchases did not seem many nor heavy1 as they were bought by different people1 at different times1 but they counted up so mercilessly when the figures were set in those inexorable rows6 ,then the charge for the hall was simply enormous4 ,the poor committee looked at each other and said this a dozen times during the counting up2 the idea of charging as much for the use of the hall for the rehearsal as they did for the regular evening6 ,who would have imagined such a thing6 ,then the bills of the piano lenders were more than they had supposed possible1 and the printer's bill was another ruinous item4 ,will it not be easily credited by the great army of the initiated that nineteen dollars and two cents gave the sum of the net proceeds of all these weeks of outlay6 ,actually nineteen dollars and two cents6 ,there6 said the treasurer1 tossing down her pencil with a determined air1 ,i shall not add that column again6 ,i've begun at the top1 and in the middle1 and added the fives and the nines separately1 and done everything ,i can think of1 and it comes every time to that miserable little nineteen dollars and two cents6 ,let's take the nineteen dollars to pay for the shoe leather we've worn-out1 and hand in the two cents to the library committee1 and then go and drown ourselves4 ,they laughed1 as girls will1 at almost anything1 if somebody will only lead off4 ,but when they reached home they1 every one of them1 cried4 ,poor things6 ,my heart aches for them4 ,there is no class of workers more utterly to be pitied than those who struggle and toil1 making bricks often times without straw1 and who find at the close that1 some way1 the bricks seem not to have been worth the cost4 ,it was months afterward1 winter indeed1 before the library association gasped again4 ,then up rose the women1 the respectable1 middle-aged1 matronly women4 ,the library must be replenished1 money must be raised4 ,it would not do to set girls at it2 girls always got into trouble1 they were so sensitive1 so quick to take offence1 so lacking in self-control4 ,they--the matrons--would do this thing speedily and quietly4 ,they would have an oyster supper on a large scale1 make preparation for a great many guests1 furnish oysters in every possible style1 and with them such coffee as only they could make1 to say nothing of the inevitable cake and cream1 and side dishes1 for those who did not relish oysters4 ,so they went to work1 quietly1 skillfully1 expeditiously4 ,baking1 broiling1 frying1 stewing6 ,what tales could not the kitchens and pantries have told during those days6 ,they got through to the weary end1 not without heart-burnings and a few tears1 and much pressure of lips lest they speak unadvisedly1 and occasional home confidences not flattering to their fellow workers1 and ,i protest that in this age of the world1 with ,satan so manifestly at the helm as he is1 it is not possible to get up a church fair1 festival1 opera1 or what not1 without these1 but the matrons were as they had promised to be1 on the whole1 discreet1 forbearing1 and silent2 no open breaches came4 ,the evening of the supper came4 ,dark6--was it ever darker8 ,rain6--not a fitful dash with gleams of moonlight between4 ,just a steady1 pelting1 pitiless rain1 mud at every crossing1 pools of water at some4 ,warm--so warm that1 to the average oyster eater1 the very thought of one of those bivalves was disgusting4 ,a few damp yet resolute people stood around in the corners of the great room1 and steadily ate large dishes of oysters1 double dishes1 some of them1 and the minister1 the one who perhaps could afford it least1 ushered in from the dark outer world1 in the course of the evening1 seven wet1 hungry newsboys1 and gave them such a supper as they will tell of twenty years hence1 and paid the bills6 ,meantime the cooked oysters in huge quantities were sent out to the deserving poor1 and the uncooked ones were forgotten and left in the warm room all night1 and by morning were not fit for the deserving poor1 or any other poor6 ,in the early forenoon of the next day1 while the rain was thus falling drearily1 a few draggled and discouraged females wended their way homeward1 laden with soup tureens1 cooking utensils1 and a loaf each of cake6 ,and this was the outcome of ,penn ,avenue's third effort6 ,now you are not to suppose that this church was poor4 ,it was not wealthy in the sense that some city churches are1 which need only to mention a want to have it supplied from a full treasury2 but its members1 the great majority of them1 lived in comfortable1 and some of them in elegant homes2 none of them ever arranged for himself to have a supper brought in by his friends1 and eaten by his friends1 and paid for by his friends1 in order to help him through with the current expenses of the year4 ,not one of them had ever been known to solicit articles for a fancy fair in order to help pair house rent1 or even pew rent4 ,all of them were in the habit of putting their hands in their pockets and furnishing the money with which to meet all these reasonable needs4 ,why1 then1 did they resort to such pitiable devices to replenish their church library8 ,is there any person who can give a satisfactory answer to that question8 ,i want also to be understood about those young ladies4 ,they were by no means working for self-gratification2 they were honest in their desire to raise money for the cause2 neither were they of a more quarrelsome disposition than others of their age and position4 ,the simple fact was1 that the unusual surroundings1 the endless rehearsals1 the posing in characters strange to them1 the curious costumes which made them feel unlike themselves1 the need for haste1 and undue exertion1 the necessity for planning for so many contingencies1 the sense of responsibility1 the consciousness of criticism freely offered1 the possibility of failure1 all these strained heavily on young nerves unused to great strains1 and produced the highly wrought condition of nervous irritability which made molehills loom up like mountains1 and made the things that would on ordinary occasions have raised a merry laugh start the quick tears instead4 ,i take the bold ground that misunderstandings1 and heart-burnings1 and coldnesses1 sometimes far-reaching in their influences and results1 are almost necessary accompaniments to work of this character2 there are notable exceptions1 but exceptions emphasize rules4 ,really now1 how many church festivals1 fairs1 concerts1 cantatas1 ,christmas dramas1 and what not1 have you watched closely from their inception to their close1 without hearing of a jar which did more or less harm8 ,what does this prove8 ,i am not proposing to prove anything by it1 ,i am only stating certain facts4 ,also1 ,i am advocating the cause of the ,penn ,avenue ,church2 it was like unto other churches4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,if you please1 now1 go back with me to the early summer in which the first spasm of interest in regard to the library took hold of the young people4 ,the new superintendent1 unwittingly1 perhaps1 set the ball to rolling1 by remarking that the library had been closed and locked by vote of the executive committee of the school1 until such time as there were found to be any books worth giving out4 ,then1 among those who had looked at each other and shaken their heads in disapproval of such a state of things1 were the young ladies in ,mrs4 ,jones's class1--ten of them4 ,they occupied the corner down by the door1 between the door and the east window2 a corner that was cold in winter and warm in summer2 a corner that other classes shunned4 ,perhaps that will give you a hint in regard to ,mrs4 ,jones's class4 ,they were young ladies belonging to a certain clique4 ,none of them wealthy1 none of them even well-to-do1 in the sense which you probably mean by that term4 ,they represented comfortable homes1 where the fathers worked hard1 daily1 for daily needs1 where the mothers took their share of daily burdens1 where the daughters did what they could to help lighten the burdens of both4 ,for instance1 one was a sewing girl1 and went every day among the fine houses on the fashionable streets to do plain sewing4 ,another was a milliner's apprentice1 and in the busy season worked over bonnets from seven o'clock of a ,monday morning often until twelve o'clock of a ,saturday night4 ,the fact was1 she knew some of the ,penn ,avenue ,sabbath-school teachers who had their bonnets sent home in the gray dawn of the ,sabbath morning1 because they must have them for that day's worship4 ,another managed the entire culinary and kitchen department for a large family1 in order that the mother might sit all day1 and sew 7on the many garments which were brought to her1 to cut and fit1 and repair and make74 ,still another was clerk in a fancy store1 and knew much about the pretty things that less busy girls than she were fond of making4 ,two were teachers in the graded school and spent their ,saturdays in helping with the family ironing1 to relieve an over-burdened mother4 ,workers they were1 every one2 not a drone in the hive4 ,by common consent they were almost entirely counted out of the fancy department1 as they had named the young ladies' society4 ,they had not time for fancy work1 neither did they move in the same circle with the fancy workers4 ,oh1 they attended the same church1 and were on friendly enough terms with the young people1 at least with those whom they knew sufficiently to exchange bows when they met on the street2 they met nowhere else save in church4 ,i am sure you know all about those subtle1 oftentimes mysterious1 yet plainly defined1 society distinctions4 ,they are to be found in every village1 however small1 as well as in our largest cities4 ,this corner class looked at each other and shook their heads with the rest1 but they did one thing more4 ,sarah ,potter said1 ,girls1 let us do something4 ,mrs4 ,jones1 let us have a ,sabbath-school library4 ,well1 said ,mrs4 ,jones1 briskly1 heartily1 ,i'm agreed4 ,let us1 by all means4 ,then they laughed a little4 ,mrs4 ,jones was a tailoress1 and worked hard all day1 and every day1 and was devoted to her ten young ladies4 ,but ,sarah ,potter had more to say3 ,oh1 now ,i mean it4 ,it is high time something was done4 ,let us meet to-morrow evening at ,jennie's and talk it over4 ,now ,jennie was one of the ten1 and all meetings to discuss ways and means were always held at her house4 ,in fact it was the settled place of meeting for anything connected with this class4 ,it had been two years since ,jennie had met with them elsewhere than in her own room4 ,yet the class was always counted as numbering ten4 ,one glance at her pale1 bright face would have told you the story4 ,she never left her room1 nor her bed1 and looked forward now to but one way of leaving that spot1 which would be when they carried her out into the world once more1 in her coffin6 ,yet ,jennie was the strong bond of union in that class4 ,she is the class soul6 affirmed ,mrs4 ,jones in her strong and somewhat quaint language1 and the one to whom she spoke understood1 and did not controvert it4 ,workers are very apt to move promptly in whatever line they take up4 ,the next evening the ten met in ,jennie's room4 ,she was eager to receive them1 ready to further their plans to the best of her powers4 ,but had they any plans8 ,sarah began it1 they said1 she must tell us what she wants4 ,i want a new library2 and ,i say1 let's get one1 somehow4 ,very well1 ,i'll be secretary and put that down4 ,so much decided4 ',a library somehow4' ,hannah ,wood wrote the sentence in large letters1 the others gleeful meanwhile4 ,now1 ,sarah1 proceed4 ,we are all ready for the plans4 ,i haven't any plans2 only that the thing must be done4 ,it has been talked long enough4 ,yes1 ,i have plans4 ,look at the ,woman's ,board2 see how much money they are raising with ten cents a month4 ,why couldn't we draw up pledges for ten cents a month and get signers8 ,there are ten of us to work2 ten cents a month from everybody that we can wheedle into giving it4 ,a regular decimal performance4 ,circulating decimals at that1 laughed her sister4 ,think how we shall have to circulate through this town to get signers6 ,jennie1 you must be our treasurer2 we'll report to you once a month4 ,mrs4 ,jones1 won't that be nice8 ,the subject was fairly opened for discussion1 and vigorously was it discussed4 ,before the evening closed1 each of the ten had a copy of the pledge written in a fair round hand4 ,we1 the undersigned1 do pledge ourselves to give ten cents each month at the call of a person holding this paper1 for the benefit of the ,penn ,avenue ,sabbath-school ,library ,fund1 until such time as we shall ourselves erase our name from this paper4 ,and it will be one while before you get a chance to do that1 affirmed ,sarah ,potter1 reading the pledge with grave satisfaction4 ,if ever our church gets into another muddle over a library1 ,i shall be disappointed4 ,this was the beginning4 ,the girls pocketed their papers1 kissed ,jennie1 and went home4 ,thereafter1 steady1 silent work was done with these pledges4 ,the thing created scarcely a ripple on the surface of the church society4 ,the sum asked for was so small2 it was so easy to change your mind and erase your name at any time2 it was so improbable that those girls would call for so small a sum many months in succession2 it was so much easier to comply than to refuse2 people laughed and said one to another3 ,do you know what those girls in ,mrs4 ,jones's class are trying to do8 ,poor things1 they want books badly4 ,i hope they won't be old and gray before a new library is bought1 but ,i am afraid they will at that rate4 ,oh1 yes1 ,i put down my name6 ,it is a whim that will blow over very soon1 and it is just a trifle anyway4 ,very few members of the fancy department even heard of the plan2 they were busy making pincushions for the fair1 and did not often meet the other class4 ,but the original scheme widened4 ,the ten met one evening at ,jennie's call in her room2 she had a plan4 ,i've been thinking all the week1 girls1 and praying over it4 ,don't you believe we could each give an evening a week to the library8 ,oh1 dear1 yes1 two of them if there was money in it6 ,i'm becoming interested and mercenary4 ,this from ,sarah ,potter4 ,well1 why don't you each go into business8 ,why don't we what6 unbounded amazement in tone and manner4 ,go into business1 repeated ,jennie4 ,then she laughed4 ,i've been thinking1 and ,i find there is some one thing that each of you can do1 and do well2 why not get up an evening class1 one evening a week1 and give the result to the library fund8 ,bless your dear heart6 ,what an idea6 ,there isn't a thing in life that ,i know how to do6 ,yes1 there is4 ,don't you know1 ,trudie1 that you make better cake for the festivals than any of the fancy cooks8 ,people always say so1 and ,i know two girls this minute who would be delighted to learn4 ,i believe you could have a large class4 ,to learn to make cake6 ,what an idea6 ,it is a good one1 isn't it1 girls8 ,i'll tell you1 ,trudie2 ,i was praying about our library this very morning1 and ,i asked the ,heavenly ,father to give me an idea2 and just then the ,emmons girls came in2 they expect company1 and they were dreading all the work there would be to look after2 ,sadie said if it were not for cake she wouldn't mind1 but she never had success1 and it gave her the blues to think of having to attend to it4 ,just then it flashed over me this whole plan1 and ,i knew it was an answer to my prayer4 ,oh1 ,jennie1 ,jennie6 ,cake making and praying are too far apart to get mixed in that way4 ,do you really think ,god attends to such things8 ,then it was time for ,mrs4 ,jones4 ,why1 dear1 me6 she said4 ,don't you know your ,bible8 ',whether1 therefore1 ye eat or drink1 or whatsoever ye do1 do all to the glory of ,god4' ,if he is to be glorified by our work1 it is likely he knows a good deal about it4 ,you can't glorify ,god by making cake6 ,can't8 ,then ,i should like to know what business you have spending your time making it4 ,there's the direction4 ,if you can turn cake into library books1 ,trudie1 ,i should say the way was plain4 ,this from ,mary ,brooks4 ,then ,nettie ,brooks3 ,come1 ,trudie1 take your cake and move out of the way4 ,this is a splendid notion1 but what in the world can ,i do8 ,i know how to sell fancy goods1 and sort colors1 and bear all manner of impudence from ladies who tumble them over1 but ,i have no colors to sell4 ,o ,nettie1 ,i thought of you6 ,look at your lovely handwriting4 ,think of that winter when you took lessons to help the writing teacher pay her board1 and said you did not know what in the world you learned for4 ,it may be that ,god had you do it for just this time2 and1 don't you think1 ,i know three scholars for you4 ,i've had ever so many calls to-day4 ,put her down1 said ,hannah gravely4 ,she'll get scholars2 ,jennie has prayed it all out for her4 ,i know what ,i can do2 ,i can teach decimal fractions2 ,i've been at it all day1 and ,i think ,i could teach them to a post4 ,but the question is1 where is the post8 ,mr4 ,nelson is willing to send his chore boy to an evening class1 if one is started2 and ,mrs4 ,silverton is willing to send both the ,brewster boys4 ,i shall teach an evening school2 and teach decimal fractions1 and circulating decimals at that4 ,every scholar shall circulate around a new ,sabbath-school library before another year4 ,i begin to see floods of daylight4 ,do you think this scheme came to naught8 ,not in a single instance4 ,during the long winter evenings1 the cake classes1 and the soup classes1 and the writing classes1 and the dress-cutting classes and the arithmetic classes1 were busy and enthusiastic4 ,i suppose ,jennie prayed them all there1 said ,sarah ,potter1 thoughtfully1 when after a night of heavy rain they met to compare notes1 and found that all could report progress4 ,it grew to be their working motto1 ,jennie prayed us through4 ,they worked carefully2 if ,jennie was praying1 the work must match the prayer4 ,girls1 she said to them one night1 ,i've been thinking4 ,hannah1 you dear child1 ,bud says he begins to understand how to divide2 he thought he would never know4 ,he said the carrying business bothered him always1 until last night you made it as plain as day4 ,can't you teach him how to carry himself over bodily into the service of the ,lord8 ,said ,hannah1 with amused voice1 but tearful eyes1 ,o you blessed little fraction6 ,i'll try6 ,i truly will4 ,we must all try hard1 ,jennie said4 ,it is ,god's chance for us each4 ,it grows on me4 ,the library will come2 ,i feel sure of that1 but so much else will come if we teach for ,his glory4 ,o girls1 it is blessed to work for ,him6 ,i cannot do it1 and over again1 but ,i am glad to say over and over again1 ',they also serve who only stand and wait4' ,i can only lie and wait1 but ,i pray for the workers4 ,ah1 said ,hannah1 foolish child6 ,she doesn't see that she is the hub1 and we nothing but the spokes in the wheel6 ,they went home strengthened4 ,there was more to do than merely to secure a ,sabbath-school library2 and there was more done4 ,it was about this time that the fancy department counted over its nineteen dollars and two cents1 and wept6 ,well1 the winter hasted away2 spring came and passed1 and the workers worked steadily1 quietly on4 ,almost anything that takes a year to do is done quietly4 ,the mere surface talkers always get through talking1 early in the year1 and conclude that because they are tired of the subject it has1 therefore1 dropped4 ,very few people even took time to notice the regularity with which their pledge was presented to them and their ten cents claimed4 ,those who noticed it said1 with a patronizing1 and somewhat pitying1 smile3 ,so you are not tired of that little effort of yours yet1 eh8 ,it reminds me of the old fable of the bird trying to carry away the sand on the seashore4 ,well1 every little helps1 and ,i am sure every effort is commendable4 ,our library is certainly a disgrace4 ,this class1 having encouraged 787 the workers1 calmly shouldered the disgrace1 and went on their way thinking no more about it4 ,and the ten-cent pieces accumulated4 ,new names were constantly added4 ,most of ,nettie ,brooks's customers in the fancy store signed to please her1 she was so accommodating they all liked her4 ,the high school girls signed because ,miss ,wood was interested in it1 and all the scholars liked ,miss ,wood4 ,and a whole army of people signed because poor ,jennie1 lying always on her white bed1 was pleased to have them1 and it was very little to do for one so afflicted4 ,this same ,jennie1 as the days went by1 and the little iron bank in which she kept her money grew full1 and must needs be emptied again1 had another plan1 which involved taking the minister into confidence4 ,so one day1 a little before the spring opened1 he came and sat by ,jennie's couch1 and they talked long together4 ,and at the next meeting of the ,decimals1 which by tacit consent had come to be considered their pet name1 he was present2 and there was more talking1 and the minister's wife and the minister's mother were received into confidence4 ,not long thereafter came an express package to the minister's door--books2 but nobody thought anything of that1 ministers were always buying books4 ,there was a certain upper room in the parsonage1 clean and sunny1 and destitute of furniture1 save shelves and chairs4 ,the shelves had been crowded with newspapers1 but one day they gathered themselves into systematic bundles and took their silent way to the attic2 they had been superseded4 ,the shelves were dusted and treated to a row of new books in tasteful bindings4 ,thereafter the ,decimals spent many leisure moments in the upper room of the parsonage1 admiring books4 ,people wondered1 occasionally1 why those girls in ,mrs4 ,jones's class were running to the parsonage so much4 ,mrs4 ,marshall ,powers explained the mystery by saying she supposed the pastor and his wife were trying to get an influence over girls of that class4 ,the pastor heard it and laughed1 and said to his wife that the fact was girls of that class were getting a great influence over him2 he wished they were multiplied in every church in a tenfold ratio4 ,and the days passed1 and more express packages came2 and on one or two occasions certain packages went back again1 for the committee on selection was very choice1 and very cautious4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,there came a day toward the close of summer when the ,penn ,avenue ,church called a congregational meeting4 ,the object thereof was to discuss--not a ,sabbath-school library1 their hopes in that direction had sunk below zero4 ,neither the fancy department nor the choir would venture a pincushion or a song4 ,not a matron could be coaxed to offer suggestion4 ,nobody dare say cake or oysters aloud4 ,the subject under discussion was a new carpet for the church parlor4 ,one was sadly needed2 indeed1 no more church socials could be held until the parlor was re-furnished1 because no matron could be found who would preside as hostess4 ,it was voted to secure means for a carpet forthwith4 ,then did the chairman of the library committee delight the hearts of the carpet committee by announcing that they had unanimously voted to place the funds raised toward a new library in the hands of the carpet committee to use at their discretion1 inasmuch as there was no present prospect of a library1 and the amount raised would be such a trifle compared with what would have been needed for that purpose4 ,then arose a cloud that presaged a storm4 ,the funds were raised for the purpose of securing a library4 ,what right had this committee to vote them away8 ,could they not be placed in the bank until such time as the needed amount was secured1 and then used for their legitimate purpose8 ,tongues were numerous now1 and waxed eloquent2 differences of opinion were marked1 and were urged with energy4 ,the cloud1 at first1 no bigger than a man's hand1 bade fair to spread over all the congregation1 and involve them in a party squall4 ,then up rose the pastor2 the long weeks of silent action were over2 the time for speech-making had come4 ,it was true that the funds under discussion had been raised toward the purchase of a new library2 it was also true that without a general vote to that effect the committee would not be justified in turning those funds into another channel4 ,at this point the belligerents who desired a new carpet1 and meant to have it at once1 looked disgusted and the belligerents who desired a new library1 and meant to have one sometime1 if they could get it1 looked complacently defiant1 and affirmed with nodding heads that they should never1 no1 never1 vote away that sum of money for any other purpose under the sun6 ,but the pastor had more to say2 also he had something to do4 ,the congregational meeting was held in the ,sabbath-school room1 and just behind the pastor was the great handsome library case1 closed and unoccupied for many a day2 for1 to the honor of the ,penn ,avenue church1 be it written1 they had not left the old library to lie in dust on the shelves1 but had selected1 and mended1 and re-covered1 such of the books as were deemed worthy of being missionaries1 and freighted them to a ,western ,sabbath-school4 ,that was accomplished during the pincushion and tidy fever1 when expectation ran high over the immediate prospect of re-peopling those library shelves2 but1 as you are aware1 the hopes centered on fairs and festivals had been vain1 and the library shelves were vacant and dust-covered4 ,so thought every person in that church that afternoon save ten4 ,i have something to show you1 said the pastor1 and1 as if by magic1 those handsome doors swung open1 revealing rows upon rows of books unmistakably new1 handsomely bound1 delightfully large1 many of them4 ,tier upon tier they rose4 ,it took but little arithmetic for those familiar with the library case to discover that there must certainly be more than three hundred books4 ,three hundred and forty-five6 said the pastor1 reading the mathematical calculations all over the room4 ,handsomely bound1 and he took one in his hand2 duly marked and numbered1 and he opened to the fly-leaf and read3 ',penn ,avenue ,sabbath-,school ,library4 ,no4 #g4' ,what did it mean8 ,where did they come from8 ,how were they obtained8 ,nobody spoke1 yet these sentences seemed to float all over the room1 so distinctly were they written on the sea of eager faces4 ,i can tell you about them1 said the pastor4 ,yes1 they are new1 every one of them1 and they are ours if we vote to accept them4 ,i have very little doubt but that we will accept them1 for they were bought by our own money which we had deliberately and in sound mind dedicated to that purpose4 ,he further explained that the money was procured by a system of decimal notation not so thoroughly understood as it ought to be2 it had long been known that ten times one were ten1 but the power of the number ten divided into tenths1 and circulating freely and repeating themselves after the peculiar manner of decimals1 was not generally understood or appreciated4 ,we were indebted to the rising generation for many things1 and not the least among them1 in this church hereafter1 would1 he thought1 be the exposition of the power of circulating decimals4 ,had the pastor suddenly become insane8 ,what in the world was he talking about6 ,the opposing forces forgot their opposition and were lost in a common curiosity4 ,why were people looking over to those girls in ,mrs4 ,jones's class8 ,what had they to do with it8 ,hark6 ,the pastor was speaking again4 ,he had forgotten certain statements that he was to make4 ,one was1 that these books were not evolved from cake and pickles1 nor yet from tidies and slippers2 but were the representatives of the value of systematic offerings1 and systematic work done by individuals and individually devoted to this cause4 ,another was a request that1 for reasons which would be better understood in the future than they now were1 the library be named the ,jennie ,stuart ,library4 ,and still another was the announcement that1 as the library pledges held good until the signers erased their own names1 the collectors would still continue their duties1 hoping1 by this means1 to render any future leanness of library shelves an impossibility in ,penn ,avenue ,church4 ,light was beginning to dawn1 albeit it was still much obscured by fog4 ,the ,jennie ,stuart ,library4 ,she was one of ,mrs4 ,jones's girls4 ,decimals--one1 two1 three--well1 there were just ten of them2 it had not been noticed before4 ,but how could they have secured such a library as that8 ,could it be possible that that little ten-cent affair of theirs had grown to such dimensions6 ,i suppose it is needless to tell you that the threatened storm blew over1 and smiles and congratulatory speeches ruled the hour4 ,the decimal class received a vote of thanks1 which overwhelmed them with blushes2 their suggestions were adopted by a unanimous vote4 ,penn ,avenue rose to the acknowledgment of the fact that the only proper way to manage a ,sabbath-school library was to have a standing committee to supply and add new books1 in monthly installments4 ,of course the opposition to the appropriation for the new carpet was withdrawn1 and gracefully1 too4 ,everybody was willing to have a new carpet4 ,everybody shook hands with everybody1 and congratulated themselves and the world generally1 and said1 ,who would have thought that such trifling subscriptions would amount to anything6 ,and they were sure those girls deserved a great deal of credit2 and who were they1 anyway8 ,it is true that ,mrs4 ,marshall ,powers said it was a queer way to manage business6 ,and there ought to have been a committee of selection4 ,she was sure she hoped the books were worth reading6 ,but even she was almost satisfied when she had examined them4 ,and so1 at last1 ,penn ,avenue ,church had a new library4 ,we have lost our motive power1 said the girls1 laughing a little1 as they met together in the evening to talk things over4 ,i'm afraid1 said one1 it will be humdrum work now4 ,it was such fun to ask people for their ten cents and see some of them look bored1 and some look like martyrs1 suffering1 in order that we might learn the folly that was in us4 ,yes1 said another1 now that it is all out1 and the glorification has begun1 ,i shall grow tired and ashamed of collecting money4 ,there will be so much said1 and so many questions to answer4 ,i'm almost sorry we promised to continue4 ,oh1 you wretches6 said ,mrs4 ,jones4 ,what is the use in being sorry about anything1 when ,susy ,perkins has learned to make cake and keep her temper in the bargain2 and ,alice ,burns can make her own dresses1 and means to work for something besides her own self hereafter2 and poor ,bud is going to join the church to-morrow1 and be a minister for anything you know8 ,the library is the very least of it1 you ungrateful creatures6 ,the girls laughed again1 but with tender notes in the laughter4 ,oh6 ,we know it1 they said with shining eyes2 that part of it is lovely1 and we are glad to go on4 ,but we are afraid the library business will grow commonplace after this4 ,we must ask ,jennie to give us something that will lift it up4 ,dear1 thoughtless girls6 ,even then was preparing that which would forever lift the ,penn ,avenue ,library above the commonplace6 ,it was only the next afternoon that they were summoned1 the class and their teacher and the pastors to ,jennie's room to meet a guest whose presence has power to hush all other interests4 ,the ,king of ,terrors he has been named2 but there was no shadow of terror anywhere about that room1 least of all on the peaceful face of the one who lay on her white couch1 with a spray of late blossoming roses in her hand4 ,yet they had gathered to say good-by4 ,the circle was to be broken2 the central figure1 as they loved to call her1 had been called4 ,they were very still2 there was no sound of weeping in the room4 ,tears would have seemed out of place in view of the shining of that face on the couch4 ,girls1 she said1 breaking the hush2 she was not looking at them2 her eyes were resting on a heavy gold band which encircled her finger4 ,girls1 ,i have been thinking-- the same simple words with which she had been wont to preface her sweet and helpful thoughts to them during all the days gone by4 ,it struck them like a knell4 ,was it possible that this might be the last time8 ,i have not been sure about this ring until to-day4 ,there was a time when ,i thought to take it into the grave with me2 but why should my poor worn-out body be decked with a ring8 ,it will not need it in the resurrection morning2 ,i will not let this ring lie in the dust and wait4 ,i will leave it to work1 while ,i go away to rest4 ,girls1 some of you knew ,kent ,pierson8 ,you did1 ,nannie8 ,yes1 and you all know he is in ,africa to-day1 working for ,christ4 ,but you did not know that ,i was to go out to him1 did you8 ,when he put this ring on my finger ,i thought ,i would surely be well enough to go in another year4 ,but ,i am going to ,heaven instead1 and ,i have been thinking that our ring should do some of my work for ,africa4 ,will you take it1 girls1 and change it into books for the library8 ,books about the needs of the heathen8 and the work of the missionaries1 and tell all the boys and girls who read them that those books are ,kent ,pierson's voice1 calling them to service8 ,the tears came then1 and low sobbing4 ,not from fair ,jennie2 her eyes were bright and her face smiling4 ,don't cry1 she said gently1 you need not2 for me1 you know1 all the bitterness is passed4 ,i am too near home to cry4 ,i suppose it will be hard for ,kent for a little while1 but then1 it will soon be over1 and ,heaven is as near to ,africa as it is to you4 ,they kissed her silently that day--their voices were not to be trusted--and went out softly1 as from the guest chamber of the royal palace4 ,nearer they were to the invisible presence than they had known4 ,that very night1 or ever she was aware1 ,jennie saw the shining of ,his face4 ,no noise1 or sound of wings1 or rush of music1 at least so far as those left behind can tell3 ,they watched her breathing through the night1 ,her breathing soft and low1 ,as in her breast the wave of life ,kept heaving to and fro4 ,their very hopes belied their fears1 ,their fears their hopes belied4 ,they thought her dying when she slept1 ,and sleeping when she died4 ,the plain gold band was exchanged for books1 and it came to pass that an upper shelf in the ,penn ,avenue library was cleared and held as sacred ground for those five books4 ,never had books been more carefully chosen than these1 and as the pastor marked them1 ,the ,kent ,pierson ,library1 presented by ,jennie ,stuart1 gone to ,heaven1 he almost wondered whether there hovered over him angel witnesses to see whether his part of the commission were well done4 ,it lies around us like a cloud1 ,the world we cannot see4 ,one of the five1 the first in the row1 was that wonderful record of a consecrated life1 ,crowned in ,palm-,land2 and the pastor1 as he read the sweet1 and simple1 and unutterably pathetic story of that life of love and service1 and finally of that lonely death1 with not a human eye to watch the last triumph of faith as the feet touched the valley of the shadow1 felt that such a book would do faithful work for ,jennie and for ,africa4 ,barely five days after ,jennie had been laid to rest in the hillside ,cemetery that consecrated book began its work for foreign missions1 the story of which can only be told when we all meet where they will never say foreign missions any more1 because the foreigners will have become fellow-citizens4 ,there are ten of us still1 said the girls1 looking through tears at the consecrated upper shelf4 ,jennie is working with us4 ,and they felt1 every one1 that the ,penn ,avenue library had received its lifting up4 ,,fishing ,,for ,,phil4 ------ ,,chapter ,i4 ,,she1 ,daisy1 knelt upstairs in front of the window1 looking down on the snowy street4 ,a pretty picture she made1 framed in the frosty window1 her fresh young breath making fancy shapes of the frost-work4 ,a brown head1 crowned with masses of hair of that peculiar shade of brown which makes you think when you look at it on a cloudy day1 that the sun is certainly shining somewhere and rippling those waves of hair with gold4 ,it was not banged2 it was not even frizzed4 ,daisy's mother belonged to that class1 of which there are a few rare specimens still extant1 who liked neither style1 and ,daisy herself belonged to that possibly still rarer class of girls1 who liked above all things to dress to please her mother4 ,there had been an attempt to make the brown hair lie in smooth and glossy bands1 but ,nature had been too much for the owner4 ,the hair escaped1 and waved and frizzed itself to that inimitable way which is so very pretty and becoming1 and of which all the hair-pin efforts are such exasperating imitations4 ,brown eyes under the hair1 large1 bright1 sweet1 sad or grave1 according to the mood of the wearer4 ,eyes which changed with the changing expression1 and seemed to do much of the speaking4 ,for the rest1 you may imagine her4 ,there was a clear complexion2 there was a sweet mouth and rosy cheeks4 ,there are a great many such girls1 and yet they lack the something which1 shining in ,daisy's face1 made the looker want to turn and look again1 and half smile1 in sympathy with the charm lingering there4 ,what is it8 ,who shall describe it8 ,i fancy it is one of the ways in which the soul looks out from its prison-house of clay4 ,yet who will undertake to describe a soul8 ,she was looking down and smiling at1 and bowing to ,phil on the street below1 while he tarried in the frosty air to execute a series of bows1 extravagant in their burlesque of profound respect2 also he was at intervals tossing up delicate balls of the soft snow1 which it amused him to see her dodge1 though the glass protected her from their touch4 ,throw up the sash1 he shouted1 and crown your hair with ermine6 ,but she shook her head merrily1 albeit there was a wistful look in her eye1 and she would have liked nothing better than to have gone down1 coated and mittened1 and had a snow-frolic in the street4 ,had it been some friendly back-yard1 instead of one of the public thoroughfares1 or had they been seven and ten1 instead of seventeen and twenty1 she would have gone in a minute4 ,and then she gave one of those flitting sighs to her happy past1 which is all that a happy girl of seventeen ever troubles herself about her past4 ,she sighed again1 though1 and her face grew grave with a sweet1 sad gravity1 born of something deeper than the desire for a snow-frolic2 and as she looked after the handsome young fellow1 who had used up his brief space of time in fun1 and was now striding rapidly toward the bank1 to get there before the clock struck nine1 she said aloud1 and wistfully3 ,if ,i could only coax him to go with me6 ,it might be a beginning of something better4 ,it would certainly be better than what he is doing now4 ,mr4 ,easton is so interesting2 ,i am almost certain he would enjoy it if he could once form the habit of going4 ,not all of this aloud4 ,after the first slow1 wistful sentence1 she went over the rest in her own thoughts1 as she had done often and often before1 and advanced no farther toward a solution2 for her face did not clear as she arose and went about arranging the ribbons and laces in her drawer4 ,there was need for anxious thought4 ,at least1 so it seemed to ,daisy ,morris1 ,phil's cousin1 and so it seemed to ,aunt ,mattie1 ,phil's mother4 ,aunt and niece had spent hours already in serious talk over the possibilities and dangers of this young man4 ,he used to be such a good boy1 would ,aunt ,mattie say1 with a sigh1 and then hasten to correct herself3 ,not but that he is a good boy now1 so devoted to his mother and sister1 so careful of their comfort6 ,there isn't a better boy in the city in all such ways2 but you know what ,i mean4 ,he used to go to church as regularly as ,i do1 and to ,sabbath-school4 ,i have a box full of reward cards which he received in the school for perfect lessons when he was a little boy2 and he used to go to prayer meeting1 too1 and seemed to like to go2 his father would often remark on its being unusual in such a little fellow4 ,but he fell in with those unfortunate companions1 and little by little the change came4 ,why1 he had stayed at home from church for five or six successive weeks before ,i realized it6 ,there always seemed to be a good reason2 and now he only goes occasionally of an evening1 and as for ,sabbath-school1 he seems to be disgusted with the very thought of it6 ,every ,sabbath1 he goes out for a walk1 or sometimes a ride1 with a party of young men who are far from being of the sort that a mother would choose for her son's companions1 and he goes less and less to church1 even in the evenings4 ,since ,mr4 ,easton has come here1 ,i have tried very hard to induce ,phil to go to ,sabbath-school4 ,i thought if he would but go once into that ,bible class1 he would be attracted2 for ,mr4 ,easton has such a winning way with young men1 and ,phil is so intellectual1 that he could not fail to be pleased4 ,we have done our best1 ,blanche and ,i1 but he seems fully resolved upon having nothing to do with ,sunday-school in any form4 ,i am so disappointed6 ,for ,i had really counted a great deal on ,mr4 ,easton's influence1 but of course he can't do anything so long as ,phil avoids him4 ,my dear1 there is another thing on which ,i am counting now1 and that is your influence over ,phil4 ,if you can induce him to go to ,sunday-school once1 to please you1 ,i believe that a good deal would be accomplished4 ,and you know boys will often do for a young and pretty cousin what they will not even for a mother4 ,this is only a general view of the numerous talks which had been held on the same subject since ,daisy ,morris had come from her distant home to visit ,aunt ,hattie ,hurst4 ,many particulars had been added from time to time1 and ,daisy's quick eyes had seen some things of which she did not speak to either mother or sister4 ,she believed that her handsome young cousin was in more danger than his own family realized4 ,she know that the cigarettes which he smoked grew daily more numerous1 and she had once or twice detected the odor of wine about him1 and had been frightened over a certain gay recklessness which was unlike his usual courtesy4 ,she believed that1 while the restraints of a business life and the responsibility of standing somewhat1 at least1 in his dead father's place1 held him in check during the week1 the freedom of ,sunday and the influence of his chosen friends were dragging him downward faster than his mother knew4 ,she had tried hard to use her influence in the right direction2 but while she certainly had influence with him1 it was not strong enough to draw him to church or to the ,sabbath-school4 ,since ,daisy had made acquaintance with the new pastor1 ,mr4 ,easton1 and joined his ,bible ,class1 she had begun to share her aunt's almost superstitious belief that if ,phil could only be gotten under that man's influence1 great things would be accomplished4 ,but it was just that man's influence which he seemed determined to avoid4 ,only the ,sabbath before had ,daisy spent the entire morning coaxing and arguing1 being gayly answered by her quick-witted cousin2 she alternately hopeful and fearful2 but so earnest had been her effort and her prayer1 that hope had really predominated until she saw him drive away from the door with one of his friends1 just as she was tying her ribbons in a flutter of haste to catch him and make one last effort4 ,after that she sat down in a little heap before her window and cried1 and told herself that it was of no use1 she had done all she could4 ,no wonder that on this ,saturday morning she sighed when the young man was gone4 ,last evening the odor of wine had been distinct about him1 and the wildness which his mother called good spirits1 ,daisy believed meant danger in a more terrible form than the mother had even thought of as yet4 ,a succession of low1 rapid1 impatient knocks sounded at her door1 and almost before she could answer1 her ,cousin ,blanche flitted in4 ,a marked contrast to ,daisy was this ,cousin ,blanche4 ,not that her hair was not brown1 and her cheeks rosy1 and her whole face full of sparkle2 pretty she was1 decidedly1 if she had kept her hair out of her eyes1 which1 when fully dressed1 she never did4 ,and there was a certain pleasure in looking at her4 ,she took life in all its forms1 even its forms of care such as touched her1 with a sort of joyish abandon4 ,yet ,i think if you understood girls1 you would have looked at her again1 and sighed4 ,there was such a chance to fade2 you felt that she would fade1 perhaps1 with the first storm4 ,you could not find what there was in ,daisy's face that looked as though it might glow even amidst the storm1 and certainly shine serene and sweet after the fierceness of storm was past4 ,she was in full flutter of excitement this morning1 and caught at ,daisy and whirled her about the room until the child was breathless1 and her hair blown in waves into her wondering eyes1 before there was an explanation of her mood4 ,oh1 ,daisy1 ,daisy1 ,i have such good1 splendid news for you6 ,what do you think ,phil says8 ,we've been talking with him1 mamma and ,i1 and he promised2 he actually promised6 ,daisy1 do you hear8 ,and when ,philip ,hurst promises anything1 it is as good as done4 ,what did he say8 ,this from ,daisy1 her cheeks like two blush roses1 and the shadow gone4 ,why1 he said he would go to ,sabbath-school with you to-morrow1 and go into ,mr4 ,easton's class1 and stay through the entire session1 if we would get you to do something for him4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,oh1 ,i'll do it6 said ,daisy1 with a happy little laugh1 her eyes shining1 ,i'm ready to do anything4 ,i'll go down on ,madison ,square and snowball with him if he says so4 ,i told ,phil you would do it1 and it isn't such a very dreadful thing to do1 ,daisy ,morris4 ,i know girls1 plenty of them1 who would jump at the chance4 ,he wants you to go to ,dorrance ,hall with him this evening4 ,it will be just lovely6 ,i promised ,harry ,i would go1 and ,i wanted you along all the time4 ,the smile and the brightness faded together1 and the shadow returned4 ,daisy's voice was low1 almost tremulous4 ,her disappointment was great4 ,blanche dear1 ,i don't go to the theatre1 you know4' ,i know you don't1 and no more do ,i--at least1 not often2 but this is a special occasion2 everybody goes4 ,they say the characters are perfectly wonderful6 ,it isn't like these miserable travelling troupes generally4 ,everything is first-class1 and they say the principal actress is a lovely woman4 ,besides1 why1 ,daisy1 ,i'm sure you will not hesitate4 ,think of ,phil's promise4 ,you said you would do anything4 ,the tone was reproachful1 and ,daisy felt it4 ,i meant anything that is right1 she made answer1 speaking low4 ,well1 of course1 ,i would not ask you to do anything wrong2 at least1 mamma would not4 ,i think you may trust her1 if you cannot me4 ,i tell you this is very different from an ordinary theatre2 everybody goes4 ,the same company was here last winter1 and you ought to have seen the crowded houses6 ,the very best people in the city4 ,why1 ,mrs4 ,schuyler ,van ,vorst went three nights in succession1 and so did her husband1 and he is an officer in our church4 ,blanche1 did ,mr4 ,easton go8 ,mr4 ,easton6 ,what an idea6 ,of course not6 ,public opinion doesn't exactly approve of ministers going to such places1 though ,i am sure ,i don't see why2 and ,i think it is mean1 too4 ,if ,i were a minister1 ,i would not stand it4 ,i think he has as good a right to go as anybody else4 ,so do ,i1 declared ,daisy significantly4 ,but ,blanche made haste with her arguments3 ,but ,i don't care1 ,daisy1 whether you ever go to a theatre again in your life--you needn't if you don't want to--if you will only go to-night4 ,think how much is at stake4 ,we have been coaxing ,phil for so long1 and mother is almost discouraged4 ,you said yourself last ,sunday that you had given up all hope of his going to ,sabbath-school2 and here the matter is in your own hands4 ,you can't think how delighted mamma is6 ,she says she knows ,mr4 ,easton will fascinate him right away4 ,how came ,phil to make such a condition as that8 ,he has asked me before to go to a theatre1 and he knew just what ,i thought4 ,oh1 well2 but you see1 he feels like everybody else1 that such a theatre as this is an exception4 ,he says it is the very fact that you have never been1 which makes him want to take you4 ,he wants to see what the effect of the scenery1 and the costumes1 and everything1 would be on one who sees it all for the first time4 ,then he says you have great talent in the way of personating people in dialogue1 and he wants to see how it will affect you to hear it done in its perfection4 ,he said it would be as good as a play to watch your face1 and he added some very complimentary things about your eyes and cheeks1 which you will not mind since you are his cousin4 ,oh1 ,daisy ,morris1 ,i know you will go6 ,you would never be so cruel as to disappoint us4 ,mamma began to plan at once about your dress4 ,she hopes you will wear that wine-colored silk1 with plenty of white about it4 ,that dress ought to be trimmed with ermine for such occasions1 ,daisy4 ,oh1 dear6 mamma's calling me4 ,daisy was not sorry for this4 ,her brain was in a whirl4 ,she needed to be alone4 ,ermine trimming suggested the handsome face that had been raised to hers in petition to crown her hair with ermine4 ,he knew she looked pretty in red and white4 ,she knew it herself4 ,her wine-colored dress was lovely4 ,but she put it firmly from her thoughts4 ,here was a question to be decided1 with which it ought to have nothing to do4 ,seventeen years spent in a city1 and she had never attended a theatre4 ,it was by no means for lack of opportunity4 ,it was because of what some people called the narrowness of her environments4 ,it was at first because mother and father never went1 and did not approve4 ,it was because1 afterward1 she adopted their views and feelings1 and did not desire to go4 ,many had been her invitations1 but here came her first great temptation4 ,not for herself1 but for this young cousin whom she admired1 whom she thought was in danger2 for his mother1 who was troubled1 and who looked to her for help4 ,ought she to yield her scruples on this occasion8 ,she need not change her view2 she need never go again4 ,she could tell ,phil frankly that she was going in order to secure the fulfillment of his promise1 and for no other reason4 ,while the question was still in chaos1 came her ,aunt ,mattie1 with radiant face4 ,illustration3 ,,daisy ,,cannot ,,decide ,,in ,,favor ,,of ,,the ,,theatre4 ,our little girl has caught him in her snare1 she said1 kissing ,daisy tenderly4 ,the naughty boy declared to me only two months ago that he could not think of any inducement strong enough to make him submit to the boredom of an hour in ,sunday-school2 and here1 for the sake of witnessing the innocent delight of his pretty cousin over new sights and sounds1 he is willing to pledge himself4 ,you must look your very prettiest to-night1 my dear4 ,but1 ,aunt ,mattie1 you know what mamma and papa think about these things2 and how ,i have been brought up to feel4 ,whereupon her ,aunt ,mattie kissed her again4 ,yes1 dear child1 ,i know4 ,your mother and ,i had the same bringing up1 and we thought very much alike2 and your uncle was fully in sympathy with such views2 but he died before his children became of an age to modify them in the least2 and your father and mother have been blessed with one dear child who imbibed their views so early that they have had no need to make sacrifices on her account2 but there is a great difference in children4 ,neither ,blanche nor ,phil thought as ,i do about these things1 though ,i brought them up4 ,and1 indeed1 my views1 as ,i said1 have been somewhat modified4 ,i do not approve of the indiscriminate theatre any more than ,i ever did1 nor of frequent attendance4 ,but occasionally1 when there is a strictly moral play1 presented by artists of acknowledged worth1 ,i have found it necessary to let my children go2 and ,i have1 once or twice1 yielded to ,phil's coaxing1 and gone myself4 ,aunt ,mattie1 it is ,saturday evening4 ,i know1 my dear1 and that part ,i regret4 ,i do not1 by any means1 consider it the best preparation for the ,sabbath2 but the occasion1 you know1 is exceptional4 ,it is this evening1 or not at all1 for this play2 and ,i thought you would not mind making your little sacrifice for ,phil's sake1 when there may be so much at stake4 ,after that1 ,daisy was glad at the coming of callers who took her aunt to the parlor1 and left her alone4 ,she must think4 ,what was her duty8 ,what would mamma and papa say8 ,it was certainly an exceptional case2 she had never heard the line of argument which would have helped her to answer her aunt and cousin4 ,she1 too1 believed that ,mr4 ,easton's influence over her handsome and brilliant young cousin would be invaluable1 and she knew only too well how much he needed influencing4 ,ought she not to help1 when the way was plainly opened to her8 ,this was an exceptional play2 she knew enough about the theatre to be sure of it4 ,she did not fear hearing or seeing what would cause her to blush4 ,her pretty new dress was all ready to wear to some place demanding a brilliant costume4 ,her aunt would be bitterly disappointed if she failed her4 ,perhaps1 just for this once1 she ought to go4 ,slowly1 almost reluctantly1 she came to this decision2 but she opened the little box of delicate laces1 and let herself think3 ,if ,i should go1 ,i wonder if this1 or this1 would look the prettiest8 ,she opened her glove-box1 and wondered whether she ought to get new kids4 ,oh1 there was her darling little hand-painted bouquet-holder4 ,phil ought to get her some lovely flowers to wear in it to-night4 ,she wondered if he would think of it4 ,she reached down into the box for the pretty toy1 and her hand touched a little book in a plain gray paper cover4 ,what was this8 ,oh1 she remembered2 papa had brought it home on the evening before her departure1 and had said3 ,there is something for you to study at your leisure1 daughter4 ,i don't know that you need it2 but it is well for every ,christian to be prepared to give a reason for his opinions4 ,she had thanked him1 and kissed him1 and dropped the book into the box she was packing1 and had not thought of it since4 ,there had been no occasion to go to the bottom of this particular box before4 ,now she drew it out1 and felt startled and flushed over the title3 ,plain ,talks ,about the ,theatre4 ,could this be mere chance8 ,she hesitated but a moment1 then closed the drawer and sat resolutely down with the little gray book4 ,certainly1 if ever she needed any plain talk about the theatre1 it was now4 ,there was much to read2 much that was new and startling to this young girl4 ,the statements made there1 coming from the honored minister whose name she well knew1 were such as to make the glow on her cheek something to notice and remember4 ,still1 they all had to do with the regular drama1 and not those occasional and exceptional plays such as were being performed by a rare company in this little city4 ,could there not be such things as exceptions1 which even a ,christian might be justified in enjoying8 ,wait2 what was this8 ,she bent her brown head lower over the page1 and read the keen1 clear-cut sentences3 ,what if it be also true that this dark programme of the theatre is padded here and there with the so-called standard drama1 to win the countenance and patronage of the most respectable and decent6 ,i do not need to be told that to some extent it wins them4 ,but neither do you need to be told1 moral and ,christian men and women1 of decent and cleanly homes1 thus drawn to see an exceptional play of high and chaste form and tone1 that you are quoted and paraded as friends and supporters of the establishment--an establishment1 three fourths or nine tenths of whose influence is pernicious and poisonous4 ,your patronage goes to swell the receipts of1 and to give countenance to1 the house whose common and most characteristic features are an offense to purity1 to religion and to ,god4 ,the gray book dropped from her hands and slid to the floor4 ,the young girl put both hands up to her flushed forehead1 and pushed back the masses of hair4 ,then she spoke four words1 fraught with intense and far-reaching meaning1 ,i want to pray1 and dropped upon her knees4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,during the afternoon1 the handsome house in ,lincoln ,place was filled with uncomfortable and disappointed people4 ,daisy1 the bright and generally-yielding cousin1 was quiet and gentle1 but firm as a rock in her decision to attend no theatre1 either on that evening or any other4 ,she had tried to present her arguments to ,aunt ,mattie and to ,blanche1 but neither mother nor daughter was in the mood to be reached by argument4 ,the former had silenced her young guest by coldly referring to the tendency of the times1 which led young people to fancy themselves wiser than their elders1 even in matters of morals and religion1 and the latter had only that unanswerable reply1 ',oh1 fiddlesticks6' to make to any form of argument4 ,matters had not improved by the six o'clock dinner hour4 ,daisy watched for and waylaid ,phil in the hall1 and dashed eagerly into her subject without introduction3 ,oh1 ,phil1 ,i am sorry2 but ,i can't do what you want1 because ,i don't think it is right4 ,i don't approve of any sort of theatre1 and ,i cannot1 of course1 attend one2 yet you know ,i would do anything to please you that ,i could4 ,but ,phil had been cold1 too1 and had replied with dignity that he was sorry he was supposed to desire to take her to improper places2 that she must1 at least1 give him the credit of not intending anything wrong4 ,and to her earnest attempts at explanation1 had finally answered in his usual tone of gayety that it was all right2 of course1 he did not want to take her where she did not want to go1 and that he had expected no other answer to his invitation1 which was what had made him so willing to give the promise that ,blanche had been ridiculous enough to claim4 ,then they had gone in to dinner2 and all through the dinner hour ,phil had been ceremoniously polite1 and the other members of the family had been noticeably silent4 ,at last the mother broached the sore topic3 ,my son1 will you be willing to take your old mother for a companion this evening8 ,i suppose it is too late for you to make pleasanter plans2 and while you know it is not my custom to go out on ,saturday evening1 yet there is no sacrifice ,i am not ready to make1 and no place where ,i am not ready to go1 if it will give my boy any pleasure4 ,then had ,phil arched his eyebrows slightly1 but answered promptly that it would give him great pleasure to attend her1 if she would really like to go2 but he hoped there would be no martyrs on his account1 as he was not absolutely dependent upon the theatre that evening for occupation2 or1 for the matter of that1 he could go alone4 ,it was finally decided1 however1 that the mother would accompany him1 and she made her young guest miserable with elaborate excuses for leaving her alone4 ,under ordinary circumstances1 she would not think of such a thing1 and the theatre was the last place where she cared to go2 but she desired above all things to help ,phil to find always his companionship at home1 and dreaded above all things his seeking doubtful acquaintances under the impulse of a sore feeling of repulse from those whose society he had imagined he could command4 ,with a swelling heart1 and eyes that wanted constantly to brim with tears1 did the young ,daisy go through with the trials of the early evening4 ,she arranged the flowers in ,blanche's frizzed hair1 and the bows of her sash1 and buttoned her kids1 and attended to all the little details of that particular young lady's toilet2 and folded her aunt's shawl1 and held her fan and gloves1 and went herself to the door with them1 to see the carriage roll away1 leaving her to solitude4 ,after that she cried1 but not long4 ,then she wrote a cheery letter to her mother1 saying not a word of theatre or loneliness4 ,then she read a little more in the gray book1 and went from that to her ,bible1 choosing words that matched the thoughts of her heart1 beginning1 ,wherefore1 come out from among them1 and be ye separate2 and from that she went to her knees4 ,her face was peaceful when she at last began to prepare for rest2 and she even hummed a sweet1 tender tune1 breaking once into language3 ,father1 ,i know that all my life ,is portioned out by thee2 ,and the trials that will surely come1 ,i do not fear to see4 ,but ,i ask thee for a present mind1 ,intent on serving thee4 ,it proved the next morning that the week had been too much for ,phil4 ,he did not come to breakfast1 and sent word that he meant to rest until afternoon4 ,from the lunch table1 at noon1 he was summoned to see some friends in the parlor4 ,there1 said the mother1 with an air and tone of general reproach1 ,i was going to advise you1 ,blanche1 to remain from ,sabbath-school1 and try to entertain your brother this afternoon4 ,sabbath-schools and everything else sink in importance compared with the effort to keep a soul from going astray4 ,now those miserable fellows have come for him1 and he will be away with them all the afternoon4 ,i knew there was some special scheme for to-day1 which made me doubly anxious that ,phil should be rescued from them2 but it is too late now4 ,the tone and manner of the speaker made poor ,daisy feel like a criminal who had deliberately led her ,cousin ,phil to his ruin4 ,blanche had only a sigh for answer4 ,presently she said3 ,i shall stay at home1 anyway1 mamma1 if ,daisy will excuse me4 ,my head aches1 and ,i don't feel like talking nor thinking4 ,oh6 ,daisy will excuse us1 ,i think4 ,she is quite an independent little lady1 ,i am sure1 and able to go alone to ,sabbath-school or elsewhere2 aren't you1 dear8 ,yes 'm1 said ,daisy bravely1 ,i shall not mind going alone1 if you are not able to go4 ,then she went away in haste1 lest the tears should fall4 ,they had not cared to have her stay3 ,she would willingly have done so1 if that would have helped ,phil2 but she had lost her influence over him1 and disappointed mother and sister1 and she felt as she set her brown hat on her head1 that she wanted to go home to her mother4 ,she had done right2 of that she felt sure4 ,but doing right was very hard work sometimes1 especially when one was away from one's mother4 ,down-stairs she could hear ,phil moving up and down the room1 whistling snatches of tune4 ,he had not gone out yet1 it seemed4 ,perhaps if she hurried away1 ,blanche could coax him to stay and sing4 ,she seized her ,bagster ,bible1 and ran hastily down-stairs4 ,the whistler came to the hall to meet her4 ,what a ponderous book6 he said1 in mock dismay4 ,is it really necessary to carry such a great ,bible as that8 ,i like it1 she said simply4 ,like to carry it1 ,i suppose4 ,you ought to have it expressed2 but that would not do for ,sunday4 ,i see that ,i shall have to go and carry it4 ,he was donning his overcoat with speed1 and possessed himself of the ,bible before ,daisy could recover from her surprise4 ,it was a long walk to the church1 and the air was brisk and clear4 ,the sun shone brilliantly1 and ,phil was at his brightest2 every trace of ill humor seemed to have passed away4 ,it was not until they neared the church1 that he referred to the events of the day before4 ,so1 ,daisy1 you wouldn't go to a theatre with me1 even to save my soul1 which has seemed to trouble you so much8 ,oh1 ,phil1 ,i couldn't do wrong1 you know1 whatever the imaginary motive2 and ,i had no hope at all that my doing a wrong thing would help you or any one in the least4 ,i had to do as ,i did2 ,i wish ,i could make you understand that4 ,was it hard work8 ,what8 ,to stay at home1 do you mean8 ,yes2 did you really want to go8 ,it was hard to refuse you1 and disappoint ,aunt ,mattie and ,blanche4 ,yes2 ,i should have wanted to go1 should have liked to go1 if it had seemed right4 ,but you know ,i couldn't want to do anything that it was made plain to me would dishonor ,christ4 ,i desire above all things to please him2 and he made it very plain to me1 ,phil4 ,now they were at the church door1 and she reached for her ,bible4 ,you are not going to invite me in1 ,i suppose8 ,you are tired of that effort1 and have given me up8 ',you said you would not go1 she answered1 with a wistful smile4 ,she believed he was mocking her eagerness1 and meant nothing else4 ,i know ,i did2 but isn't a bad promise better broken than kept8 ,you need not ask me again4 ,there is no need4 ,i am going to accept your former invitations4 ,take me into your class1 and introduce me to ,mr4 ,easton4 ,did he really go into the class8 ,oh1 ,daisy1 you darling1 you don't mean it8 ,and what did ,mr4 ,easton say8 ,he liked him1 didn't he8 ,i knew he would4 ,oh1 ,daisy1 how did you get him to go8 ,i thought it was all over4 ,these were some of the exclamations and queries of the delighted mother and sister1 who had waited between alternate hope and fear1 to see whether ,phil would really return with his cousin1 or had joined his ,sunday friends elsewhere4 ,before she could make other than the most general answers1 he had come down-stairs again1 and joined the group in the back parlor4 ,he is here to answer for himself1 she said1 with a smile1 as he leaned over his mother's chair4 ,my dear boy1 she said fondly1 reaching up her hand to his1 you have made your mother very happy4 ,do tell me that you mean to go again4 ,yes 'm1 ,i mean to go again4 ,i have joined the class1 and promised to be there regularly4 ,oh1 ,phil6 ,this from the mother1 with tremulous lips4 ,i knew ,mr4 ,easton would fascinate you4 ,this from ,blanche1 with a pleased little laugh4 ,her brother turned to her4 ,no1 ,blanche2 ,i must be honest4 ,i liked him1 and shall like him1 ,i think4 ,but the decision of to-day was made before ,i saw him1 and reaches farther than to the ,bible ,class4 ,i have determined to serve ,god4 ,i have gone on my knees1 and asked him to make what he can of me4 ,and the immediate reason for doing so is1 because ,i have decided that there is such a thing as genuine religion which satisfies1 so that the heart does not need the world in the shape of theatres or operas or dancing-parties1 or any such thing2 and that one who unreservedly gives herself to ,him can resist all the lighter and safer forms of its fascinations1 if she suspects evil lurking in them--can resist them steadily and gently1 and remain calm under fire4 ,he paused for a moment1 while the astonished group waited for what might come next4 ,then he bent lower over his mother4 ,mamma dear1 ,i honor your intentions1 but believe it is a mistake4 ,no young man will ever be won to ,christ by going with him to the theatre4 ,he understands them too well4 ,and while ,i never asked you or my sister to attend a place of amusement that was in itself objectionable1 ,i knew in my soul that ,i insulted your religion by asking you at all4 ,they all flourish under the rebel flag4 ,mamma1 when our ,daisy here refused to compromise one inch of the way1 ,i knew that my tower of defence was broken1 and that ,i must own that ,christ had been sufficient for one soul1 and could be for another4 ,by this time the tears were falling fast from his mother's eyes4 ,my boy1 she said1 it is what your father believed2 but ,i have let the mother in my heart come between me and ,christ4 ,i was so anxious for you1 that ,i thought ,i must yield even his honor to save you4 ,but ,blanche1 bewildered1 and flushing red1 declared this3 ,i must say ,i don't see why a boy should coax a girl to do what he is ashamed to have her do2 and be all changed around because she refuses to do it4 ,yet there is many a boy who coaxes a girl to go where he wishes in his soul she may have ,christian firmness enough to refuse4 ,,our ,,church ,,choir4 ------ ,,chapter ,i4 ,,there was a time when our church had no choir1 but gloried in the fact that we had congregational singing4 ,at least the conservative fathers gloried in it2 but the aggressive young people grumbled much4 ,and certainly the most gentle spirit might have found some occasion for grumbling4 ,if the thing had been named congregational drawling instead of singing1 perhaps it would have been as correct4 ,our church was large1 and the leader1 a dear old man who had led the singing from time immemorial1 until his ears had deafened and his voice cracked in the service1 was unable to keep the scattered elements of his army in order4 ,sing as slow as he might1 he always finished the line at least two syllables in advance of old ,auntie ,barber1 who sat in the southwest corner back pew1 and who had a chronic affection of the nose and throat which caused her to pronounce her words somewhat after this fashion3 ,naow be the gospil banner ,i-n'every lan-d'unfurl'2 ,an' be the shout hosanner ,re-yeehoed raound the worl'4 ,auntie ,barber was fond of singing1 and sang loud4 ,then there was ,uncle ,charlie ,bennett1 who had a deep bass voice1 and who always sang a note below the key1 making a distinct heavy monotone of growl1 all on one note1 and who frequently paused in the middle of a line to clear his throat with an ,ahem-h-e-m1 then quickened his growl to catch up1 and come in triumphant on the last word4 ,this is only a hint of the peculiarities of our music4 ,the day came when our exasperated young people arose en masse and declared it was not in human nature to endure such tortures longer4 ,no doubt this climax was hastened by the fact that the church had received a thorough renovation--fresh carpets1 fresh paint1 modernized pulpit1 even a new minister4 ,what better time to introduce a thorough change in the music8 ,the modern element prevailed4 ,a congregational meeting was held1 in which1 after much discussion1 and not without a sharp word or two1 the matter was put into the hands of a committee1 every one of them young people1 without instructions1 to perfect their plans and report them at a called meeting4 ,the young people lost no time2 in fact they had known just what they wanted to do at least three weeks before the meeting was called4 ,there was a certain ,theodore ,pemberton in town1 a clerk in one of the drug stores1 who was a perfectly elegant singer1 and the way he sang3 ,i wander alone1 my love1 to-night was enough to draw tears from the heart of a stone4 ,then1 he was an excellent leader4 ,he actually drilled a chorus in ,grandville to sing one of the most difficult operas in the list1 and they say that every member of his chorus cried when they found he was coming away4 ,and if ,grandville thought so highly of him1 he must be superior4 ,it was the unanimous opinion of the young people that the immaculate ,theodore should be invited to take charge of the music in their church1 and be allowed to follow out his own ideas4 ,then they would have music worth hearing4 ,this report was followed by much discussion4 ,there were difficulties which presented themselves to the minds of some4 ,first and foremost1 money4 ,brother ,hoarding did not consider it just the thing to pay people for singing the praises of ,god4 ,but then1 ,brother ,hoarding believed that everything connected with the church should be free as air--always excepting the oil for the lamps1 which was bought from his store1 and the wood for the stoves1 which was chopped from his wood lots4 ,so1 really1 ,brother ,hoarding's opinion did not weigh as much as it might4 ,the truth is1 ,auntie ,barber put in her weak word at this point4 ,i always love to sing1 she said2 and ,i always sang the air in our choir when ,i was a girl1 and nobody thought of paying for it4 ,but then1 times is changed2 and ,i ain't one of them that think it's a sin to spend money paying folks for giving of their time and their talents for the church4 ,if this young man will spend his ,saturday evenings in teachin' folks how to sing better1 why shouldn't he be paid for it8 ,the ,lord's people ain't paupers6 ,free-will offerings1 ,sister ,barber1 spoke up ,brother ,hoarding1 in a good1 strong voice2 freewill offerings4 ,that is what the church should have4 ,well1 ,i don't know4 ,why in the singin' any more than in kerosene and wood and sich things8 ,auntie ,barber couldn't sing2 ,i will insist that she couldn't2 but she could reason1 bless her6 ,and her keen1 clear eyes saw through the films of selfishness and penuriousness wherever found4 ,the committee of young people looked over at her and smiled and nodded approvingly4 ,they had found an unexpected ally4 ,here ,deacon ,turner put in a demur4 ,he had no objection to a church spending money for music1 provided they had it to spend2 but did the brethren think that in their condition1 with a larger salary to raise1 and the home mission collection not yet taken1 and new books to pay for1 they ought to put in an extra bill for music8 ,now1 this argument might have had more weight1 but for the fact that ,deacon ,turner was in the mood to want all the money given to foreign missions when the subject of home missions was broached1 and he wanted it given to the library1 or the salary1 or some other needy cause1 when the question of foreign missions was before them4 ,anything but the matter in hand1 was ,deacon ,turner's motto4 ,i have not time to give you all the pros and cons of that discussion2 but the result was a partial vote to invite ,theodore ,pemberton to take charge of their music4 ,great was the joy of the young people4 ,so pleased were they with ,auntie ,barber that they gave kindly answer to her somewhat timidly put question3 ,i suppose he is a good young man8 ,oh1 dear1 yes6 ,judge ,bourne said his habits were very correct1 indeed2 noticeably so for a young man in his position4 ,those were ,judge ,bourne's very words4 ,yes--but ,i meant--you know--,i hope he is a ,christian8 ,well1 as to that1 ,i believe he is not a church member2 but he respects religion4 ,why1 when he put his price so very low1 he said it was for the sake of the cause4 ',we must work cheap for the cause1 you know1' he said1 and he smiled very pleasantly4 ,i am sure that sounds ,christian-like4 ,auntie ,barber sighed a little4 ,she could not be certain from that remark that the young man served the ,lord4 ,besides1 said little ,miss ,parker briskly1 it will be a help to him1 you know2 he isn't very regular in his attendance at church2 no young men are1 nowadays4 ,i think it will be doing a good deed to put him in a position where he will feel obliged to be in church4 ,over this idea1 ,auntie ,barber went home to think1 and the triumphant committee went to formally invite ,mr4 ,pemberton4 ,the next ,sabbath morning1 it must be confessed that our church was unusually full1 and all eyes turned expectantly toward the choir gallery1 which was just back of the pulpit1 and had for several years been vacant4 ,all the seats were filled now1 with bright1 expectant faces4 ,mr4 ,pemberton believed in a chorus choir1 and had been prodigal in his invitations4 ,all the pretty girls he knew had been cordially asked to come and help sing4 ,auntie ,barber looked up at the rows of faces with a benignant smile4 ,the young folks like it1 she murmured1 and it ain't a bad looking sight4 ,they'll drown'd our voices1 and that will be all right4 ,i've been most afraid this good while that ,i sung too loud1 for ,i s'pose my voice is getting old1 but now ,i needn't be afraid of troubling anybody4 ,you'll have to permit congregational singing1 explained lively ,miss ,parker to ,mr4 ,pemberton1 at their first rehearsal4 ,it was the only ground on which the innovation was permitted1 that the choir should simply lead the congregation4 ,it's in the charter1 or the constitution1 or something2 no1 the man who gave the organ1 fifty years or so ago1 stipulated that there should always be congregational singing4 ,oh1 certainly1 said the affable ,mr4 ,pemberton2 we'll simply lead the congregation2 that is all in the world we propose to do2 they may sing to their heart's content4 ,and he twinkled his handsome eyes1 and looked so good-naturedly about him1 that the girls voted him perfectly delightful4 ,so now everything was in readiness1 and the pastor was reading the hymn3 ,all hail the power of ,jesus' name2 ,let angels prostrate fall2 ,bring forth the royal diadem ,and crown ,him ,lord of all4 ,coronation6 ,auntie ,barber's special favorite1 and the tune to which ,uncle ,john ,bennett always growled his heaviest bass4 ,old ,deacon ,slocumb1 the former leader1 adjusted his spectacles1 found the place and meekly waited4 ,he was about to sing the songs of ,zion in a strange land1 or at least under strange circumstances2 but he loved the service1 and struggled for a meek and quiet spirit4 ,and the song burst forth4 ,coronation indeed6 ,old ,coronation was hoary-haired when the tune was born4 ,how it rolled and swelled in triumph through the astonished church6 ,all hail6 said the tenor in clear1 full tones4 ,all hail6 repeated the bass in voice of thunder4 ,all hail6 shrieked the soprano in full volume1 followed hard after by the alto1 who would not be outdone2 and then the entire strength of the choir took up the words and shouted and roared1 ,all hail the power6 ,then1 wonderful to relate1 went back to the ,all hail and did it over4 ,about this time ,auntie ,barber had reached1 through much quavering1 the last word of the second line1 then lifted her bewildered eyes to the choir and listened4 ,i must have lost the place1 she meekly said4 ,even yet1 it had not occurred to her that the choir could possibly be singing anything but ,coronation to those words6 ,as for ,deacon ,slocumb1 he took off his spectacles1 carefully wiped and re-adjusted them1 and was looking for his place again by the time the choir reached the word power4 ,they finished the line in unison1 then went off into a whirl of ecstasy over the angels4 ,let a-a-a angels-- sang one part1 prostrate fall1 ,,fall1 ,,fall1 thundered another part2 until ,joe ,slocumb1 the ,deacon's graceless son1 looked about him and grinned1 and wondered where they were falling to6 ,before this time ,uncle ,charlie's growl had been vanquished1 and ,deacon ,slocumb's book was closed2 and dear ,auntie ,barber1 although she kept her book open and her meek eyes fixed on the page1 knew that ,coronation had gone far beyond her reach4 ,the triumphant choir swept through to the close1 and seated themselves in smiling satisfaction4 ,i'm sure we led the congregation1 whispered ,mr4 ,pemberton into the ear of the first soprano4 ,they can't complain of our part of the contract4 ,and that entire company let itself explode into a succession of giggles1 over the peculiar aptness of the text at that moment announced3 ,he leadeth me by a way that ,i have not known4 ,that's as true as preaching6 whispered the leader of the choir1 and then that ripple of laughter went again through the triumphant company4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,this was the beginning1 but by no means the end4 ,the smiling ,theodore was a perfect gentleman1 no doubt1 as regarded affability of manners1 and he carried his point1 whatever it was1 by sheer good-natured audacity1 but reverence for the house of ,god seemed to have no place in his nature4 ,when he wanted to hum a new tune during prayer time1 why he hummed the tune1 in decorous undertone1 it is true1 and looking perfectly good-natured the while2 but to hum tunes and turn leaves seemed to be the gentlemanly ,theodore's idea of decorum in prayer time4 ,indeed1 as time passed this grew to be by no means the most trying part of the proceedings of the choir4 ,it became necessary to transact a great deal of business after the services had fairly commenced4 ,it suited the leader's idea to sometimes change the tune but the moment before singing1 and of course the whispered word had to be passed down the choir4 ,this proceeding served as a sufficient explanation or excuse whenever one of the more daring spirits ventured to criticise3 ,why we have to consult1 of course4 ,what would you have us do8--,sing hap-hazard8 ,why must there always be such a fuss made over the consultation of singers8 ,deacon ,simmons can squeak down the aisle and consult with the ,brother ,sharp about the hour for prayer meeting1 in a whisper which can be heard all over the room2 and it is all right2 but the moment one of the choir ventures a whisper1 people act as though we had committed the unpardonable sin4 ,this will serve as a specimen of the spirit in which criticisms were received4 ,generally the fault-finders-were subdued by these hints of volcanic eruptions1 and did not venture to explain that ,deacon ,simmons and ,brother ,sharp were never caught giggling behind their fans1 nor1 however loud their whispers1 no such sentences as these floated through the room from their lips3 ,have a chocolate drop8 ,chocolate's good for the voice1 you know2 or1 ,isn't the sermon dreadfully long drawn out this morning8 ,i do wish he'd get through4 ,the winter waned1 and the good-natured ,theodore kept his position1 and introduced innovation after innovation in his gentlemanly way1 until it is a wonder the old church knew itself4 ,among other things the old reed organ1 which had done good service for several years1 was pronounced a wheezy1 squeaky1 harsh-throated old thing2 in which opinion let me hasten to confess my sympathy4 ,i had no love for that organ1 which1 when all the stops were out1 had the power to drown any voice1 however sweet4 ,it was declared that a pipe organ was the only thing fit for a church1 anyway2 and here1 again1 ,i must admit that my heart approved4 ,i love the music of a pipe organ4 ,it was found that a certain church1 known to the friendly ,theodore1 was about to set up a new organ1 and would dispose of their old one1 purely out of consideration for the said ,theodore1 at a very low figure indeed4 ,and our choir1 which could be very enthusiastic indeed when it chose1 declared its intention of raising enough money1 forthwith1 for that organ4 ,vigorously did they set to work4 ,a busy winter we had of it4 ,and by pop-corn parties1 and white-apron parties1 mid post-offices1 and prize pincushions1 and grab-bags1 necktie sociables1 and sheet and pillow-case sociables1 and every other kind of sociable or game of grab which was ever invented1 the organ fund actually swelled to respectable proportions4 ,never was a busier winter1 nor a more popular man than the gentlemanly leader of our choir4 ,his good nature and his self-sacrifice knew no bounds4 ,indeed1 the young people were all self-sacrificing4 ,they sacrificed the prayer meeting1 and the mission band1 and the reading circle1 and almost everything else except the skating rink1 in their zeal for the pipe organ4 ,it is all for the sake of the cause1 you know1 grew to be the motto of the young people1 and it was really wonderful what marvels of ingenuity they became6 ,and they succeeded2 just as a band of young people1 plunged heart and soul into anything1 are almost certain to succeed4 ,the everlasting pity is that so often success is not worth the price paid6 ,but there came a happy day in which the pipe organ was set up by skilled hands in our church1 and the ,sabbath following the choir outdid themselves4 ,it was long since ,auntie ,barber had attempted to sing2 but on this particular day she was seen moving her lips4 ,she explained it afterwards4 ,the critter rolled so loud1 and the girls all sang so high1 that ,i just put in ,old ,hundred1 softly1 because ,i wanted to have a share in the praising4 ,i thought nobody would mind4 ,they drownded it1 you know4 ,but ,auntie ,barber was mistaken2 the echo of her tremulous notes3 ',praise ,him all creatures here below1' went up to ,heaven1 and the angels minded it very much4 ,and the good-natured ,theodore happened to notice the movement of her lips1 and whispered to the first soprano during an organ interlude3 ,look at old ,auntie ,barber mouthing it2 won't she have a time1 though1 keeping up with the next strain6 ,whereat the first soprano giggled1 and whispered to the second soprano1 who giggled1 and passed the whisper down the line1 and all were so much amused that they liked not to have been ready for the next strain1 which ran so high that they expected to leave old ,auntie in the lurch4 ,but this time the gentlemanly ,theodore was mistaken4 ,old ,auntie's mouthing reached higher than any strain of music his small soul had ever felt4 ,whether the pipe organ was at fault1 or whatever was the cause of it1 hilarity seemed to develop in our choir1 during the spring1 to a really alarming extent4 ,the gentlemanly ,theodore took to writing notes1 not always about the next selection1 as was proved by finding one or two ran thus3 ,father ,stearns didn't approve of our last effort4 ,notice his face2 it looks as though he had eaten a ten-penny nail preserved in vinegar4 ,at another time a paper containing advice as to the next selection was found1 and read as follows3 ,if ,dr4 ,prosy ever subsides1 let's sing ',oh1 long expected day begin1' as more appropriate to our feelings than the one we have chosen4 ,those notes1 of course1 had to travel the entire length of the large choir1 and great was the amusement created2 fans1 handkerchiefs and hymn books were in constant requisition to cover the explosions of untimely mirth4 ,there were also sundry little private missives1 passed by the leader to his special favorites1 which1 of course1 must be answered2 and as there were young men in the choir who had favorites1 and as a leader is to be followed of course1 this form of entertainment became very popular4 ,the gentlemanly ,theodore also developed artistic talent1 and adorned the fly-leaves of his note book with certain photographs labeled ,the ,deacon in the dumps1 or ,old ,auntie in a seraphic state2 and down the line would be passed the caricature of ,deacon ,slocumb with his chin dropped into his shirt collar1 his thumbs interlocked in the act of twirling1 and a frown on his forehead so deep that it seemed to cast a shadow over his whole face4 ,then dear old ,auntie ,barber's face would travel from one simpleton to another-- her rather old-fashioned black bonnet exaggerated until it was larger and queerer than any she ever thought of wearing1 and yet looking enough like it to suggest the old lady1 even though her placid face hadn't peeped out from under it1 her head slightly thrown back1 her eyes closed1 a pair of immense spectacles pushed up on her forehead1 and a sort of exaggeration of satisfaction on her old face2 the whole calculated to make the young and heedless laugh4 ,it was really a good comic likeness of the old lady2 there is no denying that the affable ,theodore had other than musical talent4 ,but there was that about the picture1 after all1 which it seemed to me was calculated to make a young person who had a dear old mother flush with indignation4 ,it always seemed to me a bad sign to see people amused with caricatures of good1 pure old faces4 ,i don't remember how long the members of our choir indulged in these various entertainments2 but ,i know that1 as the weeks went by1 they waxed bolder and bolder4 ,candies1 nuts1 and even lemons1 circulated freely2 notes were industriously written and boldly passed1 and the whispering became almost incessant4 ,the fact was1 our choir was becoming noted for something besides its music2 some of us were actually ashamed to take a guest to church with us1 lest our choir might shock them4 ,well do ,i remember the ,sunday on which the crisis came4 ,the whispering had been almost incessant during the first part of the sermon1 and more than once an audible chuckle had rippled down to those who sat nearest4 ,the minister1 good1 long-suffering man1 tried earnestly not to let his annoyance be seen2 but he had borne a great deal2 and those who knew him well watched anxiously the steadily rising flush on his unusually pale face4 ,once he stopped in the middle of a sentence1 and waited for full half a minute1 which of course seemed to us anxious ones like half an hour1 for the whispering behind him to cease4 ,i do not know to this day whether it was unusual and almost unaccountable heedlessness1 or a spirit of defiant recklessness1 which took possession of our choir for the rest of the morning4 ,whatever it was1 ,satan must have been proud of them1 for certainly he had it very much his own way among most of them4 ,suddenly the minister made another ominous pause2 so sudden was the silence that part of the loud whisper behind him was heard in the still church2 ,tell him ,i'll flat in the next hymn awfully if he doesn't-- ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,we never knew what the accomplished flatter wanted when she spoke out in meeting4 ,she became suddenly aware that the noise just below her had ceased4 ,the minister turned slowly around and faced his tormentors1 and into that tremendous silence came his voice3 ,i shall have to ask the members of the choir to desist from whispering during the sermon2 else it will be impossible for me to continue4 ,had an angel from ,heaven appeared suddenly among us1 more startled quiet could not have ensued4 ,the members of the choir did not even dare to glance at one another4 ,one by one their faces dropped behind book or fan or handkerchief1 and some of them1 at least1 shed indignant tears4 ,the minister continued his sermon1 and perhaps somebody listened1 but ,uncle ,charlie ,bennett cleared his throat several times1 with hoarse growls1 a way he had when much agitated2 and ,auntie ,barber fanned violently1 though the day was cool4 ,as for the affable ,theodore1 he presently took his hat1 and slipped quietly and decorously from a side door2 and part of the choir rendered the last hymn as best they could without him4 ,what a week was that which followed4 ,the whole town was in a ferment1 and seethed and boiled in an alarming manner4 ,the choir was large1 and many homes had been touched4 ,there was every shade and grade of indignation and disapprobation expressed concerning the minister1 from the extreme wrath of ,miss ,armitage1 the first soprano1 who thought that after insulting half his congregation1 he ought never to be allowed to show his head in the pulpit again1 down to patient old ,auntie ,barber1 who said she knew the minister had been dreadfully put to it1 poor dear man2 she didn't blame him1 but then1 if he could have spoken to the young things kind of softly1 she would have been dreadful glad4 ,well1 another ,sabbath came2 and with much fear and trembling we went to church4 ,the minister was in his place as usual2 but the long rows of seats behind him were vacant4 ,not a singer put in an appearance4 ,here and there through the church were scattered a few of them1 seated decorously beside their parents1 wearing ominously set lips1 which boded silence1 so far as they were concerned1 but for the most part the choir had followed the example of its leader and remained away from the sanctuary4 ,the hymn was announced1 and read2 and silence followed2 even the new organ was dumb4 ,the young performer thereon had been one of the most efficient whisperers1 and was1 of course1 aggrieved4 ,deacon ,slocumb fumbled for the spectacles with which he saw to read1 and exchanged for them the spectacles with which he saw the minister and commenced-- ,alas1 what hourly dangers rise1 ,what snares beset my way1 and suddenly stopped4 ,he had been snared in his haste and perturbation by a long metre tune for this common metre hymn1 and it was too long drawn out1 even for ,auntie ,barber1 though she quavered in tremulously1 on the last word4 ,of course the members of the choir who were present giggled scornfully1 and ,joe ,slocumb1 the wicked1 disgraced himself by an audible laugh1 but the deacon1 red in the face1 tried again1 and acquitted himself better1 and all the congregation lived through that hymn4 ,stormy times ensued for our church4 ,in fact there was a time when ,satan must have gloried in it1 so wonderfully did it live up to his ideas of church management4 ,really1 it seemed as though the throes of this eruption would rend us to pieces4 ,it had been made plain to the church and the world generally that the long-suffering ,mr4 ,pemberton was now roused4 ,he said with severe dignity that there was a time when patience ceased to be a virtue1 and that time had come to him4 ,he had endured enough4 ,he should never enter the doors of that church again1 until the minister should either in person or by letter make satisfactory apology to him1 and to all the members of his choir1 for the insult which they had received4 ,just what he meant by having endured enough1 or what had so exercised his patience1 did not appear4 ,but the roused and indignant ,theodore wore all the time a look which translated would have filled volumes4 ,every member of the choir heartily sympathized with this outburst1 and waited for their apology4 ,now in regard to this apology there was one difficulty4 ,the minister declined to make it6 ,it was not that he was not willing to become all things to all men1 it was not that he did not study the things which make for peace2 it was simply that he could not very well tell a lie4 ,he was willing to say that perhaps he had erred in judgment in thus publicly addressing the choir2 though even here1 in justice to the truth1 he would have to explain that he had heretofore spoken seriously and gently with several individual members1 with no apparent results2 and that he came to the serious conclusion that the course he pursued was the best1 and perhaps the only one calculated to remove the difficulty4 ,no explanation of this sort would the affable ,theodore admit for a moment4 ,the minister must say in so many words that he was sorry and ashamed for his sin in thus publicly disgracing his choir1 or the choir would refuse to perform1 and ,mr4 ,pemberton would never again enter the church4 ,as ,i said1 there was a constitutional and moral objection on the part of our minister to this decision1 so it seemed to be necessary for the accommodating ,theodore to stay without4 ,several miserable weeks ensued1 during which time our music was at its worst4 ,it had not even the redeeming feature of being enjoyed by ,deacon ,slocumb and ,auntie ,barber4 ,the ,deacon sang under protest2 and dear old ,auntie seemed to understand that her voice was in disgrace1 and wailed forth her notes with a tremulousness not all due to age4 ,it was during this time that certain of us made a discovery as to why our congregational singing was so unusually poor4 ,it was apparent that the fresh young voices which had rolled out so jubilantly from the choir seats were absolutely dumb when they were scattered about in the congregation4 ,look where you would1 during ,deacon ,slocumb's struggles with a tune1 and among the young people you would find only apathetic faces and closed lips4 ,they could sing like birds1 but they would not4 ,in due course of time the important question1 ,what shall be done about our church music8 came up again for official discussion4 ,some things which we could not do were plain4 ,we could not again enjoy the services of the good-natured ,theodore4 ,not only did he refuse to yield one inch of his dignity1 but the triumphant hour came when he refused to return1 even though a dozen apologies were furnished him4 ,he declared with dignity that he had waited a reasonable time for advances1 and could not be expected to do more4 ,certain wise ones hinted1 however1 that the real reason was because the ,park ,street church had borne him off in triumph1 at an advance of fifty dollars on his salary4 ,in the midst of our perplexities came a ray light in the shape of ,h4 ,beethoven ,smith1 the common-placeness of the surname being utterly lost in the melody of the given names1 ,handel ,beethoven4 ,he1 too1 was a newcomer1 and came heralded as a musical genius of no common order4 ,it was represented that a wonderful series of accidental1 not to say providential1 circumstances had given us opportunity to secure his services4 ,in fact the incidents which seemed to point in the direction of ,handel ,beethoven ,smith became so marked that it would have seemed almost like a tempting of ,providence to ignore them4 ,yet there were difficulties in the way4 ,in the first place1 he demanded a much larger salary than had satisfied the genial ,theodore2 and1 in the second place1 it was rumored that he had in time past lent the glory of his voice to an opera troupe4 ,but with perseverance these and other difficulties were overcome1 and ,prof4 ,handel ,beethoven ,smith was duly installed as leader of our choir4 ,prosperity seemed to crown our efforts4 ,the members of the choir came trooping back2 it was folly to nurse their wrath to the extent of losing such an opportunity as this4 ,but we had hardly settled into calm1 when it became apparent that it was a deceitful calm4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,handel ,,beethoven ,,smith proved to be of uncertain temper4 ,at times he was sullen1 or sarcastic1 and he was always severe4 ,he would not have this1 and he would have that4 ,he told the leading bass that his voice sounded like a trombone1 without its correctness of pitch4 ,he said the ,emmons girls had harsh1 grating voices1 and that ,carrie ,fowler's singing reminded him of a certain rooster which used to disturb his morning slumbers4 ,you hardly need to be told the results of all this4 ,they became apparent to us by degrees4 ,one by one the choir grew smaller4 ,the leading bass accepted an invitation elsewhere4 ,the ,emmons girls felt their throats needed rest from regular singing4 ,cissy ,burton decided that she preferred a seat by mamma4 ,poor ,cissy was a nervous little thing1 her mother said1 quite unused to ,mr4 ,smith's brusque ways2 dear ,mr4 ,pemberton had always been so considerate of people's feelings4 ,it is true that ,mr4 ,smith had been rather brusque4 ,he told her savagely one day that she was always half a tone behind1 and sang with no more expression than a hand-organ6 ,nor was it the choir alone1 who were the subjects of these home thrusts4 ,handel ,beethoven ,smith carried things with a high hand in every direction4 ,he told ,dr4 ,powers1 who asked to have the chant1 ,suffer little children to come unto me1 rendered the ,sabbath after the funeral of his little child1 that they had sung it but three ,sabbaths before at somebody's request1 and he couldn't afford to establish such a precedent as that2 a leader of a choir couldn't be all the time practising funeral chants because people's babies would die4 ,that ,suffer little children was nothing but trash1 anyway2 ought never to be sung2 he had strained a point to sing it once1 and he didn't mean to get caught in that way again4 ,i must do ,mr4 ,smith the justice to explain that when he called the chant in question trash1 he referred to the words1 not the music4 ,words were the merest nothings to him2 indeed1 he had been heard to say that all music ought to be rendered in ,italian1 that the clumsiness of the ,english tongue might be lost sight of4 ,handel ,beethoven ,smith had a very cultivated ear4 ,dr4 ,powers was by no means the only senior whom ,mr4 ,smith subdued with savage speech4 ,the long-suffering minister ventured one day to suggest to the organist the wish that he would not send the people out of church to the sound of music which seemed to belong to the dance1 or the parade1 or some festive scene1 when the organist assured him that he was himself under orders1 that he did not dare to hint to the leader that his soul was his own1 much less his fingers4 ,after due consideration1 and also after the minister had preached a sermon on the betrayal1 and heard a young lady exclaim1 as she fluttered down the aisle a few minutes after its solemn closing1 ,oh1 isn't that music perfectly exquisite6 ,i can hardly keep my feet from whirling off with me in a waltz1 he determined to brave the fierce ,handel ,beethoven himself2 and little did he gain by the operation4 ,the great artist informed him that he did not presume to dictate to him what texts he should select1 nor1 indeed1 how long he should make his discourses2 however much he might dislike their length1 he was in the habit of leaving that matter entirely to the minister's judgment1 and he desired and expected to be treated in the same way as regarded the music4 ,if the minister would see to it that his part of the service was properly managed1 be sure that he1 ,handel ,beethoven ,smith1 was entirely capable of attending to his part4 ,neither did the constant resignations from the choir apparently disturb the leader in the least4 ,indeed1 he sometimes1 with an approach to almost complaisance1 remarked that they were well rid of such an one1 and the choir improved with each departure4 ,he had no very high opinion of chorus choirs1 anyway2 you could never do really classic work with a mixed chorus4 ,he imported in the place of the irate bass singer a young man with a faultless voice and dress4 ,to be sure1 this importation created dismay2 it was whispered abroad that the owner of the divine voice supported himself by selling fancy liquors in a fashionable up-town saloon6 ,could it be endured that he should roll out the praises of ,god in our choir on ,sundays1 and deal out liquid death to our young men during the week8 ,there were many who thought it could not1 and ,deacon ,slocumb was appointed chairman of a committee to interview the savage leader1 who1 after hearing his somewhat lengthy complaint1 silenced him with the severe statement3 ,you are laboring under a foolish mistake1 ,deacon ,slocumb4 ,i engaged the young man because of his voice1 not because of his business4 ,he does not sell his fancy drinks in our choir on ,sunday1 and it is a form of business which has not1 as yet1 affected his throat4 ,he has a very cultured voice1 which can be said of very few singers in this town1 ,i assure you2 music is at a very low ebb here1 and lower nowhere than in your church4 ,i tell you frankly ,i do not think there is a man among you who knows real music when he hears it1 and therefore it is absurdly impossible that you should be permitted to dictate to me4 ,the deacon was silenced1 but not convinced4 ,still1 we had been through such seas of trouble with our choir that we trembled at the thought of touching it4 ,and then1 there was dear old ,auntie ,barber1 who murmured3 ,well1 the young man gets to church twice a day by this means2 and they do say he hasn't been in the habit of going to church for years4 ,if he has a mother1 poor soul1 she must be glad of something that brings him within sound of the ,gospel4 ,and yet ,auntie ,barber remembered1 within her honest1 sinking heart1 how they had rejoiced in bringing the affable ,theodore under the sound of the ,gospel1 and how disastrous had been the apparent results4 ,there came a morning in our church which ,i am inclined to think was a triumph to our highly cultivated leader4 ,one by one the chorus had slipped away1 until now there were left just four singers--the leading soprano1 the best alto we had1 the divine bass voice of the saloon clerk1 and for tenor1 ,handel ,beethoven himself4 ,that he was satisfied with the situation he showed in his face1 and the first piece they rendered certainly astonished the congregation4 ,joe ,slocumb1 who was learning to take notes of what was said and sung1 for the benefit of the dear old grandma at home1 gave the following copy of the words3 ,whytee ugh seeeepro take tip ou-ou-ou-ouur ,beem ,i'ven wiiiish us till1 ,nan mate is conseek raaateee tower1 ,we uth beeeta ropes by ,phil4 ,in vain did grandma don her spectacles and study carefully for a familiar word4 ,then she laid the paper down with a sigh and a protest3 ,i didn't think1 ,joe1 that you would be for playing tricks on your old grandma4 ,then ,joe1 virtuous and indignant3 ,i didn't1 ,grandma1 do any such thing4 ,them's the very words1 jist as near as ,i can make them out4 ,it wasn't a piece the minister read2 they just squealed it out1 without anybody telling what it was2 and if them ain't the words1 then it didn't have any words4 ,by all of which ,i trust you will understand how entirely ,handel ,beethoven ,smith succeeded in training his choir to overcome the clumsiness of the ,english language4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,,but1 alas for us1 the day of peace was not yet6 ,it took a great deal to satisfy our leader1 and he sat down after his last effort1 gloomy and unsatisfied4 ,his fierce brows remained drawn and unbending during the entire service4 ,almost before the amen of the benediction was pronounced1 he expressed his mind1 quite loud enough for the soprano to hear3 ,it is of no use to bring classic music into this choir2 the singers are not equal to it4 ,after all our drill1 that ,a was flatted wretchedly6 ,this is the last time2 ,i shall never again attempt anything but the most ordinary psalm tune4 ,i regret that ,i cannot give you his rendering of the word psalm4 ,it was spoken as though the ordinary psalm tune was the lowest and most discouraging of all human productions1 and to be reduced to the necessity of singing it conferred a degree of self-abasement below which it would be hard to fall4 ,alas for our leading soprano6 ,it was she who had flatted that miserable ,a4 ,it was she whose cheeks now glowed a painful crimson as she listened to the stinging criticism4 ,it was also she who handed in her written resignation to ,handel ,beethoven that very afternoon1 couched in language which he could not fail to understand4 ,since she1 who had for years borne the name of being the most correct singer in town1 and of having an unusually pure soprano voice1 could not give him satisfaction1 she was more than willing to resign her seat1 and let him fill it when and where he could4 ,over this note ,handel ,beethoven did look thoughtful4 ,soprano singers whom he could control were certainly growing scarce4 ,in his perplexity1 he actually consulted ,deacon ,slocumb1 or1 at least1 he grumbled before him to the effect that he didn't know what they were going to do1 as their soprano had a severe attack of ill humor4 ,he presumed he could hardly be expected to manufacture sopranos to order1 free of charge2 though almost everything else was expected of him4 ,if the church had a paid quartette choir1 as it ought to have1 all these nuisances would be avoided4 ,deacon ,slocumb had no word to offer1 but when was dear old ,auntie ,barber other than sympathetic in any form of trouble8 ,she1 waiting in the aisle1 overheard the grumbler1 opened her mouth to speak1 then thought better of it and moved on1 then turned back and stood in the leader's way1 wrapping and unwrapping her hymn hook in a painfully embarrassed manner4 ,she was very shy of ,handel ,beethoven4 ,well1 he said in a surly tone1 do you want anything8 ,then ,auntie ,barber found voice4 ,mrs4 ,adams1 her neighbor1 had a niece visiting her1 a young thing from ,boston1 who sang around the house like a lark1 and ,mrs4 ,adams told her they set store by her in a church in ,boston2 she had come to the country for the summer1 to rest1 and ,auntie ,barber did not know but maybe he would like to get her to help him for a little while2 at least1 she thought it would do no harm to mention it4 ,handel ,beethoven ,smith forgot to thank her1 did not relax one muscle of his gloomy face1 and merely remarking that because somebody in ,boston set store by a singer1 was no sign that he would be able to tolerate her1 brushed past meek old ,auntie1 and went his way4 ,nevertheless1 in the course of the afternoon1 he did call on ,mrs4 ,adams1 and hold a consultation with the niece from down ,east4 ,evening came1 and those who knew of the latest disturbance in our choir1 waited1 some of them in anxiety1 and some in amusement1 to see what development we would have next4 ,a little thrill of comfort stole into ,auntie ,barber's heart as she saw the down ,east niece in the choir1 but the rest of us did not know the fair-faced stranger4 ,the organ1 contrary to its usual manner1 was filling the church with slow1 sweet sounds1 as the people gathered1 and then1 suddenly1 we had a sensation4 ,a voice1 sweeter1 it seems to me1 than could ever have sounded on earth before1 rose on the hushed air1 and rolled in melody down the aisles1 each word as distinctly spoken as though it was a sermon by itself1 reached our hearts3 ,while ,thee ,i seek1 protecting power1 ,be my vain wishes stilled1 ,and may this consecrated hour1 ,with better hopes be filled4 ,what was there in that voice to make us feel the solemn hush of the great protecting power all around us8 ,why1 under its spell1 did we feel our petty strifes and bickerings and jealousies hushing into stillness8 ,how came the longing stealing over us for a higher life1 and holier aims1 and better hopes8 ,perhaps none of us understood the why1 but we were under the spell4 ,and certainly none of us knew or even dreamed that we were listening to the same words which ,joe ,slocumb had taken down verbatim in the morning4 ,the wonderful voice continued its marvelous sermon3 ,thy love the power of thought1 bestowed4 ,what a wonderful thing to have bestowed upon us1 and to what uses had we sometimes put it6 ,but the voice went on3 ,to ,thee my thoughts would soar4 ,oh1 yes1 gracious1 protecting ,power1 lift ,thou our thoughts up into thy plane6 ,thy mercy on my life has flowed1 ,that mercy ,i adore4 ,did we need a sermon after that8 ,we had had our sermon2 and yet1 our minister had never preached a better one4 ,we could feel that his faith had soared upward on the wings of that prayer-song1 and taken fresh heart for work4 ,for the first time in our lives we had the pleasure of seeing ,handel ,beethoven ,smith in thoroughly good humor4 ,the wonderful voice which he had invited into his choir shed a reflected glory on him1 and filled his small soul with as much elation as it could hold4 ,his expressions of satisfaction might not have sounded remarkable to the fair singer1 but for him they really were profuse3 ,it is certainly a great pleasure to hear your rendering1 after the soul-torturing performances which ,i have endured so long4 ,i permitted you to use the same selection which we attempted in the morning1 in order that this obtuse congregation might feel the difference1 if it has any musical taste1 which ,i doubt4 ,then was the pretty singer discomfited3 ,is it possible ,i chose something which was sung here this morning8 ,i was not here2 ,i went with ,uncle to his church4 ,i wouldn't have done it for the world6 ,i am afraid ,i hurt somebody's feelings4 ,our leader made haste to reassure her4 ,no solo had been attempted2 he had been too wise for that4 ,it had only been sung as a quartette2 and really1 she need not be troubled4 ,nobody in that congregation knew good singing from bad4 ,perhaps there was truth in the statement1 but some of the congregation went away that night with a queer feeling tugging at their hearts that their lives1 so wonderfully encircled by that ,protecting ,power1 ought to be living exponents of its greatness1 as they could but feel they were not4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,there was much looking forward to next ,sabbath's services1 and much eagerness to hear the glorious voice again4 ,and we were not disappointed4 ,with much elation did ,mr4 ,handel ,beethoven ,smith spread the news4 ,miss ,haviland1 of ,boston1 was in the country for rest1 but a little quiet ,sunday singing she would not mind in the least3 indeed1 she would help them all she could2 would like to do it4 ,and when ,handel ,beethoven repeated this gracious acceptance of his invitation1 he added thoughtfully that he presumed she would not be sorry to have the benefit of his training for a few weeks1 and that it was a comfort to him to feel that he need not accept her help without being able to give a very adequate return4 ,however that was1 ,miss ,alice ,haviland made glorious music for us all that ,sabbath day4 ,she sings like a nightingale1 said ,deacon ,slocumb1 but when ,i look at her ,i can't think of nothing but one of them little bright-winged critters who flutter all ways to once4 ,as for ,joe ,slocumb1 when he tried to describe her to his grandmother1 he got no further than to say3 ,she's all in white1 bunnit and all1 only some blue ribbons a flying1 and fluffy hair1 the color of--say1 ,grandmother1 do you s'pose the angels wear hair1 and ribbons and things8 ,a second ,sabbath came and almost passed4 ,the hush of the ,sabbath evening was upon us4 ,our church was very full2 people not accustomed to church-going had been drawn in to hear the singer whom we were all beginning to understand was wonderful4 ,we had almost held our breaths that evening in the fear that she would not be there4 ,for she came a trifle late1 and looked flushed1 and troubled4 ,but she sang the soprano in the opening hymns with her usual power1 then dropped back into her seat1 and some of us noticed that she kept her eyes shaded by her hand during the entire sermon4 ,mr4 ,smith touched her hand just before its close and whispered3 ,the doctor wants you to sing this as a solo4 ,the words are mere doggerel1 but the music will set off your voice to good advantage4 ,her face1 which had grown pale1 flushed a little over that2 and ,i knew her afterwards well enough to understand that she would have refused to sing it1 had not the minister's name been in the direction4 ,she took it1 however1 without demur1 and presently her marvelous voice filled the church3 ,take my life1 and let it be ,consecrated1 ,lord1 to ,thee4 ,take my hands and let them move ,at the impulse of ,thy love4 ,each word as distinctly enunciated as though the singer was reciting them4 ,on1 through the description of mental and physical powers1 until she reached the words3 ,take my voice1 and let me sing1 ,always1 only for my ,king4 ,she was singing from sheet music1 and the arrangement was such that the word voice rolled up into the higher notes1 strong and pure1 as though the singer would reach up1 even to the throne1 with the offering4 ,take my voice1 and-- ,suddenly the singer faltered1 the voice ceased4 ,the organ1 which had been keeping only a modest undertone of accompaniment1 hurried into the melody1 the player striking the chords with firm hand1 as though to encourage the singer1 but in vain4 ,she only looked pleadingly at the leader and shook her head4 ,and the minister who had been listening with closed eyes1 and a heart attuned to the words wafted to him1 caught the pleading look1 and1 rising1 lifted his hands in benediction4 ,following hard on the amen came questions4 ,anxious friends had hurried to the choir gallery4 ,what is it8 ,were you faint8 ,get her a glass of water4 ,where's a fan8 ,do you feel sick8 ,she turned from them toward the leader3 ,mr4 ,smith1 ,i am very sorry1 but1 indeed1 ,i could not sing it2 those words are awful6 ,words6 he said1 in high indignation4 ,is it possible you stopped for them8 ,i told you they were mere doggerel4 ,it was the marvelous tune1 and your voice fits it4 ,what are words8 ,she shivered as she answered him3 ,words are awful1 ,mr4 ,smith--those words are4 ,i could not speak them4 ,think of me calling ,god to witness that ,i give ,him my voice1 to sing only for ,him1 when ,i never sang a line for ,him in my life6 ',always1 only for my ,king6' ,and ,i have never owned ,him as my ,king6 ,i tell you ,i could not speak those words4 ,it is mockery4 ,and1 oh6 ,how much of it ,i have done4 ,it is all mockery2 ,i do not mean any of it4 ,and she buried her face in her hands1 and burst into tears4 ,utter1 silent consternation took possession of us4 ,not one seemed to know what word to offer4 ,but there was more than consternation on the face of ,handel ,beethoven ,smith1 and he was the first to regain power of speech as he turned to move away3 ,well1 ,i had supposed myself familiar with all the forms of hysteria in which lady singers can indulge1 but this is new6 ,the minister had come to offer sympathy1 but had been struck dumb by the singer's outcry4 ,but now he rallied3 ,my dear young lady1 there is a remedy for your trouble4 ,he is ready to blot out all the past4 ,will you give your voice to ,him for the future8 ,the rest of us were moving away1 but the singer suddenly arrested us again4 ,she seemed not to have heard the minister2 but at that moment she caught sight of the wistful old face of ,auntie ,barber4 ,auntie--,auntie ,barber1 she said1 springing up1 and leaning over the choir rail1 ,wait6 ,i want to see you4 ,and then she vanished from our sight4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,,it was some weeks afterwards that ,i heard from ,alice herself the rest of the story4 ,on that ,sabbath afternoon she had been bustling about her room making ready for the evening service1 singing snatches of sacred song1 with no more thought of the words than had the wood robin just then singing his evening song4 ,i never thought words1 she vehemently told me2 they had always seemed to me like so much necessary machinery on which to exhibit the tune4 ,while she fluttered from bureau to dressing table1 then loitered a moment by the open window trilling her song1 from the open window of the next house1 separated from her only by a narrow passage way1 came a voice1 distinct and tremulous with earnestness4 ,it took but a moment to realize that it was ,auntie ,barber at prayer4 ,and ,i heard her pray for me1 said ,alice1 her voice awe-stricken as she told of it4 ,you never heard such a prayer6 ,at least1 ,i never have4 ,i was not used to hearing people pray for me4 ,and she asked the ,lord to get me ready to sing with the angels4 ,think how that must have made me feel6 ,i1 who had never thought about angels1 and was afraid to die1 and afraid to hear about death6 ,but she prayed more than that4 ,she asked ,god to let me sing for some soul that night2 sing it a song that would make it want ,christ for a friend4 ,think of it2 ,i sing for a soul6 ,it frightened me4 ,i turned from that window feeling all white and faint4 ,i thought ,i could not sing at all1 and yet ,i must4 ,but ,i cannot describe to you what an evening it was4 ,i could not get away from that prayer4 ,it seemed to float all about me4 ,try as ,i would1 ,i could not put it aside4 ,what if ,auntie ,barber's prayer should be answered1 and ,i should sing some soul into peace with ,god1 and there was ,i1 afraid of ,him6 ,but that last hymn just stabbed me4 ,standing up there1 all alone1 and singing those awful words3 ',take my voice1 and let me sing ',always1 only for my ,king4' ,it seemed to me that ,i mocked ,him with the words2 that ,i had always been mocking ,him1 and ,i was afraid4 ,i had just found out that it was a fearful thing to be able to sing4 ,you remember that ,i called out to ,auntie ,barber as she passed1 and went away with her8 ,but ,i said hardly anything to her that ,i meant to4 ,i began3 ',o1 ,auntie ,barber1 you don't know me4 ,you think ,i sing for ,god1 but ,i don't4 ,i've been mocking ,him with just words all my life1 and ,i am frightened1 frightened6' ,she interrupted me just there4 ',dear heart1' she said1 ',he knows all about you1 and he loves you1 and is waiting for you4 ,come in1 and tell ,him the whole story4' ,and she drew me into that very room where she had prayed for me6 ,the rest of the story isn't long to tell1 said ,alice1 smiling on me with eyes that glistened2 but it will take eternity to live it6 ,i finished the hymn that evening in ,auntie ,barber's room3 ',take myself1 and ,i will be ,ever1 only1 all for ,thee6 ,and she meant the words4 ,i wish ,i had time to tell you the rest of the story about our church choir4 ,once more it was reconstructed4 ,he declared that all our singers were either ill-humored or hysterical1 and every one of them flatted4 ,then our ,boston guest took up the burden4 ,for three weeks she preached the ,gospel to us in song1 alone1 utterly unsustained1 save by the organist1 who bravely held the fort with her4 ,during those three weeks she worked4 ,she gathered the girls about her--those elements of power in every church1 if they were only understood4 ,let us have a new choir1 she said2 let us take this for our motto3 ',take my voice1 and let me sing ,ever1 only for my ,king4' ,she printed those words in illuminated text1 and framed them and hung them in the choir gallery4 ,in process of time they found a leader1 one who was willing to sing by the new motto4 ,i will not tell the story2 it is long4 ,but1 in its details1 it shows what we each need to more fully realize2 the power of reconstruction which lies in one young consecrated life4 ,three months our borrowed songstress stayed with us1 and when she went away she left our choir singing by the motto2 the essential difference between their music and all others which we had ever enjoyed being embodied in that one brief sentence3 ,they meant the words4 ,the last time ,i heard ,alice ,haviland sing was in our church1 on a week-day afternoon1 just as the autumn leaves were beginning to fall4 ,she stood near to an open coffin1 in which lay an old1 worn body1 a wrinkled face1 crowned with white satin hair1 and the most reposeful smile that ever ,auntie ,barber's dear old face had ever worn4 ,and the young singer1 looking down on the quiet sleeper1 breathed out the words to wondrous melody3 ,forever with the ,lord1 ,amen1 so let it be2 ,life from the dead is in that word1 ',tis immortality4 ,servant of ,christ1 well done2 ,praise be thy new employ2 ,and while eternal ages run4 ,rest in thy ,saviour's joy4 ,and as the voice ceased1 and the singer turned toward me with tear-dimmed eyes1 while they closed the coffin-lid1 she murmured3 ,i am sure ,auntie ,barber has already joined the choir4 ,her soul was just full of song4 ,and1 oh6 ,how she can sing now4 ,and she will always mean the words4 ,,his ,,friend4 ------ ,,chapter ,i4 ,,it would have puzzled many of his friends to understand what possible interest ,mr4 ,thornton could have had in the old cottage which he stood surveying4 ,what was there in the dingy1 cobwebby place to call for so much thought as he seemed to be putting upon it8 ,he was not a real estate agent estimating its value1 nor a mechanic contriving how he might make it good as new2 for his cultured face had not the sharp business look of the one1 neither did his elegant attire belong to the latter4 ,the old place might have been picturesque in its day1 but now the luxuriant growth of lawn and garden were all in a tangle2 the maples and elms were locking arms1 and that gadding vine1 the woodbine1 had strayed away to the top of the tall hemlock4 ,it may be that ,mr4 ,thornton was musing upon the possibilities of the forlorn little house1 thinking it pitiful that even houses1 trees and vines should not make the most of themselves4 ,he had a passion for bringing up human ruins from depths of sin4 ,it would not be strange if this divine outgoing widened and extended to inanimate things4 ,people said that ,mr4 ,thornton was very peculiar4 ,he puzzled the world in which he moved in more ways than one4 ,it was incomprehensible to them why a man with thousands to bestow in charity1 did not sit in his easy chair1 and with a few flourishes of his pen make munificent gifts to public institutions1 which would trumpet his praises far and near1 instead of giving it out in driblets as he did1 and half of the time nobody ever heard of it1 except by chance2 giving himself such extra trouble1 too1 hunting out objects of charity that nobody else would ever think of4 ,ah6 ,that was just what he did accomplish2 things that most people would not think of doing2 little helps given here and there1 tiding a discouraged man over it rough spot1 saving the home to a widow1 giving a month's rest to a poor sewing woman1 a barrel of flour or load of coal to a family suddenly driven to straits who would starve rather than beg4 ,and money was not all he gave2 no one but ,god and themselves ever knew how he followed young men in and out1 bringing them back from the very door of the pit to respectability and to ,christ4 ,among the poorest classes he was a most successful worker1 because1 like his ,master1 he brought not only the bread of life1 but also the material1 homely loaf for fainting bodies4 ,whatever could possess one of intellectual tastes1 with wealth and leisure and the wide world before him to spend time in such a strange way8 ,people who could see no farther than the outside said that he wanted to be a sort of patron saint to the unfortunate2 others explained it by that convenient word eccentric4 ,that which really was the true motive power of this life they could not understand or appreciate4 ,every person finds his greatest pleasure in some particular way4 ,it was natural for ,mr4 ,thornton to find his in making others happy4 ,as a boy1 he often gave a bit of silver to a beggar or a rose to a forlorn woman1 because he so loved to see the face change from dullness to glad surprise4 ,of late years1 though1 there had come into his life something stronger and purer as a controlling power4 ,he had been taken into near companionship with the ,lord ,jesus4 ,he consulted with him in every small affair of his life1 and received special guidance1 consequently he had no worries and anxieties2 he was under orders1 not as servant only1-- it was more as one might carry out the least wish of a dear absent friend4 ,the beneficence that flowed from his purse was simply dispensing another's bounty4 ,every flower or kind word bestowed1 were the cups of cold water given in the ,friend's name1 for none of which he claimed merit4 ,after many years spent abroad ,mr4 ,thornton had returned to his native city4 ,this neglected cottage1 along with other pieces of property1 had fallen into his hands at the death of an old aunt1 and with the rest had much needed his attention for some time past4 ,it was an old-fashioned house with low ceilings1 small windows1 wide fireplaces and broad hearthstones4 ,outside1 there were broad verandas1 a garden full of roses1 shrubs and vines2 a disorderly mass now1 but capable of being a delight4 ,true to himself1 he immediately set to work--in imagination--transforming the shabby house into a thing of beauty4 ,his artistic eye could see how charming the parlor would be with the sunlight and the roses peeping through white-curtained windows1 the lawn a velvety green1 cleared of all but one grand oak1 and the garden with trained vines and trimmed walks4 ,what wonders might not paper1 and paint1 and pruning-knife accomplish6 ,he grew enthusiastic over it as he went on4 ,but what of it all when it was finished8 ,it would be easy to give it into the hands of an agent to dispose of1 and so have no further trouble about it1 but he had an impression that in some way this house might be used for the comfort and help of some one in the ,father's family1 and he resolved to dedicate it to that purpose4 ,he sat on the porch and thought it all out while the shadows of the vines danced over him and the morning-glories nodded approvingly4 ,yes1 he would make the place fresh and fair1 and it should be to refresh the heart of some old saint who was homeless and friendless1 with nothing left but memories of the past and hopes of the future4 ,she will train these vines into orderliness and sit with her knitting in this shade1 he said to himself1 as he turned the key in lock and went his way4 ,so eager was he to have the work commenced that he brought out his knife and clipped disorderly branches from the sweet-brier that overhung the gateway as he passed through4 ,the vacant cottage stood on a pleasant street that stretched itself on out into the country1 and ,mr4 ,thornton1 lured by the beauty of the autumn days and the flaming colors hung out on a piece of woods not far distant1 turned his steps thitherward1 pausing a moment on the brow of the hill to take in all the beauty4 ,he was rewarded by a tableau of surprising loveliness4 ,nature1 growing lavish with the dying year1 had again festooned the old tree trunks and brown limbs with royal hangings4 ,red maples1 yellow elms and the pine's dark green1 wove such tapestry of gorgeous tints and rare blending as ,persian looms might assay in vain to imitate4 ,under one of the maples1 standing on tiptoe1 and reaching up to the bright branches1 was a young girl4 ,the little figure was trim and neat in soft gray suit and well-fitting thick boots4 ,she was no sylph-like maiden that a breath might blow away4 ,every curve of her form was instinct with life and energy1 yet the attitude was the personification of grace4 ,her broad-brimmed hat had fallen back on her shoulders1 and the upturned face was eager and rosy as a child's as she reached a plump hand far above her head1 and almost grasped the coveted scarlet branch2 like a child's1 too1 in the wave of disappointment that swept over it when she found her utmost efforts unavailing4 ,she picked up the basket at her feet1 already half filled with ferns1 and moved on a few steps2 then her face glowed again1 and her eyes beamed on some new discovery4 ,this was apparently no city maiden1 come out for a sentimental stroll1 for down she went on her knees before a clump of wood violets growing about an old stump4 ,eagerly she seized her trowel1 carefully loosened the earth about them1 and lifted them almost reverently into her basket4 ,mr4 ,thornton was a devout admirer of the beautiful in art and nature1 but he had not lived thirty years without knowing that a fair face and form may hide a hollow heart4 ,he had studied1 in the galleries of ,europe1 perfect faces1 painted by the old masters2 he had met in society women gifted with glorious beauty1 and discovered that one was no more soulless than the other1 consequently mere external charms failed to impress him deeply4 ,and yet1 screened by the friendly sumach1 he watched with keen interest the pretty pose under the tree1 and the childish attitude on the ground1 as the energetic little worker lifted root after root of the homely plants into her basket4 ,and this1 not alone because she made a pretty picture1 but it was refreshing as a breath of mountain air to discover one who could bring such enthusiasm to autumn leaves and a few wildwood plants1 and step about with that joyous1 unconscious air as if it were not in her nature to think of herself1 or do anything for the mere sake of effect4 ,she fitted in well with the bright sky1 bracing air and song of birds4 ,he loved simple pleasures so much himself that he shared in her delight4 ,as she disappeared into the woods far enough away for him to escape observation1 he came and stood under the tree that had refused to give her one of its branches4 ,from his height it was easy to reach the very one the little hand had aspired to2 he broke it off1 and several other bright sprays still higher up1 then he dropped two or three of the finest just in the path by which she must return4 ,and this he did1 not from mere sentimentality2 he would have done the same for any wrinkled old woman4 ,it was this man's nature to help everybody to what they wanted1 if it were right and he could do it4 ,he had the satisfaction after a little to see her come down the path1 pause with a puzzled look beside the branches in her way1 send a swift reconnoitering look about her1 then with a smile and a murmured expression of delight1 place them in her basket1 the crowning glory of the whole4 ,then another scrutinizing sweep of her eyes1 all about her1--half-frightened this time1 as if she just realized that she was not alone1 and she took up her basket and sped away like the wind4 ,had she only known how true and good a man stood guard over her she need not have put herself in such a flutter4 ,she walked steadily on1 bearing her burden as bravely as though it were customary for the young ladies to walk through city streets carrying large baskets4 ,lily ,winthrop's home was on one of the broad avenues2 a large old mansion that had been palatial in its day1 but now owed its chief attraction to its location1 and the fine grounds surrounding it4 ,she was met in the broad gateway by a tall1 silver haired old gentleman1 who looked reproachfully at the basket and said3 ,lily1 my child1 is it possible you have brought that through the streets8 ,why did you not take ,gretchen with you to carry it8 ,o1 ,grandpa6 it is not at all heavy1 and ,gretchen was busy4 ,see my spoils2 look at that lovely bright maple branch4 ,it is the strangest thing where that came from4 ,i tried so hard to get it1 but it was above my reach1 and when ,i came back that way1 there it lay right in the path6 ,it must have been some good fairy or friendly squirrel who took pity on me4 ,aren't these ferns beautiful8 ,what if you had met the ,berkeleys or the ,madisons1 and you carrying a great basket like any market woman8 ,i would have made my best bow to them1 ,grandpa1 exactly as if ,i had nothing in my hand1 and with my best clothes on1 was sailing out to kill time2 and ,i would have shown them all my worldly treasures1 and perhaps ,i would have given them this lovely little bouquet which ,i will now give to you1 my best grandpa1 if you don't scold me any more4 ,and she fastened on his coat a small bunch of scarlet berries1 tiny white flowers1 and dark leaves4 ,the old gentleman smiled down into her merry eyes1 despite his vexation1 and put his arm about her fondly4 ,poor child6 he said4 ,how can you keep a gay heart under such crosses as you have to carry6 ,all the crosses ,i carry are good for me1 dear ,grandpa4 ,i have had a delightful time in the woods this afternoon4 ,now let us go in to tea4 ,after that ,i have a fresh newspaper for you4 ,she stepped to her room and freshened herself with a soft lace necktie and a few bright leaves in her hair and at her throat1 so that ,grandpa's old eyes might imagine he had a lady in full dress at his table4 ,then she sat down and presided over the tea-urn with all due dignity and grace1 taking care to have everything just as he liked it2 the table in faultless array1 and ,gretchen with spotless apron in waiting1 and certain other little ceremonies that he was fond of keeping up4 ,supper over1 and ,mr4 ,winthrop comfortably established with his paper1 ,lily slipped off to the greenhouse to pot her ferns and violets4 ,this was her workshop2 here she toiled early and late1 surreptitiously often1 for it grieved the grandfather sorely that his darling had been brought to such straits1 so she managed by various small strategies to keep from him the full extent of her labors4 ,it was the old story--unfortunate speculations--signing a note for another1 etc41 and a fortune had taken wings4 ,affluence and luxury had been exchanged for poverty1 debts and anxieties4 ,lily had been bequeathed to her grandfather at the death of her widowed mother4 ,so they two1 the first and the last of the family1 had been left alone in the old homestead2 and it had been a happy life until this great change4 ,mr4 ,winthrop came out of the storm with nothing left but a small bank account4 ,a lifelong friend bought the residence at auction sale1 telling ,mr4 ,winthrop to stay just where he was2 that when he needed the place he would let him know1 giving him plainly to understand1 however1 that probably he should never ask him to leave it4 ,and now the question arose as to what could be done to eke out a support without consuming at once the little they possessed4 ,mr4 ,winthrop had long since given up active business life2 if there had been anything for him to do he was too feeble and aged to attempt it4 ,lily was a proficient in music1 but1 alas6 there were many teachers and much competition4 ,she succeeded by dint of great exertion in obtaining two or three pupils4 ,they had many friends in their prosperous days who were very sorry for them now1 but who considered it their solemn duty to employ none but ,german professors4 ,an inspiration came to ,lily one day in this form3 ,there was the greenhouse well stocked with plants1 why should it not be a source of profit to them8 ,it had always held a sort of fascination for her4 ,she had watched ,john for hours1 and asked questions innumerable1 had even learned how to arrange flowers in different styles1 little thinking the knowledge would ever prove useful to her4 ,john had been dismissed1 but she felt quite sure that by the aid of books she could care for the plants and realize a sum--with their other sources of income--sufficient for their wants4 ,but there were difficulties in the way of accomplishing this4 ,her grandfather was a born aristocrat1 and held to the belief that a lady1 especially a ,winthrop1 must be hedged about with all sorts of dainty care1 must not harden her hands with any manual labor1 above all things must not engage in petty traffic like any huckster1 in fine1 that she was a rare and delicate flower that the winds must not visit too roughly1 and that some chivalrous man must guard and cherish1 as he had cared for her1 and as he meant to do until this horrible thing had come upon them4 ,no1 indeed1 she must not think of putting her own hands to such work4 ,if worst had come to worst1 and they must make merchandise of the plants1 then ,john must be recalled and the thing done up properly4 ,poor ,lily sighed1 and tried to make her unpractical grandfather see that ,john would swallow up all the profits2 but he was inexorable1 declaring that as long as he lived she should never thus demean herself4 ,meanwhile1 he should get into some business1 he was sure4 ,and now he cast about to see what he could do4 ,ah1 yes1 what8 ,his business for forty years had been to direct others4 ,he had been president of a bank and of a railroad company2 but such offices are not open to men over seventy4 ,he put pitiful little advertisements in the papers to the effect that a skilled financier1 one of large experience in railroading and banking desired a position4 ,then growing humbler would come down to a ready accountant1 a skillful penman1 wishing a situation1 forgetting that his poor old brain could scarcely add a column of figures correctly if life depended upon it1 and that the trembling hand could no longer make graceful curves4 ,day after day he sat and waited for the postman's ring2 it sometimes came1 but the longed-for letter did not come2 then he was sure he should hear something to-morrow1 and so the hours passed in trembling expectancy4 ,while this was going on1 ,lily was hard at work pruning1 potting1 gathering out dead leaves and transferring plants from lawn to greenhouse1 working in the early mornings while her grandfather slept4 ,she must have it all in order1 for she hoped to win him to consent to her plan after a time4 ,and so it proved2 by many womanly manuvres she brought it about4 ,she made her grandfather see that it was highly necessary to her health and happiness to be among the plants2 then--the shelves were getting crowded2 would he sell a few young plants to ,mr4 ,harris1 the grocer4 ,at this1 the old gentleman was nettled1 saying1 ,oh1 that is small business2 give ,mr4 ,harris a few plants if he wishes them2 we have more than enough4 ,then ,lily would fix her innocent brown eyes on her grandfather's and say1 ,grandpa1 ,i suppose ,i don't know much about business1 but when you come right down to it1 isn't it about the same thing to receive four or five dollars from ,mr4 ,harris who wants our plants1 as for you to have received four of five thousand dollars when you were a banker from men who wanted your services8 ,at this grandpa laughed and said1 ,go on1 child1 have your own way2 you are a real ,winthrop4 ,if ,i once you take a thing into your head1 you'll never give up till it is accomplished4 ,he said to himself1 ,sure enough1 when you put it in that way1 what is the difference8 ,and now business began in a lively manner4 ,lily rose before the sun1 cut her flowers and arranged them in attractive style1 and ,gretchen carried them to the market--transmuting rosebuds into beefsteak for the morning meal4 ,these bouquets were much in demand among people of good taste2 they were not the stiff1 ungainly things one usually sees1 but were grouped loosely and tastefully together with a rare grace that could not be imitated4 ,she possessed true womanly tact1 and succeeded in interesting her grandfather in the structure and habits of plants4 ,she brought books from the library1 scientific and practical1 and1 during the long evenings they studied them together until the elder student began to catch some of the enthusiasm of the younger1 and both grew to be wise in plant lore4 ,mr4 ,winthrop even came into the greenhouse himself and made bungling efforts to be useful4 ,it touched ,lily to the heart to see her stately1 dignified grandfather1 who had never dealt much with details of any sort1 sitting before a basket of flowers1 sorting out heliotrope1 primroses and smilax with painful precision4 ,as for herself she was perfectly in love with the work2 busy and happy she hind almost forgotten to notice that her many dear friends had nearly all ceased to visit her1 so she had ample time for her new pursuit4 ,bringing to it such zeal and love1 success was sure4 ,shut in her little green world1 that other world where she had flitted about with gay butterflies of fashion1 seemed far off--another state of existence2 this greenery was a better1 purer world2 it was easier to remember the ,heavenly ,father when intimate with his delicate creations4 ,perhaps the work he gave man to do for the new-born earth always has peculiar blessings attending it4 ,however it was1 new color and roundness came to her cheek and unwonted love and consecration to her heart4 ,so two years passed away in quiet contentment4 ,with much economy they were more than comfortable1 were even able to pay a small rent which added not a little to the happiness of the proud-spirited old gentleman4 ,just as they were looking forward to another winter of pleasure and profit everything was changed in the space of a few hours4 ,satan long ago intruded himself among vines and flowers and here he came again--in the person of a sharp1 covetous man who claimed the property as his own4 ,the friend1 to whose generosity they owed so much1 passed to another world without so much as a moment's warning4 ,it had been his purpose to bequeath the ,winthrop estate to its lifelong owners1 but he had neglected to add this to his will4 ,much of the property now fell into the hands of a distant relative who claimed the last dollar that the law allowed him1 although knowing the often expressed intention of the one whose wishes and words1 as far as this life is concerned1 had forever come to an end4 ,this very ,september morning1 when the golden sunshine seemed full of blessing1 the cruel order came to vacate the premises within three months4 ,this was a heavy blow indeed1 and ,mr4 ,winthrop was almost crushed beneath it4 ,to be turned out into the world without a home at his age was bad enough1 but to bring this upon the dear child was fearful4 ,all the old struggle of regret and remorse returned4 ,to think that he should have imperiled all1 when he had such a treasure entrusted to him4 ,he walked the floor nights and days calling himself by all hard names1 sometimes trying to pray1 but in despair declaring that he had been so proud and covetous the ,lord had forsaken him in his old age4 ,poor child6 he would exclaim to ,lily4 ,what a pity it is that you belong to such a senseless old dolt4 ,lily did not try to talk much at such times4 ,she would sing low and tender in bird-like notes some sweet assuring words1 oftenest his favorite hymn that he had sung and believed for fifty years3 ,how firm a foundation1 ye saints of the ,lord1 ,is found for your faith in his excellent ,word4 ,the grand words of promise were sure to bring relief1 and by the time she came to3 ,i'll never1 no1 never1 no1 never1 forsake-- the poor heart was calmed4 ,here is a good place to read to-night1 ,grandpa1 she sometimes said1 turning the leaves of the large ,bible to some chapter where ,god's loving heart whispers words that have comforted sad souls in all ages4 ,when he had again realized these gracious promises it was easier to kneel and commit all to ,him who careth for us4 ,and so for the time being it seemed necessary that the learner turn teacher1 and keep constantly before the fainting heart the unfailing ,refuge4 ,it will all come out right1 dear ,grandpa4 ,you told me long ago that ,god cares for each of his children exactly as if that one were all alone in the world1 she would say when the next dark cloud began to settle over him4 ,the ,heavenly ,father knows we need another home4 ,he is surely getting it ready for us4 ,we haven't suffered any yet2 ,i know it will come in time4 ,then ,grandpa would murmur1 ,blessed child1 you shame my feeble faith4 ,strong as ,lily's confidence was1 however1 she went about the work of seeking some employment exactly as if everything depended upon her own efforts4 ,day after day with untiring perseverance she answered advertisements1 seeking interviews with this and that one1 but the place was just filled1 or they needed no more help1 or they would consider her case4 ,nothing definite opened1 though1 through rain and mud1 late and early1 in schools1 offices and families1 she pursued her inquiries for a situation as copyist1 teacher1 governess--anything2 pursued them without avail4 ,in all ,god's fair1 wide world no corner for me1 another might have bitterly murmured1 but when he sweetens a spirit1 what can make it bitter8 ,it is ,his way for me1 it must be the best way1 she continually told herself as she plodded on1 walking with ,god in the dark1 knowing that it was better than to walk alone in the light2 then brought a cheerful face home to her grandfather1 made his tea1 sung his evening song each time as fresh and sweet and hopeful as if she had just concluded an engagement at a salary of a thousand or two a year4 ,there were times1 though1 when it required all her fortitude to bear up against impertinent stares or cold rebuffs as she pushed her way into places where she would never have gone but from necessity4 ,she was often obliged to struggle to keep back tears as she withdrew from some place where she had been rudely repulsed4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,ah6 ,it is pitiful--a woman knocking at iron doors and tugging with feeble fingers at heavy bars1 watching eagerly if perchance the great gates may open never so little and let them into a niche--to work for bread4 ,it is not the laborers1 at their posts from sun to sun1 who need our sympathy1 after all4 ,it is the long line of discouraged men and women who cannot get the work to do1 who do what is harder than work--wait4 ,one morning in ,november1 business took ,mr4 ,thornton to one of the banks of the city4 ,while he stood waiting for his account to be balanced1 he heard a low1 clear voice not far from him that thrilled and interested him at once1 because there was trouble in the tones4 ,one needed only to be in misfortune to possess strong attractions for ,mr4 ,thornton4 ,a young girl stood at the counter below1 conversing with one of the bank officers4 ,the interview was not intended to be public1 but the tones of one speaker were gruff and loud naturally1 and could not easily be softened1 while those of the other were clear and penetrating as a flute4 ,mr4 ,haines1 she said1 would you not be so kind as to allow us to remain in our--in your house for the winter8 ,we can pay a small rent1 and it will relieve us of much embarrassment and distress if you will4 ,the voice matched the face1 pure1 true1 and sweet1 and the brown eyes looked pleadingly into the dead eyes of the speaker4 ,not a muscle of his face changed as he said1 ,the time cannot possibly be extended beyond what ,i mentioned--,christmas week4 ,how could he speak of the glad ,christmas-tide1 the blossoming out of peace on earth1 good will to men1 in that stony way and with that eager face before him6 ,sir1 she said1 and a little flash came into the eyes now1 ,i would never ask it for myself1 but my grandfather is growing old4 ,it is very hard for him to be turned out of the home where he has lived for forty years4 ,will you not have pity on an old man8 ,my plans are all made2 ,i regret that ,i cannot accommodate you1 ,miss ,winthrop4 ,you must excuse me now1 as ,i have an engagement1 was the answer to the appeal1 in the same business-like tones that he would have used if reading from his ledger4 ,then he walked away1 and she stood for a moment1 indignation1 mortification and disappointment struggling together in her face4 ,as she turned to go1 her eyes met ,mr4 ,thornton's2 such true1 kind eyes they were2 if only this man were ,mr4 ,haines6 ,and ,mr4 ,thornton1 looking down at her1 thought1 ,if only she were a little girl1 or an old lady1 ,i could go to her and say1 ',tell me your trouble1 won't you8' ,but now1 how can ,i help her8 ,while he asked it1 she was gone1 and1 as he stood wondering where he had seen the face before1 there came a dim memory floating about it like a frame1 of a blue ,september sky1 bright leaves and ferns1 and then he knew where4 ,he resolved to know more of one apparently in deep trouble of some kind4 ,he searched the directory1 found the street and number1 and soon after walked by the house4 ,yes1 there was the name ,winthrop on the door-plate1 the letters nearly defaced by time1 and the grand old place giving evidence that its owner had been growing old and poor4 ,he saw the grand-looking old man1 too1 walking up and down the long veranda1 his white hair blowing in the ,november wind1 his hands crossed behind him1 his head down1 musing1 the young man thought1 on the past that had been lived in that house1 and the future that was to be lived--where8 ,his heart went out in tender pity over him1 and ,mr4 ,thornton's pity was not wont to spend itself in mere emotions4 ,he stepped into a street-car on his way home4 ,there were but two passengers besides himself for several squares--two ladies1 who1 living in the same vicinity1 and having just passed the house1 were1 naturally enough1 discussing the very persons who occupied his thoughts just then4 ,i'm sure ,i don't know what they are to do8 one said4 ,they are obliged to leave that house by ,christmas4 ,just think of that6 ,as many grand ,christmas doings as they have had there6 ,pretty gay the old house used to be when ,lily's father and mother were living4 ,i should think it would break the old man's heart to go then2 the contrast would be so sharp2 his children gone1 his wife gone1 and now the old place must go1 too4 ,yes1 it is hard1 the other lady replied1 but he has a great deal to be thankful for yet4 ,he has his religion left1 and the dearest comfort in ,lily that anybody ever had4 ,lily is a noble girl4 ,it is perfectly marvelous what she has accomplished4 ,she has taken the entire care of the greenhouse and worked like any market woman2 sold plants and flowers enough to realize a nice sum1 besides teaching two or three music scholars4 ,they have a little money left yet1 ,i hear1 and could probably get along nicely1 situated as they were1 but1 as you say1 ,i don't see just what they will do now4 ,old ,mr4 ,winthrop is so much respected people would help them1 ,i dare say1 if they thought of it1 but he is the last one to give hints1 or even let them know how he is situated2 pretty proud1 the old gentleman is1 but it is not to be wondered at1 he's always been up1 and he don't know how to come down4 ,everything would have turned out all right1 said the first speaker1 if ,mr4 ,walters had just put into his will what he intended to4 ,he mentioned to several that he should give the place in the end to ,lily4 ,if only people would not procrastinate4 ,if only he had given it to her then1 you mean1 returned the other4 ,it is a good deal better to help people over a rough place when they need it1 ,i think1 than to leave them a great sum at death1 just as they are getting ready to die1 and are beyond wanting any help4 ,if ,i had much money to give away ,i am sure ,i should want to see it doing good as ,i went along4 ,they said much more1 thoroughly discussing the situation as two women will who have no troubles of their own on their minds1 and are free to attend to their neighbors4 ,but then this was not ill-natured gossip1 and ,mr4 ,thornton really felt obliged to them for telling him so many things he wished to know4 ,later in the day ,mr4 ,thornton called upon ,mr4 ,haines to inquire about the property1 hoping that he might be able to get it into his own possession1 but he was informed that it was not for sale--that the location was the choicest in the city1 and the house was soon to be remodeled for the owner's own residence4 ,moreover1 he could not extend the time1 as carpenters were to commence work on the inside as soon as possible4 ,he considered it a marked favor that he gave the family as much time as he did1 but then1 some people were always ungrateful4 ,the more ,mr4 ,thornton heard of this family the more interested did he become4 ,this old man to be turned out of his home2 this fair1 brave girl battling with poverty appealed to everything sacred and chivalrous in his nature4 ,how much he wished they were friends of his that he might say1 ,share my home with me4 ,he passed the house frequently the next few days and hunted his brain for a pretext for calling4 ,the opportunity came in an unlooked-for way4 ,one morning while he was passing1 ,mr4 ,winthrop happening to be coming down the stone steps leading from his lawn1 lost his footing and would have fallen forward on the pavement had not ,mr4 ,thornton sprang to his aid4 ,as it was1 one of his ankles was injured so that he was obliged to lean on ,mr4 ,thornton's arm and return to the house4 ,on examination both gentlemen agreed that it was probably only a slight sprain1 not requiring the attendance of a surgeon4 ,mr4 ,thornton remained and assisted in bathing and bandaging it with his own hands1 declaring that he was experienced inasmuch as he once had a sprained ankle himself4 ,mr4 ,winthrop was slow to take in strangers1 but who could wrap himself in cold reserve before the fascination of ,mr4 ,thornton's manner8 ,it was the perfection of kindness and delicate politeness4 ,mr4 ,winthrop found himself conversing with the freedom of an old friend1 and begged him when he took leave1 to come again4 ,mr4 ,thornton in turn was perfectly captivated with the old gentleman4 ,a most delightful plan began to loom up in his mind1 and he betook himself to his favorite retreat to perfect it4 ,the cottage had passed through the renovating process and was now as neat and pretty a home as could be desired4 ,inside1 it was finished up according to ,mr4 ,thornton's own taste1 which was of the best4 ,he had pleased himself by fitting up one room in the style of the olden time4 ,the modern wall-paper adorned with morning glory vines1 and the fern leaf carpet chimed in with the idea sufficiently well4 ,he procured a wide lounge covered with chintz1 two high-backed old rocking-chairs1 and several others of antique patterns and splint-bottoms4 ,from an old aunt's possessions1 he begged a tall secretary and bookcase1 curiously carved1 a table with claw feet1 and a stand with three legs4 ,he put tall candlesticks of silver on the high mantel1 brass andirons in the broad fireplace1 and when he had a veritable hickory log snapping on them1 the firelight dancing on the wall1 and gayly flowered damask curtains at the windows1 he delightedly pronounced the room as much like his great-grandmother's as he could make it4 ,to-night he dropped the curtains1 drew the arm-chair to the fire1 and settled himself to the solving of a problem4 ,he often came to this room when he wanted to be specially quiet2 indeed1 so fascinated was he by it that he would have enjoyed taking up his abode there4 ,the old lady for whom all this comfort was intended1 had not yet appeared4 ,he had been quietly waiting and watching1 certain that in due time his offering would be needed1 and now he felt assured the time had come4 ,but how to bestow it on ,mr4 ,winthrop without bringing him under a sense of obligation that would be embarrassing whenever they met1 for he had no idea of dropping the acquaintance just begun6 ,his sympathies had a wide scope1 and yet his friends were few and choice2 he hoped to number this pure-hearted1 clear-headed old man among them1 and1 mayhap1 this maiden of heroic deeds4 ,open fires must be favorable to untying hard knots1 for after knitting his brows for a time he seemed to have arrived at some conclusion that pleased himself1 at least1 and he turned to his table and wrote a letter1 sealed and addressed it1 then sank back in his chair with the air of one who has dispatched his business and is free to dream dreams of firelight4 ,the letter was not the only result of the cogitations4 ,it was but a day or two after that when workmen were busy with shovel and saw and hammer engaged in building a greenhouse4 ,the season favored the plan2 the frosts not having penetrated the ground yet4 ,mr4 ,thornton was there continually1 directing1 watching with as much interest as if he contemplated taking up the vocation of a florist at once4 ,one evening the postman brought a letter of importance to the ,winthrops4 ,it was just at dusk1 and ,lily1 returned from another day of fruitless wanderings1 sat by the fire1 feeling more depressed in heart than was at all usual with her4 ,the day had been dark and cold and dreary1 and chilled her through and through1 soul as well as body4 ,none of this appeared1 though1 in the cheerful words she forced herself to speak to her dispirited grandfather1 who had almost lost hope1 though struggling hard to keep up4 ,he did not know that in the dark and drizzle of the ,november night a light was on the way to him4 ,and now appeared ,gretchen with a letter for ,mr4 ,winthrop4 ,lily turned it over curiously1 noting1 as she passed it to her grandfather1 that it was a city letter1 and a feeble hope sprang up that ,mr4 ,haines had relented1 and would allow them to remain until spring4 ,mr4 ,winthrop read it slowly through1 once and again1 and then almost sprang to his feet1 forgetting his lameness in the excitement4 ,lily1 he called1 come here1 quick6 ,this is most extraordinary2 read that--read it aloud6 ,it must be that ,i have made some mistake4 ,and ,lily read3 ,,mr4 ,,winthrop3 ,dear ,sir3 ,i write to inform you that ,i have been entrusted by a dear friend of yours--who is at present absent--with a piece of property which he desires to bestow upon you as a ,christmas gift4 ,the cottage is in the city1 pleasantly located1 with a fine greenhouse in good order4 ,the key and the deed of it will be sent to you in the course of a month1 when it will be ready for occupancy4 ,i advise you thus early that you may shape your plans accordingly4 ,yours truly1 ,a4 ,,hathaway4 ,now1 dear child1 what is the meaning of all this8 ,could anybody play such a cruel joke upon us8 ,oh1 no1 no1 ,grandpa1 ,lily said1 her face radiant4 ,it is the answer to our prayers4 ,have we not asked and asked ,him for a home1 and now he has sent it to us8 ,grandpa closed his eyes1 and there was silence for a moment2 each knew that the other was whispering thanksgivings too deep for spoken words4 ,bless the ,lord1 ,o my soul1 ,grandpa murmured at length4 ,this deliverance came for the sake of you1 his little one2 such stupid unbelief as mine could never have brought the blessing4 ,but who is ,mr4 ,hathaway1 and why in reason did he not tell me the name of my friend8 ,i will write to him this very evening1 and know something more about this wonderful transaction4 ,it was as good as a play could have been to others1 and much better than one could possibly be to ,mr4 ,thornton1 when he called later in the evening to inquire after the sprained ankle1 to observe the change in the manner of both4 ,the grandfather appeared to have chopped off ten years of age1 and seasoned his speech with lively sallies and sparkles of wit as he had not done for a long time4 ,the girl's eyes1 too1 had lost their look of patient care and sparkled with repressed joyousness4 ,she seemed like one in possession of some happy secret1 and in haste to be alone that she might turn it over and look at it4 ,this was pure1 exquisite pleasure to turn sighs into smiles4 ,he knew us well who said1 ,it is more blessed to give than to receive4 ,hathaway was ,mr4 ,thornton's middle name1 after one of his ancestors1 ,allan ,hathaway4 ,he had never lived in that vicinity1 so his namesake knew that he might safely hide behind it1 especially as there was no one of the same name in the city4 ,he felt too that he could truthfully say that he acted under the directions of another1 who was ,mr4 ,winthrop's dear friend1 for was not the ,lord whom they served both ,master and ,friend1 and who but he had put it into his own heart to remember his servant8 ,the sprained ankle1 though doing well1 yet gave ,mr4 ,thornton continued pretexts for calling very often4 ,he brought in new books and the daily papers1 and sometimes stopped to read the news to the invalid2 then the two held many arguments and discussions on the topics of the day4 ,their views were too nearly alike to make the discussions very lively1 though the fact gave each an exalted opinion of the other4 ,lily seldom joined them2 not that she was indifferent to the fascination of such brilliant society1 but there was much work to be done1 now that they were not to be bereft of their beloved plants1 and she took the opportunity to attend to it while her grandfather was being so pleasantly entertained4 ,perhaps too1 the fact that the visitor seemed indifferent to either her absence or presence made her less anxious to be present4 ,she was not one to thrust herself upon any person's notice4 ,she had not done that when she was a courted heiress1 certainly not now1 when in the estimation of the world she had fallen from a great height4 ,had her spirit1 been less sweet she might have felt a degree of pique at not being considered the chief attraction in the house1 especially to gentlemen from whom she had received homage enough to spoil an ordinary girl4 ,she settled finally down to the theory that ,mr4 ,thornton was a philanthropist1 not a wholesale one1 but a grand1 loving-hearted ,christian1 doing his ,master's will in small things as faithfully as if they were great2 and that he considered it his ,christian duty probably to extend kindness and good cheer to her grandfather--and that he was only one of many objects of his charity--for of course he must know by this time about their reduced circumstances4 ,she would have enjoyed the sweet savor of his conversation1 as did everybody who ever talked with him1 but she declared within herself1 ,he shall never have a shadow of cause to imagine that ,i appropriate these visits to myself1 and so be annoyed and cease to come--that is probably the reason he never inquires for me at the door4 ,i do want him to come1 he is such a comfort to ,grandpa4 ,with this tormenting suggestion1 that some officious elf thrust into her mind1 she allowed herself but seldom to remain in the room during his visits1 and1 depriving herself of a pleasure she would have enjoyed exceedingly1 rarely joined in the conversation1 only occasionally forgetting ugly suggestions of prim propriety1 and putting in her vivacious word or merry laugh with such childlike abandon as made ,mr4 ,thornton remember the maple leaves and the violets4 ,he did not mean to be an artful man1 but the truth was1 that there was not a look or tone or motion of this maiden's but he noted and studied1 no matter how absorbed he pretended to be with the subject in hand4 ,it puzzled him not a little that she seemed to avoid him1 for he too was accustomed to being considered a person of importance4 ,and yet it was almost refreshing to meet a young lady who did not constantly seek his society1 oppress him with attention and smile approval upon him4 ,always smiling1 it was restful to meet this face that could be grave1 and lips that could be silent1 or speak of something besides trifles and inanities4 ,and so the visits and the--studies--continued1 twice1 three times a week2 if he were late1 the old gentleman would fidget like a maiden waiting for her lover4 ,and now the greenhouse was completed1 furnished with all the appurtenances that such an establishment requires4 ,some little changes1 too1 had been made in the cottage in consideration of the choice spirits who were to occupy it2 in short1 nothing more could be asked for it in the way of taste and convenience4 ,the deed and the key had been sent as promised1 and the ,christmas gift had been searched out and found to be no myth1 but a joyful reality2 two delighted people had pronounced it cosy1 lovely1 home-like4 ,they were still in wonder and perplexity as to the donor4 ,mr4 ,winthrop lay awake nights1 going as far back among the families of the city as his memory would travel1 to find the name ,hathaway1 but could get no clue4 ,he turned over in his mind the names of all his acquaintances whom he knew to be abroad1 and surmised it to be this one1 and then that one1 to whom he was indebted for this princely gift1 but could never settle permanently upon any one4 ,as much at home as ,mr4 ,thornton had become in a short time in the household1 ,mr4 ,winthrop had never mentioned the matter to him2 with true ,puritan reticence1 he kept his personal affairs1 if possible1 within his own family4 ,so1 as the time drew near for removal1 the former could scarcely conceal a smile when ,mr4 ,winthrop1 with a touch of his old stateliness in his manner1 said that he must make a disclosure that1 perhaps1 should have been made long ago2 that he never liked to sail under false colors1 and1 while he would not hint that wealth was the sole standard ,mr4 ,thornton set up for his friendships1 still he wished him to know that he himself was a poor man1 that his home had been taken from him1 in fact1 he was to leave it in a few days forever1 for a small property that was given to us by some unknown friend1 and for which we hourly thank ,god1 he said with moist eyes4 ,but that is not all1 he went on1 as if determined to further mortify his remaining pride4 ,we are to be known hereafter as those who earn their daily bread by the toil of their own hands4 ,i have been among the fools who thought it a disgrace to do so1 but ,i have been rebuked for my foolish pride of birth1 and now ,i lay it down forever2 but ,i wish every one who seeks friendship with us to know the truth4 ,mr4 ,thornton heard this speech with kindling eyes1 and simply said1 as he gave him a warm hand clasp1 ,then1 sir1 you may have fewer friends1 but truer4 ',the friends thou hast1 and their adoption tried1 ,grapple them to thy soul with hooks of steel4' ,may ,i be so happy as to be one such friend8 ,what a thing it would be1 eh8 ,to be the father of such a son6 ,mr4 ,winthrop said within himself1 as he watched the young man spring lightly down the steps and walk away2 and there were tears in the old eyes as he remembered a handsome profligate son who had found an early grave4 ,a few days before ,christmas found the ,winthrops established in their new home1 happy1 grateful souls as ever opened eyes on ,christmas morning4 ,the delightful old-fashioned house reminded one of a hen and chickens1 so many small rooms joined on here and there clustering about it4 ,inside1 it seemed to open in all directions1 so that when you stood in the center you had a peep into every room4 ,and each room1 fitted up by ,lily's artistic taste with articles that had long been heirlooms in the family1 had an individuality of its own4 ,the living room1 warm and bright in rich colors1 the dining room1 with antique sideboard and a few old pieces of silver shining on it1 the tiny green carpeted library1 glimpses into one fair and white1 the guest chamber1 and another in rose tints1 such as girls love1 then the old-time room1 which ,mr4 ,winthrop declared was to be his the moment he saw it4 ,it carries me back sixty-free years to my mother's knee1 he said4 ,mr4 ,thornton had come as soon as possible after the settlement of the new home and taken a delighted survey4 ,he could scarcely have believed it to be the same1 evidences of refined taste and deft fingers were everywhere4 ,the most charming effect without exception that ,i ever saw in any house1 he told his happy host1 who took almost a childish pleasure in displaying his new possession1 carrying his visitor at last in triumph to his own room and seating him in the arm-chair1 with ,now did you ever see anything to equal this1 even to the candlesticks and snuffer tray1 all complete8 ,this room does me more good than anything that has come to me in years4 ,and ,mr4 ,thornton1 looking into the old man's happy face1 the firelight throwing a halo about his white hair2 thanked ,god for money4 ,his pleased eyes took in the fact1 too1 that the room remained unchanged in every particular1 a tribute1 he smilingly thought1 to the taste of ,mr4 ,hathaway4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,on ,christmas ,day1 while her grandfather was safe in his room taking his afternoon nap1 ,lily resolved to surprise him1 as well as commemorate this wonderful ,christmas4 ,bringing out her store of pressed ferns and autumn leaves1 together with some evergreens she had supplied herself with1 she turned the little house into a bower of beauty4 ,vines festooned the pictures1 and vines of bright autumn leaves ran along the gray walls4 ,evergreens wreathed the doorways1 and chrysanthemums bloomed out unexpectedly from everywhere4 ,she prepared the table in spotless old damask and shining silver1 for their six o'clock dinner--sumptuous repast1 by the way1 which was not often indulged in1 these days4 ,when all was done she put on a dress that she did not often have occasion to wear in her workaday world--a white cashmere1 her grandfather's favorite4 ,she put roses in her hair and at her belt1 for grandpa's favorite flower was a rose4 ,then trembling with delight at the success of her plans1 she tinkled the little bell and waited for him4 ,he1 too1 had made some little attempts at festivity2 had exchanged his dressing-gown for his best black coat4 ,and now when he came into the room1 ablaze with light1 with odors of heliotrope and roses in the air1 and a lovely vision in white demurely waiting to receive him1 sweeping a low courtesy with ,a merry ,christmas to you1 sir2 happy and oft this day return to thee1 he rubbed his old eyes in amazement and thought time had gone back forty years4 ,there were two lookers-on in this scene1 ,gretchen standing just inside the kitchen door1 her face in a broad smile of delight1 and a gentleman who was guilty of pausing just for a moment on the porch1 taking advantage of a forgotten uplifted curtain to enjoy the exquisite picture4 ,he murmured ,beautiful6 but whether it referred to the charming room1 the faultless table1 the lovely girl1 or the grand old man1 who can tell8 ,he came in presently1 bearing a basket of rare fruits2 oranges1 white grapes and bananas1 which he presented with a ,merry ,christmas to ,mr4 ,winthrop4 ,you have friends with you8 he said1 glancing about him4 ,oh1 no1 indeed6 ,my little girl got up all this festive appearance to please her old grandfather4 ,if you would honor us so much1 ,mr4 ,thornton1 what pleasure it would give us could you remain and take a seat at our table4 ,a friend is the only article we lack to make our ,christmas a happy one4 ,so sincere an invitation needed little urging1 especially as the guest experienced a sudden consciousness of the truth that in all the world there was not a table or a company that he would prefer4 ,it was a most enjoyable ,christmas dinner2 not alone because the fare was delicious and delicate1 but that these three1 meet as often as they might1 never lacked either topics or thoughts for conversation4 ,in the course of the evening1 as they were discussing plants1 ,mr4 ,winthrop turned to ,lily1 saying1 ,my dear1 take our friend out and show him that rare rose that opened to-day4 ,i think there is not another plant like it in this country4 ,here is something finer than roses1 ,lily said1 pausing at the entrance of the greenhouse by pots of ,english violets1 white with blossoms4 ,they are wonderfully sweet1 he said1 bending over them1 but ,i have a great partiality for their less pretentious ,american sisters1 sturdy little souls1 who push up green leaves through the snows fairly1 and open their blue eyes smilingly in all sorts of weather4 ,they are not exclusive1 either2 they make up for what they lack in fragrance by scattering themselves about the woods so that poor people may have them as freely as water or air4 ,i can show you some of those1 too1 she said4 ,i brought them from the woods for the sake of old times4 ,here is my pet corner4 ,this was a moss-covered rock1 the water trickling over it1 tall ferns behind it1 and clusters of wood violets nestling at the foot4 ,this is a bit of the woods1 you see1 ,mr4 ,thornton1 except that the ferns are in pots1 and the violets in boxes4 ,will not these violets be astonished when they wake up in this strange place instead of down by the stump in the woods where ,i found them8 ,it seemed that ,mr4 ,thornton's lips opened of themselves to say1 ,yes1 ,i very well remember the day4 ,and ,lily1 just then1 remembered the day1 too1 and the curious circumstance that had often puzzled her--the maple branch broken off and laid in her path1 and yet no one appeared to be in the woods but herself4 ,was ,mr4 ,thornton there1 too8 ,she gave him a quick look1 but he was absorbed in studying the violets with a perfectly grave face1 and she put the idea from her as absurd4 ,he is very absent-minded1 she told herself2 is in haste to be gone1 and considers me tiresome4 ,he came over again to the ,english violets and took long breaths of their sweetness1 then said1 ,i have a friend who calls this her flower1 and these blossoms are not more fragrant than is her spirit4 ,will you kindly cut a few for her8 ,and drawing out his watch1 ,it is quite time ,i was gone4 ,he took his violets1 lingered again outside1 admiring the beauty of the scene4 ,everything was clear-cut against a cloudless sky and white moonlit earth4 ,gloriously beautiful1 is it not8 he said4 ,think of looking up at such a sky as that1-- ',in the solemn midnight1 centuries ago1' searching for the one star4 ,think of seeing a multitude of angels appear in such a sky1 she said1 with upturned face4 ,the pure1 rapt expression and the white robes made her companion fear for an instant that she would vanish out of his sight1 and he involuntarily drew her hand through his arm and moved on4 ,after all1 ,mr4 ,thornton1 she said1 my thoughts are rather on the earth than the sky1 to-night4 ',peace on earth1 good will to men4' ,i've been singing it all day4 ,the ,lord has been very kind to us this ,christmas4 ,he sent us this lovely home for our very own--,grandpa told you1 did he not8 ,see it in the moonlight6 ,does it not look like a dear little gray dove nestled down among the snows and the evergreens8 ,it was a glowing face ,mr4 ,thornton turned to her4 ,these were precious words to hear1 and he rejoiced that his secret had been well kept4 ,in lieu of other friends this young florist held much converse with her flowers1 fairly investing them with souls4 ,she went back to them now1 and looked them over lovingly4 ,he has a friend who loves white violets1 she told them4 ,do you suppose she is like him8 but the perfumed breath did not answer4 ,you darling6 to a white rose1 ,i'm so glad you have come2 ,i have watched for you so long2 perhaps she is like you1 my queen1 and she touched her lips to the delicate petals4 ,what if she were like you1 ,madam ,camelia1 in stiff white silken robes1 or you1 ,lady ,calla1 beautiful1 and white1 and cold--not sweet8 ,what if she be some little plain1 humble creature like you1 my mignonette1 he would love her none the less1 ,i am sure4 ,but none of you tell me about her4 ,you pansies1 in your new purple and buff velvets1 you are full of thoughts4 ,is she wise and good8 ,she must be like him1 she whispered to the heliotrope1 putting her face down amid its sweetness1 or he could not have called her life fragrant4 ,she put a sharp1 quick check just then on both tongue and fancies1 and reminded herself that she was taking an unwarrantable amount of interest in ,mr4 ,thornton's affairs1 and had enjoyed the evening far too much for one who had made such resolutions as she had4 ,what a happy evening it had been6 ,she had forgotten to put on her mantle of reserve when she donned her white cashmere4 ,she had shown such pleasure at his coming1 too1 and so he was obliged to take early leave to impress it upon her that it was not she he sought2 that his visits were purely benevolent4 ,speaking of his friend1 too1 as if to say1 ,be careful1 do not set your heart upon me4 ,she felt vexed with herself4 ,she talked no more to the flowers1 but went about preparations for the next day's work with a resolute1 business-like air4 ,she clipped off blossoms energetically1 and made them swiftly into little knots or graceful handfuls for the next day's market1 for people would need flowers1 even though ,christmas had come and gone4 ,somehow the day had left a weight upon her spirits1 indefinable and vague1 but the very touch of the soft flowers and the cool green leaves calmed her1 and brought sharp rebukes from her conscience4 ,what ingratitude6 ,it should end up in gladness1 this day of days to them1 and she shut the door on all disturbing thoughts1 and broke out in song--snatches of old ,christmas hymns4 ,if she had but known that the violets travelled as fast as they could go to ,the ,old ,ladies' ,home1 and gave out their fragrance by the bedside of an invalid who loved ,english violets as she did no other flower1 because it was a breath from her native land2 had she known1 too1 that the giver of them hastily plucked out a few before he parted with them1 carefully placed them in an inner pocket1 then stored them among his treasures when he reached home6 ,life had settled down in the cottage to calm content4 ,mr4 ,winthrop seemed to have forgotten that he was ever other than a dweller in a humble home1 with no more important business than sorting flowers and pruning plants4 ,sturdy ,gretchen was still at her post1 maid of all work4 ,in the time of the deepest trouble ,lily had told her she must go as they had no means of paying her1 but she shook her faithful head1 saying1 ,no1 no1 ,i will stay4 ,i haf leetle money1 petter days come for you4 ,you die if ,i leaf you2 you haf so too much work2 you good to me1 ,i not go1 whereat ,lily bestowed upon her a warm embrace1 thus forging the last link that bound her in loving servitude to the family4 ,by many skillful manuvres ,mr4 ,thornton had contrived to have his own gardener relieve them of much of the drudgery in the greenhouse1 assuring ,mr4 ,winthrop that the man must have more to keep him from idleness4 ,mr4 ,thornton himself was the best patron the greenhouse had1 paying his own prices1 which were exorbitant4 ,one might suppose he furnished flowers for all the weddings and parties in the city4 ,certain it is that all his friends1 and public charities with which he had to do1 were kept well supplied4 ,plants1 too1 bloomed in attic windows that had been bare1 and every old lady in the ,home had her pet in the shape of a plant of his giving4 ,the winter was gliding away1 and ,mr4 ,thornton still spent long evenings at the cottage4 ,he did not longer conceal from himself the fact that it was not benevolence alone that drew him thither1 nor because a fireside and a welcome from a genial old friend awaited him4 ,he had come to know that while he enjoyed ,mr4 ,winthrop's conversation1 and the room was as cosy as ever1 yet there was a painful void about it all unless a maiden stole in1 dropped the curtain1 shaded the lamp1 stirred the fire and sat in the corner opposite him1 where his eyes might often meet hers2 indeed she could converse well with her eyes1 and give one a tolerable impression of her thoughts and convictions without spoken words1 as they thoughtfully gazed into the fire1 rested in smiling affection upon her grandfather1 or flashed an appreciative look at some word of his own4 ,if he had sometimes made reply to a profound opinion of ,mr4 ,winthrop's in words that were floating through his mind1 they might have been these3-- ,a sweet attractive kinde of grace1 ,a full assurance given by lookes1 ,continuall comfort in a face ,the lineaments of ,gospell bookes4 ,and yet he had by no word or look to her given a sign of all this4 ,the truth was1 ,mr4 ,thornton had been engaged in an intricate though delightful study4 ,his heart was pleading to go in a certain direction1 and he1 holding it back1 declared it never should1 unless reason and conscience approved4 ,there was a cause for this excessive caution4 ,he had seen much hollowness and deceit in society1 had found a low standard among young ladies themselves1 and their pleasure being so universally the aim of life1 that he was tempted to believe that sterling worth in womankind had died with his mother and grandmother4 ,moreover1 he had in early manhood a bitter experience2 had been carried captive by a beautiful face1 and came near linking his life to one who proved to be empty-headed and empty-hearted1 and yet she was fair as an angel1 and counterfeited all virtues and graces most admirably4 ,it was a keen disappointment1 and inclined him to place no confidence in mere appearances4 ,and so he had watched this lovely flower unfolding day by day before him1 hardly daring to hope that the self-sacrifice1 the consecration and sweetness were genuine1 trembling lest some day he should discover the hideous blight spot4 ,it had come to be a matter of course that as often as ,mr4 ,thornton came1 he carried away a knot of white violets for his friend1 and ,lily1 while she made it up with care1 made up also a pretty little romance4 ,she pictured his friend a fair1 sweet creature1 arrayed in garments of finest texture and softest tints1 with rare old laces and jewels1 and a hint odor of violets always about her4 ,how blest and happy must she be1 having the right to wait and watch for him1 to be glad at his coming--always with her flowers6 ,how lovely she must be when that rare1 delicate fragrance typified her to him6 ,if sometimes while she worked1 a tear sparkled on the white blossoms1 she dashed off the intruder and took herself sternly in hand4 ,what was this8 ,was she growing envious8 ,jealous8 ,what8 ,ah6 ,she must look well to her heart1 treacherous heart repining at another's happiness4 ,this was only momentary weakness that nobody guessed aught of--that she did not admit even to herself4 ,she still went her daily rounds1 cheerful1 trusting1 thankful1 looking with brave eyes into the future that promised only a life of toil4 ,it so happened that ,mr4 ,thornton sometimes sought her in the greenhouse1 as the evening waned and she did not appear2 but she seemed absorbed in her work1 and determined to take for granted that it was a purely business call with a pertinacity that was both amusing and annoying2 annoying in that the chief subject of ,mr4 ,thornton's perplexed musings in these days was1 not what estimate to put upon her1 but to discover1 if possible1 what one she put upon him4 ,one evening he strayed in and laughingly declared that she must suspend industry for a time1 and turn cicerone1 as there were doubtless many points of interest in her flowery kingdom that he had not yet visited4 ,the enthusiastic florist was always pleased to do this1 much more when one could open up such treasures of riches on any theme as could this devout student of nature4 ,and so1 all unawares as they went about1 she was drifted into a sea of most delightful talk4 ,they discussed families and the different members1 as if people and not plants were being analyzed4 ,he described some of the curious relatives of these families that he had met in foreign lands4 ,then they came down to the broad plane2 the wonderful variety in form1 color and fragrance1 of ,god's beautiful creations1 the thought of us in it all2 and here there were so many things to be said1 such perfect harmony of thought1 that the talk flowed on and on1 until ,lily had forgotten that she was to maintain a dignified reserve toward this friend of her grandfather's4 ,they came at last to clusters of lilies of the valley--just putting forth creamy bells4 ,dear little hardy things1 ,mr4 ,thornton said1 bending over them4 ,these are petted children1 but their poor relations come trooping out before winter has fairly left us4 ,they are my favorite lilies1 so brave and sweet and modest4 ,you surely forget1 ,lily said1 that the lily family is a large one4 ,yes1 ,i know4 ,there's that immense one1 all purple and gold and crimson2 you may admire it in the distance4 ,then the day lilies are sweet1 but they are stiff and ungraceful4 ,the tiger lilies are showy1 but mere show never commends itself to me2 they have no fragrance4 ,you forget the queenly calla4 ,no2 she is grand and beautiful1 with stately manners1 but you cannot take her right into your heart like these tiny creatures4 ,these fit everywhere4 ,they may fasten the bride's veil or strew the dead baby's pillow4 ,you may give a handful to a beggar1 or lay them in a sick1 weak hand1 and their perfume will steal softly up and bring comfort4 ,they are such drooping1 graceful bells1 humbly hiding away in their green4 ,i repeat1 ,i love them best4 ,will you give me a few for my friend8 ,she1 too1 is a lover of them4 ,lily was vexed at herself that her cheek just then took on the hue of the rose that it brushed against4 ,his 'friend6' alway that friend4 ,why did she seem like an unwelcome spectre8 ,while she clipped the stems and put them together1 he talked on4 ,i said these were the flower of flowers to me2 ,i should have excepted one other4 ,has she not been so occupied in controlling the disturbance that my friend aroused1 she would have noticed a quality in the tones that had not been there before1 as well as the look that searched her face when she raised her eyes1 after a little pause1 with ,well8 ,this flower that ,i have in mind is a very hardy one1 also4 ,it will flourish in almost any climate2 indeed1 the more rocky the soil1 and the rougher the winds that blow upon it1 the more beautifully it develops4 ,that is strange1 she said1 intent on fashioning her bouquet4 ,what is stranger still1 it blooms all the year round4 ,is it fragrant8 ,wonderfully so4 ,not a flower that ever ,i saw can compare with its delicate fragrance4 ,what color is it8 ,white1 with a delicate flush of rose4 ,it must be lovely1 she said1 holding off her flowers to get the effect of the arrangement4 ,where are those flowers found8 ,they are very rare4 ,i never saw but one4 ,did you say it was a lily8 ,a lily4 ,where did you see it1 ,mr4 ,thornton8 ,not far from this very spot1 in the woods1 under a maple tree1 one autumn day1 was where ,i first saw it1 he said1 looking into her eyes4 ,and now the cheeks took on the rose hue again and went down among the green leaves4 ,in a flash it came to her--his meaning--and the maple bough in the path2 it was he1 then1 who broke it off and left it there for her4 ,what words these would be to her if it were not for this bouquet she was making that reminded her of his friend4 ,what right had he1 though1 to trifle with her1 making her show all her heart in her face8 ,without speaking1 she hastily broke off a few white violets1 twisted them together1 and1 with the lilies1 pushed them toward him1 saying coldly3 ,here are your friend's flowers4 ,excuse me1 ,mr4 ,thornton1 but ,i must go in4 ,i think my grandfather is waiting for me-- ,as your friend probably is for you1 she wanted to add4 ,mr4 ,thornton did not seem quenched in the least1 but he smiled in the darkness as he walked behind the cool little lady into the house1 while the full meaning of white violets and your friend dawned upon him4 ,here was another bright leaf in the unfolding of this rare flower--she would have none of what rightfully belonged to another4 ,as ,mr4 ,thornton took leave of her grandfather1 he said to ,lily1-- ,do you feel like performing a charitable deed to-morrow8 ,will you go with me to see a dear old saint who has not long to live1 and who would be cheered1 no doubt1 by a visit from you8 ,she hesitated a moment1 and her grandfather answered for her3 ,why1 certainly she will go2 she never refuses a call of that kind4 ,you can go to-morrow1 can't you1 dear8 ,and ,lily answered ,yes to her grandfather1 but did not look at ,mr4 ,thornton1 not even when he said that he would call for her at four1 and would she please have some cut flowers ready for him8 ,then he said ,good-night6 and went4 ,it was not a very good night for her1 though4 ,she went over and over that strange evening4 ,how happy and how miserable it had been6 ,he probably meant nothing1 after all1 but a joke1 and her foolish vanity had made so much of it2 but then1 he looked so much more than he said4 ,what right had he to do that8 ,was he1 after all1 nothing but a trifler8 ,and what if she were mistaken1 and he had no friend of the sort she had imagined8 ,ah6 ,that thought made her heart stand still when she remembered the words he had but just spoken1 the grave1 tender tones1 and earnest looks4 ,but there were the white violets1 and he had said she was like them--this friend4 ,she was ready punctually when the carriage came1 with a bouquet she had prepared for the old lady and the flowers he had ordered4 ,the talk on the way did not extend beyond the beauty of the day and the objects they happened to pass4 ,arriving at the ,old ,ladies' ,home1 they were at once taken to the room of the invalid4 ,aunt ,phbe1 as all her friends called her1 had a calm1 pleasant face1 with gray hair parted beneath a white muslin cap1 and eyes that did not seem to belong to a sick person1 they were such cheerful1 satisfied eyes4 ,she had given her best days to ,christian service1 and had now sat down to rest a bit before she went home1 she said4 ,her face broke into a smile at sight of ,mr4 ,thornton1 as if he were a welcome visitor4 ,aunt ,phbe1 he said1 ,i have brought you my friend1 ,miss ,winthrop2 ,miss ,winthrop1 this is ,aunt ,phbe--my friend4 ,are you feeling bright to-day8 he asked1 putting into her hand--with as courtly grace as if she were a duchess--the bunch of white violets4 ,as he did so1 he bestowed on ,lily one look that meant many words2 then he left her free to do much thinking while he gave his attention entirely to ,aunt ,phbe4 ,they talked of books and men and women and work4 ,they spoke glad words to each other of ,christ and ,heaven1 and ,hope and ,love4 ,somehow as ,lily listened she found herself repeating1 ,i believe in the communion of saints4 ,they rose to go1 and ,lily bent forward and whispered a word of love as she put the roses and heliotrope in ,aunt ,phoebe's hand4 ,bless you6 ,dear child1 whispered back the old lady4 ,i've known you this long time4 ,you are a dear flower yourself4 ,i've got more good in looking at your young face while you sat here1 never speaking a word1 than from some very long speeches4 ,the last few words reached ,mr4 ,thornton's ears1 who said3 ,that is a blow aimed at me1 then taking up the basket of flowers1 ,will you come with me1 ,miss ,lily1 and help me distribute my blessings8 ,so they went1 knocking at each old lady's door1 leaving handfuls of flowers1 and receiving in return benedictions4 ,but why did you not tell me8 ,lily said1 and ,i would have made them into bouquets4 ,because they enjoy them best in this shape2 they love to sort them over and arrange them as they please4 ,then some have favorite flowers1 and ,i let them choose4 ,here1 then1 was where the rare flowers went that ,mr4 ,thornton purchased4 ,how many revelations were being made6 ,on the way home ,mr4 ,thornton gave the history of ,aunt ,phbe1 as well as that of ,the ,home1 its organization1 management1 workings1 etc41 leaving nothing whatever for ,lily to say1 for which she was thankful4 ,he simply said ,good-night6 when he left her at her own door1 and drove away1 giving no sign that he ever expected to come back4 ,he came1 though1 two hours afterward2 he guessed where he should find her3 in the greenhouse1 by the lilies4 ,he came over to her and asked1-- ,how did you like my friend8 ,did she look as you expected her to8 ,the vision of his friend that her imagination had pictured came up before her in such ludicrous contrast to the reality that she laughed merrily1 and ,mr4 ,thornton joined it4 ,there was no more talking in enigmas after that4 ,while the moonbeams fell upon their heads like a benediction1 there were more revelations1 as each read pages that no other eyes had looked upon4 ,the tale was long1 but the violets1 nor the nodding roses1 nor the lily bells ever breathed a word of it to anybody4 ,weeks afterward it occurred to ,lily to ask ,mr4 ,thornton what the ,h in his name represented4 ,hathaway1 he promptly responded1 and immediately knew that his secret was out4 ,lily and her grandfather exchanged wondering looks4 ,is it possible that you are--that you can tell me--who the friend is to whom ,i am so much indebted8 ,mr4 ,winthrop said1 his voice trembling with emotion4 ,thy ,heavenly ,friend1 said ,mr4 ,thornton reverently4 ,,my ,,aunt ,,katherine4 ------ ,,it is perfectly absurd that she should occupy the best room in the house4 ,what difference can it possibly make to an old lady where she is1 so she is comfortable8 ,she ought to be thankful that you allow her to stay here at all4 ,this was said in an excited tone1 by a tall1 thin lady with thin lips and flashing1 light blue eyes4 ,her husband was a silent man1 with a horror of discord4 ,it had taken him but a short time to discover that the only means of avoiding it was to let his new wife have her own way1 so he held his peace and looked out of the window1 and the lady went on4 ,if she had any delicacy1 she would not wish to remain now that she has no possible claim upon you4 ,there is the ',old ,lady's ,home1' why could she not go there8 ,it is a magnificent building1 with beautiful rooms4 ,new wife though she was1 she had overshot the mark this time4 ,the tall silent man drew himself up two inches taller and answered sternly3-- ,laura1 you are mistaken6 ,my mother-in-law will always have a claim upon me4 ,as long as ,i have a home she shall share it with me4 ,what do you take me for8 ,as if ,i would ever turn my ,margaret's mother out upon charity6 ,she is1 besides1 very dear to me for her own sake4 ,she is a remarkable example of unselfishness1 and that is a rare quality in this world4 ,there were two stings in this speech1 which was a long one for ,mr4 ,agnew4 ,the selfish woman who heard it bit her lip in vexation1 and all the jealousy in her nature rose up at the words ,my ,margaret2 jealous of that other wife who had been in her heavenly home for five years2 whose husband1 albeit1 was more to be pitied now than when she first left him desolate2 because he was that phenomenon--over which men and angels might weep--a true1 noble man1 joined for life to a selfish1 heartless1 coarse-grained woman1 and that of his own deliberate choice4 ,if some men should shut their eyes and marry the first woman they happened to open them on1 they could not make more fatal mistakes than they do4 ,when ,margaret ,agnew selected this particular room for her mother it was because it was large and convenient and sunny2 because one window looked off to distant hills1 and another one to the busy street1 while from another you stepped into the flower garden4 ,it was1 it is true1 in many respects the best room in the house1 and into it was gathered whatever of comfort and beauty the loving daughter could devise4 ,as soon as the second ,mrs4 ,agnew stepped into the house she set covetous eyes on this room and resolved1 to use her own elegant language1--that she would oust the old lady from that4 ,whatever such women resolve to have1 they usually get4 ,after the rebuff on the part of her husband she did not again approach him on the subject1 but planned the attack differently4 ,by means of hints and disagreeable thrusts she managed to make the sensitive old lady feel quite ill at ease until she was established in one of the back chambers4 ,it was a dreary room4 ,she missed the cheerful outlook1 and it was not easy1 with a slight lameness1 to get up and down stairs1 but1 for peace's sake1 she forebore to complain4 ,so skillfully was everything managed that it was several days before her son-in-law knew of her removal2 then he was indignant1 and insisted that she must return1 but this she would not consent to do4 ,she even displayed so much cheerfulness that he was deceived into thinking she preferred the change4 ,it was a hardened nature that could not be won by her sweet spirit4 ,she was like her ,master2 she followed her copy closely2 when she suffered she threatened not1 and she had much to bear3 a system of petty annoyances that only female ingenuity could devise4 ,after she had passed through this furnace and suffered loneliness and desolation1 another crisis in her life arrived4 ,mr4 ,agnew fell suddenly ill4 ,while his life hung in the balance and reason was shaken1 his wife induced him to make his will1 leaving to herself the whole of his property4 ,then he died1 and the chief emotion that throbbed in the heart of his widow and hid behind the blackest and deepest crape was--triumph6 ,not for worlds would ,mr4 ,agnew have so arranged his affairs had it not been that in his half-delirious state he was subject to the will of another4 ,he had always intended to settle a competence upon ,mrs4 ,lyman--his mother-in-law4 ,he had expected to live years yet4 ,who does not8 ,mrs4 ,agnew lost no time4 ,as soon as the funeral services were over she questioned ,mrs4 ,lyman as to her plans for the future4 ,the poor old lady felt bewildered at having to make any plans1 so lovingly had she been cared for all her life4 ,she had scarcely realized as yet that her one protector was gone2 above all1 that he had made no provision for her4 ,homeless and penniless and nearly seventy years of age1 where should she go8 ,what should she do8 ,where would a helpless being go in straits but to the ,one who plans and governs our lives8 ,and thither she went4 ,she well knew the road4 ,old friends gathered about her with kindly offers of aid1 but she believed she saw her path plainly1 and declined their many invitations to tarry with them for a time4 ,she had a little money of her own1 enough to insure her entrance into the ,home for ,aged ,women1 and there she determined to go4 ,mrs4 ,lyman had occasionally driven with her daughter through the grounds of the ,home4 ,she had admired the stately edifice1 and remarked that it was a grand charity2 she had also contributed to it2 but it had not entered her mind that she was ever to become one of its inmates4 ,she thought of it that afternoon as the carriage which conveyed her there wound slowly up the avenue4 ,the trials of the past few days had been peculiarly sharp4 ,she had gone out from the dear home1 with its precious memories1 forever4 ,she could not1 without contention1 claim even her daughter's gifts to herself2 contend she would not1 so she left them3 so many things that almost had a tongue to speak of other days4 ,there were no tears in her eyes1 and the old face was placid as she leaned back and looked up at rows and rows of windows4 ,she even repeated to herself some favorite lines3 ,that's best which ,god sends4 ',twas his will2 it is mine4 ,the room ,mrs4 ,lyman shortly found herself in was a strong contrast to the one her daughter had carefully fitted up for her4 ,it was spotlessly clean and trim2 the walls were high and white1 the furniture of the plainest1 the floors bare except for the strip of carpet by the bed and one by the window1 where the occupant would be supposed to sit in the cane-seat rocker4 ,it depended entirely on one's previous surroundings what her first impressions of life in this place would be4 ,old ,mrs4 ,carter1 who had lived at sixes and sevens all her life1 with scarcely a corner that she could call her own1 thought her room was next to ,heaven itself4 ,to ,mrs4 ,lyman it simply looked bare and dreary4 ,the buzz in the long dining room1 mingling with the clatter of cups and spoons1 was cheerfulness itself to ,mrs4 ,carter1 while to ,mrs4 ,lyman's refilled ears and sensitive nerves it was positively distressing4 ,it was trying to her1 too1 to mingle with all sorts of natures1 to listen to garrulous complaints and garrulous stories from gossipy old women4 ,she would much have preferred to shut herself in with her books and her own thoughts1 but she did not4 ,her ,master was always kind and helpful to the most uncongenial people2 so would she be1 for his sake4 ,necessarily1 though1 it was a lonely1 monotonous life for her4 ,old friends were too remote and too busy to remember her often4 ,one afternoon she sat at her window looking down into the street1 when a carriage drew up1 and a young lady stepped lightly out4 ,the coachman handed her a basket of flowers1 and she almost ran up the broad stone steps1 with that childlike eagerness of manner which is in refreshing contrast to the languid air of many of her class4 ,mrs4 ,lyman listened eagerly as her fresh young voice was heard in the hall4 ,the golden hair1 and eyes as blue as the hyacinths she carried1 brought to her visions of another girl as bright and graceful4 ,just so she looked1 years ago1 her dear lost ,margaret4 ,then the mother's heart went back over the girlhood and womanhood of her darling1 and just as she was wondering how it was possible for ,robert ,agnew ever to have fancied he loved that other woman1 when his life had been so blessed with ,margaret1 there came a knock at the door1 and the matron brought in the bright-haired girl with her flowers1 saying3-- ,mrs4 ,lyman1 ,i have brought ,miss ,harlowe in to see you4 ,she's come on ahead to tell you that spring is coming some day4 ,she looked sweet and fair enough to be spring's herald in very truth1 coming in1 as she did1 out of the snow and sleet of the winter day1 roses in her hands and roses on her cheeks1 looking up almost shyly into the face of the stately old lady4 ,each regarded the other for a moment with surprise and admiration1 and ,esther ,harlowe1 yielding to a sudden impulse1 reached up and left a kiss soft as a rose leaf on the faded old cheek2 then selecting the choicest of the roses1 begged her to accept them4 ,they both forgot themselves4 ,the young lady forgot that she was being kind to a poor old body in ,the ,old ,lady's ,home4 ,this dignified1 handsome old lady was surely one of the friends of their family4 ,and ,mrs4 ,lyman1 too1 imagined for a moment that she was welcoming a young visitor to the ,agnew mansion4 ,they fell into conversation as naturally as if this were the case1 and1 in the short interview1 they gained more than a glimpse of each other's lives4 ,how strange that you should be here1 ,esther said4 ,i have often passed ,mr4 ,agnew's house2 perhaps you were sitting at the window looking out4 ,but isn't it dreadful to you8 ,how can you endure it8 ,no1 not 'dreadful1' dear2 sometimes it is a little lonely1 and this way of living is all new to me2 but ,i daresay ,i shall soon get accustomed to it4 ,i ought to feel continually grateful that when ,i am old and poor1 there is such a place provided for me4 ,how can you1 when you have lived so differently8 ,i'm sure ,i should die4 ,i knew you didn't belong here as soon as ,i saw you4 ,it is a shame6 ,if ,god put me here1 ,i must belong here1 child4 ,he makes no mistakes1 the old lady said1 smiling at her visitor's impetuous manner4 ,but how can you be so calm and good about it8 ,i should think you would go distracted4 ,i wonder if she will understand1 ,mrs4 ,lyman said1 after searching the young face a moment2 then asked1 ,did you ever read these lines8-- ',to will what ,god doth will1 that is the only science ,that gives us any rest4' ,the secret of calmness is in that3 having ,god's will our will4 ,it is called a science1 you see1 and it is deep and difficult1 or rather1 people make it so4 ,it takes some of them years to learn it4 ,i learned it very slowly myself1 but once acquired1 it is forever after easier to bear hard things4 ,it does bring peace4 ,oh6 ,show me how to learn it1 then1 said ,esther1 tears starting to her eyes4 ,there are so many hard things in my life4 ,poor dear6 ,have they come to you so early8 ,the motherly voice and pitying eyes were like sunshine to this girl who was not much more than a child1 and whose heart was hungry4 ,i suppose it is because ,i am so wicked1 ,esther said1 hesitatingly1 but ,i am afraid ,i never can feel as you do about ,god's will4 ,perhaps it is his will that ,i shall go through terrible troubles4 ,it frightens me1 and ,i can't want to have his will done4 ,is there anybody whom you dearly love1 said ,mrs4 ,lyman1 in whom you have unbounded confidence1 feeling sure that he will always do right8 ,no1 there is nobody1 ,esther answered sadly2 then flushing a little as she realized the confession she had made1 added1-- ,i did have somebody once--my darling mother--but she is gone4 ,she always did right4 ,how did you feel about her plans for you8 ,were you fearful she would always be inventing something wherewith to torture you8 ,my dear1 lovely mother6 ,no1 indeed4 ,she was always thinking of my happiness4 ,and yet she was obliged to thwart your own plans and wishes often1 ,i presume4 ,did you rebel8 ,o1 no ,i was always obedient to my mother4 ,i loved her so1 ,i would not have grieved or displeased her for the world4 ,there it is1 my dear6--the whole secret4 ,when once we love ,god with all the heart1 it is sweet to do or suffer his will4 ,but ,i never have thought of ,god in that way4 ,he seems majestic and glorious1 but ,i think ,i fear him more than ,i love him4 ,i cannot realize that he loves me either4 ,it will help you greatly1 my dear1 to take the ,bible and ,concordance and go through the words ',love' and ',father2' then you may see and 'believe the love that ,god hath for us4' ,he has tried very hard--has written it plainly all through the ,book to make us understand that he is truly our ,father4 ,call it mother love if that makes it plainer to you3 think that he feels toward you as your mother did2 ,father1 as ,god uses it1 stands for father and mother both4 ,it is the tenderness of mother joined to the protecting care and greater strength of father4 ,i must go now1 the carriage has come1 ,esther said1 rising hastily1 but ,i shall never forget your talk4 ,i am sure it will do me good4 ,i came here to-day with the flowers because ,dr4 ,foster preached about giving a cup of cold water for ,christ's sake1 to some of his children2 and ,i couldn't think of anybody to carry one to but some of these old ladies2 ,i didn't think ,i was going to have my reward so soon4 ,it was so nice to find you2 you seem like my own dear grandma who died when ,i was a little child4 ,i am coming often to see you2 may ,i8 ,and the sweet face smiled up into hers4 ,yes1 indeed1 my dear1 and ,i thank you with all my heart for coming4 ,no cup of cold water could have refreshed me more than this visit1 if ,i had been famishing for some1--and these roses6-- taking a long breath of them as she spoke1--each one is a separate blessing4 ,as the carriage rattled over the city streets in the dusk ,esther's aunt and cousin1 fresh from shopping1 discussed laces and silks while she leaned back and thought of ,mrs4 ,lyman1 her heart thrilling with the new thought that ,god loved her as her mother loved her4 ,at last her ,cousin ,sophy said3-- ,what are you dreaming about1 ,esther8 ,where have you been all this while8 ,esther started as the cold1 fault-finding tones broke in on her reverie and said evasively1 ,i went to the ',old ,lady's ,home1' you know4 ,been there all this time8--,impossible6 ,will you never be like other people8 ,miss ,sophy ,ward had passed her first youth and was growing sharp and severe1 especially toward girls who were guilty of being nineteen4 ,she took it upon herself to keep strict watch over every thought1 word and deed of her young cousin who had lived with them since the death of her mother4 ,esther dreaded the lecture that she knew was forthcoming1 so she began eagerly to try to divert attention from herself4 ,o1 ,cousin ,sophy6 you have no idea what a lovely old lady ,i found there4 ,not even the curl that distorted ,miss ,sophy's lip just then prevented her from going on4 ,she looks as ,i should imagine an angel might1--,i always thought if ,i made pictures of angels they should be dear old grandmas1 and not girls4 ,her hair is like fine white silk1 and waves beautifully4 ,her eyes are hazel1 and they are not old eyes a bit--they are bright and clear4 ,she wore a dove-colored dress1 and a soft white mull handkerchief about her neck4 ,and do you know1 she is ,mrs4 ,agnew's mother2 you remember we saw1 ,mr4 ,agnew's death in the paper a few months ago4 ,this last piece of information had the desired effect1 for mother and daughter indulged in a bit of gossip concerning it1 but ,miss ,sophy presently returned to the charge4 ,it is perfectly incomprehensible1 she went on1 what you find in a company of poverty-stricken old women to interest you4 ,but then1 your mother always had just such tastes2 never so happy as when she was poking about in some alley or hovel1 among miserable people4 ,if the light had not faded1 ,cousin ,sophy might have seen ,esther's cheek pale and flush1 and her lips press closely together to keep herself from saying what she should not4 ,but she did not see it2 she went on and on in an exasperating manner4 ,her mother added a word occasionally by way of endorsement and emphasis1 and poor ,esther had the grace to keep silence1 half-wishing that she were an old woman1 too1 so that she could live where ,mrs4 ,lyman did4 ,in her uncle's luxurious home there was everything to make life desirable--everything but love and peace4 ,when either mother or daughter was in ill humor ,esther was the escape valve4 ,they lectured her on behavior1 dress1 and the ,christian virtues4 ,they criticised all she said and did and thought1 and judged her without mercy4 ,during the last few months1 however1 it had begun to dawn upon them that the girl was grown up1 and possessed decided tastes and opinions of her own4 ,she was becoming a person of more importance1 too1 because of very pointed attentions bestowed upon her by ,mr4 ,clifford ,langdon4 ,he was the son of one of the oldest families--handsome1 agreeable1 literary1 rich4 ,if they sought the world over1 where could be found a more desirable husband for ,esther8 ,he might have captivated the girl's fancy1 perhaps1 if she had not heard her aunt and cousin ring the changes on his name until she almost wearied of it4 ,in their eyes he was a paragon4 ,they exhorted her to do this1 and not to do that1 as ,mr4 ,langdon had very fastidious tastes1 and they openly expressed their astonishment that so incomparable a person should do her the honor to notice her4 ,all this naturally had the effect of causing a girl like ,esther to avoid him and to declare that it was a matter of indifference to her what ,mr4 ,langdon thought4 ,she wished for no more critics4 ,that gentleman was as much in love with ,esther as he ever could be with anybody besides himself4 ,since first he had been conscious of existence1 he had never forgotten himself long enough to be absorbed in anything or anybody4 ,his own pleasure was the chief end of his life4 ,yet he had no vices2 his narrow1 cold nature did not tempt him in the direction that larger natures are tempted4 ,the world called him a fine1 moral young man4 ,they did not know he was selfish1 domineering and conceited2 his nearest friends would scarcely admit it to themselves4 ,he enjoyed ruling over anything2 he took pleasure in his many pets when a boy1 chiefly for the sake of training and ordering about a parrot1 or dog1 or pony2 and a tyrannical master he made4 ,as a man1 he retained the characteristic4 ,at this time he had just returned from a four years' course of study in ,europe1 his education completed1 and his self-conceit intolerable4 ,he felt competent to sit in judgment upon the creations of genius in art and literature or in anything under the sun1 as well as to direct1 advise1 suggest and control the mental food of all the young ladies of his acquaintance4 ,he at once became an oracle among them4 ,the book he approved was largely read1 and the book he condemned was shunned4 ,whoever differed in opinion from him he considered devoid of fine taste4 ,solomon must have had this young man in mind when he wrote1 ,seest thou a man wise in his own conceit1 there is more hope of a fool than of him4 ,when ,mr4 ,langdon met ,esther1 he pronounced her a fine creature1 and declared he would like the training of her1 much as he would have spoken of ,frisk1 his black colt4 ,he was not aware that he needed to be put in training himself and taught by ,mr4 ,ruskin how to reverence womanhood4 ,that she seemed indifferent to him was all the more reason for choosing her4 ,it was refreshing to find a girl who required to be won1 and did not hold her heart in her hand ready to bestow it for the asking4 ,it was a gloomy1 rainy afternoon in autumn that ,esther1 sitting alone in the library1 was surprised by a call from ,mr4 ,langdon4 ,she was smarting under some hateful words of ,sophy's1 and thinking drearily that there was not a single person on the earth who cared very much whether she lived or died1 when1 behold6 here came one1 offering love1 home1 an honorable name1 everything that a woman's heart could ask4 ,ether was amazed4 ,she had believed that ,mr4 ,langdon simply admired her1 as he did a score of others4 ,she was too young and unworldly to weigh for a moment the advantages of position offered4 ,he said he loved her1 and that was what her heart hungered for4 ,nobody had told her so since her mother died4 ,the tide of her feelings began to turn4 ,how kind and good he seemed4 ,how could she ever have thought him otherwise8 ,then she found herself in a whirl of thought4 ,she was so very grateful to him1 but how could she marry anybody8 ,not for a great many years yet1 at least4 ,of course she must marry somebody--an orphan girl like her4 ,perhaps she was beginning to care for him1 for her feelings toward him had changed within a few minutes4 ,still1 it was all so different from what she had thought it would be when that time should come in which somebody brave and true would say these words to her4 ,was he brave and true8 ,was he8 ,oh6 ,if she had not to settle a great question4 ,it frightened her1 and she was not glad1 as she had dreamed she would be1 nor happy as girls in books were2 but real life was never quite up to books and stories1 and ,aunt ,maria and ,sophy would never forgive her if she refused him1 and--and--he said he loved her4 ,what should she say to him1 sitting there looking down at her1 waiting for her answer8 ,what could she say8 ,o1 mother6 ,what would you have me say8 ,she made a lovely picture in the large chair before the fire1 its light glancing on her hair1 her head leaning on her hand1 the face sweet and serious1 like a troubled child's1 and the eyes almost tearful4 ,mr4 ,langdon resolved to have her painted in just that attitude immediately4 ,her hesitation and long silence did not in the least annoy him2 he attributed it to maiden coyness4 ,it almost amused him1 he felt so sure of her4 ,it never entered his mind that she could refuse him1 or1 indeed1 that anybody could4 ,and she did not2 she promised she would be his wife--when one hour before the thought of such a thing had never come into her heart4 ,so lightly and hastily are lifelong covenants entered into6 ,mr4 ,langdon was ten years older than ,esther4 ,he had always fancied that he should choose a wife much younger than himself1 it would be so delightful to mould her unformed nature2 in short1 to make her over to suit himself4 ,so he set himself to the pleasant task at once4 ,he had not tact enough to wait until he had won the right1 as he would say4 ,he was pedantic himself1 so he wished his wife to shine in literary society--to be able to discuss all isms and ologies1 the merits and demerits of all standard authors1 ancient and modern1 and quote freely from their works4 ,he brought her books and set her tasks1 and made her recite to him as if she were a schoolgirl4 ,if she read aloud1 he criticised her elocution4 ,if she played for him with ever so much taste and skill1 he found fault with the selection or gave a lecture on style and delicacy of touch4 ,even the tenderest love ballad did not escape4 ,it was analyzed and measured by square and compass till all the sweetness had gone out of it1 and ,esther felt vexed at having sung it1 or her voice was pronounced to be too sharp1 the tones not pure2 she must begin at once to take lessons of some excellent master4 ,esther bore it all meekly enough at first because of those precious three words he had spoken to her4 ,it was a wonderful1 sacred thing1 somebody to love her1 and she would endure much on that account even though her own heart did not respond as she had striven to make it4 ,and1 to tell the truth1 she was slowly awakening to the fact that their spirit and aims were so very unlike1 that clashing was inevitable4 ,mr4 ,langdon was more like a mentor than a lover1 and she had an unpleasant consciousness of being managed1 and of continually yielding her will to his1 even in the matter of a ride1 or a walk1 or an evening's entertainment1 for it was contrary to his rule to do anything1 or go anywhere1 that was not perfectly convenient and agreeable to himself4 ,they were not in sympathy on many points4 ,she loved books and study and music for themselves1 but scorned the thought of learning anything for the mere sake of displaying it4 ,the pedantic airs ,mr4 ,langdon assumed used to amuse her1 now1 they mortified her4 ,there was yet another more important subject on which they differed4 ,since the day of her first visit1 ,esther had gone often to see ,mrs4 ,lyman1 and it was impossible to come into close contact with her sweet spirit and strong faith without having the religious life quickened and strengthened2 so ,mr4 ,langdon's views jarred her more than they would have done a few months previous when she was a formal1 worldly ,christian4 ,he pronounced many of ,esther's opinions to be mere cant4 ,some of the hymns she loved were in very bad taste1 perfect trash1 while the convictions of her tender conscience were superstitions4 ,he assured her that the time would come when1 as her mind became more expanded and her tastes elevated1 she would appreciate his criticisms4 ,this was too much1 even though it were well seasoned with honeyed words1 and ,esther's indignant protest warned ,mr4 ,langdon not to be too urgent in this direction4 ,there was a limit even to meekness and forbearance4 ,it was ,christmas morning1 and ,esther was in the conservatory4 ,her uncle had given her permission to take as many flowers for her own use as she pleased4 ,he well knew they would go to brighten some dreary home this ,christmas ,day4 ,while she worked she was thinking--going back over the year somewhat4 ,it had not been a happy year to her4 ,she was obliged to confess to herself that she had never been more harassed and worried in her life4 ,a shadow fell on her face as she meditated that when once ,christmas is well gone1 ,spring is not far distant4 ,then she must be married4 ,this home was not such a happy one that she need mourn to leave it1 but she dreaded that new home more4 ,her troubled thoughts and troubled face did not accord with the beauty and fragrance about her1 and neither brightened when ,mr4 ,langdon was announced4 ,he came in where she was at once1 saying he was in haste4 ,we have arranged a sleigh-ride for to-day1 he said1 after greeting her4 ,it was quite impromptu1 because we were uncertain about the snow4 ,we are going fifteen miles in the country1 to ,mr4 ,clayton's father's1 where we are invited to dine4 ,how soon can you get ready1 ,esther8 ,oh6 ,i cannot go4 ,you know ,i told you1 ,mr4 ,langdon1 that ,i had an engagement this morning at the ',old ,ladies' ,home4' ,mr4 ,langdon's lip curled4 ,engagement6 ,surely you can postpone that4 ,surely ,i cannot4 ,patrick has gone to got me some greens1 and ,i am going to trim their rooms a little and make a bouquet for each of them4 ,they would be disappointed if ,i did not come--and so should ,i4 ,they have looked forward to ,christmas for weeks4 ,they are old and poor and have so few pleasures1 how can ,i deprive them of this when they have set their hearts on it8 ,as if nobody could attend to that nonsense but you6 ,send a servant with the flowers4 ,but that wouldn't do at all4 ,it's ,i they want more than anything4 ,you see1 there are very few people who appreciate me4 ,those old ladies do4 ,i read to them and sing to them1 and they think ,i am an angel just dropped down from ,heaven4 ,so you will be good and excuse me this time1 and let me give you this as a ,christmas token1 and she tried to fasten a small white chrysanthemum in his coat4 ,but ,mr4 ,langdon stepped back and said1 with much sharpness of tone1 ,esther1 it is impossible that you are in earnest4 ,i certainly shall not excuse you1 if you are4 ,of course you will go with me4 ,go quickly and make ready4 ,i shall call for you in an hour4 ,esther reached up and clipped a spray of smilax before she spoke1 which she did in a slow1 resolute way4 ,mr4 ,langdon1 ,i am quite in earnest2 ,i cannot go4 ,i have made a promise1 and ,i must keep it4 ,he had never seen ,esther assume so much dignity before4 ,she certainly did mean what she said4 ,he was angry enough to go without her1 but that would cause him some embarrassment2 so he would condescend to persuasion1 but this was done in such a manner as to be more offensive than some people's commands4 ,my little girl1 he said1 smiling derisively1 what new airs have you taken on8 ,they do not become you in the least4 ,what has come over you8 ,is she trying to be a strong-minded female1 or is she doing penance or works of supererogation8 ,come1 now1 have done with this nonsense1 and say you will be ready1 my pretty one1 and he put his finger under her chin1 as one would do to a child1 adding1 ,look up here1 and let us have no tantrums8 ,some day ,i must get a bit and bridle for you1 my beauty2 you are growing spirited4 ,esther could never remember feeling more outraged at anything than at this speech4 ,it was a new and repulsive glimpse of his character4 ,mr4 ,langdon had an opportunity to see her in a new character then4 ,she drew herself up1 and said coldly3 ,such language is very distasteful to me1 and ,i wish to hear no more of it4 ,please understand distinctly that ,i am not going1 so it will not be necessary for you to detain yourself further4 ,he thought his ears must have deceived him1 that she should dare to assert herself thus1 when he supposed he had her under such good control6 ,he grew white with anger2 so angry3 that he forgot himself1 and said between his teeth1-- ,i command you to go4 ,you have no right to command me1 ,esther said calmly4 ,then growing desperate1 and resolved not to be baffled1 he drew out his watch1 saying3-- ,i will give you three minutes to decide4 ,once for all3 ,i warn you2 you would better repent your decision4 ,if a pack of old women are to be put before me1 we shall see4 ,you may take the consequences if you refuse4 ,then he turned and walked up and down the short space1 while ,esther went on clipping flowers4 ,her fingers trembled1 and her hands were nerveless1 but the steady clip1 clip1 of the shears came to the ears of the man who was waiting4 ,the time was up2 he walked toward ,esther1 and looked at her4 ,she laid another flower in the basket1 and said in a low tone1 without looking at him1 ,i shall not go1 and then he strode away without another word2 and ,esther gathered up her flowers and started on her mission4 ,how very much hung upon her keeping her promise she could not have imagined4 ,she had arranged with ,mrs4 ,lyman to sit with her after she had gone the rounds1 and she carried a book to read her some ,christmas poems4 ,so after flitting about among the rooms1 pinning a bit of the evergreen here1 and a vine there1 and dispensing flowers and kind wishes to all1 she knocked at ,mrs4 ,lyman's door4 ,it was opened by a nurse who told her that the old lady had met with an accident4 ,while going down-stairs that morning she had slipped and fallen1 and could see no one4 ,hearing a voice she loved1 ,mrs4 ,lyman said1 ,is it ,miss ,harlowe8 ,let her come in4 ,she was in bed1 pale with suffering1 and a surgeon was setting her broken ankle4 ,esther came softly to her side1 slipped her hand into hers1 and stood still1 watching the operation4 ,it was like an ansthetic in its soothing effect upon the patient-- this fresh young face1 with hair and eyes like ,margaret's1 the perfume of the flowers filling the room1 and the warm little hand in hers4 ,esther watched the surgeon's fingers curiously4 ,how swift and cool their movements6--no uncertainty or clumsiness4 ,a lady sorting embroidery silks could not work more delicately4 ,as he put the finishing touches to his task ,esther almost forgot there was any pain connected with it1 and found herself wondering if he did not enjoy what he could do so deftly and neatly4 ,then for the first time she let her gaze rest upon his face4 ,he was a young man--she had thought surgeons were always old or elderly4 ,it was a strong1 pure face1 with wavy dark hair falling carelessly over the broad forehead4 ,it was but a few seconds1 but girls can think much in that time4 ,she decided that hair was much more becoming worn so than plastered down in a precise manner1 as she was accustomed to see it4 ,he was surely not in the least like the young men of her acquaintance4 ,sire tried to fancy him arrayed in swallow-tail coat1 light kids and slippers1 dancing1 and talking nonsense at an evening party4 ,he could never be one of that sort1 she was sure4 ,he was too grave and earnest to be a trifler4 ,when he had finished his work1 he lifted a pair of clear1 penetrating eyes to hers1 and they surveyed each other an instant2 then the doctor bowed1 and ,esther turned and1 bending down1 whispered a few words to ,mrs4 ,lyman1 left her flowers on the pillow1 and a kiss on the worn cheek1 and glided away4 ,she made one or two more calls that she had left till the last1 and was passing through the hall to go home1 when a nurse met her and asked her to come in and sing to old ,mrs4 ,moore4 ,she had been very ill for many days1 and they hoped the singing might quiet her nervous restlessness1 and soothe her to sleep4 ,esther went willingly2 she loved to sing1 and loved to help others4 ,but here was that eagle-eyed doctor to spoil it4 ,she wished he would go1 but he did not4 ,there was a tall old rocker by the bed1 where they motioned her to sit1 but she took her place at the back of the chair and folded her hands over its top4 ,standing so1 the doctor could not see her face4 ,he could hear1 though1 and to that he gave himself4 ,resting his head on his hand1 he closed his eyes and let the sweet melody flow over him4 ,almost as soon as the pure1 soft tones met her ear the patient ceased her restless tossing1 and listened eagerly to catch the words1 which were articulated so plainly that not one was lost4 ,they were simple words1 just suited to the simple-minded old woman1 and peculiarly soothing because they brought to mind the prayer of childhood4 ,neither was she the only one who felt the spell of the humble little song as it floated through the still room3-- ,now ,i lay me down to sleep1 ,as the shadows softly creep1 ,as the bird1 with folded wing1 ,on some tiny bough doth swing2 ,as the flowers1 wet with dew1 ,bow themselves in slumber1 too1 ,in the stillness1 awful1 deep1 ,now ,i lay me down to sleep4 ,now ,i lay me down to sleep1 ,friends and kindred 'round me weep2 ,but ,i know no want or fear1 ,for no darkness1 ,lord1 is here2 ,all my way is lit by thee1 ,through the shade thou leadest me4 ,knowing that the ,lord will keep1 ,may ,i lay me down to sleep4 ,refreshed and calmed1 the old lady folded her1 hands and said1 ',now ,i lay me down to sleep4' ,oh if ,i only had somebody to pray with me1 ,i believe ,i could go to sleep4 ,there was silence a moment1 and one looked at another4 ,who could pray8 ,not the doctor1 surely2 that was not considered to be in his line2 but ,dr4 ,evarts knelt down1 and1 in a few simple1 tender words1 besought a blessing on the aged mother whose journey was almost done4 ,here was another evidence1 ,esther thought1 that this young man was different from any she had ever known4 ,she thought about it as she walked home1 and sighed as she remembered ,mr4 ,langdon and the angry look on his face as he left her that morning4 ,esther had promised ,mrs4 ,lyman that she would come again to see her on the morrow4 ,she was free from pain1 and welcomed her visitor eagerly4 ,i have such great news to tell you1 my dear1 that ,i could scarcely wait4 ,you know it is a whole fortnight now since you were here4 ,such a wonderful thing has happened6 ,i am not a poor1 lonely old woman any longer1 ,esther4 ,i have a dear boy to care for me4 ,the young physician you found attending me yesterday is my nephew4 ,i was sorry ,i felt too sick to introduce you4 ,he is ,paul ,evarts1 and he is my dear sister's only son4 ,his mother was left a widow1 and they went to ,england to live when ,paul was but a boy4 ,my sister died a few years ago1 and we lost sight of ,paul4 ,i thought he had forgotten his old auntie1 but he had not4 ,he came almost purposely to look me up4 ,he thinks of remaining and going into practice in his native city4 ,if he does he will take a house1 and ,i shall be his housekeeper4 ,now1 what do you think of that1 my dear8 ,it's beautiful6 said ,esther4 ,just beautiful6 ,why1 it's a book acted out4 ,i am so very glad4 ,and the queer part of it all1 said ,mrs4 ,lyman1 is that after he had been here a few days ,i must needs go and break my ankle1 as if to test his skill as a surgeon4 ,there is no loss1 though1 without some gain4 ,perhaps you will take pity on me and come oftener to see me because of my affliction4 ,but you must sing the song now1 and read the poem that ,i was cheated out of yesterday4 ,after that they had a long talk4 ,esther's girl friends were never taken into such close confidence as ,mrs4 ,lyman1 and1 if girls would but believe it1 a wise1 sweet-spirited1 youthful-hearted old lady is a valuable friend for a girl to have4 ,who should know the dangers of the way so well as those who have just passed over it8 ,your face has a shadow on it this morning1 dear child1 ,mrs4 ,lyman said presently2 ,i like to feel that everybody is happy when ,i am so happy4 ,esther wanted counsel and comfort sorely1 so she told her troubles4 ,did ,i do wrong8 ,ought ,i to have gone with ,mr4 ,langdon1 do you think8 she asked4 ,perhaps the wrong is further back than that4 ,did you wish to go1 but thought it your duty to come here because you had promised8 ,to tell the truth1 ,i preferred coming here to taking a long ride1 ,esther said1 laughing and flushing4 ,i enjoy bringing flowers here so much2 perhaps ,i was selfish1 and then1 ,i did want to keep my promise4 ,can it be that hearts have changed since ,i was a girl8 the old lady said archly4 ,what would have tempted me to stay at home when ,eleazer asked me to go with him--anywhere8 ,a long ride in the country6 ,why1 that would have been blessed4 ,are you sure you care for this young man in the right way1 dear--if ,i may ask you a plain question8 ,why1 ,i don't know1 ,esther said1 stammeringly4 ,i suppose ,i do4 ,i try to4 ,my dear little girl1 said ,mrs4 ,lyman1 can you really think of marrying a person for whom you entertain such a vague uncertain affection8 ,why1 that's the trouble1 said ,esther4 ,i don't really want to marry anybody ever4 ,i wish ,i could be let alone1 and not be perplexed about these things1 and yet it is very pleasant to have people fond of you1 and not feel alone as ,i do4 ,you poor little bud of a girl1 ,mrs4 ,lyman said1 putting her arms about her1 you should not have been disturbed for a long time yet2 you needed a mother to shield you2 but you ought to be told that when the one ,god intends for you crosses your path you will not find it necessary to try to love him4 ,you will1 instead1 have to pray ,god to keep you from making him an idol1 and where he is1 there you will wish to be4 ,marriage may be the highest state of earthly happiness1 and it may be the bitterest bondage4 ,take care1 dear child1 how you take vows upon you that your soul revolts from4 ,i believe much of the misery of this life is ,god's protest against the profanation of this holy ordinance4 ,it became evident1 as the days went by1 that ,mr4 ,langdon was hopelessly offended4 ,he did not come to the house or write4 ,esther was both glad and troubled4 ,relieved of his constant supervision and criticisms she drew a long breath1 and knew1 as she had not before1 that whatever heart she might possess was not in his keeping4 ,she lived in constant dread that he would return to her after he had punished her sufficiently4 ,and yet his remaining away brought her into trouble with her aunt and cousin2 they were already questioning and harassing her beyond endurance4 ,at last1 when her aunt wrote ,mr4 ,langdon demanding an explanation1 he sent a brief note1 saying the engagement between himself and ,miss ,marlowe was at an end4 ,if she wished for reasons he would refer her to her niece4 ,then the storm burst in all its fury4 ,the tongues of mother and daughter were let loose upon her4 ,now you shall tell me just what you have done1 declared her aunt4 ,i will not have a gentleman like ,mr4 ,langdon insulted in my own house4 ,when the story was told1 the case was no better for ,esther4 ,the rage and disappointment of aunt and cousin knew no bounds4 ,esther1 you are a fool6 said her aunt4 ,she's a contemptible little minx6 said ,miss ,sophy4 ,and ,i would shut her up and feed her on bread and water until she apologizes4 ,i shall never do that1 said ,esther firmly4 ,i told him some time before that ,i should be occupied on ,christmas morning1 and he had no right to try to force me to alter my plans4 ,the apology must come from him4 ,i have done no wrong4 ,just hear the stupid little simpleton6 ,he apologize to her6 ,the idea6 ,to think she should dare to go contrary to his wishes1 and run the risk of losing him1 and all for the sake of amusing a few old women6 ,do you know1 ,sophy said1 turning fiercely to ,esther1 what you have done8 ,or haven't you brains enough to take it in8 ,mr4 ,langdon will be the richest man in the city when his father dies1 and you have lost him1 probably4 ,i don't care for money1 ,esther said dreamily1 her eyes out of the window1 following a fleecy cloud that was sailing by1 and thinking what she dare not speak1 that it was far better to be able to pray as that young doctor did1 than to have great riches4 ,you don't care for money6 screamed her aunt4 ,indeed6 ,you will find out whether you care for it when you are left alone in the world without a penny1 as you probably will be4 ,go to your room1 do6 ,and stay there out of my sight4 ,you are too exasperating to be tolerated4 ,i had no idea she was so stubborn1 ,mrs4 ,ward told her daughter1 as day after day passed1 and ,esther refused to send a humble confession to ,mr4 ,langdon4 ,they constructed one themselves at last1 ordering her to copy it1 but ,esther was firm4 ,she had nothing to confess1 and she would not1 for any consideration1 engage herself to him again4 ,it was delightful to be free again2 if only they would not torment her she could be almost happy4 ,when she expressed something of this to them they looked at each other aghast1 as if here was proof that ,esther was a subject for a lunatic asylum4 ,the weeks that followed were dreary ones to ,esther4 ,she was kept on bread and water1 figuratively1 if not literally1 and ice-water at that4 ,it was curious how a house that is warmed ,and lighted until it fairly glows can be rendered dark and chilly as a tomb to some of its inmates4 ,if the girl's life had been unpleasant before1 it was wretched now4 ,cold looks and sharp words were her portion1 when she was not ignored utterly1 all the more so because ,mr4 ,langdon had transferred his affections to a ,boston belle1 visiting in the city1 and was hopelessly and forever lost to ,esther4 ,it was not all dark1 though4 ,there were occasional visits to a snug little house at the other end of the city1 where dwelt a lovely1 white-haired old lady called by her devoted nephew1 ,aunt ,katherine4 ,mrs4 ,lyman insisted on a weekly visit from ,esther1 and sometimes she was kept to cosy little suppers4 ,it was a delightful place to visit1 and it was no wonder ,esther liked it4 ,she was warmly welcomed and petted to her heart's content4 ,there was usually a good1 long talk with her old friend first1 then the doctor would come home1 and bring out a store of stories from his brain1 of things in foreign lands1 grave and gay and instructive2 he was a charming talker1 and ,esther was a good questioner4 ,then he had great volumes of rare engravings of which she never tired1 and a microscope whereby she became wise about some of nature's secrets4 ,her education was going on surprisingly1 all the more because one was entirely unaware that he was teaching1 and the other that she was being taught4 ,aunt ,katherine watched the glowing faces1--the golden head and the brown head bending together over one book--and smiled4 ,after they had sung numberless songs and hymns it was time for ,esther to go home4 ,of necessity1 ,dr4 ,evarts must accompany her home1 in a long walk across the city1 which latter was not a necessity1 but which they much preferred to street cars1 the walk being not at all long to them4 ,as they thus walked and talked one winter night when the ,christmas moon shone solemnly down on a white world1 and the songs of angels floated on the clear air--heard only by those two--the breeze wafted back some of the words4 ,their talk was all about themselves--how the precious gift of each to the other began a year ago last ,christmas4 ,and they tried to settle bewildering questions3 ,whether1 if ,esther had not insisted on going to the ,old ,ladies' ,home that morning she would be walking this ,christmas ,eve with ,paul1 and suppose there had been no ,old ,ladies' ,home1 would they ever have met4 ,and if your ,aunt ,katherine had not been there-- said ,esther4 ,we owe it all to her1 after all4 ,your ,aunt ,katherine6 ,say my ,aunt ,katherine1 ,paul said1 looking down at her with shining eyes4 ,and ,esther obediently repeated1 ,my ,aunt ,katherine4 ,the old moon hid herself behind a cloud just then1 and neither she nor ,paul saw the lovely color that flushed the happy face4 ,in the spring when all things are made new1 they two clasped hands and began their new life together4 ,their wedding journey was not made to some famous fashionable resort2 they were of one mind in this1 as in everything else4 ,they sought a quiet retreat where they might carry on their intimacy with nature1 and she rewarded them2 she unsealed her fountains and discovered to them her secret nooks and crannies1 her buds and blossoms and delicacies1 as she does to no one but ardent worshippers4 ,they searched the woods and glens1 climbed mountains and wandered by streams1 and walked and rode and talked and studied1 with not one hour of dullness4 ,and then they went back to the little house and lived their beautiful lives4 ,two to the world for the world's work's sake1 ,but each unto each1 as in ,thy sight1 one4 ,and the world said1 ,poor thing6 ,she was jilted by that rich ,mr4 ,langdon1 you know1 and now she has had to take up with a poor young doctor2 which shows just how much the world knows about ,esther's affairs1 and ours4 ,when the years had gone away and ,dr4 ,evarts' praises were in every mouth1 and he had become rich and celebrated1 ,miss ,sophy ,ward was fond of speaking of ,my cousin1 ,mrs4 ,dr4 ,evarts4 ,aunt ,katherine1 too1 had occasion for triumph and for heaping some very hot coals of fire1 but she never thought of either4 ,mrs4 ,agnew had lost her property1 and the ,agnew estate was sold to the highest bidder1 which was ,dr4 ,evarts4 ,strange to say he was able to place ,aunt ,katherine in her old room1 with many of the dear familiar objects of other days about her2 while the wretched woman who had played her brief part in this history1 lived in a humble home not far off4 ,she was sick and poor and miserable4 ,to her ,mrs4 ,lyman ministered as if she had received nothing but kindness at her hands4 ,and ,christ-like love conquered in the end2 it broke down the hard heart and brought her into faith and peace4 ,when riches increased1 ,dr4 ,evarts obeyed the ,scripture1 set not thy heart upon them4 ,they flowed out in all directions1 blessing and comforting others4 ,every ,christmas1 he and ,esther visited the ,old ,ladies' ,home1 with a bountiful thank-offering4 ,each recurring year they were wont to go over every small detail of their meeting1 and sometimes make little confessions that were new to the other4 ,it was here you stood to sing1 the dignified doctor would remark1 or1 ,was ever anything lovelier than when you stood there with those roses1 watching me set the broken bones8 ,and how you frightened me when you flashed your eyes on me so suddenly4 ,it is a good place1 the doctor would say2 here we found each other1 and here began the love that has blessed our lives4 ,and here ,i found my ,aunt ,katherine1 ,esther was fond of adding4 ,,the ,,day ,,before ,,christmas4 ------ ,,why1 ,auntie6 ,what a quantity of lunch you are putting up4 ,you don't expect me to take my ,christmas dinner on the cars1 do you8 ,stranger things than that have come to pass1 even though you should1 ,aunt ,ruth said1 tucking in another half-dozen biscuits4 ,massachusetts is a long way off1 and ,christmas is pretty near at hand4 ,you'll have sharp work to get through by ,christmas1 ,i'm thinking4 ,the connections will have to be very good1 and no set-backs on the way4 ,that don't always happen in winter1 you know4 ,trains will be behind time1 or there 'll be a bridge down1 or something4 ,then as you get on toward the ,east there will be snow-storms--snow you up for a week1 maybe--better stay till after ,christmas yet4 ,aunt ,ruthie1 don't6 ,please don't prophesy such terrible things2 ,i shall get on all right1 ,i am sure4 ,good-by1 dear own auntie6 ,and the young girl wound her arms about the elder woman's neck1 and laid her brown head close to the gray one4 ,good-by1 dearie6 ,aunt ,ruth said in broken tones4 ,the ,lord bless you and keep you--and see here1 child1 ,i'll tuck these two little books into your basket1 and some more biscuits1 then if you should have to spend a week on the way1 you will have something to feed soul and body both4 ,a last loving look into ,aunt ,ruth's eyes1 and ,marian sprang into a light wagon by ,uncle ,eli's side1 and two ponies trotted off over the smooth country road4 ,the frosty air1 the crackle of dry leaves and twigs1 the morning sun1 the fragrant cedars1 and the flutter of gay-winged birds1 made the heart of this girl1 whose eye and ear were open to all sweet influences of nature1 sing for joy--the mere joy of being--on this glorious morning4 ,and truly a winter morning in the poetical1 picturesque southwest1 with its balmy airs1 green fields1 and gay birds1 at ,christmas time1 can but seem to a ,new ,englander the presage of that morning when all things shall be made new4 ,aunt ,ruth watched them far down the road1 then she went into the house with a slow step and a heavy heart4 ,she wiped away the tears as she gathered up ,marian's woody treasures that she had forgotten--lichens1 moss twigs1 and purple berries4 ,the house was empty and dull4 ,the bright young creature who had filled it with an atmosphere of warmth and gladness was gone4 ,how grim and desolate it seemed6 ,for two months ,aunt ,ruth had lived a charmed life4 ,marian1 the daughter of her favorite niece1 whom she loved as her own child1 had come from her far city home for a brief visit--to honor one whom her mother prized so highly4 ,her stay was protracted far beyond what duty required1 though4 ,the girl enjoyed the free1 unconventional life1 the novel experiences1 and the almost idolatrous love bestowed upon her4 ,it was hard to say which was most delighted with the other4 ,the younger one painted scenes of the gay1 busy world1 that seemed to the elder1 hard-worked woman like the tales of ,aladdin4 ,then she1 in turn1 in quaint speech1 seasoned with wit1 poured into the young ears the privations and romances of frontier life1 as well as the love tales of long ago1 which were far more delightful than one could find in a book1 because they had been lived out before ,aunt ,ruth's eyes4 ,she knew whether the fine gold of the marriage day had become dim2 what they did1 and how they lived1 and so on to the very last chapter4 ,with graphic words she made them live again for her eager listener--a long line of ancestors--sketching her characters with no mean skill1 her charitable nature hiding their faults behind their graces1 so that they were most fascinating as heroes and heroines4 ,in short1 ,aunt ,ruth was to ,marion a delightful old book1 full of wisdom and strong sweetness4 ,and while ,marian was to her aunt a revelation of grace and loveliness1 she was besides gifted with an active brain1 and was the very soul of truth and candor1 so that she seemed to the ,new ,england woman like a breath of air fresh from the old ,massachusetts hills4 ,aunt ,ruth always disparaged the ,east in contrast with the ,west when she re-visited it1 and yet she loved its rocky hills with all her heart4 ,at the same time1 anything or anybody of ,eastern make or birth1 was held up to ,western people as a model of all excellence4 ,she is just wonderful1 the old lady would declare1 in confidential chats with ,uncle ,eli4 ,there she has been brought up in a great city1 her folks are rich1 and she has everything she wants1 and yet she isn't spoiled a mite4 ,you might have thought she would have brought a trunk full of novels to this out of the way place1 and only us two old folks here1 but not a bit of it6 ,she's devouring the old yellow books in the bookcase as if her life depended on it4 ,the other morning she got down the ',history of the ,reformation1' and there she sat the whole forenoon1 never stirred or looked up as ,i went in and out--so deep in her book4 ,in the afternoon1 when ,i sat down to my mending1 we had a great visit over ,luther4 ,she told me things that ,i forgot years ago4 ,his reasons for getting a wife tickled her wonderfully4 ,forgot them1 have you8 ,i had1 too4 ,they were3 ',that he might please his father1 spite the ,pope1 and vex the devil4' ,said she1 ',i should have wanted him to have one more reason1 ,auntie1 if ,i had been his ,katy--the only reason--because he loved me4' ,she looked so sweet and pretty1 ,i spoke right out before ,i thought1 and ,i said1 ',of course he would4 ,how could anybody help loving you1 dearie8' ,you ought to 'a' seen her pretty blush1 then2 exactly like my tea-rose in the window there4 ,she's reading ',paradise ,lost1' now4 ,she knows the ,catechism from beginning to end1 and she is up in the doctrines1 and knows about missions4 ,she's a regular old-fashioned girl4 ,sarah ,brewster wrote me that they didn't raise such girls around ,boston any more4 ,she said they spent the whole time dressing and going1 and reading novels and embroidering1 and that they couldn't stand a ,june frost1 physically or morally1 that they hadn't any piety nor anything else--nothing but pretty faces4 ,now1 there's ,marian1 she can walk three miles1 and she took hold and helped me with the baking and churning1 and swept the whole house4 ,besides all that1 she's truly pious4 ,she isn't going to make one of the strong-minded kind1 either--stiff1 and hard1 and high-stepping1 and homely as a hedge fence4 ,she's as sweet as a rose1 and as humble as a chipping-bird4 ,i never thought ,i should set such store by her1 when ,i looked out of the window that day she came1 and saw her coming up the walk1 sort o' dancing along1 with her big hat on1 and her curls blowing about her eyes4 ,i said to myself1 ',yes1 there she comes6 ,a fine ,boston lady1 and she will mince about and make fun of us with her saucy airs1 and then take herself off in two days1 and ,i shall not be sorry1 even if she is my great-niece4' ,but here she has been1 week after week1 and don't want to go home yet4 ,the first fifty miles of ,marian's journey was unmarked by anything of special interest4 ,this brought her to the junction where she was to change cars for the main line4 ,but there1 to her dismay1 she discovered that the train with which she was supposed to connect had been gone for an hour1 her own train being late4 ,there was nothing to be done but to wait at a forlorn little hotel for the next one1 which would not be until noon of the next day4 ,it was of no use to feel provoked1 or to fret1 so ,marian set herself to bear it patiently4 ,she walked about the small village1 and on into the country1 made the acquaintance of children gathering ,christmas greens1 and returned with her hands full of evergreen and bitter-sweet berries4 ,the time did not hang so heavily as she had anticipated1 although she was heartily glad when the long train glided in1 and she was once more seated in the car1 and on her homeward way4 ,as it was to be a long journey1 she was not a little interested in her surroundings4 ,so she began to scrutinize her fellow-passengers1 to measure1 and classify1 and determine1 by those few swift glances1 their standing--mental1 social and moral--and whether they were agreeable1 or selfish and ill-natured4 ,she reached her conclusions--unjust ones in some instances1 perhaps2 and yet the intuitions of some fine natures are a little short of divine4 ,when she wearied of that1 she brought out pencil and paper1 and scribbled a voluminous letter to ,aunt ,ruth4 ,having a talent for sketching1 she embellished her sheet here and there with portraits of her fellow-travellers1 to cheer up ,auntie1 she told herself1 albeit the artist seemed to enjoy her work immensely1 and to put a deal of painstaking into it4 ,there was a scornful big woman with a pug-nosed dog1 a laughing baby1 a great pompous man asleep with his mouth open1 the sweet face of an old lady biding away under a deep bonnet1 and at last1 with careful touches1 the profile of a young man who sat just ahead of her2 a fine scholarly face1 bent over a book4 ,that letter made two old people happy for more than one evening4 ,what if our cheery words went oftener to brighten lonely homes6 ,stuart ,lynde1 a young lawyer returning from a business trip1 who sat just below1 across the aisle1 was not in the least interested in those about him4 ,they were simply a number of strangers with whom he had no possible concern4 ,he had not raised so much as an eyelid to discover who sat before or behind him4 ,he was absorbed in a book1 and would have been amazed had he known that an excellent portrait of himself had just been executed and was about to travel back over the road he had come4 ,that which first attracted him from the fascinating pages was a ray of golden light falling across his book2 then he put it aside and gave himself up to the enjoyment of the sunset1 which was unusually fine4 ,marian made a mental note of the fact that few watched the glorious picture hung in the sky3 three or four only besides herself2 the old lady1 the young man1 a tired-looking mother1 and a plain farmer with a gospel face4 ,as for the lap-dog woman1 and the pompous man1 they never saw a sunset4 ,eyes have they1 but they see not1 applies to more than heathen idols4 ,it is always so3 ,god's best things are for the few2 the many do not throng into the inner temple2 hearts are stony1 ears are dull1 and their eyes they have closed4 ,those who did watch the first red bars steal into the blue of the evening sky1 and the blue change to the vast golden sea1 with soft violet clouds sailing over it1 could scarcely repress exclamations of delight4 ,it was to some of them as if the end of their journey was near--the end of all journeyings--and that rushing train was speeding on straight to the golden glory shining before them1 where they should meet the ,king in his beauty at the gate of his temple1 and be welcomed in1 to go no more out forever4 ,the old lady and the tired mother and the farmer wished from their souls it was4 ,but ,marian ,chester and ,stuart ,lynde1 if the thought had occurred to them1 would have said1 ,no1 no6 ,not yet4 ,we want to test the world ourselves1 even though you old people say it is a rough and thorny road4 ,we will find the roses4 ,we are not afraid4 ,it was not strange that as ,marian watched the fading light she unconsciously and softly sang1-- ',day is dying in the west1 ,heaven is touching earth with rest2 ,wait and worship while the night ,sets her evening lamps alight--' ,followed by ,keble's sweet evening hymn1-- ',sun of my soul1 ,thou ,saviour dear1 ,it is not night if ,thou be near4' ,hymn and song came one upon the other1 but the refreshment was for none but herself4 ,stuart ,lynde caught once or twice a low1 sweet strain1 and looked about him to see whence it came1 but the din of the cars drowned all but a stray1 occasional note4 ,although he listened intently1 the music did not rise above a soft murmur4 ,by turning slightly in his seat1 his eyes had the range of the car1 and he was not long in determining the probable singer1 more by the attitude than directed by any sounds4 ,by the waning light he could see a slight figure in a sealskin sacque1 a small brown velvet cap resting on a coil of brown hair4 ,the face leaning on one hand was pressed close against the glass1 and while her eyes watched the fading colors in the sky1 her lips framed the words of song1 as absently and unconsciously as if she had forgotten that she were not leaning from her own chamber window4 ,it was a charming picture1 and he enjoyed it4 ,during the evening people dropped off at the different stations along the way1 until only the few through passengers remained1 who wearily counted the miles to the city where the sleeping coach should be attached4 ,they were doomed to disappointment1 however1 for even while they were flying on at a high rate of speed1 the train suddenly came to a stand still4 ,a broken engine and a delay of several hours1 was the word that quickly passed about4 ,as if to add to the gloomy state of things1 a severe storm had set in4 ,the violet clouds that at sunset were lovely pictures1 had grown into black1 overhanging monsters4 ,the wind howled and blew with a force that threatened to sweep all before it1 and the rain fell in torrents4 ,it was not a thing to be desired--standing in the midst of what seemed a boundless prairie1 exposed to the fury of the storm1 miles from any station1 with telegraph wires down4 ,it was curious how this changed state of affairs was met by different ones4 ,some who had been amiably dozing the last few hours were now thoroughly wide awake1 going out and in1 slamming doors and scolding the company because they did not provide engines that could not break down2 others fretted1 or were pale with fright1 fearing lest the cars should be blown from the track1 or there be a collision4 ,stuart ,lynde wore a calm face2 whether the calmness of stoicism1 or of trust1 who could tell8 ,the old lady1 who had learned patience through a long life of disappointments1 was philosophical4 ,what can't be cured1 must be endured1 she remarked to ,marian as she took off her bonnet and hung it up1 brought out a hood in its place1 and made other little preparations to spend the night just where she sat4 ,to herself1 she said1 ,i will both lay me down in peace1 and sleep3 for thou1 ,lord1 only makest me to dwell in safety4' ,if only she had said those words aloud6 ,marian1 too1 took a text for her pillow1 curled herself up comfortably in her seat1 and went to sleep4 ,what time ,i am afraid1 ,i will trust in thee1 makes a soft pillow4 ,mr4 ,lynde resolved that he would not waste his time in sleep4 ,it was a good quiet time for thought4 ,so he revolved in his mind the chief points in an important law case1 wishing he were entirely alone1 so that he might speak aloud the words of the plea1 rushing to his brain1 which he expected to make on the morrow1 or did expect to--probably this miserable detention would spoil all his plans1 at which he groaned inwardly4 ,he was scarcely aware that another process was going on in his mind at the same time2 that he was casting occasional glances at the face of the sleeper nearly opposite1 and comparing it with a certain piece of statuary which was a favorite4 ,although strangers were distasteful to him1 he was fond of tracing different types of faces1 and this fair ,grecian profile1 outlined against the cushions1 with closed eyes and rounded cheek1 was a pleasant study4 ,the hand put up to shade the face had slept at its post1 and had fallen down and folded itself over the other one across the chest4 ,the childlike mouth looked as if the lips had closed themselves on1--,i will trust4 ,it was a calm1 sweet picture of innocent sleep1 and ,stuart ,lynde found himself thinking as he gazed1 ,if only a soul ever matched a fair face6 ,if she had but known1 how quickly the blood would have rushed into the cheek1 and the statue would have sprung up and away6 ,marian was not a girl to pose for stranger eyes1 nor any other4 ,it was a little singular that a connoisseur of faces should bestow all his attention upon one1 and not have noticed just beyond1 the fine old face crowned with snowy hair1 and radiant with calm content4 ,the old lady1 between her naps1 watched the sleeper1 too1 feeling a sort of motherly responsibility concerning her1 because she was alone4 ,dear lamb1 she murmured to herself1 she is taking a good sleep4 ,marian kept some vigils1 too4 ,she straightened herself up after a few hours1 wondering vaguely where she was1 and why the train was standing still4 ,the ghostly light1 the silence and the rough men in a seat not far away--one of them--an evil-faced fellow1 happening to glare at her just then1 filled her with shudderings4 ,she glanced swiftly over to a certain seat to see if it had changed occupants4 ,it had not1 and she felt relieved4 ,the man who sat there might be cold and proud1 but he was honorable and chivalrous2 he could defend a whole car full of people1 she was sure4 ,then there was the old lady beaming out even in the gloom and darkness1 as she just now roused up1 saying1 ,how are you getting on1 my dear8 ,there was a world of comfort in that my dear4 ,mr4 ,lynde had succumbed to the power of weariness1 and was fast asleep himself now1 and ,marian had opportunity to retaliate1 had she but known her grievances4 ,she ventured only a few stolen glances to see if closer scrutiny would confirm her first intuitions4 ,it was a shapely head thrown back against the corner of the seat2 the face of a high1 fine type1 intellectually strong1 and yet a trifle marred by something4 ,perhaps it was the suspicion that the mouth might easily take shape in a satirical smile2 and there were other curves and lines suggestive of the idea that sarcasm was one of the weapons of his warfare he was fond of wielding4 ,however1 it was1 as ,marian decided1 a face to trust2 she composed herself to sleep again1 comforted by the nearness of her two protectors4 ,when the day dawned matters had not mended4 ,the rain had come down in sheets through the night2 the whole country was flooded1 and help had not yet come to the disabled engine4 ,it was truly a dismal outlook for all concerned4 ,the fortunate ones were those who had some breakfast4 ,the nice old lady had a snug little lunch basket1 and she looked about her to see with whom she should share it4 ,this particular car was nearly deserted1 the men spending most of their time in the smoking car4 ,mr4 ,lynde was moodily gazing through the window upon the watery world1 when the old lady trotted briskly over to him and1 holding out her lunch basket1 begged him to help himself to a sandwich and a doughnut1 for ,i'm sure you must be all tuckered out by this time1 she added sympathetically4 ,but this the gentleman most emphatically declined to do1 assuring her that he was not suffering1 and that he could not possibly think of depriving her of what she might greatly need before the end of the journey4 ,she looked disappointed as she went back1 and ,marian1 who saw the refusal1 but did not hear the kindly1 courteous words1 inly resolved that he should have no opportunity to decline any contributions from her stores4 ,she could have furnished him an excellent breakfast1 she told herself1 without fear of coming to want1 either4 ,it was good1 too2 wonderfully fresh and nice1 considering the long time it had been on the way1 but then she had providently taken precautions when detained at the hotel to keep it in good condition4 ,it went sorely against ,marian's nature to enjoy her nice breakfast1 knowing that one who sat so near was hungry1 and not offer to share with him4 ,she would have felt the same if he had been a shaggy old man instead of an attractive young one4 ,if only she were an old lady1 now1 she would go and insist that he should not starve himself4 ,she might get courage to do it even yet1 if1 now that he was awake1 he did not look so haughty and self-sufficient2 the very curl of his moustache1 as she glanced at him1 was proud4 ,why would he not decline her kindness1 too1 with a grand air8 ,no1 no6 ,he might go hungry until he attained to more humility4 ,stuart ,lynde had arrived at some conclusions also4 ,under half-closed eyelids1 he had critically looked his fair neighbor over again by the morning light1 after she had made her toilet1 by shaking out her wrinkles1 twisting her long hair into the smooth coil1 running her fingers through the short curls on her temples and setting her little hat in its place4 ,after that she looked fresh1 and in order1 with none of that forlorn and dishevelled appearance some women take on after having sat up all night in the cars4 ,but the conclusions3 ,it must be confessed that this face from the first fascinated and attracted him4 ,it was of as fine a type as he had ever seen1 but her dress and air stamped her as belonging to the fashionable world2 and had he not long ago decided that nothing good could come out of fashionable society1 such a hollow1 decayed1 deceitful mass as it was8 ,how many girls he daily met who had fair faces and innocent eyes1 but when they spoke--their lips rarely dropped pearls1 oftener slang2 they were loud1 actually coarse1 some of them1 or they were inane and silly4 ,most of them cared for no book except a novel1 and even that they knew nothing of when once it was devoured4 ,to give an analysis of a single character would be as impossible as to speak in ,chinese4 ,they had no thoughts--not more than humming-birds2 they had never been taught to think2 the few exceptions--in his experience--were those who possessed no personal attractions4 ,a pretty head was sure to be an empty one2 and this girl with a head like ,diana1 was probably a society girl1 with not an idea above dressing1 dancing and flirting4 ,it would be but courteous to address a sympathizing word to her1 under these extraordinary circumstances1 with this long1 tedious day before them1 and no companionship of any sort4 ,but then1 what good8 ,she would probably reply in a few parroty phrases1 and that would be the end1 or she would resent his remark as an impertinence from a mere fellow passenger1 an utter stranger1 or she would imagine him desperately smitten1 and would place him on one of her pretty fingers as the tenth one ensnared by her within a fortnight4 ,no1 indeed1 he should make no advance toward acquaintance whatever4 ,upon which heroic resolution1 he dived into his satchel and brought out piles of depositions1 knit his brows over them1 and tried to forget that he was hungry and growing more so4 ,an hour or two of hard work on these1 then he produced a volume of essays to see what consolation there might be in that for a hungry man4 ,this reminded ,marian for the first time that she had two little books herself that she had entirely forgotten4 ,she took out the small package wrapped in brown paper1 and another inner wrapping of soft white paper as if it held something precious4 ,there was a little volume of ,daily ,food ,scripture texts1 arranged for each day in the year1 and a copy of ,thomas ,kempis' ,imitation of ,christ1 daintily bound in morocco and gilt4 ,on the fly-leaf of each was written in ,aunt ,ruth's round cramped hand1 ,marian ,chester3 ,the ,lord bless thee and keep thee4 ,dear aunt ,ruth1 she murmured4 ,what would she say if she knew where ,i am8 ,and what will they think at home8 ,she just began to realize how forlorn and lonely she was1 and actually two large tears stood on her cheeks4 ,mr4 ,lynde was returning from one of his visits to the engine1 and was just in time to catch1 for an instant1 the flash of that tear4 ,a smile was a hollow thing to him4 ,his coat of mail was proof against a whole battalion of the most bewitching2 but a tear6 ,he bowed in reverence before a tear2 and1 acting on that impulse1 paused1 and before he had given himself leave to speak was saying1 ,i beg your pardon1 but can ,i do anything for you8 ,poor ,marian6 ,it was so sudden1 and she was so mortified to be caught crying like a baby1 that her tones were defiant and her answer curt3 ,no1 sir1 ,i thank you1 not anything4 ,when she raised her eyes he was gone4 ,then1 her sense of desolation was lost in vexation1 that she had made herself an object of pity to him and requited his attempt at kindness by what must have seemed extreme rudeness4 ,the rained had ceased1 but this was not an advantage in one way1 for the air at once became intensely cold1 so making it more difficult to repair damages1 as washouts and bridges swept from swollen streams were reported ahead4 ,as if to bring dreariness to a culminating point1 the supply of coal was low and the cars were becoming chilly4 ,adversity was apparently having a good effect upon ,mr4 ,lynde2 he was developing under it1 and waking up to some interest in humanity that was not in a book4 ,he was not in general a close observer of the dress of ladies1 but he knew the difference between a long sealskin cloak and an old black cashmere shawl4 ,consequently he was very sure where the large1 soft lap robe he carried was most needed4 ,thereupon he took it over to the old lady1 and begged her with as much deference as if she had been a duchess1 to accept it4 ,she demurred1 but he insisted and folded it about her as a son might have done1 and the lines about his mouth relaxed into sweetness as she showered her thanks upon him4 ,why did ,i not think to do that8 ,marian said to herself1 casting regretful eyes on her own warm shawl4 ,it was too late now1 so she drew it over herself and retired into her book4 ,aunt ,ruth spoke better than she knew when she talked of food for the soul4 ,some darkened minds would call it cant1 but those who know the secret of the ,lord1 know that as a few drops of stimulant revive a fainting body1 just as surely will a strong1 comforting word from the ,scriptures send the lifeblood tingling again through a benumbed soul1 if that soul belong to ,christ4 ,so when ,marian read in her ,daily ,food3-- ,the eternal ,god is thy refuge1 and underneath are the everlasting arms2 ,the angel of the ,lord encampeth round about them that fear him1 and delivereth them2 ,the beloved of the ,lord shall dwell in safety by him1 and the ,lord shall cover him all the day long2 ,thou art my hiding place2 thou shalt preserve me from trouble2 thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance4 ,then her faith and courage returned1 and her heart already sang songs of deliverance4 ,mr4 ,lynde had already done all that travellers usually do in such emergencies4 ,he had stood in the teeth of a keen wind and talked with the brake man and engineer and conductor as to the extent of the accident1 and what the probabilities were of soon resuming the journey2 had stepped out and walked briskly up and down1 and the old lady remarked as he strode by1 ,he's a handsome young fellow2 straight as an arrow1 and he walks with a kind o' spring1 just like my ,benjamin1 and ,marian had given in response an amused smile4 ,now he had come back again and settled himself down to endure1 with grim fortitude1 what could not be cured2 not with the same spirit1 though1 as the old saint who sat just beyond him1 for1 she said1 ,it 'll all turn out for the best somehow1 and we'll likely see it some day4 ,it would take long to convince him1 though1 that the important case to which he was hurrying home could possibly be bettered by his absence4 ,but he tried to be a philosopher4 ,he turned up his coat collar1 as men do when they are cold and seem to think they have made all reasonable provisions for comfort1 put his eyes on his book1 and tried to merge his thoughts into the author's2 but when a man is hungry1 and ever so slightly cold1 the circumstances are not favorable for metaphysical research4 ,it was noon1 and the time for those who had any dinner to eat it2 so ,marian took down her lunch basket again4 ,if only she had somebody to enjoy it with her6 ,she glanced about the car2 the men had gone4 ,the old lady1 thanks to the warmth of the lap robe1 was enjoying a nice nap4 ,there was just one person on whom to exercise her benevolence4 ,she amused herself by laying together in a fresh napkin three or four biscuits1 some slices of chicken1 and some cake2 then1 while she thoughtfully put bits into her own mouth1 debated the question with herself after this fashion3 ,i ought1 ,i really ought to do it1 but how can ,i8 ,i wish he would go out2 ,i would slip it into his seat1 and he would think the ravens or something had been sent to feed him4 ,if ,i should carry this over there and he should decline it with a lofty air1 how could ,i endure such humiliation8 ,to be sure1 ,i did reply very haughtily when he spoke to me1 and whatever possessed me1 ,i'm sure ,i don't know4 ,the head at which she was casting furtive glances1 went down at this juncture1 wearily down1 on the seat before him1 and the action decided her4 ,stuart ,lynde thought he had1 in that moment1 dropped asleep1 and was in a blissful dream1 for a soft voice just behind him1 said1 ,sir1 ,i was mistaken2 ,i would like to ask a favor of you4 ,the head was erect in an instant1 and he began1-- ,i shall be most happy2 but when he saw this haughty lady changed into a blushing girl with a half shy1 and altogether winning manner1 and heard her say1 ,will you not please accept part of my lunch1 for ,i have a great abundance8 then the fluent speech for which he was noted1 forsook him1 and he stammered out some incoherent words1 and then--they looked squarely into each other's eyes1 and1 by a common impulse1 broke into a merry laugh4 ,the ludicrous side of it all was too irresistible4 ,after that they felt acquainted and it was easy to accept the appetizing favor with a gay grace1 and insist that she had been entirely too generous1 although in truth1 he felt equal to any number of biscuits4 ,that is because you do not know what a capacious lunch basket ,i possess1 nor how well it is stored1 thanks to ,aunt ,ruth1 ,marian said1 while she hastened to get ready a donation for the old lady1 who had wakened1 and was wondering at the cheerful sounds about her4 ,it quite chirked her up1 she said1 to hear something going on once more4 ,the two young people talked together some minutes before they recollected that the rules of etiquette required that strangers should have introductions4 ,then the gentleman produced a card1-- ,,stuart ,,lynde1 ,attorney and ,counsellor at ,law4 ,and ,marian said simply1 ,i am ,marian ,chester of ,massachusetts4 ,it would seem as if their tongues rejoiced at privilege of speech again1 for the talk flowed on most delightfully4 ,themes were endless--the accident1 the surrounding country1 and people1 and the advantages and disadvantages of both ,east and ,west4 ,they compared notes finally on favorite authors1 and travelled over countries both had visited1 until they almost forgot that they were wrecked on a dreary prairie1 miles from anywhere4 ,mr4 ,lynde was somewhat puzzled to find a young lady who had read biographies1 history1 ,shakespeare1 and the other standard poets1 and yet seemed to be ignorant of the works of well-known writers of fiction1 and was obliged to confess that she had not read ,jane ,eyre1 old as it was1 nor ,romola1 nor even the lighter novels that most schoolgirls have devoured by the time they are fifteen4 ,no1 she said1 ,i know almost nothing of them2 my father has his own ideas in regard to these things1 and she said it reverently and sweetly1 as if anything that my father wishes is good and right2 not2 ,my father is an old fogy1 and ,i1 a martyr1 am obliged to suffer the consequences-- ,his theory is that a taste for solid reading should first be formed1 and that whatever of fiction is indulged in1 should be by the best writers and quite simple4 ,with the exception of a few books1 rather juvenile in character1 ,i am to read my first novel this winter with father4 ,i read aloud to him a great deal1 and he is my dictionary and encyclopdia4 ,we have most delightful times1 and we read all sorts of books4 ,perhaps1 if one were to come down to my level in the line of light reading1 ,i might intelligently discuss the merits of some works1 she said archly2 ,i know almost by heart ',hans ,andersen's ,fairy ,tales' and the ',tanglewood ,tales2' as well as ',alice in ,wonderland1' and ',water ,babies1' and several other lovely stories4 ,happy daughter6 ,to read her first novel--some pure1 noble work of his choosing--with her father1 instead of stealthily devouring a vile1 yellow-covered thing at midnight1 when she should have been sleeping1 or secreting it under her desk at school1 and snatching a guilty morsel when she should have been studying4 ,the father's theory had been well carried out1 and he must have been delighted with results1 for the girl could enjoy a scientific research1 or a simple story1 one of which would have been voted dull1 and the other childish1 by those reared on more highly seasoned mental food4 ,then there was in her a cheery freshness1 and a hearty enjoyment of simple pleasures1 in sharp contrast with many specimens of restless1 languid young ladyhood1 interested in nothing on earth or under it--nothing except themselves4 ,mr4 ,lynde was charmed4 ,here was an anomaly1 a rare study3 a girl not made up of artificialities1 nor morbid sentimentalism4 ,the time passed pleasantly away1 despite the gloomy surroundings1 until ,marian was called to account by ,dame ,propriety1 who administered so sharp a reprimand that the color came to her cheeks1 and she grew suddenly demure and silent4 ,she conversing with a stranger6 ,what would her father think8 ,and what did the stranger himself think8 ,who would have believed that she could have been guilty of making advances1 of drawing the attention of anybody1 much less one of whom she knew utterly nothing8 ,she had heard of others doing such things1 and she had judged them severely4 ,it was too humiliating6 ,her transparent face reflected her inner self like a mirror1 so1 when she became suddenly silent and wore a troubled look1 ,mr4 ,lynde divined the cause and reverenced her for it4 ,he had a strong impression that he ought to go back to his own seat1 and leave this sensitive plant to itself1 but it was dreary work to sit alone and think over one's misfortunes1 and her society was so charming2 so he lingered1 taking the burden of talk upon himself1 and managing so adroitly as to necessitate few replies2 and ,marian listened1 taking very little part in the conversation1 as she supposed4 ,she forgot1 though1 that eyes and mouth can talk when tongues are still1 and it would have been an obtuse person1 indeed1 who would not have felt flattered with the responses he received from the eloquent face of his listener1 as the eyes lighted with a smile or grew dark with shadows of thought4 ,when he went away at last he asked her to take pity on him1 and lend him a book1 as he had exhausted his library4 ,and this is the extent of mine1 ,marian said1 producing her little books1 my ,christmas present from a dear old auntie1 and she gave them into his hands1 and received his volume of essays4 ,it had been such a pleasant diversion from the wearisome monotony1 this new acquaintance1 with his varied knowledge1 his fascinating conversation and graceful courtesy1 and yet ,marian felt ill at ease and disturbed by what she had done4 ,he would never have noticed her1 she told herself1 if she had not invited his attentions4 ,but how could she do otherwise8 ,it was a mere act of humanity4 ,she did not compel him to talk with her all the afternoon1 though it was too true that she felt acquainted with him at once and talked on as if he had been an old friend1 and that encouraged him4 ,perhaps he was the greatest villain in the world2 but even as the thought flashed through her mind1 it was indignantly repelled4 ,he was good and noble2 she was sure of it1 and she set herself to work to see what proof she possessed on that point4 ,his conversation was refined2 he liked good books2 he was kind to an old lady1 and he had remarked that his chief regret at the detention was that his mother would be wretchedly anxious at his nonappearance in his home4 ,a bad man would not care for his mother1 nor concern himself as to the comfort of old ladies4 ,during the afternoon the condition of things changed for the better4 ,food was obtained for the nearly famished passengers1 and at last the train was in motion again1 moving heavily and slowly1 and with many a jerk and jar1 as if in remonstrance at being obliged to move at all4 ,with much effort and many detentions they arrived late at night at their long-wished-for destination4 ,among those that were obliged to change roads at this point1 necessitating a walk of a few blocks across the city1 were ,marian and ,mr4 ,lynde4 ,he took possession of her shawl and basket as if he were1 without question1 her protector4 ,it was pleasant to be taken care of1 too1 amidst the clanging of many trains among bewildering tracks4 ,she had expected to make this transfer by daylight4 ,it would have been decidedly dreary in the darkness1 at this late hour1 without an escort1 although there was quite a procession of other travellers bound for the same train4 ,all hint of storms had passed away4 ,the far off sky was full of stars1 and the air was keenly cold4 ,just twelve o'clock4 ,the ,christmas morning already begun4 ,this thought came to at least two of the travellers as they stepped out into the calm night1 and there stole into the mind of each a strain of that wondrous ,christmas poem1 beginning--,within that province far away4 ',in the solemn midnight1 ,centuries ago1' quoted ,mr4 ,lynde4 ,marian was surprised into saying3 ,how very singular6 ,the same words were running through my own brain at that moment1 and ,i was about to ask if you recollected what night this is1 and if you were familiar with that poem4 ,ah1 you are fond of it1 too6 ,is it not fine1 especially these lines3 ',the earth was still--but knew not why1 ,the world was listening--unawares4 ,how calm a moment may precede ,one that shall thrill the world forever6 ,to that still moment none would heed1 ,man's doom was linked1 no more to sever1 ,in the solemn midnight1 ,centuries ago4 ,to ,marian there came also at this moment a sharp consciousness of something else4 ,she was walking at midnight in a strange city with a stranger4 ,that1 she could not help1 but to discover that she was positively enjoying it1 had the effect to make her good-night seem cold as the winter air as they stepped on the sleeping car and she vanished into the section assigned her4 ,it had been arranged by ,marian and her friends that she should travel alone only to a certain city4 ,there1 an uncle would join her1 and accompany her home4 ,the distance was not great1 and it was not to be supposed that any difficulties would attend so short a journey4 ,in the uncertain state of things caused by the storm it was quite improbable that he could make connections so as to keep his appointment4 ,marian had decided in case he did not appear1 to proceed alone1 feeling by this time quite like a veteran traveller4 ,in the gray dawn of the ,christmas morning they reached the city4 ,they had just entered the depot1 and ,mr4 ,lynde was inquiring of ,marian how he could serve her as to checks and tickets1 when a stout1 gray-haired gentleman bustled up with1 ,ah1 ,marian1 here you are6 bent and kissed her cheek1 saying in the same breath1 ,so glad you came this morning1 my dear4 ,we are not going on to-day1 however4 ,my old friend1 ,col4 ,winslow1 wishes me to spend ,christmas with him1 and ,i have accepted the invitation for you1 too4 ,marian's face put in a protest4 ,oh6 you will enjoy it1 my dear2 the house is filled with young people2 you will have a gay time4 ,come1 let us hasten1 the carriage is waiting4 ,as soon as she had opportunity to speak1 ,marian presented ,mr4 ,lynde1 as one who had been kind to her4 ,accordingly the uncle bestowed on him a hurried bow1 and a penetrating glance1 from keen1 gray eyes under shaggy brows4 ,then he tucked ,marian's hand under his arm and was moving off4 ,one moment she lingered4 ,there was a brief hand clasp1 some murmured thanks1 and she was gone4 ,to say that ,mr4 ,lynde was astonished1 would but feebly express it4 ,who was this man1 and where had he taken her8 ,she evidently went most reluctantly4 ,he felt as if he ought to pursue them and recover her4 ,he remembered now that she had said something about an uncle who1 perhaps1 would join her on the way4 ,he discovered that he had been looking forward to a day's travel in her company with keenest pleasure4 ,now it had all changed2 travelling was the depth of drudgery4 ,in his half-dazed1 disappointed state1 he nearly forgot the imperative need of haste on account of business1 etc41 and barely escaped being left as he sprang on the train at the last moment4 ,he realized presently that a certain volume of essays was no longer in his possession4 ,he did not regret it1 though1 much as he valued it1 inasmuch as he had in its stead two tiny books he should greatly prize4 ,he brought them out now1 and looked at them1 brought1 too1 from his side pocket1 a sprig of evergreen that he had surreptitiously broken from the bunch fastened to the basket he had carried1 partly because he enjoyed the fragrance1 and partly--he knew not why4 ,he laid it with the books4 ,and that was every trace there was left of the bright presence that1 he was obliged to confess to himself1 he missed intolerably4 ,soon he tossed them all into his satchel almost fiercely1 and called himself a fool for allowing any influence to take possession of him in that manner4 ,he brought out his law papers again1 and sternly set himself a task4 ,but a face1 that two days before he had not known1 came between him and the cumbersome phrases1 so that1 instead of defining and arranging the strong points of the case1 he went to puzzling his brain to determine whether or no there was just the least shadow of regret in her eyes as she took leave of him4 ,then he went over all their conversation1 treasured up words and tones of hers1 and pictured again her attitude and look of sweet gravity1 like some veritable angel when she came to minister to his necessities4 ,not one in a hundred would have done that so simply and gracefully1 if they would have done it at all1 indeed1 he told himself4 ,the thing that tried him most was his own stupidity that he had not obtained her address2 ,massachusetts1 that was all he knew4 ,he took out the books again4 ,possibly there was a clue4 ,her name was there3 ,marian ,chester4 ,what a fair name it was2 how it just suited her4 ,that was all1 though4 ,no tell-tale sign of where she lived1 or where ,aunt ,ruth lived4 ,he read the line below3 ,the ,lord bless thee and keep thee4 ,it was long since ,stuart ,lynde had prayed1 but he found his heart re-echoing that prayer4 ,as for ,marian1 she found the last half of her journey dull in comparison with the first1 and she was dimly conscious why4 ,the thought sent bright flushes into her cheeks1 but she did not sit down and analyze and define it1 or recall looks and tones and words4 ,she shut the door on that corner of her heart and locked it4 ,she told herself that it was a matter of perfect indifference to her who or what he was1 and yet when her uncle asked1 ,who was the young man you introduced to me1 my dear8 and she produced his card1 she was more than pleased to hear ,col4 ,winslow declare that he knew him well by reputation2 that he was one of the most brilliant young lawyers in the ,state1 and1 morally1 was without blemish4 ,in the busy months that followed1 it was becoming a habit with ,mr4 ,lynde to refresh himself with a look into one or other of the little books he kept among his treasures4 ,even when most pressed by business matters1 he was sure to snatch a brief moment through the day or night to glance at a verse4 ,he did this at first because they belonged to the maiden1 he called her in his thought2 that old-fashioned sweet word just fitted her1 and seemed to single her out as above and beyond all others4 ,then the words of ,thomas ,kempis charmed him2 he studied that book for the quaint simplicity of its style1 and wondered that he had not before discovered such a gem4 ,and1 while he thought it childish in him1 he noted with not a little curiosity the text for each day in the ,daily ,food4 ,when he went a journey1 it amused even himself that he always slipped the little books into some pocket1 and they went along4 ,one night at the close of a triumphant day1 when he had come off victor in a difficult case1 and had been congratulated and complimented until he was surfeited1 he opened the small book to search out the text for that day4 ,to one conscious of having gloried not a little in the very gratifying success of that day1 it was almost startling to read-- ,let not the wise man glory in his wisdom1 neither let the mighty man glory in his might2 let not the rich man glory in his riches4 ,let him that glorieth1 glory in this1 that he understandeth and knoweth me1 that ,i am the ,lord which exercise loving kindness1 judgment and righteousness in the earth2 for in these things ,i delight1 saith the ,lord4 ,not since he was a boy at his mother's knee1 had a word of ,scripture come into his heart with power such as this4 ,he knew he had gloried in his wisdom and power2 had been proud of his triumph1 and proud of his spotless life and high morality1 but now how it all flashed upon him in an instant1 that he was weak and foolish and sinful before ,god4 ,he could speak in many tongues1 and understand mysteries of science1 but he did not know and understand the ,lord4 ,the one thing in which it would be right to glory1 he did not possess4 ,when a boy1 he had the habit of prayer1 but1 as he grew toward manhood1 lost his faith by reading skeptical writers1 so for many years he had not spoken to ,god until he came into possession of these two precious books1 then1 curiously enough1 he had begun to pray one petition3 ,the ,lord bless her and keep her4 ,but now1 when the sense of the utter worthlessness of all he attained1 and ,god left out1 was flashed upon him1 he cried1 ,teach me to know and understand thee1 and the first answer to that prayer was to show him that he was blind and poor and in need of all things4 ,his eye fell upon words just then which told that another soul1 generations ago1 had gone by the same road to find his ,god1 for ,thomas ,kempis said3 ,but if ,i abase and know myself to be nothing1 if ,i renounce all self-esteem and 7as ,i am7 account myself to be but dust2 thy grace will be favorable unto me1 and thy light will be near unto my heart4 ,and all self-esteem1 how little soever1 shall be swallowed up in the deep valley of my nothingness1 and perish everlastingly4 ,there thou showest thyself unto me1 what ,i am1 what ,i have been1 and whither ,i am come2 for ,i am nothing and ,i knew it not4 ,and if ,i be left to myself1 behold1 ,i become nothing and all weakness4 ,but if thou lookest upon me1 ,i am made strong4 ,the light had entered the darkened soul4 ,the ,spirit used a few texts of ,scripture and the devout words of an old monk to teach him that all our righteousness is as filthy rags1 and that the blood of ,jesus ,christ cleanseth us from all sin4 ,the old miracle was repeated in him4 ,in silence and quiet the change went on4 ,a proud1 ambitious1 self-seeking man1 learning to pray with that other saint3 ,grant me1 ,o1 most gracious and loving ,jesus1 to rest in thee above all creatures3 ,above all health and beauty1 above all glory and honor1 above all power and dignity1 above all knowledge and subtlety1 above all riches and arts1 above all joy and gladness1 above all hope and promise1 above all desert and desire2 above all gifts and presents that thou canst give and impart unto us3 above all joy and triumph that the mind of man can receive and feel4 ,a year went away1 and the stars of ,christmas night glowed in the sky as brightly as long ago1 when shepherds watched their flocks by night1 and the angel of the ,lord came down4 ,mr4 ,lynde1 as he walked and thought--thought of that night1 within that province far away1 to which his destiny was now linked in a peculiar and tender relation4 ,he would not have been human not to have recalled that other night1 too1 a year ago4 ,so he walked the silent1 moonlight streets1 and repeated softly-- ',in the solemn midnight1 ,centuries ago1' ,he might walk and walk miles1 though1 it would not bring that other one who walked by his side then4 ,he might not have sighed so heavily at that thought if his vision could have compassed distance and known who watched the stars with him4 ,that these two paths should ever cross again1 would seem as impossible as that two small ships adrift on the wide ocean should speak each other4 ,the ingenuity and perseverance with which he had prosecuted the search all these months was something remarkable4 ,as ,boston is the metropolis of ,massachusetts1 he made business trips to ,boston1 and the business was to walk the streets1 haunt picture galleries1 attend lectures and concerts1 always searching for one face4 ,he read ,boston papers1 especially the list of marriages and deaths4 ,he took the westward journey many times1 hoping she might have repeated the visit to ,aunt ,ruth4 ,once he ventured to send her a letter through the ,boston post-office1 and it came back to himself4 ,she knows where ,i am1 he would tell his unreasoning self4 ,how easily she could send me some little sign1 but1 such as she never would1 even though she cared4 ,all this time ,marian was hidden away in a suburban town ten miles from ,boston1 in her father's country home1 though spending much time in the city4 ,why did not one or the other of their good angels cause them to turn their eyes in the right direction that day they almost brushed against each other in the crowd8 ,through the year she had stoically crushed out pleasant remembrances of the brief acquaintance1 never allowing the thought that possibly they might meet again1 and yet she always searched an audience with a keener interest than had been her wont4 ,it might just be possible1 but how preposterous1 after all6 ,he lived far away in a ,western city4 ,why should he come to ,boston8 ',tis true1 too1 that on ,christmas night she indulged herself in a bit of dreaming1 lingering purposely at her chamber window1 looking out on the white world until the clock in the steeple should chime out twelve1 feeling1 unconsciously1 that she was keeping an indefinable tryst with some mythical being by so doing4 ,she1 too1 went in memory over the walk and the poem1 recalled the excellent rendering of the few lines recited1 and then being dimly conscious that it would be the most delightful thing in life to go on and on in an interminable walk1 with that one voice sounding always in her ears1 she brought her reverie to an abrupt ending1 drew her curtains and shut out the witching moonbeams with tantalizing memories1--like a sensible maiden that she was4 ,mr4 ,lynde's book had been diligently studied by her1 partly because it was his1 and for the reason that it was in rather a different line from anything she had read4 ,she did not at once comprehend its subtle logic1 and her ambition required that she should4 ,her well-trained mind was not long in discovering that this book was not all gems and pearls1 as she had supposed when the fascinating rhetoric attracted her4 ,there were half-truths1 skeptical suggestions1 and flings at doctrines dear to ,christian hearts4 ,it filled her with sorrow and surprise that such high1 beautiful thoughts should be so marred4 ,did ,mr4 ,lynde believe these things8 ,from a remark he dropped1 she half-feared he did4 ,from that time his name came into her daily prayer as she asked that her little books might not be lost1 but be seed that should spring up and bear fruit4 ,it was not in a crowded assembly1 nor on the city streets1 nor on a railroad train1 that ,mr4 ,lynde finally found his treasure4 ,he was returning from a trip in the ,northwest1 and near the end of a day's travel was obliged to wait at a small town a few hours1 in order to take an express train4 ,finding the time hang heavily1 he walked out and turned his steps into a little foot path that led out into the country4 ,it was a perfect day4 ,the clear sky1 the tinted woods1 the stream1 the rare blue hills1 made lovely pictures on all sides4 ,he had not the most remote idea that this noisy brook bounded ,aunt ,ruth's farm1 and that the next bend in the road would reveal a charming picture that would make his pulses stand still with joy4 ,a narrow footbridge spanned the stream1 and leaning over the railing1 intently watching the hurrying waters1 her white dress fluttering in the breeze1 stood ,marian4 ,he knew her in an instant1 and came forward1 his heart in his face4 ,marian looked up quickly1 in a startled way1 at the sound of a footstep1 and the joyful radiance that lighted her eyes when he said1 ,at last ,i have found you1 revealed the whole story4 ,there was scarcely need of question and answer4 ,and then8 ,they sauntered along the bank of the winding stream1 and began a walk that did not end till life ended4 ,the express train went its way without the traveller1 and they two came up through the lengthening shadows to the old farmhouse1 where ,aunt ,ruth sat on the porch4 ,they told the whole long story to her1 and she listened1 with now a smile and then a tear1 and when it was finished she laid a hand on the head of each1 and said sweetly and solemnly1 ,children1 the ,lord bless thee and keep thee6 ,,juana',s ,,master4 ------ ,a ,,picturesque object it was1 this old ,spanish-looking house1 in the ,city of ,mexico1 with turrets and towers and balconies1 set amid tall trees and clambering vines4 ,the hot breath of the summer afternoon had sent most of the inhabitants to search out cool1 dark retreats1 and lose the sense of languor in sleep4 ,even the leaves and the flowers were drowsy1 and universal silence settled upon all things1 broken only by the plashing of fountains and the sleepy little songs of birds4 ,in an upper balcony of the old house a young wife sat1 her head resting on one hand1 her eyes fastened on the distant mountains just discernible through a soft haze4 ,she was not building pretty air-castles1 nor absorbed in the dreamy1 wondrous beauty of the scene before her2 nor when she bowed her head on the railing1 did her eyes close in happy forgetfulness4 ,sleep seldom visits sorrow1 and this sad heart was breathing out sobs and moans4 ,juana ,valerie1 descended from both ,mexican and ,spanish ancestors1 was1 with the exception of an old aunt1 the last of the family1 which1 in its day1 had been one of much note4 ,left an orphan at an early age1 her only remaining relative--feeble in both mind and body--found it no easy task to bring the fiery1 frisky little mortal under any great degree of control4 ,as she grew older her positive nature and keen mind outgeneraled both teachers and aunt4 ,when she chose to spend the livelong day frolicking in the grounds1 or clambering trees1 instead of poring over dull books1 she did so1 always being able by means of ready wit and winning ways to escape punishment4 ,however1 as the years went on1 she contrived to secure a fair share of education1 absorbing it1 it must be2 surely it was not accomplished by hard study4 ,juana's parents had been staunch ,roman ,catholics1 and while they lived she was trained in the strict observance of the rules of that church4 ,whether it was that the little maiden was a born rebel1 or that from some honest-hearted ancestor she had inherited a hatred of shams1 it turned out that at a very early age she began to throw off the shackles the ,church of ,rome binds about its victims4 ,the ,confessional had always been to her childish mind a dread and horror1 and as she grew to girlhood she stoutly refused to go to it4 ,the aunt and the old priest scolded and threatened1 which had the effect only to drive her from the church entirely4 ,then they persecuted and warned1 holding up to her view the awful fate of an apostate soul4 ,they tried to hedge her in on this side and that1 but she shook her willful little head1 and leaping over all inclosures1 ran free as the wind4 ,no threats or persuasions availing to bring her under control1 she was deemed incorrigible1 and the anathema of the ,church pronounced against her4 ,this did not bring the least shadow upon her spirit1 however2 a strange intuition seemed to make this young girl aware that truth in its purity was not there1 and that a mere man had no power to pronounce either blessing or curse upon her4 ,she was not unloving to her old aunt1 nor did she intend to be undutiful1 but she did purpose always and everywhere to have her own way2 so the feeble old lady settled down to the inevitable1 and ,juana came and went free as a bird4 ,hitherto1 her flowers and her pets had absorbed her1 but now she was awakening to the fact that a whole bright world of pleasure lay all about1 beckoning her to its revelries4 ,so she drifted in with the giddy throng1 and was flattered and followed and smiled upon to her heart's content4 ,in one of the gay assemblies she met ,paul ,everett1 a young ,american4 ,at first glance each became immediately fascinated by the other1 and subsequent interviews served to deepen the enchantment4 ,as ,juana could speak not a word of ,english1 and the young stranger but very little ,spanish1 it would seem that the attachment could not make rapid progress2 but love has a mystic language of its own1 and is independent of clumsy words4 ,the reasons for this irresistible and mutual attraction were quite as good as many lovers can plead4 ,he was carried captive by flashing dark eyes1 raven hair1 and the graceful form gleaming in crimson and gold1 flitting through the dance like some gay tropical bird4 ,she1 in turn1 fondly believed that the tall blonde young man1 with locks and mustache of golden hue1 with eyes of heavenly blue1 and1 above all1 in faultless attire1 was nothing short of a demi-god4 ,on such slender basis they built fair hopes1 and were ready to promise everything1 and more1 that lay in mortal's power to bestow4 ,the business that drew ,paul ,everett to ,mexico was the same in which he had been engaged the last five years4 ,his indulgent friends termed it sowing wild oats1 though he himself professed to be gathering material for some literary work4 ,in this line he had much taste1 and fair talents1 and might have succeeded if only it had been possible for him to engage in any pursuit with earnestness and enthusiasm2 or if he had known any other rule of life than self-indulgence4 ,the wooing was short2 they were soon married1 and ,paul for a time exceedingly enjoyed the little idyll he was living4 ,the situation was most novel and delightful4 ,the flowery land1 its blue skies and balmy air suited his poetical temperament4 ,the old castle and grounds were picturesque and spacious1 and he was master of them1 or would be on the death of the old aunt2 besides1 did he not possess the entire adoration of the most charming and unique little creature that ever breathed8 ,paul had a mania for the unique1 and one of ,juana's greatest attractions to him was that she was unlike all the rest of womankind2 of whom1 as he assured himself1 he was heartily weary1 but this sparkling1 piquant winning sprite--ah6 ,she was as far beyond and above all other women as wine was above water-- and that distance was immeasurable to ,paul's taste4 ,he enjoyed teaching ,juana to speak ,english4 ,her musical voice stammering out pretty broken words in his own language1 was a pleasant thing to hear4 ,she was not content with simply speaking it4 ,should she be the wife of an ,american and not be able to read his language8 ,so under his tuition1 she set about the study of it with much more industry than suited her husband's indolent temperament4 ,these were halcyon days2 seldom were a young couple more united4 ,their views of life and their aims were the same4 ,the world was a gay garden1 and they two were butterflies1 disporting themselves in the warm sunshine and draining every drop of sweetness from every flower in their path4 ,innocent enough flowers they were at first2 the delight in each other's society in rambling1 riding1 boating1 and resting under the shadows of broad spreading trees1 or1 from a lofty balcony enjoying the panorama the summer evening spread before them2 the fair city at their feet1 its spires and minarets gleaming in the moonlight1 and distant mountains piled in soft masses against the crystal sky4 ,when ,juana added to the witchery of the scene by singing sweet ,spanish airs to the music of the guitar1 the young husband half believed he had attained heaven and the society of the angels4 ,when these simple delights ceased to charm1 there was the outside world which they had come near to forgetting while in this ecstatic trance4 ,so they plunged into every amusement the gay wicked city offered1 and gave their hearts to folly4 ,they lived in a whirl of pleasure1 and ,juana felt that now there was nothing more to ask for in life4 ,to be the chosen bride of such a man1 and to take her fill of amusement1 to dress and dance and sing the days and nights away--was ever cup of happiness so strangely full as hers8 ,if some stray breeze had whispered in her ear that she had tied her happiness to a slender thread1 that the day would come when all these things would be to her as chaff1 and that if her husband should weary of her1 he would fling her aside as he did the rose he plucked in the morning1 after breathing its sweetness a moment--then ,juana would never have believed such a false whisperer4 ,paul ,everett tired of everything sooner or later4 ,his restless1 fickle nature demanded constant change and new sensations4 ,so1 after the first novelty of his new mode of life had worn off1 he began to return to his old habits of roving1 making only short absences at first1 but gradually to extend them till weeks grew into months4 ,juana though grieved at his long delays1 had opportunity for rest from the whirl of gayeties1 and for the first time in her life thought and conscience seemed to be awakening4 ,young as she was1 she could enter somewhat into the experience of another one who laid hold on folly1 and found it vanity and vexation of spirit4 ,of late an unaccountable feeling of depression and self-condemnation would sometimes steal over her4 ,a voice seemed often to ask her1 ,if this was all of life1 to frolic away a few brief days and die1 and then--what8 ,could it be that death was the end8 ,one evening during her husband's absence1 she walked in the grounds with her maid1 and paused by the old stone gateway to watch a little group of ,protestants on their way to a prayer meeting in the small chapel just beyond4 ,she felt sad and lonely1 and wished that some of those peaceful-faced women could speak to her1 so that she might find out what it was that made them seem so different from all others4 ,those people are happy1 ,ria1 she said to the maid2 they look as if they had found something that rests them4 ,i wish ,i knew what it was4 ,and ,ria1 casting a puzzled glance at her young mistress1 wondered what she had to weary her4 ,juana dismissed her maid after a little and betook herself to an upper veranda1 where the music of sweet hymns from the little chapel stole softly up on the evening breeze4 ,the tender airs melted her to tears1 and an unutterable yearning for something better and higher than she had ever known filled her heart4 ,it was the first dawning cry of an immortal soul1 unsatisfied with earthly good1 seeking for its ,god4 ,these feelings did not pass away with the next morning's sunlight4 ,she felt wretched and dissatisfied1 and gloom settled down upon her4 ,this could not be accounted for by the long absence of her husband2 for when he returned for a brief stay the solemn thoughts still oppressed her1 though she tried to shake them off and appear as usual4 ,genuine affection would have detected and searched out with tender sympathy the trouble that just hinted itself in the sobered look of the dark eyes4 ,but ,paul liked sunshine and laughter2 and1 true to his selfish nature1 was only annoyed that his wife seemed to be taking on something of the dignity of womanhood1 and was less like a butterfly or a frisky kitten4 ,there was a fascination to ,juana in watching the small company of worshipers go to and from the chapel4 ,one evening1 as the melody of their hymns floated up to her1 she became possessed of a desire to come nearer to the heavenly sounds4 ,so1 enveloping her head and shoulders in a large veil1 she glided softly forth into the moonlight alone2 her husband was down in the city and would not return until late4 ,she was glad to go alone1 though for some reason that she did not herself understand4 ,she stole silently along1 and stood under the shadow of the trees where she could observe without being seen4 ,now their heads were bowed in prayer4 ,in the earnest petitions from one and another she often caught the name ,god4 ,she had never heard it in ,english4 ,if they had spoken the word in her own language1 though1 no distinct idea would have been conveyed to her2 only a dim1 shadowy something that she had heard of long ago4 ,soon they broke out into song again3 ,come1 happy souls1 approach your ,god ,with new melodious songs4 ,although ,juana could converse in simple broken words in ,english1 she could comprehend scarcely nothing of what she now heard2 and yet the music thrilled and animated her4 ,how joyful these faces and voices were1 and yet subdued and tender1 and they sang about ,god--that same name6 ,still she lingered as if fascinated until the closing hymn1 that lullaby for trusting souls in all ages3 ,glory to thee1 my ,god1 this night1 ,for all the blessings of the light3 ,keep me1 ,o keep me1 ,king of kings1 ,beneath thine own almighty wings4 ,and still they sang that same name--,god4 ,if only the poor heart standing there in the shadows could know about the ,almighty wings6 ,juana did not forget the sound of the new name she had heard--that ,being to whom those people prayed and sang praises1 and read about in their ,bible4 ,if she could but read ,english and have one of their ,bibles1 then she should know all about ,him6 ,oh6 ,if somebody would tell her about ,him4 ,if those ,english people know about ,god1 why should not ,paul8 she mused1 as they sat together one afternoon4 ,paul was reclining in a hammock1 the smoke of a cigar curling far above his head1 absorbed in a ,french novel4 ,when ,juana broke the silence by asking him if he owned a ,bible1 he answered with a frown1 ,of course not4 ,paul1 could you tell me about ,god8 ,juana ventured again4 ,very easily1 said ,paul1 puffing out a whiff of smoke4 ,there is no ,god4 ,so you see you needn't bother your pretty head any more about that question4 ,he did not see the startled1 disappointed look in ,juana's face as he settled himself again to his book with an air that said he was not to be further disturbed4 ,paul's word1 ordinarily1 was law to ,juana1 but in this case she was not satisfied4 ,she could not believe there was no ,god4 ,she knew there must be one1 and that not by reasoning it out4 ,a greater than human reason had taught her4 ,if now she could but find out about ,him6 ,she had not looked into a ,spanish ,bible since she was a very little child1 but she could not go to that for help4 ,she distrusted everything that the ,church of ,rome had to do with4 ,but if a ,spanish ,bible tells ,catholics about their religion1 why should not an ,english ,bible teach the ,protestant religion8 she reasoned4 ,she resolved to have one1 if possible1 and when ,juana resolved1 her strong will left no stone unturned toward accomplishment4 ,a day or two after1 as her husband was making preparations for another journey1 ,juana preferred her request3 ,there is one thing ,i do much want4 ,will you not please get it for me1 dear ,paul1 before you go8 ,i do so want it6 ,and that is an ,english ,bible4 ,pray1 what in the world would you do with that8 ,paul asked1 in much astonishment4 ,you cannot read ,english4 ,ah6 ,shall ,i not read it soon if ,i study much8 ,i can try to read the stories in it1 and it will help make the time to fly1 so you will soon come back to me1 she added coaxingly4 ,paul was willing enough that other people should have what they wanted if it did not interfere with his pleasure4 ,so as he went about attending to various purchases for himself1 he remembered ,juana's request1 and was at not a little pains to obtain for her a copy of the ,bible4 ,every one to his taste1 he remarked to himself as he looked it over4 ,i think ,i could find fables that would prove more entertaining to me than this one4 ,during her husband's stay at home ,juana had much of the time been carrying on an inward struggle4 ,she had endeavored to quiet her unrest by plunging into reckless dissipation1 but the still small voice followed her even to the midnight revel4 ,and often1 when she had filled all her waking hours with busy trifles--purposely to crowd out these intrusive thoughts--she would wake as by a flash1 her spirit filled with a strange dread1 and then1 in the still solemn hour the eternal would speak to the mortal1 who1 shrinking away in conscious guilt1 felt that there were just two things in the universe2 herself1 and an awful presence who searched her through4 ,when left again to her lonely life1 ,juana gave herself with unceasing application to the study of ,english1 so that she might read her new ,bible4 ,she could already spell out texts made up of simple words1 and form a tolerably clear conception of their meaning4 ,if she was going to read a book1 she must of course begin at the beginning and read it through2 so she plunged boldly into the great volume4 ,as well might one essay to cross the ocean in a tiny sail-boat1 as for this dark-minded girl to get any available knowledge from such a deep2 the unbeliever would say1 and truly1 the undertaking would have been hopeless had it not been a wonderful ,book1 with a wonderful ,teacher4 ,she labored through the first chapter of ,genesis with that great name in almost every verse4 ,never was tale more fascinating than this one4 ,it was read in a poor blundering way2 but the truth had been gleaned that ,god made the world and all it contains4 ,no doubt as to the truth of it entered her mind for a moment4 ,day after day she spelled her way through succeeding chapters4 ,it was all new and wonderful1 but disappointing4 ,it was not what she craved3 something that would remove the strange heaviness that weighed upon her4 ,on the contrary she gathered that all the world had gone astray from ,god and were under his wrath and curse1 and that agreed with what she had conceived4 ,god to be2 a stern1 awful being1 holding a sword over the heads of his creatures4 ,the more she read the greater grew the mystery4 ,i cannot make it out1 she said1 almost despairingly1 it is all confusion2 then1 with the superstition of her race1 resolved1 ,i will put the book of ,god under my pillow2 ,i will see if some good may not come to me from it while ,i sleep4 ,perchance there might be sweeter sleep if the book of ,god oftener pillowed troubled heads4 ,finally she abandoned the project of reading the ,bible through1 and puzzled out bits here and there1 hoping to chance upon something that she could understand4 ,all have sinned and come short of the glory of ,god1 she read1 then sadly murmured1 ,yes1 ,i know that2 the very first of the book tells it1 and that is what ,i am1 a sinner4 ,i have a bad heart1 oh6 so bad4 ,but how shall ,i make it good ,i know not4 ,and just here ,juana discovered the old remedy that many burdened souls resort to4 ,she would propitiate ,heaven with good works4 ,so she gave money freely and liberally whenever a hand was stretched out1 and tried to be amiable and lovely1 and made a solemn vow to perfectly keep all the commandments4 ,the result was the usual one that comes to a sinner trying to justify himself by the law4 ,every dormant evil in the poor girl's heart awoke and clamored4 ,satan worried and buffeted at every turn1 and1 growing irritable and impatient she declared1 ,what should ,i want of a book that makes me so unhappy8 ,it must be bad1 for since ,i know it ,i am not so good as once ,i was4 ,after that the book was not opened for days1 but rested in the bottom of ,juana's trunk1 under much clothes1 so that ,i could not see it1 she said1 and she herself wandered up and down like a lost spirit1 out of heart with everything within and about her4 ,then1 to fill up the wretched1 lonely days with something1 she again brought out her ,bible and plunged into the laborious task more earnestly than before4 ,gracious and kind as ,he ever is1 the ,lord was teaching this one poor little scholar as if she were the only soul in the universe4 ,after ,juana had thoroughly learned that she was a sinner1 this blessed truth flashed up at her one day as she was toiling through a verse3 ,christ ,jesus came into the world to save sinners4 ,she went through it again1 eagerly1 with dilating eyes and suspended breath4 ,ah6 ,what is this6 she exclaimed4 ,this is news indeed6 ,christ ,jesus3 ,who can he be8 ,he saves sinners6 ,and that is me4 ,at last she found the key4 ,and now how intently she searched out that name1 drinking in the truth1 as one dying of thirst would seize a cup of cold water4 ,little by little she got it all--the old1 old story2 the birth in ,bethlehem1 the lowly1 lovely life in ,nazareth1 the cross1 the death1 the tomb1 the resurrection1 the ascension1 and1 at last1 the gracious invitation-- ,come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and ,i will give you rest4 ,oh6 ,i want rest1 she cried2 and falling upon her knees breathed her first prayer1 ,i come1 ,i come4 ,o1 save me1 ,christ ,jesus6 ,without even realizing that this was prayer1 she poured out all her heart before ,him4 ,i know not how long ,i did talk to ,him1 she told some one afterward2 a long time it was1 but ,i had so much to tell ,him ,i could not stop4 ,and when ,i get up from my knees1 my trouble be all gone6 ,i feel so light it seems to me ,i could fly4 ,when ,i look out the window ,i say1 ',o1 what a world6 ,so beautiful6 ,the sky so blue1 the trees so grand and the flowers so bright6 ,i wonder ,i never see the glory before4' ,then something say1 ',it is wrong for you to be so happy ,when you are such a sinner1' so ,i try to get back the big heavy load1 but ,i cannot2 ,i can only sing for joy4 ,secure in her newly found peace1 ,juana watched unceasingly for her husband's return1 eager to tell him the good news4 ,paul is very wise1 she told herself1 he will not have so hard a time to understand as ,i4 ,he will soon see when he comes to read the dear book that ,god lives2 then he will love him1 and he will get rest to his soul and stay much at home1 and then so happy will we be4 ,in a few days ,paul came1 bringing as he always did loving greeting4 ,he was not insensible to the fact that it was a pleasant thing to have such comfortable headquarters1 and a pretty creature ready to minister to him1 glad to obey his slightest nod1 for ,juana1 spirited maiden though she was1 had found in ,paul her master1 bending her head meekly to the reins that were not always silken1 or guided by a gentle hand2 consequently her married life had flowed on without a ripple of discord1 and thus far conscience had put in no parleying voice4 ,why would she not gladly please and obey him8 ,was not her ,paul the embodiment of manly beauty1 grace and goodness8 ,my love doth so approve him1 that even his stubbornness1 his checks and frowns have grace and favor in them1 was the honest feeling of this deluded soul4 ,it was pitiful to see her childlike trust thrown back upon itself when she first told ,paul the glad secret that she had been keeping for him1 pouring out with sweet enthusiasm the story of her struggles and triumphs4 ,paul sat like a stone giving no word or sign of sympathy1 but as she went on pledging undying faith and love to her new master1 he grew darkly angry1 and then1 when eager to justify herself and convince him1 she placed in his hands her ,bible1 saying1 ,do1 dear ,paul1 read about the wonderful ,christ ,jesus for yourself2 you will see it is all true1 he dashed the book from him and strode out of the room4 ,juana picked it up with a low cry of pain and a tender clasping of it to her heart1 as if it had been human and was hurt1 too4 ,the young husband would have been jealous indeed1 could he have seen her hasten to her chamber1 and tell all her sorrows in another ear than his own4 ,he waited sullenly for ,juana to come to him with penitential tears1 and promises that she would certainly abjure any faith that did not meet his perfect approval4 ,he waited in vain1 though1 and was not a little puzzled by the gentle sad dignity of her manner4 ,he finally resolved to treat the whole affair as a bit of childish nonsense1 and little by little in the gayeties that should surround her1 she would forget her new whims4 ,to please her husband ,juana accompanied him once to the theatre1 and spent one night whirling in the dance4 ,then this pagan girl's conscience asserted itself clearly and unmistakably4 ,she was not thrown into a bewildering state of perplexity such as troubles young converts in our ,christian land4 ,she needed not to consult the authorities of any church1 or inquire of wise theologians what she must give up if she became a disciple4 ,her heart in absolute self-abandon had turned to ,christ1 as naturally and gladly as the flower to the sun1 and the way was not clearer for the dews and life-giving rays to reach the tiny blossom1 than for his slightest wish or suggestion to reach and control his child4 ,she knew1 without settling it by a process of argument1 that ,christ and worldly pleasures are antagonistic1 and that whoever merges heart and soul in the one must give up the other4 ,to her surprise and delight she found1 too1 that the keen relish for scenes of revelry had left her4 ,how could it be otherwise8 ,christ had come into her heart4 ,by a law of natural philosophy1 two bodies cannot occupy the same space at the same time2 so1 by a law of divine philosophy1 ,christ and the world cannot occupy a soul at the same time2 and every spiritually-minded ,christian is acquainted with that law1 either by sad or sweet experience4 ,paul ,everett loved his young wife as well as he was capable of loving anything besides himself4 ,like many weak1 tyrannical natures1 he rejoiced in a sense of ownership concerning her1 and in the hitherto complete submission of her will to his4 ,what1 then1 was his astonishment and anger when she told him1 as gently as she could1 that her conscience would not allow her any more to attend balls and theaters1 or engage in several other forms of amusement which used to delight her8 ,what wonderful transformation was this8 ,a wild1 frolicsome girl1 a doll1 a plaything1 suddenly discovering that she had a conscience1 and asserting her right to rule her own soul1 even daring to have a thought contrary from his6 ,what do you mean by such foolishness1 ,juana8 he demanded4 ,what a heart of stone he had that it did not melt when the dark eyes1 filled with tears1 turned pleadingly up to his1 and the stammering tongue in pretty1 crooked words1 said3 ,the ,lord1 ,christ ,jesus1 he is my ,master1 and ,juana's tongue lingered lovingly over the word--she had lately learned it in ,english1 and it meant so much to her--,i fear1 oh6 very much1 to not please ,him2 ,i must follow what ,he says to me here1 and both small hands clasped themselves over her heart4 ,paul's answer was a torrent of invectives and reproaches1 ending with--,i am your master6 ,you are to obey me and none other4 ,and then he stooped lower1 close to her ear1 and whispered words that he knew would be terrible to her3 ,if you do not1 ,i will cast you off6 ,it was not will-power1 nor strength of purpose--inherited from any ancestor1 either ,spanish or ,mexican--but grace divine1 that enabled ,juana to maintain outward calmness1 though her cheek blanched1 and lift her soul to her ,lord1 breathing a solemn vow to be faithful to ,him1 come what would4 ,when ,paul was angry1 he came nearer to being in earnest than at any other time4 ,he hated religionists1 and was determined not to have the wings of the pretty bird he had caught clipped by such fanaticism4 ,moreover1 he wished to be the ,god himself to whom she bowed down4 ,he would brook no rival4 ,so he ordered her to give up her ,bible reading and her praying1 and cast her faith to the winds1 expecting to be meekly obeyed2 but ,juana1 although nearly heart-broken at his displeasure1 remained firm1 and when he saw that neither commands1 threats1 nor persuasions availed with her1 he was furious1 and resolved to leave her to herself1 hoping that by an unusually protracted absence1 loneliness would bring her to terms4 ,i shall soon return if you write me that you will be perfectly obedient1 ,paul had said1 as he rode away1 and now ,juana1 in the glory and beauty of the summer afternoon1 sat on that upper balcony watching him disappear through the great gateway--gone and she alone in her sorrow4 ,what if he never came up that flower 'broidered path again8 ,her ,paul was firm1 he would not relent4 7,the poor1 blind child did not know that ,paul was stubborn instead of firm47 ,martyrs of all ages have cheerfully given up their lives1 but who shall say which is most heroic--to be torn limb from limb1 or to tear the heart from its clay idol8 ,to give the body to be burned1 or through the slow-going years yield the heart to the crucible for ,his sake8 ,weary days1 and weeks1 and months passed1 and still ,paul remained away1 but the heart of the young disciple1 though it often fainted1 did not fail4 ,her ,bible was her constant occupation1 and the blessed ,saviour her friend and guest1 for he did abide at her house and in her heart2 so that the loneliness was not so great as ,paul imagined4 ,he received many letters from her1 but with no word of retraction4 ,she plead for his return1 begging him not to cast her off4 ,she would do anything for him but deny or displease the dear ,christ ,jesus4 ,he do make me happy even in my sorrow1 she wrote4 ,this was more than the vain man could bear2 as if ,juana should be made happy by anything when he was absent6 ,paul's next letter brought news that made the blood stand still in the heart of the young wife4 ,he was to leave that part of the country for years1 perhaps forever4 ,whether they ever met again depended on herself4 ,when she was ready to give up her religion she might write to him to a certain address and it would be forwarded1 otherwise he wanted to hear nothing from her4 ,she need not try to seek him out1 neither should she have any word from him4 ,it may have been that ,paul came to this cruel decision more easily from just having received news that ,juana's old aunt had died1 and had willed the bulk of the estate to the church1 leaving her niece but a small sum on account of her apostasy from the faith4 ,it was all this elegant young man could do to maintain himself1 with his refined and luxurious tastes4 ,how1 then1 could he be burdened with a portionless wife8 ,he had not planned in that way4 ,for weeks after this blow ,juana lingered between life and death4 ,as strength returned she prayed to die4 ,she said over and over in her anguish1 ,i can never1 never live without him4 ,she did not die4 ,the ,lord had a work for her4 ,when fully recovered1 a wild desire took possession of her to look again upon the face of her husband4 ,she must go to the ,united ,states1 his home4 ,she might find him1 he might forgive her1 or1 joyful possibility1 he might change4 ,she could not change1 but she must see him once more4 ,disposing of her small property1 she started on her unknown way1 and after a dreary journey arrived--a stranger in a strange land4 ,wearily she traversed the cities mid towns1 till courage and purse were well-nigh spent4 ,the search proved fruitless1 and her heart was sore and almost rebellious4 ,faint and ready to perish--did some one speak her name8 ,child1 come unto me1 ,i will give you rest4 ,and then ,juana's heart leaped1 and she answered quickly1 ,master4 ,then were her eyes opened1 and she knew that the ,lord was with her1 knew1 too1 that she had again been setting up in her heart a clay idol in his place4 ,when she sorrowfully sought forgiveness1 he showed the vividness of ,his mercy1 and gave her not only comfort1 but an overcoming faith which enabled her to lay herself and her husband at his feet with1 ,thy will be done4 ,in loving submission she asked now1 ,what wilt ,thou have me to do8 ,and for answer came the thought of her country in bonds of ,romanism and idol worship4 ,her heart yearned over its darkness and misery1 but what could she do for it now1 far away in a strange land1 with very little money left8 ,soon1 however1 the divine plan began to unfold itself6 ,as she walked the city street one day and passed a church1 the door stood invitingly open1 and the sound of singing reached her ear4 ,juana was always attracted by music4 ,as other ladies were passing in she followed and took a seat among them4 ,it proved to be a woman's missionary meeting4 ,after the hymn came reports and papers on different subjects4 ,some of these were very long and dull1 and read in such low tones that she understood scarcely nothing of what was said2 but then1 the faces of those good women rested her1 and she was sure it was a good place to be4 ,besides1 they sang often1 and that was sweet1 and then1 they prayed4 ,ah6 ,now she felt at home1 she could understand that4 ,after prayer1 a lady spoke in clear1 distinct tones a few words about ,mexico4 ,she did not read1 she talked4 ,her sentences were not long and fine1 her words were short and simple1 and ,juana comprehended them4 ,she listened as if spell-bound1 and then forgetting all else but her commission and her country1 stood up and with downcast eyes and timid tones1 said1 ,ladies1 ,mexico is my dear country4 ,let me say one little word for her8 ,it was only a few sentences1 in broken words1 but never was appeal more effective as she pleaded with them to send help now1 for they are dying every day1 and they know not ,christ ,jesus at all4 ,then1 half-frightened at what she had done1 she sank into her seat4 ,but the ladies begged her to go on1 to talk as long as she would1 persuading her to come up to the front4 ,at first the consciousness of so many eyes fastened upon her was confusion1 but presently1 forgetting everything else1 she told them the simple story of her conversion4 ,the eloquent face and vivid words1 with pretty foreign accent1 as she described her despair and her joy1 stirred the hearts of those women to their depths4 ,what a fair field for work was ,mexico if gems such as this young stranger were hidden away there4 ,the fire thus kindled rapidly spread4 ,juana went from church to church1 and the tide of enthusiasm rose high1 gifts flowed in1 and many hearts turned warmly to the land of the sun1 as this young wife1 a miracle of ,god's grace1 told the tale of his redeeming love1 and in broken1 eager words1 pleaded with tears for my dear ,mexico4 ,gladly would these ,christians have sent her through the land that by this means the hearts of many of her ,christian sisters might be reached and moved to lay upon the altar themselves or their treasures4 ,the ,master1 though1 had other work for ,juana4 ,he had her return to her native country1 and in her own tongue tell her own people the good news1 and she obeyed1 glad that ,he counted her worthy to do this work for ,him4 ,she came out poor and friendless4 ,she went back laden with treasures2 means to carry on the work1 and followed by the prayers and loving farewells of hosts of ,god's people4 ,to-day in her musical mother tongue1 ,juana in her own fair city1 tells the glad story1 and hungry souls are hanging on her words4 ,while she works her prayer goes up that ,paul may become a new creature in ,christ ,jesus1 and that the glad day will dawn when he shall come and work by her side4 ,let us have faith to plead it with her1 believing that the ,divine ,alchemist can transmute even such worthless material into a saint4 ,patiently1 trustingly1 ,juana is waiting4 ,through all her sorrows she has come to the valley of blessing1 to rest and peace1 and the song she loves best to sing1 is-- ,emptied1 that ,he might fill me1 ,as forth to ,his labor ,i go1 ,broken1 that so unhindered ,his life through me might flow4 ,,ten ,,bushels4 ------ ,,mrs4 ,,lyman was in the kitchen superintending dinner4 ,she was but a young housekeeper1 so there was a certain amount of anxiety connected with making even a kettle of soup4 ,she stirred and tasted and put in another shake of pepper and another pinch of salt1 and said to her maid of all work1 who stood by watching the process3 ,i do wish ,i had an onion to put in it2 soup is not very good without an onion flavor4 ,the remark was made more to herself than to ,barbara1 whose knowledge of ,english was somewhat limited4 ,if it had not been1 and if she had known the way and it had not been too late1 she might have gone down town and bought some onions4 ,as those obstacles were all in the way1 the soup must needs go without4 ,when the six o'clock dinner was spread in the very prettiest dining room that can be imagined1 the table glittering in its new silver1 and the soup smoking in the tureen1 the master of the house--a young man who had only enjoyed the privilege of sitting at the head of his own table for a couple of months--took it all in1 as his own tastes were capable of doing4 ,the savory odors1 the cheery room1 the careful attention to every detail of comfort and beauty1 and then the slight figure opposite him1 an embodiment of dignity and grace--he found nothing lacking in it all4 ,this soup is not quite perfect1 the young wife said1 as she began to serve it1 ,i had no onions to put in it4 ,i wish you would order some when you go down town to-morrow1 ,philip2 they are nice just now for boiling1 too4 ,this young couple had compared views on ,browning and ,ruskin1 but not on onions4 ,they had long ago discussed poetry1 philosophies1 and art1 as well as architecture and house furnishings1 and they had found hitherto that their tastes were in most delightful accord4 ,mrs4 ,lyman was not prepared1 therefore1 for the frown that contracted her husband's handsome brows as he ejaculated3 ,onions6 ,don't mention them4 ,excuse me from that purchase1 please4 ,they are abominable2 not fit for human beings to eat4 ,they ought to be banished from every respectable table4 ,i beg your pardon1 ,mrs4 ,lyman answered1 with rising color1 but all do not agree in such a sweeping denunciation4 ,many of the best physicians consider them most nutritious and healthful4 ,well1 at all events1 ,i shall not have my house polluted with the vile things4 ,if there is anything that reminds one of a third-rate boarding-house1 it is to get a whiff of onions the moment you enter the front door4 ,it is vulgar and low4 ,i can't see how any one of refined tastes can touch them4 ,i hope you are not an onion eater1 ,nettie1 because if you are1 ,i fear you will have to abstain2 ,i cannot abide them4 ,now ,mrs4 ,annette ,heyward ,lyman was exceedingly fond of onions4 ,she was not of the sort to declare that she was passionately fond of them1 but she did think a nice dish of boiled onions1 pretty white ones1 swimming in hot milk and butter1 was just the thing to go with--stewed chicken1 say4 ,then1 she enjoyed thin slices of raw onions cut into vinegar2 and crisp1 green-topped young ones1 dipped in salt and eaten with bread and butter1 were just delicious4 ,and yet1 if ,philip had mildly hinted that he had a special aversion for that vegetable1 she would have declared1 ,i will eat no onions while the world standeth4 ,but to attack them in this sharp way1 to declare them vulgar1 and1 above all1 to dictate to her what she should or should not eat1 as if he were her master1 and to say my house6 it was too much1 and she answered in an icy tone that she must beg leave to differ2 to her mind the onion was a most delicious vegetable1 and she must reserve for herself the right of choice in this and in other matters4 ,their first quarrel6 ,and all about an onion6 ,what cares ,satan whether it be an apple or an onion1 so that he spoil the ,edens8 ,there were many more words quite as pungent as onions1 and then there fell a silence between them that was not broken after ,barbara had lighted the gas in the parlor1 and drawn the table under the drop-light1 and they were seated with books and newspapers4 ,there was no reading done1 but much ugly thinking4 ,one line of it ran after this fashion3 ,strange that so delicate1 refined a nature should have a taste for that vile1 flagrant1 odious onion6 ,a wretched discovery1 that his wife should be fond of that for which he had always felt disgust6 ,and evidently she did not mean to give them up1 not even for his sake4 ,was she selfish and proud and obstinate and--and high-tempered8 ,had he been mistaken in her character and her regard for him8 ,the wife meantime was recalling an opinion long ago expressed by a friend1 who said that ,philip ,lyman possessed a domineering spirit and was bound to rule all connected with him4 ,she1 herself1 had never believed it1 but this looked like it--wishing her to give up whatever he did not fancy1 and hinting that she would be obliged to4 ,indeed6 ,he would find that she did not drive well2 no1 indeed4 ,if her husband had observed the glowing cheeks and flashing eyes just then he would have been justified in concluding that she was high-tempered4 ,and now came a break in this uncomfortable state of things in the shape of ,mr4 ,john ,lyman1 on a business trip2 could only spend the night with his brother4 ,he was sorry to spoil their evening together4 ,he would have been sorrier had he known they had not spoken for just two hours4 ,annette soon retired1 leaving the brothers to talk over home affairs while she went to her room to indulge in the luxury of grief4 ,how dark it all looked4 ,philip was changing4 ,perhaps he was sorry they were married4 ,he had the same as said she was vulgar and coarse4 ,he was fastidious2 she could never please him2 they would have dreadful quarrels1 for she could not submit to be ordered4 ,and now the tears that had been stored up all these bright years fell in most surprising showers1 until sleep had got the better of them4 ,the morning was a hurrying time2 the brother must get down town for the early train4 ,a hasty good-by with averted eyes1 and ,philip was gone4 ,as he lunched near his office1 two miles away1 he would not be at home again until night4 ,a long1 unhappy day before ,annette6 ,she felt ten years older than yesterday morning1 when ,philip had come all the way back from the gate to put a rose in her hair4 ,she wished she could see her mother2 she wished she could go off where ,philip wouldn't find her in years2 that is1 she thought she did4 ,oh6 ,what a wretched world it was4 ,poor foolish child6 ,but she had only lived twenty little years4 ,mr4 ,philip ,lyman alone in his office1 tried to settle himself to his usual duties1 but he felt ill at ease and uninterested4 ,finally he threw down his pen1 tipped back in his chair1 and locked his fingers together at the back of his head1 a favorite thinking attitude4 ,his eyes wandered out the window1 resting on white clouds sailing through the sky4 ,perhaps the deep blue reminded him of ,nettie's eyes1 or the wrapper she had worn that morning4 ,however it was1 he soon fell to confessing to those soft clouds4 ,what a consummate idiot6 ,she thinks me a tyrant1 and rude and selfish4 ,she ought to be vexed at me4 ,as if ,i should make over her tastes1 and try to control her4 ,i was rude and hateful and unkind4 ,contemptible6 ,and with that he seized his hat and dashed down-stairs into the street4 ,he went straight to a market1 bought a peck of onions and ordered them sent home4 ,an unpoetical peace offering1 he reflected1 but the most appropriate for him under the circumstances4 ,but stop1 those were red onions4 ,this fact was brought to his consciousness by observing on the sidewalk a basket of unusually fine white ones2 and she had especially wished white onions4 ,immediately he stepped in and bought a peck of those4 ,as he walked along1 filled with the peaceful consciousness of having made some atonement1 he spied a wagon filled to the top with clean shiny-skinned1 white onions4 ,they really look attractive1 he said to himself4 ,then there darted into his mind a new idea4 ,what if he should prove to ,annette what a magnanimous1 self-denying being he really was1 and take to eating the obnoxious things himself just to please her2 be a philosopher1 a stoic1 and will to like what he detested8 ,there must be no half-way work about this act of self-abnegation2 he would provide a generous supply4 ,now that he thought of it1 autumn was just the time to lay in a supply of vegetables4 ,what had he been thinking of1 buying only a peck8 ,nov1 how many was a good quantity--enough to last all winter8 ,that was a conundrum4 ,he had dim memories of ten bushels of this and that stored in his father's cellar4 ,true his father had a large family4 ,but then1 they should have a great many visitors4 ,the proprietor of the wagon stared when he heard the order1 but his business was to sell onions4 ,if ,philip ,lyman was complacent before1 he was jubilant now in contemplation of his virtues4 ,he bounded up the stairs1 resolving to go home at noon1 surprise ,nettie1 and make up4 ,he was a monster to have left her in such a cold way4 ,he was obliged to abandon that plan1 though1 having already lost so much time4 ,annette meantime had been aroused from her despondent mood by the first installment of onions4 ,onions have healing properties1 everybody knows4 ,they began to prove efficacious in this case4 ,philip wanted to show her that he was sorry1 she reasoned1 and had taken this way to do it4 ,it was just as delicate and kind as if the onions had been flowers1--she ignored the fact that they were red4 ,while her spirits were being thus soothed and comforted1 the second peck of onions arrived4 ,this was perplexing4 ,why had he done that8 ,ah6 ,these were white1 and he had recollected that she liked white ones4 ,how thoughtful and good6 ,how unselfish and candid and noble to own himself wrong1 and she--had been foolish and wicked to get angry at nothing4 ,she was just beginning to feel that life was worth living1 when another man presented himself announcing that he had brought some onions4 ,annette assured him there was some mistake1 as they had sufficient for a long time4 ,but he affirmed most strenuously this was the spot1 producing the directions in her husband's handwriting4 ,then ,annette told him that she must countermand the order2 that she positively wished for no more onions4 ,but ye see ,i got my pay for 'em1 he answered1 with a horrible grin1 whereupon the discomfited young woman retired into the house and the triumphant onions went into the cellar4 ,tramp1 tramp1 and roll1 roll4 ,would he never have done8 ,he seemed like an arch fiend1 sent to torment her4 ,if she could but have known the soliloquy he of the onions carried on as he went back and forth1 and that he took a malicious delight in getting the better of her1 it might have turned the tide of her rising wrath into a laugh4 ,when a laugh comes in1 wrath goes out4 ,that's jest the way with wimmin folks--headstrong6 ,they think they know a leetle the most about everything4 ,the young feller likes onions1 ,i s'pose1 and she don't1 and she's 'tarmined he sha'n't have 'em4 ,i'm glad she's got a boss4 ,she needs it4 ,by the time the tenth bushel was deposited all ,annette's late estimates and decisions had been reversed4 ,of all despicable acts this was the climax--to send a whole load of those horrible things1 as if to say1 ,grovelling creature1 can't live without onions6 ,take them6 ,it was just a simple exhibition of spite and sarcasm4 ,she would never have believed he could do so cruel a thing4 ,since she was a child she had not been so angry4 ,it was a lofty1 scornful anger that did not vent itself in tears4 ,besides1 the tears were all used up4 ,snatching her hat and mantle1 she went out into the air to try to calm herself4 ,on and on she went out into the country1 dreading to return4 ,finding herself within half a mile of her cousin's house1 she decided to call in order to get away from her thoughts4 ,it proved the right place for that purpose4 ,little ,harry had become suddenly ill1 and the distracted mother welcomed her gladly4 ,the two worked over him all the afternoon4 ,as night came on ,annette felt that it would be cruel to leave until there was some ray of hope4 ,so she wrote a note to her husband1 briefly and coldly explaining her absence4 ,a passing boy agreed to deliver it1 but it never got beyond his own pocket4 ,toward evening ,barbara began to wonder what kept her mistress1 and decided to take matters into her own hands and get up a dinner4 ,seeing the large bin of onions in the cellar1 she said within herself1 ,this is what she all time want2 ,i will cook some6 ,during the process of cooking she made many trips to the front door to watch for her lost mistress4 ,each time she left all the doors open behind her1 and so thoroughly perfumed the whole house with the odor of the dinner4 ,in the city ,paul had picked up an old college friend and persuaded him to stay over a train and dine with him4 ,as he ushered his friend into the pretty house1 with a pardonable pride1 it was somewhat taken down by the unmistakable odor that greeted him4 ,onions6 ,as ,i live1 he said to himself1 and ,merwin is such a fastidious fellow6 ,however1 wait till he sees ,annette4 ,so he went in haste to bring her4 ,upstairs and down and in the garden he searched4 ,she was not to be found4 ,this was a new departure--to be away on his return4 ,he told his friend she had probably been detained--would be in presently4 ,chagrined and mortified almost beyond his power to conceal1 after waiting an hour1 he was obliged to invite his friend to a table without a hostess4 ,the first cover he removed disclosed a dozen huge specimens of that obnoxious1 ill-odored vegetable that had caused their unhappiness4 ,he forgot his heroic resolve and shut it with emphasis--not to-night would he eat onions4 ,it was unlike the delicate tact of his wife to have ordered them cooked that night1 while she was still ignorant of what had passed in his mind4 ,barbara was not yet perfect4 ,the dinner both in cooking and serving missed the supervision of the mistress4 ,the host was ill at ease and absent1 and was not sorry that his guest soon bade him good-by4 ,and now ,philip grew positively uneasy1 and proved himself not a whit behind a woman in the power to conjure up dire probabilities4 ,perhaps she had slipped from that high bank where they sometimes walked along the river6 ,and he rushed out through the garden and over the fields till he stood on the bank amidst the gathering shadows and peered remorsefully into the dark waters4 ,what if somebody had abducted her2 had brought word that he was ill and had carried her off6 ,that thought was maddening4 ,then he remembered her one relative in that vicinity--her cousin4 ,no public conveyance went that way1 and in hot haste1 he started on foot4 ,his speed astonished himself4 ,breathless and panting1 he arrived and was about to ring1 when1 obeying an impulse1 he stepped to the side porch and looked through the vine-covered window4 ,yes2 surely1 there was ,annette6 ,a little group near the open fire2 she kneeling by a low chair1 her bright head bending over little ,harry1 who lay in his mother's lap4 ,the first feeling was of relief and gratitude4 ,she was safe4 ,and then1 it was his turn4 ,there came surging over him1 like a hot breath from a furnace1 a wave of anger1 and he strode away4 ,his hasty glance had not shown him the death-like pallor on the baby face1 nor the anxious expressions of the others4 ,his conclusion was that the baby was being made ready for bed1 and the two were admiring his pretty pink toes4 ,on he went in the darkness1 his resentment gathering force at every step4 ,here she had deliberately planned to put him to torture4 ,how little she must care for him when she would allow him to spend a whole night in anxiety4 ,he had supposed her nature to be gentle and forgiving1 and here she had treasured up a few hasty words and was intent on revenge4 ,he had made concessions1 and she had scorned them4 ,alas6 ,he had not the dimmest suspicion that those ten bushels of concessions were just what widened the breach4 ,he walked the floor for hours1 then flinging himself on a lounge1 toward morning chopped into a heavy sleep4 ,the result of the night's meditation was a decision that the next advance toward reconciliation must come from ,annette herself4 ,just as he was about starting for the office in the morning1 ,annette was driven up to the door4 ,they looked at each other in silence4 ,he lingered a moment to see if she had any explanations to offer1 and she waited in the hall hoping that possibly he had repented of the odious conduct of yesterday and was willing to confess it4 ,silence is not always golden2 the proverb is misleading4 ,if he had but asked1 ,why did you go away8 ,or she had said some pleasant word6 ,but1 no2 they passed each other in grim silence4 ,another day of gloom and despair for both4 ,this unwonted strain1 added to the night's watching1 brought upon ,annette a nervous headache1 so that by the time of ,philip's return she could not raise her head4 ,it was fortunate4 ,but for this they might have gone on till happiness was wrecked4 ,annette1 with spirited little head erect1 sailing through the house1 was to be considered somewhat differently from this one1 her head on a pillow1 racked with pain4 ,no mother could have cared for her more tenderly and skillfully than ,philip4 ,throwing his resentment to the winds1 he administered to her for hours until she fell into a quiet sleep4 ,in the morning1 with the pain all gone1 explanations were in order4 ,it was hard to tell which was the more astonished as the misunderstandings of each began to come out4 ,and you did not go away to have revenge on me8 ,and you did not send home all those onions just to tease me8 were some of the questions asked4 ,then the ludicrous side began to appear1 and they laughed long and merrily4 ,whatever shall we do with all those onions8 queried ,annette when she found her breath4 ,we will make sweet fragrance to our names by means of them1 said ,philip4 ,we will send gifts to the poor--always of onions4 ,we will become famous as philanthropists1 and our eccentric charities will be the theme of succeeding generations4 ,but1 ,nettie1 ,i wish you would make a picture of some of those silvery-skinned onions4 ,we will hang it up in the dining room1 and it shall teach us wholesome lessons that nobody else can read but just us two4 ,shall teach me not to forget the 'small sweet courtesies of life4' ,and shall teach me1 said ,annette humbly1 'that anger dwells in the bosom of fools4' ,and that 'greater is he that ruleth his own spirit than he that taketh a city1' added ,philip4 ,my darling1 he said1 as their lips met in the kiss of reconciliation1 let us never again misinterpret1 misjudge1 or lose faith in each other1 whatever comes4 ,,miss ,,whittaker',s ,,blankets4 ------ ,,miss ,,rachel ,,whittaker1 as the years went by1 found herself sole occupant of the old family homestead4 ,father and mother had lived their long honored lives1 finished their work1 and entered into rest4 ,brothers and sisters had one after another made for themselves new homes and gone their different ways4 ,miss ,rachel had passed safely through the romances of youth and settled down to sober middle-aged life4 ,she had also resisted all persuasions of friends to sell the old place and make her home with some one of the various families4 ,because there is no man in the case1 said ,miss ,whittaker1 with a slightly contemptuous emphasis on the man1 is no reason why ,i should not have a home of my own4 ,so life went on in the old ,whittaker mansion with the same zest and order as if the household numbered a half-dozen1 instead of a single lone female and her servant4 ,there was the same punctilious regard to times and seasons4 ,the house-cleaning paroxysm invariably came on a certain day of the month1 the ,monday's wash flapped in the wind1 and the ,saturday's baking sent forth spicy odors as regularly as they had done for the last forty years4 ,the cellar continued to be stocked each autumn with ,mercers and ,pink-eyes1 with ,greenings and ,spitzenbergs1 with ,golden ,pippins and ,pound ,sweets4 ,the closet shelves contained their due amount of riches3 rows of jars and glasses1 filled with peaches1 pears1 quinces and jellies4 ,in short1 everything pertaining to good cheer was literally brimming over4 ,and ,miss ,rachel fed her chickens1 counted her eggs1 watered her plants and pattered upstairs and down1 or sat in her large1 sunny room and read her books and magazines1 or clicked her knitting needles to the ticking of the tall old clock4 ,or she gathered a few friends about her for a social tea drinking1 or1 flung wide the doors of the old house to a troop of nieces and nephews4 ,it was not alone that ,miss ,whittaker was fond of company1 but it was pleasant to keep up the old customs4 ,it was a pitiful attempt to bring back1 as far as possible1 the old times4 ,it was easier when gay chatter and merry prattle filled the rooms1 to see the white-haired father and mother as of old in their arm-chairs by the fireside4 ,the most prosaic have a vein of sentiment somewhere4 ,rachel ,whittaker's took this form2 she guarded with a reverence that amounted to idolatry every object and principle belonging to those two4 ,her father's old hat occupied the identical peg on which he himself hung it the last time he went out2 and mother's darning basket stood on the little stand1 with balls and thimble and glasses2 the needle stuck in the ball of blue yarn just where her own fingers placed it so long ago4 ,and so1 housekeeping was something more than ministering to her own wants or entertaining friends2 it was having things go on as they would like to see them go on4 ,this devoted daughter was careful1 as well1 to direct the family benevolences into the well-worn channels in which they were accustomed to run4 ,the church subscription and the contributions to home and foreign missions1 and the various ,boards1 were as faithfully attended to as if good ,squire ,whittaker still sat at the head of his pew4 ,she even loved and perpetuated her father's prejudices1 and was too apt1 like him1 to have more sympathy for the unfortunate in ,booroboolagha1 than for those at her own door4 ,she was prone to set all these down as drunken or shiftless4 ,however1 she had not much opportunity to cultivate the grace of charity in home work1 as nearly all the little community were well-to-do4 ,one of ,miss ,rachel's duties as a good housekeeper was to see that the large stock of bedding1 packed away in trunks and closets1 was aired at frequent intervals4 ,it was more than abundant for the needs of a large family--and the ,whittaker family was a large one when gathered in the old home at ,thanksgiving and the holidays4 ,one day in early winter--just the right sort of a day for airing bedclothes1 so warm and bright1 ,miss ,rachel declared--the lines in the yard were filled with blankets1 quilts1 comfortables1 etc41 and the piazza roofs were adorned with feather beds and pillows4 ,among the passers-by was ,mrs4 ,barnes4 ,she lived in the little gray1 weather-beaten house just under the hill4 ,she was neither shiftless nor drunken1 yet she was pitifully poor1 and was a widow as well1 with three little children4 ,she could dig1 though to beg she was ashamed1 and managed by hard work and much pinching and stinting to piece out a living4 ,what a tempting sight was this goodly array to the half-frozen woman6 ,nobody knew but herself how hard she had tried to get enough bedding together for the winter2 how she had saved every old scrap and pieced it up and eked out the cotton with newspapers that she had secured from ,miss ,rachel2 and yet1 with all that1 the old house was so open it was going to be hard work to keep warm in the long1 cold nights4 ,she stood and looked at those soft double blankets and thick comfortables1 and said to herself1 ,what a thing it must be1 eh1 to have such lots of bedclothes2 to pile on as many as you please and be warm as toast all night6 ,one1 two1 three1 four1 five1 six1 seven--,i don't know how many blankets1 double at that1 and ever and ever so many comfortables1 besides quilts and spreads4 ,and there she is with all them warm things and nobody to keep warm but herself1 and here ,i be1 with three little children and no warm things4 ,oh dear6 ,why couldn't the two 'a' gone together1 ,i should like to know4 ,then she brushed away a tear with the corner of her shawl and went on her way4 ,miss ,whittaker sat near the side window and noticed that the ,widow ,barnes stopped and looked over the fence4 ,somehow she didn't like to see her standing there1 her thin dress blowing in the wind1 her faded old shawl drawn close about her1 and with such anxious-looking eyes fixed on those blankets4 ,but now the obnoxious figure in the old shawl moved on1 and ,miss ,rachel could once more give her undivided attention to a very difficult piece of embroidery she was engaged in making for a fair4 ,that very night winter began in earnest4 ,the north wind and the frost went out hand in hand4 ,they built bridges over streams1 made rocky roads1 and crept in here and there1 unbidden and unwelcome4 ,they found their way to ,miss ,rachel's chamber1 but she got a victory over them by simply reaching out her hand and drawing over her self a soft comfortable4 ,the same unmerciful couple visited the poor as well as the rich2 they crept into the cracks and crannies of the ,widow ,barnes' little house4 ,she awoke with chills creeping over her1 and got up and hunted about in the dark for something more to put over the two little girls in the trundle-bed1 who had once or twice sleepily called out cold6 ,she tucked her shawl and their old sacks about them1 then snuggled little ,bessie close in her arms and wished for the day4 ,the frost and the wind had their own way all through the following day4 ,it was a gloomy prospect for the night to ,mrs4 ,barnes4 ,she had hoped before cold weather set in to manage in some way to get more bedclothes4 ,a fire all night was out of the question4 ,as a forlorn hope1 she put on her hood and shawl and went towards night1 up the hill to ,miss ,whittaker's4 ,why1 she scarcely knew4 ,there was the least glimmer of a prospect that she might get some plain sewing to do1 or1 ,who knows1 she told herself1 but that ,miss ,whittaker will say1 ',mis' ,barnes1 here is an old comfortable2 if you can make it useful1 you are welcome to it4' ,oh6 if she only would4 ,and while the poor woman struggled up the hill against the wind she was unconsciously concocting a suitable reply to such a gracious proposition4 ,miss ,rachel had an excellent habit of employing her odds and ends of time in reading4 ,by means of it she kept up familiar acquaintance with old authors4 ,to-night1 after the lamps were lighted--and there were yet a few minutes before tea--she took a dip into ,thomson's ,seasons4 ,she was just reading3 ,see1 winter comes to rule the invested year1 ,sullen and sad with all his rising train1 ,vapors and clouds and storms4 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 ',tis done6 dread winter spreads his latest glooms1 ,and reigns tremendous o'er the conquered year1-- when the kitchen door opened and ,mary admitted ,mrs4 ,barnes4 ,what a heavenly place that room1 with its warmth and brightness1 seemed to this other woman4 ,miss ,rachel laid aside her book and gave kindly attention to her poorer neighbor4 ,they talked about the weather1 how very early the cold had come on1 how sharp the wind had been all day1 and what an exceedingly cold night last night was4 ,i put everything ,i could lay my hands on over us1 and yet we shivered in our beds1 ,mrs4 ,barnes said4 ,then ,miss ,rachel suggested that the house was probably open1 and gave some valuable advice as to the best method of making doom and windows weather-proof4 ,stop up all the chinks1 and ,i think you will be more comfortable1 she said2 and then added that she was sorry she knew of no work for her4 ,it was very difficult to get anything to do in the winter time4 ,had she not better try to put out her children and go into some nice family herself8 ,it would be a great deal better all round4 ,mrs4 ,barnes got up hastily1 then1 and said she must go4 ,she wanted to say that if she could get work to do she could take care of her children without help from anybody1 but something choked her1 so that she could not speak4 ,this was the horrible thing that was always staring her in the face--to part with the children4 ,must she come to it1 just for want of a little help over this hard spot8 ,she pushed out into the cold and darkness1 and went on her way1 slowly and heavily4 ,i most hope she'll be cold herself some time1 just to see how it feels1 she murmured1 half aloud1 as she caught the last glimpse of ,miss ,rachael's light1 in the bend of the road4 ,why couldn't she let me have a couple of old comfortables and pay for it in work8 ,i don't want to beg1 goodness knows1 but ,i'll have to come to it1 for all ,i see4 ,miss ,whittaker was not so hard-hearted as she might seem4 ,all the time ,mrs4 ,barnes was talking1 she was engaged in consultation with herself as to whether there was anything in the way of bedclothes that she could possibly spare4 ,she did not wish to commit herself1 so she made no promises1 but she inwardly resolved that on the morrow she would take a look to that end4 ,accordingly1 the next morning found her with her head in chests and closets amid piles of blankets and the like4 ,it was astonishing how many beds one woman1 who lived all alone1 had to provide for4 ,that pile was for ,sister ,martha's bed1 that for ,elvira's1 that for ,brother ,ephraim's4 ,then1 suppose they should all come at once and bring a couple of children apiece2 they never had yet1 but then they might1 and if they did1 at least six beds would need to be made ready2 and if the weather should prove to be very cold at the time1 why1 it would take an enormous amount of covering1 and it was always best to be ready for emergencies4 ,then there were certain quilts that she would not part with under any consideration1 even though they were somewhat faded4 ,the album quilt contained precious association of all the ,whittaker family4 ,the wheel within a wheel mother pieced and quilted2 the birds in the air she pieced herself1 beginning at the early age of four4 ,as for common comfortables1 it was needful to have a good many to spread over feather beds and mattresses4 ,there6 ,it was done4 ,miss ,rachel had gone laboriously through them all1 and yet nothing had been found that was in any way suitable to bestow upon the ,widow ,barnes4 ,dinner time came now1 and she put them all away with--,i will see about it some other time4 ,ah1 how many good things ,satan hinders with that salve to the conscience--some other time6 ,after the cold came the snow1 pouring out from the sky one ceaseless1 silent stream for three days and nights4 ,it piled itself in huge drifts in roadways1 hid the fences1 and--most buried the little house in the hollow4 ,the widow occupied her time in shovelling snow before her doors and windows1 lest they should be buried entirely4 ,her thoughts1 meantime1 were gloomy and sad4 ,she knew about the ,god who hears the young ravens when they cry1 but she did not believe ,he would hear her1 and--like many more of his children--when trouble came1 stopped her ears to gracious promises and fell into sullen gloom4 ,miss ,whittaker was a prisoner1 too1 in her cheery rooms4 ,she was pleasantly employed1 though2 she knit bright socks for ,martha's baby boy1 made up a store of mince pies and fruit cake1 and read a new book called ,snow ,bound4 ,in short1 she was altogether comfortable and happy1 or would have been but for one thing4 ,and that thing was not snow2 she liked that4 ,what disturbed ,miss ,rachel's serenity during those few days1 was1 that she could not shake off a feeling of uneasiness with regard to the ,widow ,barnes4 ,her face1 pale and worn1 kept coming up before her1 and the words1 ,we shivered in our beds1 sounded in her ears4 ,then all the texts in the ,bible she had ever read about the poor kept coming and going through her brain4 ,she was a diligent reader1 and her memory was good4 ,when she would fain have entertained herself recalling the musical flow of-- ,full knee-deep lies the winter snow1 ,and the winter winds are wearily sighing1 she could think of nothing but-- ,blessed is he that considereth the poor1 the ,lord will deliver him in time of trouble4 ,or1-- ,if any of you see a brother have need1 and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him1 how dwelleth the love of ,god in him8 ,she was not unmindful of the poor2 she had helped ,mrs4 ,barnes in various little ways4 ,why must she feel so condemned8 she asked herself again and again4 ,with fair weather came the cold again2 came stealing down upon the sleeping world like a thief in the night4 ,miss ,rachel was unusually tired and slept very soundly1 so that she did not waken even when the fire on her hearth had died out1 and the cold become so intense in her room that the windows were frost covered1 and the breath of the sleeper went up in little clouds of smoke4 ,she stirred uneasily several times1 and was just awake enough to know that she was cold1 and not awake enough to bestir herself and get more covering4 ,for a few minutes she lay in that half-waking state1 thinking she ought1 and would1 and must rouse up and get more blankets4 ,finally1 she thought she had done so and slept on4 ,very soon after that she found herself far away from her own home1 trying to walk over a floor of solid ice4 ,she gazed about her in horror6 ,the place was a large1 deep pit1 lighted by a lurid glare4 ,whichever way she turned her eyes1 she saw nothing but ice1 icy floor and icy walls1 smooth and shining like glass4 ,she clutched at them to save her sliding steps1 but there was nothing to hold to2 her hands slipped and she fell in a heap on the floor4 ,she looked wildly above her for a way of escape4 ,at the top of the pit she saw pretty rooms1 with bright fires and happy-looking people sitting about sewing1 reading and chatting4 ,she shrieked for help1 but they only shook their heads and went smilingly on with their occupations4 ,on one side she saw the ,widow ,barnes and her children4 ,they sat amidst piles of blankets1 heaped all about them1 and they were soft and fleecy as her own had been4 ,oh6 ,if she had but one to keep out this deathly chill4 ,she screamed out again in an agony of torture1 begging that just one blanket might be thrown down to her4 ,but a mocking voice only came back to her1 and it said1 ,stop up the chinks1 and ,i think you'll be comfortable4 ,in shivering terror she awoke1 relieved beyond measure to find herself at home in her own bed1 and then there flashed over her mind the story of ,goody ,blake and ,harry ,gill4 ,had the ,widow ,barnes been praying that she might never be warm again8 ,and must she go through life with her teeth chattering as they were now8 ,mingling confusedly with the words of the old ballad1 ,chatter1 chatter1 chatter still1 came a rush of ,scripture texts1 vivid and startling as if a voice spoke them in her ears1 and they were all about the poor4 ,she was so thoroughly stiffened by cold and fear that she could scarcely rise and go to the closet for the needed covering which on this night she had forgotten to place by her bedside4 ,miss ,rachel had been accustomed to draw up and write out1 at the commencement of each year1 a series of severe resolutions2 the fact that she never kept one half of them not abating their rigor in the least4 ,but never in calmest moments1 with pen in hand and diary before her1 had any such earnest1 self-denying resolves been made as were now made by the woman who stood in night array in her closet1 holding a flickering lamp in one hand1 and with the other taking down blankets and comfortables and piling them on chairs4 ,that done1 she took a bountiful supply for herself and went back to bed4 ,her shivering soon ceased1 and for the remainder of the night she slept the sleep of the just4 ,as a matter of course1 when the daylight streamed into her room1 and the red sun sent a slanting bar across her bed1 ,satan told ,miss ,rachel that it was perfect foolishness to pay any attention to a dream1 and that it was simply improvident to go and give away that great pile of bedding she had laid out2 that a couple of old ragged quilts would answer every purpose4 ,he was obliged1 however1 to leave her in peace1 for when ,miss ,rachel shut her lips tight1 and said1 ,i shall do it1 in that decisive way of hers1 there was no need of further parley4 ,no sooner were the roads broken than she went in search of a man with a sleigh4 ,when all was ready1 it was a sight to behold--at least to the eyes of cold and hungry people4 ,in the very bottom was a quantity of dry wood1 then came a layer of meat1 potatoes1 apples1 flour4 ,and this was crowned by blankets and comfortables1 more than enough for two beds in the very coldest weather4 ,i'll see if ,i don't get the upper hand of this mean1 selfish spirit1 ,miss ,rachel had ejaculated1 as she stowed an extra blanket on the load at the last minute4 ,the ,widow ,barnes was bending over her smoky old stove1 trying to coax some green knots to ignite1 when the sleigh stopped in front of her house4 ,she had a dream1 too1 last night4 ,it was about ,heaven4 ,that happy place seemed to be filled with blankets and warm fires4 ,but here1 behold1 was ,heaven come down to her door6 ,she assured the man he had come to the wrong place1 but the note he handed her1 with money to buy a whole load of wood1 settled the matter4 ,from that time forth ,miss ,rachel took it upon her1 as a sacred trust1 to see to it that the ,widow ,barnes lacked for nothing4 ,and1 strange to relate1 her subscriptions to foreign missions1 home missions1 freedmen1 education1 etc41 have not been cut down a particle in consequence4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,doctor',s ,,story4 ,,the ,,doctor',s ,,story4 ------ ,i ,,want to tell you a story1 young man4 ,the speaker was the ,rev4 ,joseph ,mentor1 ,d4 ,d41 a gray-haired1 keen-eyed1 large-brained1 sweet-faced1 grand old ,christian4 ,he sat in his own parlor1 which was not a parlor1 after all1 but a sort of study2 lined with books on every hand1 almost crowded with easy chairs2 convenient little writing-tables occupying cosy corners1 with all the appurtenances thereto lavishly furnished1 coaxing the privileged guest to write his letters1 or arrange his neglected accounts1 or read items from the various journals of the day1 at his elbow1 as his taste might dictate4 ,the present occupants of the room were three2 the aforesaid ,doctor1 leaning back at rest in his favorite study chair--his life had been a long1 grand one1 and if ever disciple of the ,master could afford to rest on earth1 the ,rev4 ,joseph ,mentor might have claimed the privilege2 yet his very rest was active2 the ,doctor's son1 a young man of twenty-five or so1 now co-pastor1 who had excused himself to their guest1 in the manner that one may treat guests who are almost as much at home as they are themselves--on the plea that there were two important letters to answer for the evening mail--and then had turned to one of the writing-tables1 leaving his father to entertain the young man with a pale face and scholarly air1 who sat in a half-dejected attitude in the straight-backed1 old-fashioned chair near the ,doctor4 ,it was to him that the old gentleman had turned with the apparently abrupt statement1-- ,i want to tell you a story1 young man8 ,that the young man would be glad to hear any story that ,doctor ,mentor might choose to honor him with1 was evident from the flash of his eyes and the instant look of interest that overspread his face4 ,then the ,doctor began3 ,about a month ago ,i attended the funeral of a man in whom ,i have taken a deep interest all my life4 ,he was an old man1 and a plain man all his long life2 yet1 though ,i have attended a great many funerals in the last half-century1 ,i don't think ,i ever saw a greater uprising of the people to offer the last tribute of respect and affection to a plain man in their midst4 ,i want to tell you a little about that man4 ,miller1 his name was1 ,daniel ,miller2 he was older than ,i1 and in my young days ,i used to watch him from his pew in the church4 ,i liked his face1 even then1 before ,i knew him2 a grave1 half-sad face1 yet never gloomy--only a look of patient resignation to the inevitable4 ,a ,christian man he was1 one of the sterling sort4 ,talk with anybody in that town about him1 and they would pay almost instant tribute to his sterling worth1 and almost always close with1 ',what a pity that such a good man as he is should be so hard of hearing4' ,that was his trouble1 and a great trouble it was4 ,i suppose it was the means of breaking in pieces a number of plans of his youth4 ,well1 the thought was written all over his patient1 sad face3 ',i am hard of hearing and growing worse4 ,it destroys my usefulness1 it hinders my work in every direction1 it makes me appear unsocial and unsympathetic1 in short1 it is a burden hard to be borne4' ,as ,i watched him1 ,i could see that this feeling grew upon him2 grew with his infirmity1 and that progressed quite rapidly4 ,you have no idea1 ,i suppose1 what a drawback it was to him on all occasions4 ,it got so that he didn't dare to open his lips in the prayer meeting4 ,he would look all around him1 to see whether anybody was speaking1 but some of the members had a way of keeping their seats when they talked1 so he found that he couldn't tell by their position1 and once or twice he arose and began to pray when some one was talking2 he was a diffident man1 and it embarrassed him dreadfully4 ,then he used to say that he never knew whether what he had to offer was in a line with what had been said1 or was very wide of the mark2 and if the minister asked him to pray1 he had to shout out the request1 and sometimes poor ,mr4 ,miller couldn't hear it1 and his wife would have to give his elbow a nudge1 and lean over and whisper to him loud enough for all the house to hear1 ',he wants you to lead in prayer4' ,it was a real embarrassment all around4 ,people didn't wonder that he gradually grew into the feeling that he couldn't take part very often in religious meetings2 though ,i never thought that was right2 ,i always believed that his prayers would be in a line with what the ,lord wanted to have said1 and that he would be safe enough1 whether he followed the line of the others or not4 ,so it went on1 ,daniel ,miller growing deafer and deafer1 and the patient1 sad look on his face deepening1 and the feeling growing in his heart that he wasn't of any use to the ,church of ,christ that he loved with all his soul4 ,one day somebody in that church had an inspiration4 ',i tell you what it is1' one of the members said1 bringing down his doubled-up fist on the seat before him for emphasis1 ',i believe we ought to make ,daniel ,miller our treasurer4 ,that thing would suit him1 and he is just the man to do the work4' ',but ,daniel ,miller is so deaf1' objected one4 ',he grows worse and worse2 ,i notice that his wife always has to find the hymns for him1 and the place in the ,bible1 and point to the text4' ',what if he is deaf8' said his champion2 'a man doesn't have to hear in order to add money and keep accounts1 and make out bills and send them out1 and keep everything straight4 ,i believe it is work that he could do1 and ,i believe it would do him good2 make him feel that he can do something for the church1 and that we have confidence in him4 ,i tell you what it is1 brethren1 ,i'm going to propose his name at our next election4' ,well1 he was as good as his word1 and sure enough1 all the people said ',amen4' ,they did it with so much enthusiasm1 and with such a look on their faces that said1 ',what a splendid idea6 ,i wonder we never thought of it before1' that there was quite an excitement1 and ,mrs4 ,miller looked about her1 and the tears began to gather in her eyes1 and she put her head down suddenly on the seat in front of her4 ,she was a grand1 good woman--a helpmeet to her good husband in every sense of the word4 ,well1 ,daniel ,miller looked around with that meek1 inquiring look on his face1 a little troubled1 as much as to say1 ',are you having a good time1 brethren1 or is there something going on in the ,lord's house that oughtn't to be2 ,i'm jealous for his honor2 ,i hope all is well4' ,the chairman got out of his chair of office and went down the aisle1 and bent over ,mr4 ,miller1 and said in a good1 loud voice1 ',you have been elected our ,church ,treasurer by a unanimous vote4' ,you ought to have seen his face then2 it was a picture4 ,it flushed and glowed1 and his eyes grew dim1 and his lips quivered1 and it seemed for a minute that he couldn't speak at all4 ,then he stammered out something about not being fitted for the work--his infirmity being so great2 he wished he could do something1 he would be glad to1 if he could1 but maybe it was a risk to try it4 ,then the chairman put down his mouth to his ear again1 and called out1 ',we all stand ready to go your security1 every one of us4' ,and then1 sir1 if you will believe it1 that decorous assembly1 made up of a class of people who believed every one of them in doing things decently and in order1 just clapped their hands1 and he understood it1 and he got out his handkerchief very suddenly4 ,you never saw anything work more like a charm than that arrangement did all around4 ,daniel ,miller took hold of the work with a will1 ,i tell you1 and the work was never better done4 ,his 'infirmity1' as he always meekly called it1 was a positive advantage to him4 ,there wasn't any use in trying to tell him how the accounts stood1 or explain away this or that2 he couldn't hear2 it all had to be reduced to writing4 ,and when a man sits down in quiet to make a written account of anything that another man is expected to fully understand1 why he uses language carefully1 don't you see8 ,you don't suppose they were foolish enough1 when his year was out to go and put in another treasurer1 do you8 ,not a bit of it2 the machine was running too smoothly4 ,they elected him again by as large a vote as before4 ',it does my heart good1' one old lady said1 'to see ,daniel ,miller go up for the collections on ,sundays4 ,he does it with such a glad look on his face1 as if he had found out something he could do for the church1 and do well4' ,he did it well1 too2 no mistakes4 ,by and by he began to send out little notes with his bills3 ',we owe it to our pastor to pay his quarter's salary on the day promised4' ,well1 sir1 when the next quarter's salary was paid the morning of the day3 on which it was due1 without having been asked for or run after1 that minister thought the millennium was about to dawn6 ,he hadn't been used to that sort of thing4 ,you never saw anything like the promptness with which pew rents were paid in the church4 ,if a man was twenty-four hours behind time1 he was almost sure to receive a call from ,mr4 ,miller2 no writing notes this time4 ,that man understood human nature well4 ,just imagine a gentleman standing in his store or office1 and trying to carry on a conversation with ,daniel ,miller about not having paid his pew rent4 ',money has been a little short with me lately1' he begins1 'and ,i thought a few days' delay--' ',what is it8' interrupts ,daniel1 with his hand to his ear4 ',i'm hard of hearing1 you know2 speak a little louder1 please4' ,do you suppose that man is going to yell out for the benefit of the passers-by that he is a little short of money1 and had deliberately planned a few days' delay for his minister8 ,the way it worked was for him to scream out1 ',you shall have the money at noon to-day1 ,mr4 ,miller4' ,very likely1 he grumbled that he wouldn't get caught in that trap again1 and he didn't4 ,people didn't enjoy calls from ,daniel ,miller when they owed the church any money4 ,i watched that thing with the greatest interest4 ,it grew all the time4 ,it made a wonderful difference in ,daniel's life2 he kept his head straighter1 and walked faster on the street4 ,the church was large1 and there was a good deal of business to be transacted1 and ,daniel had no temptation to brood over his infirmity4 ,then he knew just what was going on2 just what the church gave to ,foreign ,missions and ,home ,missions1 and all benevolences4 ,he had no need any more to wonder painfully what was being done1 and after hesitating over it a good while make up his mind to ask somebody1 and feel sorry for them all the time to think they had got to answer him4 ,instead1 people had to come to him for information4 ,nothing could be paid for1 not a cent of money could be sent anywhere or done anything with unless the thing passed through ,daniel ,miller's hands4 ,and ,i tell you the treasurer's reports of that church were curiosities2 they were managed with such exactness and clearness4 ,he had a little witch of a daughter1 ,nettie her name was1 as pretty as a picture4 ,do you remember her1 my son8 ,yes1 sir1 distinctly1 came promptly from the table where the son was writing letters4 ,and the ,doctor continued3 ,her father made her his clerk almost as soon as she could talk plainly1 and began to train her up to business habits and business terms2 he took her with him a good deal4 ',daniel ,miller's ears' we used to call the bright little thing2 and she was as bright as a diamond4 ,we used to notice that ,daniel could hear her to the last better than anybody else1 even his wife4 ',she's got a voice like an angel1' he said to me once2 ',i know by her that ,i shall be able to hear the angels4' ,his hearing grew steadily worse4 ,for a good many years he was able to hear some of the sermon1 the loud parts as he used to call them1 but by degrees1 he lost the power of doing that4 ',did you hear8' the minister would shout at him1 after service1 as he came up for the collection4 ,he would shake his head1 but his eyes would look bright as he answered1 ',no1 sir1 not with my ears2 but ,i've got it here4' ,and he would lay his hand on his great1 noble heart4 ,it was true1 too1 and he went out and lived it a great deal better than many who heard everything4 ,you must understand1 young man1 that ,i am covering a good deal of ground with this long story4 ,the years went by1 and at each election ,daniel ,miller was re-instated1 until at last that congregation would have laughed in the face of any man who had suggested a change4 ',what should we do without ,daniel ,miller8' ,that is as near as they ever came to mentioning the time when they might have to do without him2 and the time came when they said that in lowered tones and with a hint of tears1 for he was growing an old man and the church couldn't afford to lose him4 ,bless you6 ,i hope you don't think that keeping the finances of the church straight was all the man did8 ,it would take all night to tell you half the things that grew out of it2 and then it wouldn't be told2 it can't be4 ,the ,lord of the vineyard is the only one who has the whole story4 ,i told you1 he took to writing little marginal readings on the church bills and receipts4 ,well1 is there any reason why marginal readings on church bills can't be about other matters than money8 ,the 'words in season' that this deaf man spoke in this way1 in quiet hours1 to one and another of the flock1 and the fruit they bore1 ,i know something of1 a good deal of1 in fact2 but1 as ,i tell you1 the ,master is the only one who has the entire record4 ,one night he had a new idea1 or rather1 he worked out what was to him an old idea4 ,he went on ,saturday evening to the parsonage with the quarter's salary2 he apologized for intruding on ,saturday1 but said he1 ',according to date this money should be paid to-morrow morning1 and of course ,i couldn't do that1 so ,i made bold to come to-night4' ,well1 he happened to be one of those men who never intrude on a pastor1 no matter what time they come2 so his pastor told him he was glad to see him1 and would talk with him while he finished and put up his sermon2 but ,daniel didn't seem to want to talk2 he watched that sermon with a curious1 wistful air4 ,at last he spoke1 ',i've been turning a ridiculous idea over in my mind for a long time2 ,i don't suppose it could be done1 but ,i've thought sometimes that ,i would just like to try an experiment1 and read over one of your sermons before you preached it1 and see if ,i couldn't follow you from the pulpit better after that4' ,it was a queer notion1 but it took the pastor's fancy4 ,the fact was1 he loved ,daniel ,miller so much that almost anything he said took his fancy1 and he handed over the sermon and told the old gentleman to try it1 by all means1 he could have it as well as not4 ,it would have done your heart good to see ,daniel ,miller's radiant face the next day4 ',it worked1 sir1 it worked6' he said to the pastor1 and he rubbed his hands together like a gleeful boy2 ',i could follow you right along a good piece at a time4' ,if you'll believe it1 that thing grew into a regular custom2 the pastor had a boy1 a bright enough fellow1 who was always ready to scamper over to ,daniel ,miller's with the sermon on ,saturday nights as soon as the minister could spare it1 and wait while ,daniel ,miller went over it4 ,fact is1 as the years went by1 he was more willing to do that than any other errand the father could get up1 and he and ,nettie went over church accounts1 and some other accounts together1 many a ,saturday night4 ,but ,i happen to know that that pastor came to have a queer feeling that he couldn't preach a sermon until ,daniel ,miller went over it6 ,that might be in part because he discovered that the old man had a way of going over it on his knees1 and every sentence he came to that seemed to him ought to do a certain person any good1 he would pray1 ',lord1 bless that to ,john ,watkins1' and so on1 you know4 ,little ,nettie1 she let that secret out to the boy one night2 and the minister came to feel that ,daniel ,miller was the associate pastor1 and was praying the sermon into the hearts of the people all the time it was being preached4 ,when a minister really feels that1 he preaches carefully1 ,i believe4 ,well1 sir1 it was a wonderful life2 and when it ended1 as ,i tell you it did a little more than a month ago1 ,i never saw anything like the demonstration2 and ,i didn't wonder at it4 ,twenty-nine years they had elected that man to office1 and the ,lord had elected him to a much higher office here on earth2 his little notes bore a big harvest2 and when the ,lord called him to his seat in the ,church triumphant1 the ,church on earth looked around for some one on whom his mantle could fall1 and ,i tell you it seemed for a time impossible to do without him4 ,why1 ,i moderated the meeting for them when they met to try to fill his place1 and they just spent the first half-hour in tears and praying6 ,such lives tell4 ',infirmity1' indeed6 ,god grant us more men like ,daniel ,miller4 ,what became of ,nettie and the boy8 ,did they get their accounts all settled8 ,it was the first time the intent listener had interrupted the old ,doctor's vivid story4 ,indeed1 it could not be called an interruption1 now1 for the ,doctor had paused1 and let his thoughts run back into the tender past4 ,he roused himself with the question and laughed a little3-- ,how is it1 my son8 he asked1 looking over toward the writing-table4 ,have you and ,nettie finished the accounts1 or are they open yet8 ,we mean to keep them open1 sir1 until we join the ',church triumphant4' ,the young man answered quickly1 albeit his voice was husky1 and he brushed his hand hastily over dim eyes4 ,then he turned to the guest4 ,my father has given you a true picture of my father-in-law's fruitful life2 as good a picture as can be drawn on the moment2 but it is as he says3 no one can tell the story in its fullness4 ,i think we shall have a wonderful account of it some day4 ,there was silence in the pleasant room for a few moments4 ,then the guest turned to ,dr4 ,mentor4 ,thank you1 he said brightly1 thank you very much2 they say that 'a word to the wise is sufficient1' and he stammered as he tried to speak2 then he arose to go4 ,father1 said the son1 returning from seeing the guest to the door1 and stopping for a moment before his father1 do you think ,frank ,horton in danger of becoming deaf8 ,or is it because he stammers1 or just what is the hidden purpose of the story8 ,well1 said the ,doctor1 ,i told him that story because he is like ,moses1 'slow of speech and slow of tongue4' ,i think he caught the lesson and will put it in practice4 ,i am told that he is a very bright1 earnest ,christian1 but that he broods over his infirmity and is very sad2 you can see it in his countenance4 ,there is a niche for him1 just where1 perhaps1 the infirmity will tell for ,god's glory4 ,look at your father-in-law4 ,i tell you there is a defect in most lives1 an 'infirmity' of some sort1 that grace must supplement4 ,it is not for us to fold our hands and say1 ',what a pity6' but to help find the niche where the marble fits4 ,mr4 ,horton is like ,daniel ,miller4 ,he could not be a good ,sunday-school teacher1 or elder1 or minister1 but he can do something4