Fite uric Obserrtr.
\\I`I)'I,ITICAL .11)URNA1
BY B•1'• SLOAN
, • a If 1.314 in n.tv•iii,
•11l br *eq . ; I .1141 . Addr., r
.r 't.r iarter
t 41.! within t 4. ~ •r, the
•n• 4 thr an•nuot MAW, out at
V.'Sr, snot i,r • ILl]•prf.r.or
7, RN' , "V' %.0% EttrVlM;
el ..r Isar 1:14k. , I
h I In! squArr ;'• 11)011 the $.l
, •• 100 tme . 400
r tI tine •• y•• 4 73
air, dlailjrnablo I.lemptirr, 110
sit , 11 mnotba, t%, N inotith.,
i 4, -..ur. ywkr, $6O 6 m.,i11141
liumairos ritrectory . t
sroat ,, r a rarAl, over .11., rid ka 4.IVT
' t.rt .5 10 cruto lwe ; 1.0 no
s • •
. •t.. i Imert.e..l among lb« rttbrcial N,,tiere
121
.0 , 1- and ..then raN utrtng frioturat rb►ttyrs
.s. alt. allowed two oil wen., roper,
• itilitittouwl +IA.., the cb►rgr-i 1111
r deve(iaentru fa must 6. otrtrtty
l• 1 mate buakueax •(tb. ail*.rtuitor, Pa v•
tAr•rttsrtnrnts
,C,vertiataig well fns presuattd half-I early
BUSINESS DIRECTORY.
I , .1.. tsst
1 1. i+ca RIC Of iXPOETIIs WINIS
ItragoltrA, 4tna, &C., ki&napAo• to.
Nrrt. 11.1,ra, Malaga, ellorry, Yort,and All loud ,
too., umuufactwor of rectinod \V bo
„ KA r • fiourtmia, kitmonglibeiti, good 1)0400.,
' .trn•C,
. BI lily ?0+
J 1101.1111.1.1. 1 DIALRItt% IN 11
, • "tate :"IRet, No 10 Brom n • Block
I' l l. l OLE.,
(ILLS[ kitlog
,•:I•1 -tor 4.1 ftinclertieellt . o. Hurt, Erk« lY
IN C. WI L.P 4 44.
• 1
4 r r,,x% g) h CV! 1 , 410,/ OM AT LA., Fr. Ps. —
, trert. Mar the hark. In lb.. .‘n.nean
t , t pt..ry I thy hundixv, necupwAl h I. d ) 1 1
i:1 It• 111. Gr tewn.l m bn dn. , AL.)
pun. 1.1.6/1. altetdic.-0
1121:
0 - 14i114N. KEN/PH:
WiloLitl.•l.l Ma) RI.TAtI. 4:lt. • it", ...a
,n flour. Ft.ts,
WS. ords, au.!
srv, Nail% misadalls, at rthe. Modt,
r I 111.NRY no, All ILI l.kx
j4iilN 14. N'41,14E11.
ATT‘ , ICI&I &I I.olk, .t 110
t, t. 11, !.11.1.k01t ur 1 , 1[1.1
.•, •,• Iny: the. 1.6. v r,• .• " t ,,
al,' Iwo* ..1*•• it • .• t V ,, r•
• .11 L.l.titt,
\ 1 1 's
si 4•1 r•rri. Kam and ket.3l,
wyo anJ lhaneatic sitar 1;0...1% aNun.; ra,
. Sillia, L.acvs, art.! F lAlll..uablefli/linerv. l'araa , tio
hug. fronting the l'ark,F.ne, Vateu 'sr
!..
Ntv% Tll% rtsTvi!..,
Arrl/10•It, AT I -111 try 101 l (
•
lr”, t o 141.1dd/ie. 1.1
~•ay-lye
ALrkTIN.
IPK4L4n In il.vetn, Itatrlon., V%0.• Jew
Ware, I. o tirM " , lt
ult.', mad Pane.. 4:0444144, Parne , ..l Sull,tll,l
IS Park near
I‘l JOKDAN.
K ' a,l.k.*AL*A RIT• iht..“..•ftri 14, i• ar444,
4 44 4-444 .44, I 'arvetr, Matt lAO. 4 41
14.r1.4.
t. 101.1VNINDIIT.
,riwohl AT I -11 l I r.,'rAl
üb• %-gt 1..t1.10g ¶
•tAtt ••••n•
VV.. \. 4; 111.111MAITII.
TTnlth 0.1 4 , 1-41.
. 1.11 it,
••ttiesrl 6 ~,n , 14,4r •
•
• 1:1Irt4 II i•kt <•••irtT. ner SIAN 111.1
• s. lEI t 11••, V, W.A. , I pg,n, 1„.,„
itri,i.•••••• kr
‘ r 11.11.1 . . t AI K. LANK.
kritlianlKl .NIP' ( ..t Netlo.l.l Oh •
Frit
V . 1.. MIA lit •••^.—
I , rvrtwir. ~E firo to R , 2+41 1 . 11 1111106
. ' the l'nrA, l'‘
'4 A .CItAIH. k
, 1.4 ~t .. t %Ilk! tltr !.1 I. • (0.0.• ,
cit ;V. it. d: !SENA iTT.
itOLADIALIK AND SUVA I I 1 1 .114/r. Itl r.!-
. 4lsoxviarv , An , " Stddleri. N., 11 au.' 12
el, rut?. n 1 Ftllh *DJ t t, - t•
1V..,
I • Co"; 14 P. I" 4; o rill t.NNON.
'rreapors to Bar atv sr of I "sob u
Fueit•G, iierm‘nro. , l 411 ..1 . 1 „r/
A 1.4%, . irn n •II
H.. 1.6., V rir.
hl / . Tl. E.
u liar I ..fri It IrCil 1') • • ••1
lie }../.1. S 1./i I "%et iebrr ..f
~ht between the Reed an.l Ittomn'n 1;44.1
•••‘,.FOltl) (11..
k,lOl r., Itokr.k.
lirip..3l, ••••igl.t 11.7" , •••13
•+, • It•• • , •••Ib*tantl••• f••t• oul.• (.01,,N„ R e , .1 ly,
• i .., Frig
,LIPM4 and .n r. r.
• •11 ' I11:1. r••••• 11 0 ,
I,.ut
) IIINNII:
014,1 IX In m•dt, 1 . ”, a..ri•. l'r o
rt. V,II. 44 111 t, ; ~,, F,,•.• tl , •
• iir.•••n.. Pail.. '. loodorti, U1114.11r in 't I. li ore
4th I.ar 'St, ‘‘ ti t ' ••• 11.4 et
. • r....C. 4 .4.... r. 0., • ..
I t'E
01.rth ail«lif PlthilC ' , Mir.. f. •ttio orerul.
A AU .o,.rin warrnnt...l
tit% al VAitßlii.
1 , 11 K (I KAN, NW, A I •
A•• G 4,4 1;40040 I - 111 , 8
011, dir, , N., 3,1, ”. II .
l'o
MIN iiE til 4 ('O.,
VnRW•RIIINII No.! t ,
. •lu Coal, Vl,ll , ). . Ply! Air! , tif r Sic.« •.t
1.141" SlontEwt, ~ • 111. , )
11/1)N11.1,. M i TP*ll, .k 11`0••
V• 111, 1 , Ulf .tottn ilvtglr:ll..ti.qu.,
Gruirmic, 4 eneu rural trllfl...lllelll/1, c.rs,
Fria. Pa.
I ts% V. K. ifffitlDW..
4 4 it WIA SLR DIMIRP MA) J. 14 Ally! t , ..t,t
• W,lonn's Sowing Machu...is t • ••t,
• .t. , re, West hak, ro- -
-.k
I KORl:It
Airroitsgy AT LA Ir. ( •
• awl other bustneo. Atteo
•i I rt.. and diapateb
! MIN sWitlinlY.
JCS"lel Or THI PICACI, (II tivAilV .
II I.-glair*, rri,
iti iiiir.v 8c ci.‘Kic•
C 00,0,,.. f 4n..ler. in
ninno •nel I inin -, 1,1 Wonnt ,nt /Ow.
Frost, r,.h. uul, .04 A.g.nt• n, tl..ettn Ttn
Nnt I *net 2 t'ntntnemi ,•,!• • r
11,1 . 1 V U•re P..
IV tl. OtOURAIT, j r-1
t►IIY W. I' It ICIA.
r A t-rt AAA.. Wb..lekklo kwi 14430
•••• • ••t. in all bind, of Viney.
'they n u a losning k.,1 i h., k i'•
V.IIK d KULKEV,
OKA% {AI , '',•••kt.
•0.1 Retail, ot No lA, ( .1.. t I •
)I.IIE I s I.(Pit'.
r,.. , Trxrus n.• 1.1
I..lrrs j n Nall and CGa ern l`tirnra• t • ,•, .114
nraparot and boot p. , - ,n nor `41.• 1. oo rstr 1"11 otri.o
l'ttsth, Erie, Pa.
rr Aqueduct for carrying +rat. r for 'sin •'., (ann
..elat Weal purpOMINI f4.r Rale cheap
N (tura,
1 ) It. ".
i f i t ' x i n . l i ut rrir sT ‘ littrttwr
fh , .. au 1 Phrolline In ono th . Par* Fl.w,
k ea.t of Fn. BAIA. busithr,g.
•
El) u J. :1111.K1•41N.
Fo.cw &aro go; an,.. Cl.l 11' 1 .• l•rre
ftn k. F:rt., sn an
'4 , , , i.V..M1. 1 ( %VA I .1. .rt..
a. 'otn.ilery, W 0...! w:N .1 • • hr.' it
vIPIHE
I yi Antr. , 4 14,4.1
! I h. In. our lit
ri. , tioiro. (r,l `iicto .tr^"l
EM=ffM!
W 11.1.1 M TIIIOItNININ.
I. turn's Or •1411{ 1 . , ACV 111.•-ylt, A grOW
-4•14 Ilurtityare. eo.n. A., rurffriy •0. ,
tr.tu',l..!ro•ol (MN. no , n ,
I.rdworg Prte. is
F. posystricl.
I . Aire...sky •r I w* t.. 11 ot TO.
pelsetio. ln the 1....ra1e , t • Ve , el ~ n nt
t‘ie pmsnift I.lllllstlitf , s l stte talon 1., .11 bussne•An
tg. Lie hsris, rn her as sn Attartee, ^r Merwirsle
tr r.,, p.
111 /lev t.", * c+orner •L• 1 4 t , tr , an , / Y 4,1,
Iv
• UOL ti LAM.,
•
rr asnrt er L W rev., , 4 t••
t.•-• newt 1./ Flat• at Mt, no the. h thr
krie Ya.
k 4 or AND BLIND.
0510.1r , Li., •stak!
j.,.• V , . 'lnn WWII "Itripet, Bois/
, •14.1]..• h.• .tts•ntion th. terernerre r
04.4...• of the r and Xal
ECM
114 ORTIYINIEL
ATTUIS 1,/ AT rorwr llitlf0h1 , 1• 7111
. 7 1
h.pilverli Oran, ti and Kral f1 0 y.0.„ ► tie, Ps 4
4;( OTT Ac HANK' .
Ptaz,zaa la all kinds , •1 -an, it..ur,
F‘t kr , jte,„ ?OA K th,tlc. Erw, I'll
A. J N
I. tI4I.IrIWIN,
1 4. t SoLt,por h, 0.'4 4 Osiiritt
811 , 1 R...tsl Drugryt.t, No 5 )t"..1 Er.r,
l'a 146,40r , in Paints, 0011., V•rtsishea, 1 , 3 • ' , tails, CA...
C•uayLene, burning Fluid Brothes.
13. F e SLOAN, EDITOR & PROPRIETOR
VOLUME 30
J.
C. FA ELDEN,
Wnoussaut and Retail dealer la all kindsEntil Leh, German and Amerman klardware, AOetla, Vicea,
irnic Sails, Steel, kc. Saddlery aad Carriage Trimailoga,
Saddam Belting and Packing Ynaseb anvil, opposite tbs
Ilona., Erie, Pa.
I. tilling up his Store with
His usual variety of
EffLlDAlir (34)0338,
And proposes to Pell them
To induce purchasers' to
When they wish to lay in
A stock for the Little ones
procure any in his line.
tct ha. State street, between Sth & 9th
ALL persons, without exception, know
ing themselves indebted to uyan earnestly request
oatu p v tbt same without delay, as Um tato chance in
.fts but.intas renders an eariy disposal at unsettied Oahe
imperative, and we trust that the leittilessos berretntore
At - ants*, wtll be gratefully mcipioented by
_a prompt re
spects, to this nodes. net B. J. JOHNSTON lk BRO.
J. C. BURGESS & Co.,
GROCERIES,
FLOUR, •
PORK,
AT Vs'IIOI,ESALE.
No. 10, grown':. Block, State Street.
Foe, (I,t t, IS:Si.
PIANO FORTE
El4O PEON MAXUFACTORY
SAVE TWENTY PER CENT
WILLIAM WILLING
inFtI3EI. P'32l44'N'AL.
OP! * OM
Tll II expert, nee of Ito edv y,at s, anti the
rl.-• make
PIANOS AND MELODEONS
In Vrie, rbenper tlitti I rim huh lb. to ri,•lo , ro, 4•46alaim•
1.1.1 IM rhea! I•r, 15 CtiVailTr. tl.l fa rtwarT,
iron th« name. I.,:tterti to NtintwlrDl
Ikta.l cranpleto, 1.1 tic tnen, who
...krt .- it...1. au • Nano Kauntartoty thrin
ftwi \ 1., bar year, and who Mold me their
novvomery to nudge •uth ingitruro...nt*.
Al , l I lon bow yrrionrr.l to furtiOh lay numerous fri.U.D.
Pianos and Melodeons
or T • 111. si! finish, Lint will
V17.49,..1 , 1.1a 49.1%7T "I'BEll4ll
or wrir length a Ilion, to Rita
('o3llrl.itTE SATISMACTION.
N. rrtmt%ti..n I , aDd IiWIMIVILS Man W 1.1 1 ,/
Ise 14 , 01 it (hr., I hotrii meats should not prone rcwid,
‘N.llro the 1.0 , 114 . tint nothing is sperm to bring about
thir
Producing n tine and nalooddiatlal Plano. viridub
will stye good 1114talfirliCtiON, and stay In
tune longer than any nose) 1 know err.
rEltNis VERY EASY
PRICES VERY REASONABLE !
- - '
CEEMEZI
&.• , .1?% PATRONIZE ,dt.
Your Own Dittman/ at Horne !
I R 11121:g W HOL ESA I. E or RETAIL
pftrenptly sad twirl'
r p- Instrunk•ntA, Lunt
t, 'and anv thing viw f Mn DDII AWSID nr use lo coy tali
vokor, wilt be takvn ID eigeballtte Mikan I.'”rtee,
4 , 101, Do t , •tm•r* and tny thing rhe I have in Dly str.N.
I'l.l. 'T() LET
TuNING DOSE WELL '
NEW MUSIC EVERY %%ELIE
.\ll\E BUT TIIE BEST ARTICLE 3 oti 11 GNU
GFNCINE CNIIIVALF
Chickering & Bon's Piano Fortes,
=I
- 1 111, •,. r Ibmot of s ynor Clio-keridg •
•( %iv! 1 VIII , 'xrh*nit
Wli WiI.S3NS;
MIME
T) F. Fruits --You tt i retuetni/er the
oftgoor Lr 11•. rare W,ter..4 No.oori NThrk, hastnatlP
ao.s.rtiainito In t 1 r 1.1 .lernarow4 oioo.. •
lilt.* Ipett•or,lo too wll4 far., him with a 4-.11, awl w}?)
Ft, rittA h han.. ~der .Iroairr 4:rro
WV Wit I INI;
rI.. Ps-510 - 2
m.ii.. - r_irra - Ext - Tr_
U. lerl.-; hits returrwii front
Yuri, I.DA• reberl•tng Orr . . 4tork of
MILLINERY AND FANCY GOODS'
ol o oattng of
Siik. Satin and Straw Bonnets,'
itead eta, Flow era, Rtbkonun, aIICIIPII, Chenille"
We!eel EtMemo. t ollara. ItrWa, kr aloo, comet to
!loop ....Ilona, I lo•iery,2wphyr flooda, Knitting Vivra ars.)
material" f..r t zul.roidrry, li'er Voila , KW GII.I`FP, 11140-
Hor ka , all of whitti will be amid as low as.
N.+, he t.ought elisrwhore.
nr - MILLINERS autivlied with all 'moie in their llrx
a. W 1101.46 1 e, YRS. Y. C 13111114
Ens. (h.q. 1, 1a59,-17
Wail - WANTS A SAFE. .
The antooriber h.. IMO lard .ire
ilExtuNG s PA FY. which be will du.norw of ollway for
17,0 , h or moproved pep. r W. 1.. bcorr
1 1 .r11 9,1949 —44.tf.
_ -
B1:1 I LDEBB HARDIN ABB
k full and entni.lete assortment of Bulkier* Bani•
.00 wry, low tor nel29-21 J. C $9.1.11RN
N cARRIA(JE Tltlll3flN“s
A foil asoortmont of : , AAAlory aa4 l'arriage I'ooll
more, fur •.1.• by 21. J. C 8121.14. N.
amt 3( N Eit'K
the i‘rgrltt &n Aniopeot otock in the. City, •l
Orin, ilot. 2V, 1649-21 J. C NitlPEN"z
SAUSA(; E 'U 'IT EILS, ( 'leavers. Al (lie in g
kint.eii, Butcher Knives, t lira ',tone of
oi - t 29- .1 C. BEI BEN
anal 'CongaStands, Blower
for
S lit 'N.
sa)o 21 1 C. SES
. _ UM .
TABLE ( . 1"CLF:11Y, Pocket Knives of
all at lon and qualltirs, at low price., by
29:!,9-21 J G. st:Lnr.N
SEE'): Y SEEI )
itit) fivatoda ntc. Now Clomp Thoothy Arad, Just rr-
Leis rd, st for rale chrap by
I , :ne. +l•d 16, Isso N KlNnfg it CO
( )HARLEM W. KICI
Y -IT La fir.
lako rwmnved 10. I dile. to that of ELI/ BAN6ITI, !Coq,
•w rat r.rnrr of the Pradir Aquare, whore be wild 0..
:1•114 tednptir nuainrar entreated ft nor care.
Erie, b., 2. 1.49 rants
Cr) At. I 1. of a superior quality can te)
I ad of r A itTKIC & KW , Nor a, id 69.---24.
MI 1.1• v
FURNITURE
lIF 111) ”wn make ,P 1 any (14.v.eription,
at low pruwa, for Pro.luce 1 4 t , ili Pay,.
rn.
pa?, au.z. La to meet die tunoa. W
N. 5, I aS'.l Slate at, nest bth. Erie
-n Sin> (IF WININIW ttLAS:3!
Pil,l PEF.V4 . II ANO AMERICAN. by the box, forssie
*OM 1 ,
jt_..T , novb CARTER k BRO
MADDER. AND iNiliik). of ttift very
1... t ~, . .ht,,, by the Laak or is less qiisstilu.s, by
CARTER k All.
Colors ! Colors ! !,
1) AIV Umber, Burnt Umber, 8urnt5i
.1%,..3,.%, P.m Green, Vecchio Red, Clients. hotter,
Act , La.. froUlad 1U Oil and pot up is 1. 2, 3 sod bii.
tan.. Raid at BALIiIEIN'S DEVG rnpitsr
ly. a No. 6 Reedllosse.
EIMEI
01101('1: 1. IQ U 0 R.S. for Medicinal pu r
re,".ol, "rt draught and in bottle*, for ante at
BAU)WI? DRCO STORE.,
26 tt. No. 5 Reed How*.
CUD BEAR AND CfXIIENEAL,
S., 6 CAR11:11 k O.
Carbon oi/
ASUPERIOR ARTICLE, just received
sod for pi. of BALDWIN'S DRCti STONE,
orio, Doc 3, I K 69 —26 No 6 Rid
Ma
11 `r o t t, i t, E 4., W S t L ,
sate4 l9L .it 'lr m i l .k olt e. IR 4 DIIE
Vartklsf Hale
11y• en u.r. fur sale at HALrowirs DMA !MAT.,
2Att No. 6 Ite•d Rums.
P _
A INT BRL'S/lES.—The finait aiwort
awn t of Paint Brusher in thy City for odour:
tVrOlitt,
IPALDINWSI,II4ITID 0 .1.7 E
17 =lo Id by 'A CARTER At BRO.
THE ERIE :.:','_'_'?.....: ---::•.- OBSERVER.
WILLING
CHEAP ENOtTO H
CONE UP TOWN
NOTICE.
hV evirma oN
UM
I=l
EMI
- ERIE, PA., SATURDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 24, 1859.
fodiaL
TIER LIGHT OP HOPUL
The Light of E owe! Do. blight It tunas'
Whoa evening ehsAes around us ►11;
And tram the hitless ter It gloms%
To low*, and met, end sensiort, all;
W he" voluted ♦tt6 the told el day,
And strife tar glory. gold and tam.
Hou sweet to seek the quiet way,
Inv* toting 'ape will lisp nut name
Around the Ilea •t home'
Whew through the dart, awl! ikons) eight
Tha wayward woodier*? hosterward Mee,
How cheer*, to that twashltag Itsht
That throwiti the tenet gloom Use .
it is the Light et hose. Ile 4014
hat lOVUIt baari: wilt greet him there :
daduattly through his bowies steal.
The joy and love tbat baalsh are
Around the light at house 1
The tight at home I hoe AM oat sweet
It poet* horn yonder cottage gloat.—
The weary laborer to greet—
When the tough tone of day are o'er
Sod II the soul that does oot know
the blender that the Wenn impart
Tea observed hopes and jays that go*,
And lighten up the heaviest heart
AZOIStIti the /rbt at bean
thoirt fittratuw.
11 lail II AM HZ.
11211=111111
tHAPTER I
"Curse him ! No. I told him I'd see
you in your coffin first.. What., let you
marry the son of my greatest enemy, the
son of a treacherous father, and a light-o'-
love, jilting mother I They say she wor
ships him ; well, this will be a stab for tier
tender heart, or I'm mistaken ;" and Wil
liam Ifolmes stamped up and down the li
brary with his hands in his pockets ; arid
then laughed savagely as be thought of the
pang he should inflict on the heart of the
widow Lee.
And Agatha Holmes heard all this with
out a word, but her face was of a deadly
white ; and her sharp nails almost hroufht
the blood inki er clenched hands. as Site
stoat by the ndow and looked out.
The furious old man walked upend ddwu
he room once or twice more, then taking
up the poker he punched at the tire, then
threw it down with a crash ; and finding
hi:, daughter still did not speak, he went
up to her and seizing her by the shoulder,
shouted.
"Why don't you speak, you obstinate
fool 1 Laying plans for a rebellion, are
you Mark my words, if you marry that
sneaking, poverty stricken country doctor,
1 disown you. and curse you. Curse you,
mind you! Do you hear now ?" and with
a - ha! hs!" that showed how exhausted
he 1,118 with his tamion, the old man at
down in his chair.
Still the girl did not answer, but ahe
turned around and threw an appealing
glance at her mother, who sat pale, terror
stricken, and weeping over her knitting at
the other side of the room. At the fright
ful threat of Mr. Holmes, the poor woman
had risen instinctively in her chair, and
said, "Oh ! William," then sunk back again
well knowing how little RAE could do to
calm such turbulent passion.
to Mash t }},P "1 Inr.hrl e, qqa
taken from the table, shook an d rat' in
his trembling bands as he folded and un
folded it, and his shaggy brows knit over
his blood-shot eyeA, as he endeavored in
vain . to fix his attention on it. At last he
threw the paper on the table, and brought
his large band down heavily upon It.
And I tell )nu, too, if you ever
vev that mail again. vou. I'll
you with my dying I , reatii." lie al.
most slirieketi, M again wound hitosPlf
up to his former pitch of pasision.
At this Agatha liohnes took a step for
%yard leaneti her hand on th& table to sup
~,rt her trembling form. and spoke so
losyly:distinedy. and firmly. that her f a ther
stenivi in spite of himself. She said.
"You will not curve We, for without
(or permihoion I'll never marry Richard
Leo ; but you may disown me If you please,
for I will nr•e him once more before we
part forever," and then she left the room.
Mrs. llohne4 arteie to follow her, hut
Willi checked before she laid. her hand on
the knob of the door by her husband ex
claiming.
"Stay here, will you? I'll have none of
ynur whimpering over her to weaken my
authority," and Übe poor, cowed woman
took her seat again, the hot tears falling
over her knitting work.
Agatha went to her room, threw herself
on the floor, and laid her aching head on
he bide of the bed
trouble seemed to have made her dumb.
She felt too well that her obstinate, impla
cable father would carry out his threat;
she could not marry with a curse upon her,
so she, who had tasted so few of the joys of
life, saw this sweet love pass away from her
lips, untouched. Hew her heart rebelled!
From childhood she had grown up, de
prived, by her father's savage whims, of
many of childhood's pleasures ; overlooked
Ly him, or only noticed to be thwarted.
CarPASACI by her delicate, utzlid mother by
, tealth ; and now, just as the world was
growing fair and beautiful, just at the mys
tic veil had been lifted, and a flood of light
let in on her cold heart, to return to the
old, dreary hopelessness ! And to gratify a
father's revenge, only for this
Years before he had loved with all the
intensity and ferocity of his ferocious na
ture the mother of' Richard Lee, had been
engaged to to her, but had so frightened
her with his wild passions, that she had
broken her troth with him. Then George
Lee, his most intimate associate, had wooed
the girl that he had long loved, and mar
ried her. lie was only a village doctor,
with a small income, and year by year the
little that he could save somehow slipped
out of his hands, and William hoboes held
his notes, and was a hard creditor ; and
just as his son was looking forward to the
time when he could assist his father. George
Lee escaped from William Holmes, and all
other creditors, and went to settle that last
account with the most inexorable of them
all. death.
In the meanwhile, William Holmes'
purse had fattened in proportion as Ur.
Lee's grew thin. He was a good lawyer
and a keen business man, and when, after
building himself a comfortable house, he
began to look around like a great bloated
spider, to see whom he might inveigle in
to it. he married little Annie Harris.—
Everybody envied the new mistress of the
new house, and of Ms. Holmes' purse. In
the second year of their marriage Agatha
was born, and she grew up a sturdy little
thing, made bard by the storms of her
father's passions, and the dew and sunlight
of tier mother's love.
But, poor girl l she forgot that there
was any warmth in the mother's breast,
she only felt that this brighter, more du
eling light was to he withdrawn.
All that cold autumn day Agatha kept
her room, but the next morning she ttp
peered at her usual place at the head of the
. breakfast table, much to her father's seas
traction, who disliked his coffee from any
other hands than hers. A s Mr. H o l me s
was settling himself to his paper with his
• feet on the fender,. she said
"I have written a note to I. Lee, sir,
requesting him to cell here tOs morning.
If you object to his coming to this house,
I must meet him somewhersehe, for I must
see him this once. You eon reed it, sir."
Mr. Holmes eat with his eyes on his pa
per, but shifting his feet usteastly about
while his daughter was *paddle g, There
Was something in the quiet,.sfeericied tone,
the u.nfluttered manner, l i t ic l es4 rnade him
know that opposition was that she
would see Dr. Lee in spite of Mtn, so be said
ffl
gruy.
"I want to see no love-sick billet-dour, and
let him come. here if you chaise ; for by
Jove, no daughter of mine shall make ap
pointments to meet any man out of her
father's house ;" and ha turned again to
the "Morning Now."
But after this, William Holmessomehow
respected his daughter more than he had
ever done before. Wife or child had never
dared hitherto to thwart his mighty will,
and he rather liked the ooattion ; "a
chip off the old block," he said to himself,
with a gratulatory chuckle, as he went into
his office.
Agatha, who had shed no,tears before,
cried like a child as soon air/he ssw her
lover.
"Agatha, Agatha," said De. Lee, ap he
held her dome to him, "don't despair so:
your father will relent in timp, I know he
will. We are both young yet and well able
to wait, I'll make a fortune•for you, and
then he'll give his consent, tam sure.
But Agatha shook, her head as she an
swered.
"It isn't altogether the money, Richard,
but because he hated your lather and
mother. I had to see you this oboe. I
wanted to tell you that 1 felt my father's
word would be kept, and that you must
not, from any chivalric notion of your duty
to me, consider that you ere pledged to
me. There is no hope, Ric hard, and you
are free from this moment. I will not be
a clog to all your plans for life, as this te
dious waiting would make ids,"
But Dr. Lee was either *tore hopeful,
or professed to be so, to Cheer up poor
Agatha. 4
"Nonsense!" he said ; "Rom all known
laws of nature, the more vioaent the storm
the sooner it is over. We Will do nothing
to anger your father, and before the year
is out he will give his consett to our mar
riage."
Still Agatha shook her hied.
"I know him too well.", she said, "we
r
m
might as well make up our 'ndi6n it first
as last. It will only be longing our
torture, Richard, to nurse the hope, and
find it slowly die away asysfers go by," and
another flood of tears followed.
"Oh ! Am., Ag gv, what II desparing lit
tle body you are I'm poise. tly confident.
that we iliall sit, on eit her side of the
chimney corner, lhirby a Joan fashion,
eating apples and nuts. *fad telling over
this story to a circle of roma* youngsters.
Only let us, have faith iu 4pch other, artit
all will go &ell."
Agatha fin) met, thought ihe had no hope,
that she had quite made her mind she
should never marry Dr'. ; but still the
knowledge of his love her very hap
py, and hope is never at twenty.—
Her father watched her . uriously but si
lently
-I don't see that ahe's y more quiet
than common, love is no p matter with
a woman," he thought, , dhe hectored
his wife and snarled at h ghter of usu
Agatha visited but li the village.
rip •sit i sesrlit
cam meetings and the like; and Dr. Lee's
not very lucrative, but far spread practice,
claimed su much of his time that they sel
dom met.
In the tnonotonous discharge or her do
mestic duties. with nothing to lighten up
her life, except a furtive smile from her
lover now and then. the next three years
passed. At last came a great sorrow. Her
mother. Vk Ito 111tAI been ..t.arving for years
fir klial and gentle liouNrhold af
fections. Litnetly down the great bur
den of her life, and Alin up in the grave
the little rein.tining liappiness 01 her
(laughter.
Poor Agatha felt as if hail Never
known trouble till then. 8.4 if this sorrow
{CAS a Judgement for past relining', that in
her own selfish regrets her mother's had
been forgotten.
The first shock over, the same old rou
tine of domestic duties was gone through
with ; but now she missed the habit of rar
ing for the invalid. and the kind word and
suide, and depreciating look of her moth
er's eye,as if asking her forgiveness for not
preventing her unhappiness. Agatha had
only more titter memories now than before
bee mother's death except 'this, every-
Skiing was unchanged, the house could
have been no more quiet than it wa.•, and
her life no more uneventful, so, with a chill
at the heart, she saw the gray shadows of
lu•r life chase around her.
Inall=l
llohnes, when he thought of
the matter at all, congratulated himself on
Its having prevented hi, daughter from
marrying Dr. Lee. lie had not only tasted.
same of the pwoet. of revenge. but had At ,
cored for himself a housekeepr, who titt-'
ministered inost,unfai tingly to his comforts,
Ills favorite dish was always done to a tem
his toast was as brown as an oak leaf in
the autumn r•Oft'et might have de
lighted an Arab': and his tea hare been
approvingly nodded over by a Chinese
marelarian. A 411 besides this, as he look,
eel up Iron his fssok. or his writing, or his
newspaper of an evening, always on the
opposite side of the table, he saw a fair,
grave face bending over a piece of sowing
or knitting, the iingoN moving s t e adily,
almost tuiconseiouslN , never sighing, never
seeming to feel mere than an automaton.
Yea, it suited him, and as his shaggy brow
fell again over the hook, or writing, or pa,
per, he felt the comfort of such a daughter
in his inmost soul.
Once, for a little while his serenity was
disturbed. A brother lawyer, of nearly his
own age, began to visit Agatha. fie wits a
rich man, and a widower with several child
ten. At the posaibility of losing her, Mr.
Iloltnes oecasionly felt that his daughter's
life was not as happy as it might Le, and
that, to escape the irksomeness of his home,
she would prefer the liberty of her own ;
but she quietly dismissed her suitor, ray ing
she would never marry, and he again set
tled himself in his former comfortable se
renity.
At last it was known in the villagn that
a young orphan. cousin of Mrs. Lee's, was
going to make the widow's house her 1
home. The girl was reputed to be beauti
ful, and an invalid. The rumor reached
even to the quiet parlor of Agatha 'Holmes.
She, who had thought that no joy or sor
row could quicken a pulse again. so dreary
and hopeless did she think she had be
come, become suddenly ownscious of a jeal
ous pang, and was now, for the first time,
j ye(
really aware how much she had ho i
through these long years. A restless ng-
ing to know something of Miss ertly
seized her, and as she came out of,/ church
she lingered slowly among the / gossips to
catch stray information of one / whom she
looked upon as her rival ; any if she seem
ed harder to please than hitherto, and toss
ed over the goods longer in the village
stores, it was when s)te would hear a
couple of chatting girls' discuss the beauty
and many accomplishments of Dr. Lee's
,
cousin. '
,
At length it wasitncrwn everywhere, and
=I3
be sure that Agatha was not the last to: ,
bear Mis piece of gossip, that Emma Kirtly
had arrives}. If any one had cared to no=
tice—but no one felt. sufficient interest to
notice her at all—we say if any one had
cared to notice her in church on the first
Sunday attar the. Miss Kirtly's arrival in
the village, they would have seen the usu
ally quiet, self-absorbed, Miss Holmes glare'
sing furtively all the time of the gathering ,
of the congregation, in the direction or
t
Mrs. Lee's pew , quick, restless upli ft ing
of the eyelids, an impanel compression
about the alwa compmesed mouth. But
no one accompanied M'rs, Lee except her
son. And now Agatha's attention was
tamed to him. It wasa satisfaction to her
that he glanced at her with his usual quiet
meaning smile, that for a little while yet
she would not have to give him up in her
heart.
She was now wakened up from her long
lethargy to a sense of dull, heavy pain. A
resistless desire to see Miss Kirtly took
possession of her. She passed Mr. Lee's
house several times, but saw no one but
the widow tending to her flowers, or the
servant about some household work. -At
last, one morning, as she was sauntering
slowly along under the elms that shaded
the village street, the bright sunlight flick
ered throuith the leaves, she heard, before
she reached the widow's house, a sweet,
birdlike voice, sing as if in very fullness of
heart. At the window, enframed, as it
wore, in a wreath of Woodbine and climb
ing roses, stood a young girl, beautiful
enough. Agatha thought, to be an angel.
The deep mourning dress brought out
more vividly the wonderful purity of her
complexion ; and her blonde hair, which
was turned back from her (Ace, seemed to
encircle her head like a halo. As Agatha
approached, she was reaching forward, try
ing to coax a morning-glory vine from the
porch, to mingle Its blue cups with the
white roses arottnd i the window.
With a gasp, that sounded like a sob,
Agatha passed on. She hurried home, and
when once in her own room, threw herself
in a chair, and sat for a long while perfect
ly still. Alas I and alas! how could her
gray, colorless face, with its dull eyes and
hard lines, compare with the almost infan
tile beauty and innocence of the young
girl's whom she had just seen ? What were
the measured tones of her voice, that seem
ed never to he modulated to either joy or
sorrow, compared to the now glad, now
half sad, expression given to that song?—
Then she buried her face in her hands and
thought for a long while aptin. It was
true that she had told Dr. Lee, years be
fore, that. she held him by no promise
that she would not fetter him, in the, life
he was to look forward to, by any engage
nient to her. She thought she had really
renounced him : but now she discovered
that., through all difficulties, she had hoped
0110 day to be his wife ; that, in her heart,
she had considered the betrothal a tacit
one.
. 4o the summer time wore on. Agatha
battling with herself, getting. one by one,
Lilorni‘ for her martyr's crown ; pierced by
them, now and then, as her lover gave her
one of those understanding smiles, or a
lingering premsure of the hand, as they
casually met, only to make her more
wretched, when she shut herself up alone,
and said, "He Must love her in time. I
Scan never marry him, and if I could, I
ought .never link such a worn-out spirit
with his."
So, as we said .before, the summer time
wore away, and the autumn cane in with
all its Koreans but saddening beauty :
middle-aged, 4 4 . eifecMo n TAN,
father's wealth to seek the grate, notable
girl ; but she had said to herself; "I will
stay always with my father : 1 made
thesaicrifice for him, and it shall be com
plete."
Now, however. ramp one with whom it
was different. fie was a man of thirty--
not so very much older than herself now
—one whom sh 4. had known from a boy.
and known wBll too, as a young man study-
mg to her lather's office. She had alvrays
liked him, and she knew that he was one
whom she could always respect and rely
upon. When Mr. Merriek's offer was
made. Agatha asked time to consider it.—
Why Ith9uld not a happy home be her's?
Anything would be better than the life she
was now leading. So she took her bonnet
and shawl, one afternoon. and strolled over
the river, for she could eorne to no deter-
mination at home. But in the depths of
the woods it was no easier to . decide. She
began to feel a restless impatience of the
dull lain of her present lot, as if any change •• No. I'm not engaged. 1 only spoke of
would be for the better ; and then she it to show )ou bow completely annulled I I
thought of the long years of her mother's tsinsitlwr your pledge to me. Now I have 1
unhappy, unloving married life. And so semething whielt I want to say to ) you: I 1
the afternoon waned away, the red and heard, last fall, during Miss Kirtiy's ill
yellow leaves felling silently around her ; nes, that she wits attached to you, If yon
a rabbit now and then hopping close up to can love her sufficiently. I believe, from
her, and eyeing her with its bright, black what 1 have lifeull of her, that. she will
eyes. totally fearless of the mute figure at make) oil a go od a if.. lion't let any hope
the foot of the tree. The sun was trying of ever marrying tile. Richard, cerne be
t) sink rapidly, and the whole sky MI., tweiut you and your liappink,e4 with your
blazing with crimson and orange. Agatha cousin. Vim know I can never be your
was atilt as undecided its ever. At last she wife ; no lather will never comaent, so now
heard the plait of oars, and the sound of g o o d-by e ," 311 .1, go mg hintlier hand, she
g a y Bowes, on the river below her. She eras gone before he had evflet•ted himself
rose and walked a short distance. and P4iw stittietently to answer her.
a small boat moving slowly along through Itefore the elm tree& were green again.
the golden colors of the river 1 a sweet lace Richard Lee had moved away to the West
upturned to the bright evening sky, and with hi- mother. and with Emma liirtly
singing an evening hymn. and Ilieliard as his -wife.
bee carefully enveloping the slender form In two t ears from this time Mr. Holmes
in a happy shawl. And the lonely figure ‘, was on his death-bed : and he seemed to
on th e bank above watching till she saw be dying tie lie had lived, a stern, inflexible
the boat and its happy freight glide into man, asking sympathy from no one. All
dark shadows of th e wo o ded bill, and then Agatha's attentions he rkeeivell in sullen
she sat down and wept. silence. The poor girl wondering if be
When she looked up again, the orange was goifig to die "and make no sign." if
and gold had faded to a pale amber, and even death itself could not melt that hard
lights were beginning to shine out on the
_h ea rt. At last, one morn i ng , j us t as t h e
opposite hill She tunas go home now, and gray dawn was breaking, Agatha, as she
site must make her decision ; for Mr. Mer- lifted the night-lamp from the chimney
rick was to receive his answer in the morn- place, held it so the light fell ful on her
ing. Still she only drew her shawl more face. tier father followed the light in the
closely around her. watched the lighta-as indolent, half-unconscious way that be
they were reflected in the water on the (-Imes a part of sickness, and, at last, they
other side of the river, or crept up the hill rested on his daughter's face. fie lay for
side. The sad girl pictured to herself the a long while perfectly quiet. Agatha had
many happy households before her. The extinguished the light, and was standing
finehand s return, the comfortable chair, by the open window, wearily watching the
the glowing fire, the bright light and cheer- slow approach of morning, and listening to
ful table i she saw the wife end mother the birds sing.
moving atiout with happy, quiet content ; t "Agatha!" There was something in the
little children, with their sweet faces wait- tone of the voice not usual to Mr. Holmes,
ing for the good-night !Sias ; or white-robed and Agatha quickly moved to the bedside.
figures kneeling with clasped hands, and 4 "Agatha, you'll be very lonely when I'm
reverent eyes, and "eking with all a child's gone, won't you ?" he said:
loving faith, "PI , God, bless dear papa ( ft was the first allusion he had ever
. and mamma I" / She saw more than this. I made to his death. For one little moment
She saw how thbee two, the happy headsshe thought. "not more lonely than I've
lof the family, ' had gone, side by side and been all my life ;" but she replied , as cheer
-1 1
hand in hand, with brim, loving hearts fully as she could "I should miss you very
l udong the read of years ; through pleasant much : but you know that I care very lit
' places; i btit then again through dark shad-the for general society. and besides, f hope
ows. and over dark sorrows ; and she knew y ou ar ill soon be w e ll,"
that faith in God, and mutual love. had i ••N'o, I shall never be well," and after
stn lifted all. Thee she saw the light that his eyes followed wherever she went'
friain their own library windows, far across around the room. Perhaps it was the
/ the river, far up the hill ; and she thought i night's watching, or perhaps it was the
of the sorrowing. unloved life of her dead sickly gray of the morning light ; or it
mother ; of the shadow that was always t might be the sickly light of all her former
over her brightest hours : of the cares t years gathering more deeply around her
and troubles she had to bear, unsytnPa , now, that, gave her face that ghastly look
tired with ; of her lonely, desolate sorrow t that so attracted her father's attention.
ghost of a love might take its place unlnd- .. "I most wish now that you had married,
den by her side, sitting by her at the fire- , Agatha, I should like to Have had my
side, chiaping a hand that was given to her j ro
pperty go to my own flesh and blood. I
husband, looking at her with tender, re- suppose you'd been happier, too, would'nt
proachful eyes when her glance was on i you ?
another; between her wedded husband j Ill s daughter felt tortured, but replied,
and hqrself, always and always. So Agatha 1 "That depends upon circumstances."
decided ; and the next morning Mr. Mer- lgain there was a long pause, when Mr.
over a'little coffin, And she thought, alto,' Holmes suddenly said.
that without this, that even mutual reenact, "I wish now that I'd let you marry Dr.
and kindness, and sympathy, perhaps the Lee ; somehow people see things different-
i 1,50 PER ANNUM IN ADVANCE.
rick ; too, w‘is told that, "she should never
marry."
And now she set herself resolutely to
look her future in the face. She saw her
line of duty plainly marked out. To ad
minister, as she had always done, to her
father's comforts; to live less in her own
thought*. and her own sorrows: to help as
far as she could, those who were in "sor
row and tribulation z" to give cheerful
words always, sympathy always; 'and so
look forward, through the gray light that
was now around her, to the brightness and
peace of her setting sun.
It was soon known in the village that
Emma Kirtly was vary ill, dying perhaps.
That evening, on the water, she had taken.
cold. It was gossiped of, too, by the nurse
who had been called in to assist Mrs. Lee.
Now the poor girl had called on her cousin
in her delirium, begging him not to leave
her when she loved him so ; of his sooth
ing words and gentle ministrations ; and
all that Agatha heard.
At last it was known that the present
danger was over, but that the frail invalid
recoverekl too slowly to give much hope of,
her ever getting actually well.
Agatha Holmes' twenty-fifth birth-day
had arrived. It was the last day elf the
year; and, as she sat in her room, watch
ing the snow falling steadily and noiseless
ly, wondering what good future years could
bring to her, trying religiously to prepare
herself for the duties of her coming life,
Dr. Lee was announced.
The startled, eager face, and questioning
eyes, which were turned upon the servant,
made her stare at her mistress as she re
peated the name. When the door was
cheesed, Agatha came back to the seat from
which r,he had risen, clasping her hands
over her heart, which heat so tumultuous
ly. "What can he want ?" she whispered
to herself; then remembering how it must
be between them, she rose slowly, and went
down stairs.
She had entered the room, before, in her
confusion of feelings, she remembered her
promise, given to her father, never inten
tionally to meet Richard Lee again. He
stepped forward with the same smile, eager
as of old ; but she seemed only like an
automaton. He drew her down on the
sofa beside him, she, poor girl! trying to
collect her faculties.
"Agatha, Agatha," he commenced, "this
is like it used to be. 1 did not dare hope.
when I came in. after what your father
has said, that old times could be revived :
but it Jill seems so natural now that 1 know
he will consent to our marrying. I'm rich.
now, Agatha—that is, rich for a village
doctor, you know—and he must let you be
my wife."
"Don't, Richard r don't torture me so:"
was the reply. "1 know my father better
than you do. It was only when you paid
the last note he' held of your father's that
I heard him mutter to himself, as he took
it out and- looked at it, "Aye, aye • work
on, Richard Lee, hard as you will, a:laugh
_
ter of mine shall never be daughter of
Bessie Morrison's." You .ee it is impossi
ble; but still. I'm so glad tosee you again,
for I want to tell you that you must not
consider yourself bound to me, I look
upon the engagement 11.$ broken you know
I said so, years ago,"
• Agatha was now rapidly recovering her
sell-possession. Hor thoughts, for the past
few months, till tended to till. .lirection.—
Dr. Lee looked at her with an obstinate
'smile, which, per thing'. made her heart
warm in spite of herself, and which nearly
melted away all her determination.
She went on, "I want you to understand,
14F .J. that_
_what I say is so. My ,
you must not waste your life in hope,'
and go on uncheered by a wife's sympathy
to the end."
At the picture which she had called up,
Agatha felt chilled herself; then she re-
sinned, calmly, almost coldly,
"indeed I very seriously thought of mar
rying
some-one else last
Agatha Holmes could not help feeling
glad at the sad, iliaappointo4 look which
oven,pread Lier lace. She paused
for a moment., then said.
"What I tell you is true. I think a mar-
rioil life is the happiest life in the world,
where love ; and I believe that love of
ten eoine. , , if We have respect first, and
mutual sympathies. After this, Richard,
we can be friends, but never anything
more."
"Do fou mean to say, Agatha, that you
are erfgaged to eQrne one else ?" asked Dr.
Lee. will( log glomnd) op .uol down the
room.
-1-- • --
ly on a sick-bed, Agatha ; but I hope you
have not beer-very unhappy about it,"
and he eyed his daughter closely, as if,
wishing to have this hope confirmed.
"One's happineas don't always consist in
being marned, you know father ; but oh 1
I'm so glad that you care for me," and with
an outburst of tears, Agatha leaned her
head on her father's . pillow.
Perhaps as the dim; man feebly stroked
the thin, pale face beside him, be thought
of the many wasted lives and aching hearts
he had caused, of the love he had quench
ed, of the happy fireside hours he had de
prived himself of. Who knows 2
%tore the next dawn, a white sheet was
stretched over a rigid figure on the large
hed, and Agatha, with .her head on the
window-sill, watching with burning eye
balls for the rising sun.
NUMBER 29.
It was the last day of December, and
Agatha Holmes' thirtieth birthelay. Heavy,
leaden clouds had been gathering all day,
and at night-fall the snow storm set in,—
At firat it come down in large, soft flakes,
slowly and noiselessly, like-the tread of
angel's feet ; but as the twilight deepened
the fury of the storm increased. loon the
whole country was enveloped in a white
shroud, and the fine snow fell So fast and
thick, that as Agatha looked from her sit
ting-room window, she could scarcely dis
cern the lights in the houses down in the
village.
"Even theircheerfulncse isslitit out from
me," she thought sadly, as she walked
away. A glorious hickory-fire wes flashing
and cracking in the open fire-place, and
Agatha drew her little table and chair up
by it for cOntrxinionship. Without, the
snow and the sleet beat on the casements.
with a sharp tinkling sound. as if needles
were being thrown against them: and the
great, white pine trees were keeping up a
deep murmur, and swaying and shaking
their heads to disencumber themselveA 01
the beautiful white plumes that the snow
had decked them with : and t liewind went
shrieking and wailing around the h00..e,
giving deep sobs now and then, as if for
some lost happiness ; but within, the tiro
snapped merrily, and covered the whole
room with a flush of warm light. It wa
vered and flickered, to be sure, creeping
up and car es sing the tall, old clock in the
chimney corner, and lighting up the grim,
straight horse-hair sofa, giving it a cheer
ful look in spite of itself ; and sometinws,
in a fit of extravagant mirth, it snappoil
out a spark on the old tortoise-shell cat, as
she lay stretched out before it; making
her spring quickly for safe quarters ; but
it always glowed with the same steal y glow
on the solitary figure by the table, flashing
up the old gray color of her dres.‘, as if it
knew it was a comfort to her,
Agatha mechanically took her knitting
from the table. She was accustomed to
sit at this hour without a light, and her
knitting was hor constant companion. It
was not any of the distasteful fancy work
so common now-a-days, only a homely
blue stocking. This she liked. The bright
needle clicked on round after round, and
her slender finger worked busily, but it
left her eyes and her brain idle, or for ode •,
employment. And sometimes, in the gh.s -
ing coals, she built up a happy home tor
others in the far West : and sornetimessl,.•
saw Ass children around, making her old
age brighter than her youth had been.—
And so it was to-night. Her old memories
would come hack ! How she hungered for
one little crumb of the love which she
knew was so lavishly thrown about in other
happy homes ! She lived on. a solitary
unloving, unloved life. Both her nature
and her education made it impossible for
her to go out in the world after her father - -
death to seek for new companionship -
Her friends were the poor people of tit
village, for whom she knit interminable
blue stockings, and made up flannel and
broths. She knit on, and on, the firelight
dancing around her, and playing coi - metisi
antics in the distant corners of the coons :
and out-of-doors, snow and sleet were bold
ing their fantastic revels, decking the ever
greens; building up feathery white bul
warks : and making a soft ermine bed tiny
the old year to die upon.
Five years to-day, and she had hid Rich:
WAIN nate been tilittll,lmtnESAYer,
her hair. She saw them to4lay, and the'
she sighed, she was half glad she was grOw
ing old so fast. But oh ! such a larfel).
uncared for old woman as she would be'
Her few poor pensioners, and her ~.4tst. ate/
her flowers—these were to be the object ,
of her interest for the rest of her life,--
And the melancholy wind moaned in synt•
!lathy as she laid her head on her anti, on
the table, and shed tears that gave her no
relief. The hand that held the half fin
ished blue stocking dropped by her side.
and the fire-light flashed on the bright
steel needles : the little kitten darted fret',
under the table fat the lsg hall of blue
yarn that rolled,On the Boor. and finding
itself unchecked I.y its mutrese, find
,juvenile indiscretions winked at by
mother, it teksed the ball about and around
sometimes shooting it occr in the far cur
nor, then again lying on its back to Mao
age its,htige plaything with its four tiny
paws,
i>lthough the work was at last twitched
-fivizu her hand, and kitten at length to.
nopolised stocking as well as yartteAgath
a's reverie w a s too sad and deep to I,r coo
-1 scions of it.
Thu opening of the sitting-room door
which let in a cold draught on her fol io
the hall, made her start up. lest her r
vant, in bringing in lights should see hi
tears, but a man's tall figure filled up tin
doorway. lie was in the shadow, and in
the uneertain light of the room she did
not at first recotize
But "Agatha,' in that familiar voice'
For an instant all was forgotten, excel , :
that it wits the "Agatha" and “Richard
of oold an instant ten dreary y ear
bwept hack, and beside the two in the rot in t
stcsid two others, youth and hope.
only for an instant ! All these 3 ears of
schooling had not been lust on Agath.i.
and she ,iuietly, almost coldly I , i-411(11i-eh
her twodiands which had been firmly itu
prisoned in Dr. Lee's. lie looked hurt
and emblirases.sl, and with much less ,'I
possession than Agatha'-. he answered hei
q uestions about his journey, about the
storm, about his mother.
"Agatha" he said, at last, haven't you
forgiven me ? I thought you would after
my letter, for I swear to you, bad I not
seen Emma dying before my eyes I would
never have married her. I could not, make
her few last years miserable : but sits
knew I had loved you, for my mother told
her, and. on her death-bed, Agatha, she
spoke of you, and said that perhaps now
your father wits dead. vou would be smoth
er to her little ehild.“'
All Agatha could say was.
"I'd nothing to forgive. I never receiv
ed a letter from you." and she looked at
him vacantly, as it' unable to comprehend
it at all.
The servant came in presently wiyh lights.
She wee one who had lived in the Wilily
many years. and knew Agatha since girl
hood. She was a discreet woman. and dnl
not enter the room without due uthoutive
ment, and then scarcely looked at the two
by the fireside, only at the kitten on the
other side of the room merrily entangling
the ball of yarn.
Agatha saw the New Year in that morn
ing, hut not alone ; and as the sturdy ',lark
clock in the corner tolled the "small wee
hour" of one, Dr. Lee arose to go, saying,
-Remember, Agatha, no delays. Life
too short for us now to be long separated.
I shall go the day after to-morrow for my
mother and little Emma, and then uch at
happy family as we shall be. But won't
the people talk though !" and Dr Lee give
one of his happy laughs, and—probably
gave Agatha something else.
Two o'clock struck. Puss and kitten
were asleep. the fire long burned down be
fore Agatha thought of moving from the
seat where Dr. Lee had left her ; then she
slowly sqmt to her chamber like some one
in a ha4y-dream. As she put her light
on her toilet table, she caught a glimpse of
her face in the glass. Such a change'.
CRAFTER 111