BY.:ki,AIiy . LEY '::I4.CRV,S:-E-R-. CONTENTMENT. BY OLPvER WifaiDßLL HCiLMES.' Little I ask ; my wants are few ; [only wish a hut ot'stone h . (A reryplain brown stone will do) That I may call my-own ; And close at hand is such worm. In yonder street that fronts the sun. Plain food is quite enough for me ;- Three courses are as good its ten ;L- I! nature can submit on three, Thank Heaven, for three: amen I j always' thought cold victuals nice - My eh* e would be vanllla-ice. I care not ninch for 'gold orland ; Give me a mortgage here and there,—. Some good bankstobk—some note of hand Or trifling railroad share,— I only ask that Fortune send ' • A little, more than 1 Can spend. g - . Honors are still toys, I knoly; And titles are but 'empty names ; I would, perhaps, be Pienido,— But only near St. James.; I'm very sure I should not care To fill our Gubernator's chair. ' Jewels Are bawbles ; 'its a sin ' • To care for such ungrateruf things ;-- One good-sized diamond;in a bone, ot so large, itt ringsy A ruby, and a pearl or so, I Will do'for me ;—I laugh at show. My danie should dress in cheap attire ; ((ood heavy silks are very dear ;) I own perhaps I might desire -Some shawls ot true fas3imere,-- 7 Some marrowy crapes of China silk, Like wrinkled skins on scalded milk. I would not have the horse I drive. So fast that folks mild stop and stare ; An easy - gait,—two, forty- - five,— Suits zne; do not elite Perhaps, for just a single Spur Some seconds less would dolt° b ... Of pictures, :I should like to own' . % , • Titians and Raphaels three or four,— I love so much their style and tone, 2 — , One Turner, and no more, , (A landscape,—ioregmnd golden , dirt,— The sunshine painted .'with a squirt.). , Of books a few—some' fifty score For daily use, and lyiundlor wear ; The rest, upon an upper floor. - Some little luxury there. 01 red moroco's gilled gleani, And vellum rich as country cream., Busts, cameos, gems,—such things as. these Which others often show. l for pride; I value for their power to: please, And selfish curls deride ; One Stratharitts, I confew, Two Iteershaumg, I would fain 'possess. Wealth's wasteful tricks I would notlearn, Nor ape the glittering upstart fool ;- 1 , Shall not carved , tablesserv&my . turn But all must be of hitt ? Give gasping pomp its donbloshare e — I ask but one recumbent chair. • Thps humble let me live and die, Nor long tor Mida's golden touch.; If Heaven more genp - ous gilts deny, 1 shall not mi them mucb,-- 7 - Too grateful for thoblessingslent • . Of simple tastes and mind content !. • THE:LITTLE WIDOW. if R. AGUSTUS Revlington , looked through the . .spiry clouds Of cigar itooke that were floating through the room—looked at .Tom Spencer with nen a cool, contemptuotis, pitying glance that,. that young . gentleman\ I actually 6aghed outright as he finished - speaking, lad then immediately speaking, "Ulm tuy word, Cuaty,;old boy , but ptt are as good at a play, and:the , rairp fon or it is I believe - you honestly mean Etly blessed word - You say." - "Of course. I mean every word ,I - say, Why shouidn't L when my lire prac 'al illustration of the theorYl have to—that.a man is a foot NI 'fel,' in late?' Spencer leaned niediutivelY back- )`Let's , see,. GllB ;',haltr, old Ate y'skii-? ' 'l ' m thirty-five, yoninoi, and, I ca*'4lo47,- kr -when I wag:a:little shaver: 1011-mere gaits a young - man:l -`' flow .. Old" are -yon, Gas?" '' . ' i t - - lir. RevlinkOn robbed, veiy:promptly: uOid enough to litiow human nature Petty thoroughly: ',That ,is fifty.three. 44t May•day." ---_ ,' at him Spencer looked- admiringly -hale hearty, ilisuillion,' : :-wit . ti,l his . ay, I Dtursant heard, bushy ; hair', and wide- , 'wake blue eyes4handioute : and .to sap a woman's, heart; yes, bapked too, by . a tug fortine; '' ' , - ' `. "Fifty three. You- never look it, Ons. You're ) as youngas if' ani--and i 4 Rt„ :in kneoilee, vet? ,The saint.. re . you When yOtt - d6 tiike il ainidne a. , ',hit ii 8* iitrd, ,, , , t r' ; t i . f:„-'44,' , 4 i r. Ilevlington imlod In '''' )3l 4 l 3 3 Al* - -,:5„.304 , --y. . m ii ,.y . ' . , ~ ',. • ," :.f , . hett,V, ~1 ,! ,.,.4 .,t , Ti! risk it Tom. -,.. And utol, 6 a.l . :'i , -..'. fliti - - t • I," men t ,'. ~ le soft unpeac.7-----.-.' ' ' • „: 1 ,-,.,,,, ... , !i1.v , ,.! J , ,.,:;-..., ont latighest at this dignis4;e4MVlP!. kit .. . .. . . . . - . _ . • - - . . . _ . , .. . - . . . . . • ,' - . - .. . -.. • . . , . _ , .... .. . .' . . i . . • ------:--, . . . ' , . . '•- . . . - --...---- - , . . . .. _ . .- • , . • , ... . • -- . . - ~.. - ' i - • . . . . . . •k. : , . '''..... . • • . . , , . • . ' . . . . , . - .., , . . . - • - .....-. , ... . . . .. . , . . • . • . . . . . . ..• , • - . . . • . .- . - . . , . • . . ' i , '. . . • . „_ , , ... ... • . ' ... , , • . . ~.. . . • • - . . . _ .. ~ . - .. • , , , . ' ..- . . -- , •-, . . , *. ~,• - - . ' ... . . . . ... . . 1 , . „ , , . .. . . .. , . . . „ . • .. 1 , - •. , _ „.„ ~. , ~ ~_ . , . . . .., . - • . .-. - - . . ( ..."'''..4 N . r * • ' - , ' ' -.,.. .- I . . , ...", ''.... . . ~4 „.. 1 . •...,-. ........ ~..., . , • : ... ~:..._.. ~. _ a . . .. 1 . • . - . „ . . „._ ... ~ • - - . . . . . . . . . • ' . . ' . . . . . • . . . . • . , , , - ... ' . . . . • ~ . ..• . • , . . , . .. , . . . . . . .4 . . ' . ' . . . . - . . . • - . . . ..... - - "Good. I'll wager a basket ,of chant .pagne she ' il come in the, form of a wid , ow too—one of those dimple-cheeked, rosebud:mouthed little widows, whdse eyes will ‘disCoVer your vulnerable spot \by the species of magnetism they are sure to possess.: , I declare_i'm quite excited over it, -Gus. Let's drink to the health 6f th'e future ars. Revlington, likewise the little'Rev--" • "Ship just:where VISU are;`-Spencer.`A joke - s a joke, hot Tom had tossed , off his Clicquot light , • • "But when. it comes to ,a possible re ality; it is another thing, eh ?”. He laughed and lighted a second cigar. "I f. please, ,sir is this' engaged ?"' lit was the sweetest,,silverest voice. Mr. Agustus Revlington had heard.in all his life, y?ith all his experience .among _well' bred women, .Who talked- in low gentle tones;sweei as the' notes of a bell. It was her voice, so wondrously enchanting, that it made him look s quickly up from his paper -to see a gracefully ,Itdy-like girl—no,' hardly\ girl, for there was maturity in face and form that was far more chartning than the blushes and consciousness of a girl.' . A young lady, . draped in clinging, stylishly•cut garments of sonie soft, black fabric—cash mere Rev ingto n knew it wits 'or 'he was no mean connoisseur in wom en's toik/a—with small, perfect hands,' wearingMrk pearl kids; with a dainty, little' hat trimmed in lavender and- jet,. a elick .blackveil .thrpv)n. over her .head and 'face—almost as if she, were anxious to hide herself. • ;She halted inquiringly before his seat iliashe spoke. s" Engaged? No, Madam." - Mr. Revlington bowed as he answered her, and removed his handsome travel 7 ing.satchel to the floor. Then as she sat dowp with a'prompi, musical - Thank you, he caught himself wondering why he had said "Madam:" - i`ghe surely, Cannot be an marrit,d," he . • thought, remembering ber isweet,voice ; "sure. enough she's A fellow with half an eye' wotild• 'knew that—young,pretty,in light mourn ing; that means not, inconsolable." He turned to his paper again. and be , . gan to read the stock report, thinking whata fragraneperfume this aristocratic little lady.had brought With - her. Then she suddenly, hue half deprecatingly, spoke to bun - again. I am sorry to trouble you, sir but ifyou will be goodenough to place my shawl ana package:in' tbe,rack ?" _ "I beg pardon for tny stupidity, mad am,. Can Ibe of further service ?" He asked it with a vague desire tohear her speak, but (wishing that hori id veil were off, so he (Could see the fair, face he knew, must accompany such a figure, voice and manner. • ; •"Only ,to tell me . when we come to Mizell', Park." "Edgehill Park.- Certainly—l stop there myself." • , Somehow that made th.m acquainted; and Mr. R!,viiiigton laid doOn. his piper and a moat deli hflul conversation en sued between sweet, voiced woman and Agustns R-vlington, - the hankie' , able. • •"I am going on a visit,_ you see, to Edgehill Park, and seems so strange to think I am an entire stranger to the rainily,whosS, am to be. . They were friends of my , husband."- ;., Mr. Roviington was triumphant atlhis proof of his skill in reading facts. "Then you are a widow ? I thought; as much. . -. She answered, very q uickly. "For three years.. 'lsn't:it very warm , in here?" I -A sudden th6ught occurred to Mr. getlington f r,an inspiration, direct' from heaven, surely. "Not. very warm-- 7 . 7 but your .heaVy.,,vei) . oppresses you His heart;actually quickened its beats the little kidded hands unfastened: thesparktieg jet.pins that held the'.vii. Was face as enchanticg as. , her inan:; tier? 'And,then, of a sudden, there rush ealover—bifn, like a flood, the remem lirance of Torn-Snencer's laughing proph ecy. pretty little Widow, with magnetism in her building—and here was the': Vidow' and the charming; well-hied tones; at all events Was she dimpled and:, rosy ?r:,, Ifshe Was—and Mr. Reyling. _stalled and. sneered at the same minute, then he was actually guilty of staring:at thqsaiveetotit face he had ever seen in hitt life-64 pure, pale, face, with scarlet lips be experienced - a sadden_.. desire to` kiss l with rougish eyes,"gray and: liquid, and shadowed by thick, dark rashes and brOis jUst the hue of he; wavy hair.' .heart. certainly_ was demoralized playing ~him traitor, or , something, for it. beat faster ;than, it had for many a day ,Suppose-- 7 just.,Suppose—that what that ridiculous Spencer had said wag, ,true !, 'Only,s4o6se, for:the sake\ Of , an argil= went, - that Ahis little , ; widow . . - ifihould take a , -ffinCy to him! And,iii.thi very face hill past deotaiationa; . 4- iPite,hitilifty"-,three years—thirty of them expeiienoe among the fair. sex—Mr. Rev ling;olr caught himself tpiTfring with de , .. • MONTROSE I ____ light at the thought- Suchi a little.darl ing as this.would,be to pet,Spch a fascin ating creature to present to one's Alen& as - "My wife, old fellow, you know:" Snch a radiant face to have oppsite one at the tabl , -.morning and night. , Only—what . on earth..would Spencer say ? SayY why, turn gre'en with jeal= ouey that he had ~nut won this peerless, gray-eyed beauty himself--L-the selfish fel low! Then a horrible feeling; not tin; like jealousy, flushed up in his heart as he remembered Etigehilj Park - ; :was where Spencer's' folks lived. And- this little divinity ivas going to' visit 4 .Edgehill Park. "Did I understand you to say you would visit at Edgehill Park=.atyouriate liustond'iurelatives?" Mr. Reyjington had ` hssurec ty . under stood as much t ;• but, be asked the question, perhaps,voth the -vain-- hope of having been mistaken. She raised' her eye-brows and s' smiled. - • • • "Yes at the SpeneerS: Do.youf kpow the family? Mt. .11, , ev . largton felt- . .•asiNa stream .0± 69 . 1 d wat'e'r Wen suddillity . , poured down he how . the Spen ders?. • . - . • . , • • i "Yea; I know .th6m—rathee 4n old. fel- Icow, one . ‘of,l thpm. : You'll see' hiin, of coulee. : I suppose - you . have.: hard of Tom T" - -' . .--. ' . .Y.'es I think I have. Handsome, isn't be?„ • •• . I •Mr. Retlington - sbrugged bis should` "He might shit: smite tastes 7 =not and, I may venture to say, not yours.; am - older 7 —somewhat older than yon and let me warn youu -- that .Itlr.'Tnnnas cer .is 4.renoWned.lacly 'killer—A boaster o(hiSsuccessin wit hearts: I - hope you *will' not--:" She - laughed aril b ushed so delic!o' usly, and :gave Sir. 'Rev, ingion such - a loin bad not heard such a repOrt of Mr.. SpeL;cer. It's terribly, WU% it ?ri:shtkr sah4 with - 4 smile. . "AWful i nitkinngh; perhnpri, an old bachelOt like mi'self am She gave a delightful little itare of sur prise. "Are yciu a bacthelor ? ~Why'l thought, surely,you were a married geatlemau.— . You are so L--" . • Sife'•• hesitated halt vinfa.4edly, half laughingly..:Revlihepti loiliked:ar dently-at., her. •• __• • . ‘‘Sii—what, if I may ask, madam ?" "Well—so—so nice, I was just going to say.", _ Heaven ! this beautiful woman thought he was "nice !" • Itir. Revlingto ; Lirgot Tom . Spencer. Edgehill Parkevery thing except that _he.. only :wished' she jrad thought him someittiing more than "nice !"., , !am .proud 'it your, opinion I only . svish ;I were in the happy condition you imagine me."- Suecast her, eyes - dowp. then, and play ed With the handle - of. lier..sateel. • "I gin quite sure it is your own fault that von are unmarreJ." "lio you think Ed, really? If I thought it, I - would. .be an engaged. .man:: before , lie hesitated, aOnally appalled atlas own sudden I)oklness and interest. "Take my advice Mr:— 0, would like. to know your name." , . • He handed her' hia cat, and wondered at the. roguish mischief That shot sudden• ly eyes. "Mr. &Islington ? Why, I've heard of you before." He bowed, and at the same tithe look ed exceedingly' happy. • ",Thank lon. And, knowing me, do you still adhere to the opinion you-have regarding—ah=appertain mg to-41y BUO - if Lbontemplate marriage?" It was his' boldeit stroke, and his heart went pitapat most rapidly. "In - deed.l.do ;- and if there is a 'lady in .the Avorld-you- love, take my advice, and tell her. ' Is there one.?' Her Sadden,' archly-challenging ques tion almost routed'.his sense of-propriety, bat he answered very eagerly "Only one in the wide *kid, madam, whom Lever dreamed of admiring., A perfect little darling, with the sweetest face and 'brightest The tram came to t standstill, and the guard bawled, unfeelingly in the - face of this burst of rhapsody . . , Mi.-Revlingten arose and handed-her parcels to - her. t, "I am .interested,: Revlington.— Can't you call at Mr. Spencer's while .I anz tUete.? . . I ; ,wonld : be &read' ,to see you."„ , - It seeniedas if he was' treading on air perfumed' th - fragrance wafted • froth Araby the blest: ‘• • • In to see her,-4 . wtually invited to see ,ber, this peerlesii, perfect, be.witchinp, woman 1 And anderr.SPencer's. nose, too, What would Ton say Of caurse he'd be for trying hil4rts on her the first thing hilt, from i fidicatiOns,i Would,he •"no :go." This , eharininrwldow., bad. 'manifested, an interest in himself it would be hiS: fault if it stopped; there: go to, see her? It businea o -smash byhis ibsence; And betook her dainty little hand very cordially, as they sto'Sd on the platform--the . only passen gers for Edgehill. "If you will make me happy by giving me yeur. name—" She laughed and" sfrOwed her pretty teeth, .then a brighter,.:_ happief- light sprang into her eyes as Tom Spen cer rushed . up'and daught - both her •bande. "Fforrie l hallo, . Revlington I You by this train ?" • Mr. Revlington bowed dignifiedly, and "Florrie" turned *her bright laughing faee to him. - • "4lr. Revlingtou has been very good tome, Tom. Introduce me won't you, please ?" • • Tom laugLed more at the odd expres sion of Mr. Revlington's face than any thing else. • • "Of. course; with . pleasuig. -Mr. Rey lington,. this is .Ritcourt; tinown:. more ramiliarlfas Florrie, to „de, who has come-' to visit my fathily,prior to making. one -of it in , a few weeks: You Will get cards, Gus, in good time." "And you'll be sure. o..conie, Mr. rt6c. lington ?" dO hope you'll' take my ad vice.nhop t the sweet girt you r were speak ing of, - and thanks for 'your kindness.- I'm qpite ready, Torre, dear." • • Mr. - ReNlington bowed - mechanically, and: watched them.walk off, with more of home sick pain.in his heart•than • , er'affeoted it before. • ;.;1 Then he went about .his• business like a sensible 'man,and by -- the time the be, Witching wiriow wrote her .name Florrie Spencer he had.conie to .the conclusion that perhaps, after .all,"l'orn - had the worst of it; . . THE DISINHERITED SON. "Ite hits made his own bed,"k3aid Major Martindale, "and be must lie on it." Major, Martindale bolded up - a certain obnoxiOus letters,as he made his niental -remark, and; `laying it on a tittle gilded letter-rack beside , butt,' in company with a tailor's bill, a ticket of some forthcom ing amateur concert, and a ; Printed eir cular concerning "insurance policies," went deliberately on With his breakfast. He was a handsome elderly gentleman, sightly bald, with_ bright brown eyes,- straight Roman features, and oneof those Square, firmly-molded mouths which be token, a decided tendency to have one's own wai.. Aad as he drank . his 'coffee, and daintily manipulated Lis French rolls, broiled birds,and fresh strawberries, served in a garntture of their own leaves he massed over the contents of this same letter. lt,s,agreat mistake to: allow a servant .to on-es . correspondence at meal times,": reflected Major Martindale.: "It's almost certain - to ,interfere with one's . digestion. I'll never read another letter at •breakfast 7 time. .What could possess my: son to . go and get married in this al). rupt; 'nonsensical - sort of a way ? Says he. `feared it would tie imposiible.to gain my consent.' he had a kood . reason 'for his fears. He'll find it.still more impoa fade after marriage than before. .He• knows my idetis, And rf be :dont choose to conform to:'‘eni, it's his .. business, • not mine." And to,after finishing his straw-berries and daintily cleansing his t , filbert-nailed finOra in a ruby=eollorkl finger-boWl, Major Martindale wrote three words on a-thick gray sheet of nole-paper, inclosed it in' an envelope, affixed a stamp, and gave it to the sertant to, post: And the three words were these: "Conszder your sqf di sitikerited.": That wag the way. in which Major Martindale ditposed 'of his only son. Not that he did not love , Harry—the bright,s frank boy, who was all that was left of his votlng wife, the one romantic dream - and tendcr memory of his life-time —but he liked his own way 'better. And it iA surprising how obstinate a man Can be when he once turns his' attention to the _business. . . "Disinherited I 0,- Harry! Anti for me .Mrs. Harry Martindale, a pretty, blue eyed woman, with 'light hair that Show; ered itself, around her face like sunshine little dots of dimples ; in her cheek . and chiu,,and a proud, fresh mouth like a Da by's, logilked piteously up into her bib's band'i face as she spoke: - Harry•Martindale -shrugged his shoul ders ; the momentary...cloud passed . . away from. his face, as he bravely answered.; 'NA.er mind, 'Areal.' We' ea _ n' afford, 'you aiid I; to be independent' of 'Crusty' old , gentleman's ' money.: I'll see about , the 'clerkship in . . St. Louis." , - , - "Half:the, world away from mei ; gar! FY 2 • •' "It won't be for - long,.pet. Che er up I send for you whin .1- get. 4ell',eslati• lished, and we'll have' a -.little bird's nest of a4iome, without asking any:favors Of myfather." , , . . smiled . :through , the deir , drops that `sparkled in• her eyes. She'ivis east.' ly Consoled. A:girls:heart at eighteen is bleSsedly elastic).- , • -Major -Miutiadalo- elected to.' , go , to . AtleutiPitylOuthe tot ,weelts.that,sea-. son. Why, lie - did ' not especielVVititra; ulariie to himself. Saratoga 'was dull 3 y0 . L:1. - :33N0i:.,-40. . , tit Newptirt One: was half a ' mile away from the beach; Long Branch had palled upon . his fabtideous taste. So to Atlan-.. tie he went, rather enjoying the very-per- ceptible nets and snares spread for 'dim by the various widows, cld maids, and : gushing datniels who w,ere theie engabed in, the great husband-hUnting campaign. "I wonder if they 'think' I am a fool," said:the ISfajor,tis he strolled On the beach with :a cigar in his mot th, . • But one day the Major found, himself forced to give up . a picnic on account of a - strange and, u'n usnar, feeling- of lassitude and languor, and the next he was in "."This looks Serious "'Said the' kajor:to. • himself.. "Pie heard of a low fever hang- \ ii)gabout but 1 never thought of it's attar. , king me," • • The doctor came, twirled his watch chaiti; wrote , a prodigious Latiu prescrip• . tion, att:shOOk his head: - . • • People ma de haste. to ,vacate the rooms in the immPdiate.vicinity ox No. 9p, and the'.lbisjOr began dimly 0 • compre hend, through a mist; that was slowly gathering around his . . that it.was likely to go hard withhim.. . . "I will stay and nurse him. doctOr, I • hsve had the fever, a year or two since, and do not fear it, and I am handy with such "Bat my dear; you've no idea what you , are undertaking." ''Fes; have atswered the soft, low tones ; "and we must not letitim die for want of care." - "Ig your aunt willing?", "Quite Su." - . "Then, you may try ; but, take my word for it, you'll back down at_the end of the first week." • Major Martindale heard these words suppose as it were, out of the clouds, as he might have heard the'thunder of the waves on the beach outside, or the ring ing of the church bells. without ,at all connecting them with himself. Strange what a work: of dreams and shadows his soul and brain had entered into. Bnt one day he catne back out of the darkness and the . Irnensityi and the restless whirling to And fro of the waves of life, weak, and white,; and helpless as a baby. - And there, sewing , by the window, sat arsoft-eyed young girl,•all , in white , with 'glimmering hair, lOng.. lashes, and deh eately rounded features. "Pardon me," hours)) , Uttered the Major, with a little souvenir of his old. fashioned courtesy and politeness, "but I don't know who you are." "Hush !" said:the. young lady, gently. "You must not talk. I am.here to. nurse . you." And then he 'found himself taking, a draught from her practiced - fingers,And then drifting off asleep. . "I have been .very ill, haven't I ?" said he, when the doctor came at noon, as. usual. . , "You have be es. close , to the Valley of - the Shadow` than once as a man can he in .this life," Dr.•Delagoodtinswer ed, gravely. , The major shuddered a little—heathen ish-old Sybarite as he was. The idea df death appalled him, and he scarcely oared to hear hoir near he bad been to the solution of thegreat problem. - - "Bat yon,, pulled 'me :through," • said. be, with a long breath. , = • "Yes, I and your patient little nurse, 'who has just gone 'for: half an boor's, 'sleep." - • - • "Who is she, doctor ?" asked the ma-' jot, anxiously , • "She is the neice of one of the la4y, boarders: Martin, think they call 'her., Her aunt went away as loon ar the feyei declared itself—in fact, it riddled the hotel pretty nearly 7 —but this girl.' would nokallow any,one to ~ suffer for want. oL care and nurciing,_so she _conrageonsly re mained to take care of - you.' - 'Why did she do that ?" aeked the reajo a little „liviip rising in his throat., , "Why did Florance 'Nightingale', go out to the Crimea P Why are all women botn heroines 'at: heart?" retertedlhe doctor. - ~-; . "God bless her I". muttered the major. - ' And then he turned his- head on one. aide, and a big 'drop -or two, splashed, dowk:Lim the pillow. * Day by day he lay there iii slow con=- valescence; while-the pretty young.narse ministered, to • , _ . 4 lty dear," and-. the, major, one day, think I am begining to realize .now whit' the hit:ailing of a daughter have been had 'God 'given me one. I have grow% •iery fond of 'you." The soft blue eyes, beamed smillingly , dowh upon him italic, spoke. "And lor you, ,, answered the &kik low;tender accents.' "Are you Much attached to your - auut - ?••••31414. Fessenden,:‘l . belieye bei name saill,t4e JIM( doubtfulkyiK suppose 80 ;:tnevet 'saw hex .4eforev.o, asked me to iille o ,nia 4fr, Ailtintio City-fait month." • - tliat 70a iThattt • [Oentilsl4o on Eighth