no more.

closets, and then the "place" knew her just far enough apart to enable me to

clear up after each one before a successor I had felt, after having stayed a arrived. Finally, even these ceased, month, that it might greatly lighten my to my positive relief, and the perfect friends' cares should I postpone the rest muffins and steaks the Ganymede served of the visit to a more convenient season, up were always and altogether from Miss and delicately influence Mr. Browne's Hayne's hands, and the dinners, from cousins to do the same. This was not a soup to dessert, substantially hers, for delightful thing to do, and the Brownes, Ellen's little fussy assistance was more with their sensitive hospitality, never for her own satisfaction than any real would have permitted it; but I did not help. ask their leave, when, in mentioning my

I found it the hardest work I ever did departure to my fellow-visitors, I gave in my life—the doing all these things reasons also eminently applicable to without seeming to do them. For it was themselves. Lucretia drew herself up certainly no concern of the Misses Lanas if there were essential impropriety in phier or Mr. Zerrahn how Ellen and I arthe bare suggestion of what I mentioned. ranged our private affairs. So to be cook, Juliet paid not the smallest heed. I and yet in full toilet, with leisure, was a saw I might have spared my pains-re- feat requiring real ingenuity to compass. membering, too, that Mr. Stephen's va- That it could not be done perfectly I cation was but a week off.

became, I confess not pleasantly, aware. There was no certainty of the O'- When I sauntered in through the garden Shaughnessy's place being soon, or, if door, it was from no musing ramble, but eventually, fitly supplied. The young

direct from the kitchen-range, and my husband grew decidedly sober. The heated face and reddened hands conblue veins began to show pathetically trasted unfavorably with Juliet's lovely plain on the temples of the little wife, white repose. and, try as she might to hide it, heart Then, too, I would be tired, too honand strength were plainly beginning to estly tired, to show to intellectual adfail.

vantage in the parlor when delightful I saw coming over that beautiful little hours of the student's vacation were homo the cloud of sure disaster. Ellen passing. I saw him go in and out with was wasting, in this conscientious but Juliet Lanphier, who, like the beauties useless strife, the strength and spirit in Lalla Rookh,“ grew lovelier every which in a day to come might turn the hour," I thought, under his eyes. balance between health and years of

Somehow the Van Hattan service weakness-nay, between life and death. seemed light to this one! Partly,

Should I leave her in this strait ? perhaps, because there in a manner I Here was the New Testament•again : spent my days, “the world forgetting, “Bear ye one another's burdens, and so by the world forgot." fulfil the law of Christ."

Only cook there, but here both cook

and Miss Hayne, the dignified guest, Facilis descensus

with her own state to maintain. And -into the kitchen. It ended in that. how far I succeeded in keeping it became Though it took all the tact I had, yet im- a matter of question. The impression perceptibly I glided into the position of grew that Mr. Zerrahn was coming to rehouseworker-in-chief, without the fact gard me as an ordinary sort of young becoming too painfully apparent to the person-nice in my way,which was still a parties concerned.

long way from reaching up to the higher Mr. Browne labored indefatigably to possibilities of womanhood. Evidently find competent help, but this seemed the it was not at all too bright or good to appointed time for that severe discipline prepare human nature's daily food, as he few families fully escape. A procession must perceive, to some extent, I had a of incapables filed through the kitchen, habit of doing. He often stor!'od in the

garden, well-kept and pretty even in door, in the dusky parlor, the tall bro. winter, and so passed the kitchen win- ther, with his arm around Ellen, and dows, where I might be seen at very her head on his shoulder. Then it was plebeian work; but what he saw or did a real brother's heart he had, though not see I could not tell-not even that he showed it to none but her. I had day when his eyes, glancing in, met mine not been sure of that before. And cerfull as I scrubbed the kitchen table, tainly, if he agreed with Lucretia, she Ganymede's feint of doing so having must seem to him by this time a prosy been a failure. But a few minutes af- little body, fussing about her house and terwards, when Juliet's enchanting voice talking a good deal about servants—that appealed to him in some “song of love in itself being, as is well known, a mark and longing," it seemed to echo up and of limited culture. down in me as if the space were wide She came out to me presently, and and empty in my heart for it.

Stephen went in another direction. She And that day, at the table, Lucretia asked me to read aloud, and I took up philosophized; and the conclusion of the “Selden's Table-Talk,” which I bad seen matter was thus. The tendency of Stephen reading shortly before. I turnhuman beings was, of course, to gravi- ed over the rather cynical paragraphs 'tate into their appropriate spheres. without much content, when a paper of There was a great deal of talk now- rhymes fell out. Whence copied did not a-days about women knowing how to do appear. Glancing at a line or two, I saw all sorts of work and doing it. But that whatever woman had written or there was in reality an essential coarse- inspired them, they were also for Ellen; ness about most of the labors of the and I read. house, which made it evident nature of all the ways of waiting in the world, never intended them for a certain class

Waiting with chafe and strain or patience dumb,

What expectation of it all compares of minds. And observation would

With hers who blindly waits a life to come! prove that the accidents were The others waiting, know for what they wait; where thoroughly refined and delicate

Beneath her heart stir mystery and fear.

She knows not if her dream of life and light, spirits failed to fit into their true places

Or form of piteous shape her child shall wear. without contact with common labor. She may not choose ; no yearning wish of hers All of which was received in silence.

Shall image take-"Children are from the Lord."

No vision warns her if the bidden life But these should be light things, I told

Shall be ber woe, or gracious, rich reward. myself, compared to the joy of being Slow her sure hour of darkness draweth on : such a necessity and happiness to any

Up to the Lord upon His glorious height

She tries to lift her heart from this low place, human being as I had become to Ellen.

Ready to change carth's joy for heaven's delight Her “Douglas, tender and true," was of She thinks of Agncs on her convent tower, necessity absent most of the day. As to

Yearning her soul up through the gates within,

Whose shining ward "the Heavenly Bridegroom the brother, wherever he was the Misses

waits, Lanphier came also. In fact, Ellen had To shrive her free and make her pure of sin." formally made them over to him in pri

The Heavenly Bridegroom ! of his perfect grace

Agnes, who knew no earthly one, might muse. vate for the vacation-anxious Mr.

But she-O Lord I forgive her, if between Browne's friends should be fitly enter- Thee and her love below she fail to choose.

Forgive her if her heart can not conceive tained, and feeling herself less and less

The joy of rest in Thee from tears and sighs, able to do it.

Of peace, of niusic, splendor or delight, All parties seemed well pleased. Ellen

What shuts her from the sight of his clear eyes. and I sat chiefly in the little library off

Break soon I thou cloud, let in the morning light,

That shows a wife with honor in the landthe parlor, not too distant to seem un- An heir of endless life within her arms, social, though the current of talk in the Who in Thine image at Thy feet shall stand. two rooms seldom mingled.

“ There is not a 'made-up' line in One night the Misses Lanphier went that,” said Ellen, with a great bright tear to one of the æsthetic teas, and the par- rolling over her cheek. “It is all true. I lor lights burned low. Coming into the wonder where it came from. Why, it is little library, I saw through the open Stephen's handwriting,” said she, seiz

rare

ener.

ing it," and here is his initial. Why, the And here happened a piece of great dear old brother! he has written it, and good fortune. Mrs. Gamp did not come the thonght was for me!

with her bundle and umbrella, but in"Is it possible ? ” said I, involuntarily stead Mrs. Patience Dix, as true a phiEllen smiled. “You have not found out lanthropist in her way as the great lady yet what a mother-heart he has. I won- whose name she shares. She might have der if any young lady in the world will stepped out of one of Mrs. Stowe’s New ever know Stephen.”

England romances. I confess I regarded Would Juliet? I asked myself, but her with surprise. Like the Dodo, I had not Ellen. I felt for some reason stirred imagined her type mythical or extinct. that evening, and paced back and forth She pervaded the house. There was as we talked. Partly for Ellen's com- no work in it to which her hands were fort, and because it was uppermost in not addressed. She did not stop to anamy heart, I told her how blessed lyze this or that matter to see whether among women she was, with her dear it belonged to her duty as nurse and lovers, the brother and husband. No must be done. care, suspense, or pain her joys might The delightful consciousness that from bring with them, were harder to bear basement to attic every thing was being than the lone refrain the most cheerful “seen to” pervaded the sick-room like and useful single woman at times hears an air of healing. In that apartment and smothers back in her heart. Would niceness rose to a fine art. Mrs. Dix she hear tho echo? It was, “Desolate, made it almost a luxury to be sick. desolate, desolate !"

Under her influence even the servants Finally, passing the parlor-door in my seemed to enter into a bappy secret of walk, I saw reclining there another list- at least mediocrity. Mrs. Patience Dix

I bad opened my “heart and hope was a greater than I, and with her adof a woman "to Stephen Zerrahn. And vent my mission ended. I had taken such pains to be just the I thought my reward was with me "walking lady" in the play to him all when Ellen clung to my neck with tears, winter! I wanted no third place in and called me ber precious old woman. his interest; I should greatly have pre- The young husband's words were few, ferred he had not heard this talk, little but his eyes not to be forgotten. So as it might matter to him.

I left them to their happiness; and Yes, and little as it might have mat- they were just as wonderfully glad as if tered to him bad he known it, I may as there had never been a baby before-as well say it here first as last. After this if the very greatest blessings were not evening I knew that I loved Stephen the commonest. Zerrahn. Now, at length, when my There was one thing more. In the heart had gone out it had departed un- shaded parlor for a minute there camo sought.

Stephen Zerrahn, and he took my hands Well, the cloud lifted, and the morn- in his, and said: “Blessings and thanks, ing joy was very bright. “All pain is my friend." Then he did know that I gain,” some say; and surely there was had wrought not ill: so for me were great reward here, even had the pain blessings and thanks, but love for Juliet brought no other token than to prove Lanphier-dear love. the completeness of the affection of husband and brother and friend. We ran up and down, and fetched and carried, It was not a very festive winter first forgetting fatigue in joy that all was and last; for I spent the rest of it helping well. The Misses Lanphier secluded nurse my father through the rheumathemselves in their room as if there had tism, and when the long gray spring days been contagion in the house, and kept began to come, I seemed tired, and they

I Ganymede faithful to their needs by a very long. At last, when the young « testimonial.”

year stood "with all its green com-VOL. VI.-24

TIE SKY FALLS.

pleted,” there came a letter from Ellen, walked here a good while in silence also urgent, that one would have thought most, till I, fearing he might wish to be the glories of Commencement would not with Juliet, spoke of going in. be glorious if Miss Hayne were not at “No, please, not yet,” said he, and we Cambridge to see them, and behold the went on. Another silence-and to break success of Stephen in the Valedictory. it I said, “I have not yet congratulated

It was, of course, foolishness for me to you upon your gratifying success." go, but I could not deny myself. I had "Do not,” he returned, "for I have a romantic fancy that to see Stephen be- not yet succeeded, I fear. I fear, my fore his great audience, and hear him friend, I bave still to say, like that other pronounce his Valé, would nerve my scholarheart up to such a pitch of heroism that

- I have striven and failed, it would utter mine for him, and thence- I set mine eyes upon a certain height, forth lot Juliet bave her lover without

Yet could not hail with them its deep-set light." another regret.

There was a wishful meaning in his So I took my journey and went with voice and air, never before seen. Ellen to Cambridge. I could not help My heart sprung up in one upreasonthinking how many painful heart-throbs ing tumult. would be spared the hopeful yet appre

“Mr. Zerrahn!" hensive kindred of promising sprigs He perceived my profound surprise. about to seek public honors, could they “Then you did know I loved yon, Miss have possessed more of the superb con- Hayne?” fidence of Ellen in her brother. “I know "I did not even dream ; but now I

i he will succeed," said she, with quiet know-and dream.”

certainty.

His eyes shone with delight at my reAnd he did succeed. How well, one ply, and he went on, had only to look from the attentive faces “ Yet I have loved you well, and I beof mature men, to those of the erudite gan that very evening Ellen bronght you spectacled ladies, young and old, to per- in, and I saw your dear, calm, helpful ceive. He was past the age of greenness

face. But I confess I was cynic enough and gush, and demonstrated that a young to watch carefully to see if the face were American of twenty-seven may reach a really the right index to the woman bevery goodly measure of manhood and hind it. As the weeks went on, and I sound thought.

on what eagles' wings you were Certainly Ellen's brother was the man bearing up my precious little sister, of the hour; we felt it, especially at the while the rest of us talked bosh in the elegant entertainment given in the even- parlor, I felt too worthless to address ing. The Brownes and I marked with you, and have been waiting for to-day, satisfaction the stir attending his en- hoping for some praise of men to back trance into the room after we arrived. me in my suit."

I saw Juliet Lanphier's quickened "And in any one of those past days breath, and the little foot's eager uncon- I might have replied to you, Mr. Zerscious advanoe from the trailing splendor rahn, as the friend did to your scholar,' of her dress. The happiest girl in all I love you for the sake of what you are, the wide world's round stands there, I And not for what you do." thought.

Now, in a minute all was made Mr. Zerrahn made courteous but steady clear, and “the face of all the world was progress among bis friends towards changed to me.” We went back to the where we stood, and having reached rooms on air, I suppose, for I did not us, silently offered me his arm. That was feel the ground. The Brownes' expelike his perfect breeding—I was his sis. rienced eyes found us ont in an instant. ter's guest. There were leafy walks “ You foolish old woman,” said Ellen, about the grounds, and the people went with a beaming face, "where were your in and out enjoying the clear night. We intuitions and things ? You know you

saw

thought Stephen would marry one of no secret, for it seemed to me, as I woke the velvet togas, and that I would let on the wonderful “morning of the first him."

day," after it was made clear, that every “Well, I suppose the toga thought so bird in leafy Cambridge sung it, that too,” said Mr. Browne, whimsically, every bell rung it, now that the long making my apology.

years had brought it just as I wished it “My story!" I have told it to you as to be!

THE FOX.

no

The fox furnishes, perhaps, the only mountains in the immediate vicinity. instance that can be cited of a fur-bear- And many were the foxes that, winter ing animal that not only holds its own, after winter, fell before them, twenty-five but that actually increases in the face of having been shot the season before my the means that are used for its extermi- visit, on one small range alone. And nation. The beaver, for instance, was yet the foxes were apparently never gone before the earliest settlers could more abundant than they were that get a sight of him; and even the mink' summer, and never more bold, coining at and the martin are now only rarely seen, night within a few rods of the house, or not seen at all, in places where they and of the unchained alert hounds, and were once abundant,

making havoc among the poultry. But the fox has survived civilization, One morning a large fat goose was and in some localities

loubt more

found minus her head and other se abundant now than in the time of the mangled. Both hounds had disappeared, Revolution. For half a century at least and as they did not come back till near ho has been almost the only prize, in the night, it was inferred that they had cut way of fur, that was to be found on our short Reynard's repast, and given him a mountains, and he has been hunted and good chase into the bargain. But next trapped and waylaid, sought for as game night he was back again, and this time got and pursued in enmity, taken by fair safely off with the goose. A couple of means and by foul, and yet there is not nights after he must have come with rethe slightest danger of the species becom- cruits, for next morning three large gosing extinct.

lings were reported missing. The silly One would think that a single hound geese now got it through their noddles in a neighborhood, filling the mountains that there was danger about, and every with his bayings, and leaving no nook night aîter came close up to the house or by-way of them unexplored, was to roost. enough to drive and scare every fox from A brood of turkeys, the old one tied the country. But rot so. Indeed, I am to a tree a few rods, to the rear of the almost tempted to say, the more hounds, house, were the next objects of attack. the more foxes.

The predaceous rascal came, as usual, in I recently spent a summer-month in a the latter half of the night. I happened mountainous district in the State of New to be awake, and heard the helpless turYork, where, from its earliest settle- key cry “quit, quit," with great emphament, the Red fox has been the standing sis. Another sleeper, on the floor above prize for skill in the use of the trap and me, who, it seems, had been sleeping gun. At the house where I was stop- with one ear awake for several nights in ping were two fox-hounds, and a neigh- apprehension for the safety of his torbor, half a mile distant, had a third. keys, heard the sound also, and instantly There were many others in the township, divined its cause. I heard the window and in season they were well employed, open and a voice summon the dogs. A too; but the three spoken of, attended by loud bellow was the response, which their owners, held high carnival on the caused Reynard to take himself off in a