164 THE SOUTH BAT. 



tons of his coat, it is not certain he took advantage 

 of these opportunities ; but suddenly starting into 

 life, she gave him*- a gentle tap on the ear, pulled 

 away, and turning to hide her blushes, called out, as 

 she darted from the room : 



" You must catch her first, and the train starts in 

 twenty minutes." 



" So it does," he muttered, as the delighted look 

 of admiration with which he had regarded her 

 faded slowly from his eyes; " what a darling witch, 

 it is so full of fun, and yet, as the neighboring poor 

 can testify, so gentle, generous, and sympathetic." 

 A thousand thoughts of all the loving acts he would 

 do for her came into his mind as he hastened towards 

 the depot. 



"Well^ friend," said Mr. Hartley, as the two 

 deacons were journeying along at a sober gait in 

 the old-fashioned but comfortable buggy of the 

 wealthier, " what a beautiful day it is, not merely 

 for our sport, and it could hardly be better, but to 

 admire the beauties of nature ! The summer foliage 

 looks truly gorgeous in the broad sunshine." 



"Yes, indeed, and the influence of such a 'day 

 must be felt by the moral nature of man. Even upon 

 man debased by vice, I believe in the country as a 

 moral purifier, and think a system should be devised 

 by which criminals would be thrown in contact with 

 it as much as possible." 



" I agree with you fully, and had an evidence this 

 morning how it opens the heart and emboldens the 

 affections. You know Harry has long been atten- 



