AU8, \ 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
BOTH SIDES. 
A max in hi9 carriage was riding along, 
A gaily dressed wife by his side; 
In satin and laces she looked like the queen, 
And he like n king In his pride. 
A wood sawyer stood on the street as they passed ; 
The carriage and couple ho eyed : 
And said, as he worked with his saw on the log, 
“ I wish I was rich and could ride. 5 ’ 
The man In the carriage remarked to his wife, 
“ One thing X would give If f enulrt— 
I’d give my wealth for the strength and the health 
Of the man who sawed the wood." 
A pretty young maid, with a bundle of work. 
Whose face, as the morning, was fair, 
Went tripping along with a smile Of delight, 
WTille humming a love-breathing air. 
She looked on the carriage; the lady she saw. 
Arrayed In apparel so line. 
And said in n whisper, “ I wish from my heart 
Those satins and laces were mine.” 
The lady looked out on the maid with her work, 
So fair in her calico dross. 
And said, " I’d relinquish position and wealth, 
Her beauty and youth to possess.” 
Thus in the world, whatever our lot, 
Our minds and our time we employ 
In longing and sighing for what we have not, 
Ungrateful for what we enjoy. 
©ur $torg-®^llitr. 
THE WORK OF THE BABY. 
BY MARIE BECKER. 
The ruby reflections of tho Betting sun flashed 
and danced through the dark drawing-room, 
like scintillations from the Northern Lights, 
gathering into a curtain of golden rni.-t. round 
the spot where the baby was lying. Three 
women, representing respectively three genera¬ 
tions, were discussing that Important domestic 
topic —the health of the child. Nurse —old, 
selfish and experienced—declared "she would- 
'nt take the chief, ao airly out, spite of all doc- 
thers." The superb mistress, with quivering 
indignation, was inisertlng her right to be obey¬ 
ed,—when Marie, young, loving and sympa¬ 
thetic, threw herself, like an angel of media¬ 
tion, in the widening breach, and offered her 
services. She win but eighteen, a aolt-hcarted 
little governess, and know no better than to 
Itve the helpless Innocent—and so the matter 
was arranged. 
Planning at live in the evening, and ex¬ 
ecuting those plans, at flve the next morn¬ 
ing, are distinct operations; the one may 
be pleasant, the other can be assuredly 
disagreeable, if — as was the case with 
Harm Carpenter— one Is confoundedly 
sleepy; but the old nurse shook her heart¬ 
ily, saying, " Come. Miss Marie, the chief's 
reddy an' xryin’ for the lines of ye, an’ its 
afther five! come!'' She needed no further 
rousing; she was soon ready, and the crow¬ 
ing and caresses of the delighted baby 
made her thoroughly happy. 
The dew still glittered on the grass, at 
the side of the curbstones and within the 
areas of the brown-stone fronts, as she 
hurried past. There was but little life 
astir; a few belated market wagons, lum¬ 
bering on to the city; a few milk wagons, 
with their shrill whoops and calls, strag¬ 
gling along In advance of the great army 
ef labor, bo soon to All the arteries and 
avenues of the commercial center. With¬ 
in the neatly graded park birds sang in 
ch«rus; once in awhile a far-away, child¬ 
ish voice shouted Its glee; once in awhile, 
as they clambered up the hill, they would 
come across some poor waif, whom mis¬ 
fortune or crime had deprived of any 
couch, save the hard benches provided by 
the municipal fathers. Past these patch¬ 
ed, dirty paupers, Marie would hurry 
with a shiver, fearful lest the Impression 
might sully the innocence of the sweet 
babe. Up and down the walks slie ran 
with her young charge, undisturbed. At 
last, quite fatigued, she sought the seclu¬ 
sion of an upper walk, hedged in by shrubs 
and young trees. Here, in perfect abandon, 
she would utter her soul to the dear child, 
caressing it with the sweetest pet names 
known to her loving human heart, for in 
some inexplicable way this little stranger 
had caught at her very soul. 
For one or two days this programme was 
uninterrupted. On the third she found 
in the walk a beautiful greyhound. The 
pranks of the animal delighted baby, and 
Marie encouraged its gambola-lts leap¬ 
ing and agile caracoles. Presently, its per¬ 
sistent playfulness annoyed her. 6he tried 
to drive it away; it would not be driven. 
She scolded it. with a hot, red, passionate 
face, A low laugh, and whistle, that the 
dog obeyed, arrested her; following the 
direction of the sound, she saw, sitting In 
an angle of the shrubbery, a gentleman 
who had been watching at liis leisure the 
maneuvers. The Intervening hedge had 
secreted him from her view. There was 
an amused sparkle in bis eye that discon¬ 
certed rather than angered Marie. 
“ Your dog is teasing me,” she said apol¬ 
ogetically. ‘‘See! he frightens the child !” 
“ You encouraged him,” was the reply, “and, 
like his master, he’s not easily shaken off when 
be takes a fancythen advancing he took the 
little rosebud palms of the bob© between his 
broad ones, and said, looking up at the young 
girl. “ You arc too young for Its mothor. It 
doesn’t look like you ; a sister, perhaps 1" 
“No," she answered, sadly, the thought of 
past happy days suggested by the question,— 
** no! only its governess, or rather the governess 
of the family.” 
He looked perplexed and said, teaslngly, “ and 
do they obey you—the family that you govern ?" 
She laughed. "The little girls you meant— 
not always!" 
“ My little three-year-old has Its aunt for 
governess," smiling upon her from his large, 
d;u - k eyes. 
“ No !” she responded, answering the expres¬ 
sion of his face rather than hi3 words, “ this la 
no relative of mine, t am a hired governess- 
working for my bread and buttor.” 
She gave utterance to a sigh of relief, think¬ 
ing that now, having defined her position, she 
would be left, alone; but no,—as she, still weary, 
sat down upon a bench, be took the carriage 
from her hands, wheeled it a few steps, turned 
und said, "Whatever you do for money, I am 
suro there is no hired Interest In your lovo for 
this child. A mother oould’ut coax her more 
pettingly than you have, my child! ” then 
laughed again out of hla groat brown eyes. 
“ You didn't know you were Intruding upon 
me In coming hore. It has been my work every 
pleasant morning for weeks, but Jack doesn’t 
always come with me. After you took posses¬ 
sion here, I cou'dn’t in conscience assert my 
first right, especially," with another bright 
smile, “after enjoying so much your panto¬ 
mime with the baby. It made me sorry to bo 
so large and old; with such a nurse,! would 
like to be a little first chapter myself. Ah, 
Jack, you’re a wise dog!" lie added, patting 
the animal that had curled obediently at Ma¬ 
rie's feet. “I must, htlng tny boy to-morrow, 
and eomparo notes. You’ll come agatu, won't 
you 
'* T don't know. I shall never feel free to say 
my say hero again! ’T will seem like actiug 
before some hidden audience!” 
He looked very grave now. “ I see you don’t 
wear your heart upon your sleeve. Well, f 
won't deprive you of tbia retirement; so early, 
no one comes here but you or I. I will stay 
somewhere else. I notice that you stay in the 
park about two hours. Will you let me come 
up here at six and show you my boy, andseo 
the baby?" 
"Certainly,” good naturedly replied the girl, 
thrown off from her guard. 
“Then to-morrow morning you may expect 
me here; come,” he added, “come with me 
and l will show you another place where the 
view is grand ;" and taking the baby from her 
hand and calling .lack, ho led the way to the 
highest prominence In the grounds. Here a 
rustic seat, canopied with a lattice of creeping 
vines, was perched, like a nest on a pinnacle. 
“Sit down, and L will point out. the special 
graces that sanctify the spot. Look about you, 
at the vines. Here’s the wistaria, with Its pin¬ 
nate leaves and lilac clusters its breath ns rich 
as the bouquet of some fine old wine. Hare’s 
honeysuckle creepers and the scarlet trumpet 
flower. These will all bo In bloom within a 
few weeks. Yes, and there’s a Madeira vine 
that will tassel out its feathery sprays later on, 
when the others are taking a siesta. Hole's 
my glass; look at the viow. See, our noblo 
harbor. Barren Island, and that cloud in the 
distance Is the Highlands 1 Staten Island curia, 
like a green leaf, just below us. Over there 
tumbles the East River, with its Government 
Islands and Hell Gate. You mark the troubled 
white line, and far away anchor sloops—you 
can faintly discern them—almost, up to Flush- 
lug Bay ! Sweeping along our own Long Island 
just a little beyond us- lies Greenwood. Ycb, 
dear child,” he added, with emotion, "that 
home Is not far from the bast of us." Then 
turning, after a little pause, “ look across New 
York—across the North River—and that cloudy 
wall lathe Palisades 1 Doesn’t this pay? Isn’t 
It a nice place to road or dream in ? When the 
troublesome little ones tease your I fc out, and 
the baby lias the oo’.lc, and between them all 
you get as nervous as a caged wild bird, come 
up hero and throw your cares away. Let them 
slide quite to the bottom of the hill—away out 
of sight. Look at this scenery, and dream of 
Heaven and happy days! Won’t that be nice, 
little woman ?” he added, directing a penetrat¬ 
ing glance at her face. 
Marik’s face, that was a moat expressive 
one, paled and flushed alternately at this 
speech, for she was getting Interested in the 
stranger. Ho took the baby out of the carriage 
and kissed it. "I love children dearly, love 
them even In their coarseness, and there again 
we are alike, Miss—Miss what can I call you?” 
“ Marie," she answered, simply. 
“Miss Marie! and I am good at guessing 
riddles, enigmas and t.ho like famous for it 
from a boy!" and his white teeth flashed like 
a gleam of pearl when ho smiled. "Como, sit 
In this corner where you can see the whole! 
These leaves fall around you like a fragile lace 
r : S'> 
AUGUST 
curtain. Do you notice what a soft bronze tint 
spreads along the new wistaria leaves? See! 
the sun lights them up ns if powdered with 
gold dust. All young leaves are painted dain¬ 
tily. That fresh growth around the maplo 
roots, rock maple, 1 think it. Is called, have as 
bright and lovely tints as any color stain of 
Autumn, T seem to see its whole splendor Im¬ 
prisoned in this small edition, as I can see the 
perfect face and form of a lovely woman step 
out of a locket case. You see, Miss Marie,” 
lie said, as lie lifted the baity to his shoulder 
and tossed it In bis arms, “I shouldn’t talk to 
you In this random fashion if I hadn't heard 
you call this little cherub those sweet, fantas¬ 
tic names; of course, if you have a heart so full 
of Inyo for lmblcs that it overflows in such 
phrases, you must share my admiration for all 
tender, timid growths, whether they blossom 
out as children, animals, or flowers. You can't 
make me hcljeve it otherwise, however sober, 
wise or delimit you look I Now I know your 
secrets ’ and he kissed the baby again, laugh¬ 
ing merrily, us if he wished to tease somebody. 
I Imre, go to little Marie,” bo said, exhaust¬ 
ing his sentence, and dropping It tenderly In 
her outstretched arms. *• Please remain just 
as you are while l make a sketch. 1 am some¬ 
thing of an artist, arid want a model for a Ma¬ 
donna; your face Is too rounded and dimpled, 
perhaps, but the expression suits me. It will 
take but a few minutes," he added, with an air 
of command that It was impossible to resist, 
and taking a piece of paper from a book that 
he carried, commenced the sketch. The fact 
troubled Maiiie, though his manner was as 
natural as that of an old friend, and acting 
Impulsively she made a gesture to rise and ter¬ 
minate the conference. Very gently, but with 
dignity, he : aid, “ 8Jt, quietly a few moments— 
I'll not. be long. Amuse yourseir with the 
child." She smiled. " That’s the right expres¬ 
sion ; while L draw a few outlines I will read 
your past. 1 am suro you've had a happy homo 
ami a dear mother, and that the Night, that shut 
out your Day was dark and stormy. But don’t 
look too often at the Past. Above all, child, 
don't fret at your lot; but keep up fresh cour¬ 
age for the good time just beyond this battle 
Hold of to-day!” 
His kind words betrayed Marie into an agi¬ 
tation she would rather have concealed; but 
with her best endeavors she was always a shy 
little body, loving with all her heart the nest 
around whose rirn was twined the welcomo 
word of Home / .Stranger as ho was, ho inter¬ 
preted all the subtle shades of omotlon that 
were mirrored in her sensitive face. 
He rose, quietly extending his hand for a 
good-by. “To-morrow at six, remember. 
You have given mo it pleasure not easily 
forgotten ! ’ Touching his hat he whistled 
to his dog and started at a rapid pace down 
the hill. Marik felt as If another joy had 
dropped out of her horizon. Would she 
meet him again? who know what hiatus 
might intervene between the two days? 
The stranger’s words were written, like an 
electric flame, upon her brain ; a flutter of 
presentiment tuggod at her heart, that to¬ 
morrow’s promise would never be fulfllled. 
I. lie deeper this foreboding, the roorofond- 
ly Bhesonghtrerugo In his words that crept 
in and out of her brain as the fleeting of 
some sweet melody will softly steal round 
the angles and curves of every day, practi¬ 
cal thoughts. 8iio had felt as If all comfort 
to her, was to be n dried wilderness, chang- 
) ed by grief to nut-brown leaves, to be rust¬ 
led only by strains of sorrow; but now, 
singing birds began taobirrup, fresh shoots 
already were pushing asfdo the blackonlng 
growth! 
i And the baby had done all this for her 
\j) tlj « "writ, irresponsible baby! 8o she kiss¬ 
ed It over and over again, and said softly, 
“ Clot) bless It 1" The baby crowed, shout¬ 
ed and touched her face with its fat, dim¬ 
pled Qsts and Marie again was happy. 
'Twas in the evening, after dinner, that 
M arie was sitting in her room, recalling 
) her morning’s adventure and listening to 
T the monotonous drone of the old nurse, 
lazily humming a decrepit, rheumatic 
chant to the bright-eyed baby. Once In a 
while the darling would strike In her In¬ 
fantile voice, as If trying to help the crip¬ 
pled melody over the falsa passages. It 
was too comical and Marie, amused, 
laughed till the tears stood In her eyes. A 
rap, and in walked Mrs. Le Grand, who 
stood amazed at the exceeding jollity of 
the young inonocrat. 
" Indeed, your thoughts must be very 
humorous to make your solitude so brisk 
and lively.” 
“ Do listen," said Marie, “ and judge for 
yourself." It was ludicrous In the extreme 
and the lady admitted It. “But my dear 
Marie, I came upon urgent business. I 
want you to go with the children to papa's 
to-morrow. I had a letter from him to¬ 
night. He lives In Connecticut, just aoross 
the Bound, and for some particular reason 
wishes them to start to-morrow morning 
as early as possible. You will be gone a 
couple of weeks, and It Is such a cheerful 
old place, you can’t help but like it. L’vo 
spent my happiest days there. You’ll re¬ 
ceive a cordial welcome; my stepmother 
is a kindly old woman, though I was dread¬ 
fully vexed when she became the wife of 
papa-he Is ten or fifteen years the oldest. 
Get ready to-night, Marie. Of course you 
will be excused from going with the baby 
