MOORE’S  RURAL  NEW-YORRER 
WHITTIER’S  CENTENNIAL  HYMN. 
Sung  at  the  Opening  of  the  international 
Exhibition,  Philadelphia,  May  10,  1876. 
OuB  fathers'  God  !  from  out  whose  hand 
The  centuries  fall  like  (rralns  of  sand, 
AVe  meet  fo-d»y,  united,  free, 
And  lojTvI  to  onr  land  and  Thee, 
To  thank  Thee  for  the  era  done. 
And  trust  Thee  for  the  opening  one. 
Here,  whore  of  old,  hy  Thy  design, 
The  fatliers  spake  that  word  of  Thine 
Whose  ociio  is  the  glad  refrain 
Of  rendeil  l>olt  and  falling  chain. 
To  grace  onr  festal  time,  from  all 
The  zones  of  earth  our  guests  we  call. 
Be  with  UB  while  the  New  World  greets 
The  Olil  World  thronging  all  its  streets, 
tTiivelling  all  the  triumphs  won 
By  art  or  toil  he.nrath  the  sun ; 
And  unto  coniiiion  good  ordain 
This  rivalshtp  of  hand  and  lirain. 
Thou,  who  hast  Iiere  in  concord  furled 
The  war  flags  of  a  gathcrcid  world, 
Beneath  onr  Western  skies  fulllll 
The  Orient’s  mission  of  good-will. 
And,  freight'd  with  love's  (tolden  fleece, 
Send  hack  Its  Argonauts  of  iiesce. 
For  art  and  lalstr  met  in  truce. 
For  Beauty  made  the  hndo  of  use, 
AA'c  Ihanlt  U  hoe ;  hut.  withal,  we  crave 
The  aiudere  vtrlntB  strong  to  save. 
The  honor  proof  to  place  or  gold, 
The  manhiKKl  never  bought  nor  sold  ! 
Oh  make  Thou  us,  through  centuries  long, 
In  peace  secure,  in  Justice  Strong : 
Around  our  gift  of  freedom  draw 
The  safeguards  of  Thy  rig’htoons,  law ; 
And,  cast  in  some  diviner  mold. 
Let  the  new  cyi.'le  shame  the  old ! 
®l)c  Siovii-iSfllff. 
U  O 
ARTHUE  SETON. 
Scene— A  coiinl.rj'  tavern  near  the  city  of  C  ; 
a  young  man  having  a  grent-cont  over  hla  arm,  a 
light  bag  In  one  hand  and  a  stick  In  the  other, 
prosenUs  himself  at  the  door  and  asks  languidly 
It  he  can  bo  accomniodatod  with  a  bed  and  sitting- 
room, 
“A  bed,  slrl”  replied  .Mr.  Hunter,  a  big  man 
with  red  face  and  gray  imlr,  “yes,  1  tlilnk  we  can 
manage  to  give  you  a  bed.” 
“And  a  sitting-room?”  continued  tlic  stranger. 
“  A  sitting-room  1"  echoed  the  landlord.  In  the 
tone  of  one  who  Is  considering  some  great  under¬ 
taking  ;  “one  minute,  if  you  please,  sir and  Mr. 
Hunter  disappeared  intoa  little  room  Immedluteiy 
adjoining  the  bar,  there  to  hold  eounscl  with  some 
second  person,  the  up.shot  being  that  In  a  few 
minutes  Mrs.  Hunter,  .Mias  Hunter,  and  a  tew 
Hunters  Jast  out  of  the  crawling  shato.  Issued 
forth,  bearing  respectively  working  materials, 
soeks  lu  |)roce.ss  of  being  mended,  tin  wlitsUcs 
and  decapitated  dolls. 
“  You  can  have  this  room  all  to  yourself,  sir,” 
said  ,Mr.  Hunter,  IHiimphnnlly. 
“You  really  Jii'ist  not  lot  me  disturb  you,”  re¬ 
joined  the  traveler. 
“Don’t  yon  mention  It,”  replied  the  landlord. 
In  a  tone  wlileli  wsm  at  once  genial  and  confiden¬ 
tial.  “  We  would  not  t  urn  a  cuslomcr  away  from 
our  doors.  You  see,  we  do  not  have  much  parlor 
company.” 
“Andt’als  Is  the  only  room  you  have  disen¬ 
gaged  ?” 
“  Well,  yes,  sir;  this  is  the  only  room  at  pres¬ 
ent.  Su.san,  make  a  lire  for  the  gentleman.” 
The  traveler  having  as  he  thought  shown  a  duo 
amount  of  eonsldiTal, loll  for  the  comfort  of  Mrs. 
Hunter  and  the  young  Hunters,  was  glad  enough 
to  enter  the  apartment  hefore  alluded  to  and  to 
draw  close  to  tlie  lire  the  one  dilapidated  arm¬ 
chair. 
Arthur  Setou,  lawyer  by  profession  and  literary 
by  choice,  was  not  really  more  than  thirty,  though 
he  looked  consldorably  older;  for  the  dark  hair 
and  beard  were  streaked  with  gray  and  tlic  face, 
AvltU  Its  regular,  hauiLsome  features,  Avore  liablt- 
ually  a  look  of  such  lutense  mental  Avcarlness  as 
Avould  have  saildencd  the  most  hopeful  man  had 
he  looked  ou  it  tor  long. 
For  some  time  he  leant  Indolently  back,  hla 
hands  clasped  behind  his  head;  at  length  he  rose 
and  took  from  hJ.s  bag  a  lockod-up  diary,  which 
he  opened,  and  availing  himself  of  pens  and  Ink 
which  stood  upon  the  table,  made  the  lollowlug 
entry ; 
“  Oct.  IT,  1S71.— Got  up  late.  Called  on  the  Bi1an- 
Btones;  George  wa.s  out.  Had  a  pleasant  chat 
with  Annie;  went,  like  a  fool,  to  0 — ,  and,  like 
a  fool,  haunted  theQ—— House.  It  looked  just 
the  same  as  in  the  old,  dear  days,  but  1  heard 
children  playing  In  the  garden.  The  house  Is  let, 
I  believe,  to  city  people.  Came  back  to  0 — ; 
dined  with  the  Frasers ;  Avont  to  the  club.  Got 
back  home  late.  Wrote  a  column  -  Review. 
A  weary,  Aveary  dity.  Shall  I  never  know  a  mo¬ 
ment’s  forgetfulness?” 
He  then  drew  from  the  leaves  of  the  diary  a  let¬ 
ter  Avrlttenln  a  delicate  feminine  hand  and  ad¬ 
dressed,  “  Arthur  Seton,  Esfi.”  This  letter  he  re¬ 
garded  Avith  a  long,  sad,  loving  look ;  tlien,  rest¬ 
ing  his  head  on  Ids  hand,  he  read  It  llirougli  very 
slowly.  It  ran  as  follows ; 
Mt  deak  artwcr;— Hyoii  will  be  so  suspicious, 
so  Jealous  and  exacting,  I  cannot  see  how  we  are 
ever  to  be  happy.  Faith  without  Avorks  Is  dead, 
and  love  without  faith  is  no  blessing,  but  a  weary 
burden,  1  am  tired  of  cross  words  and  dark  looks. 
Some  Avomcn  I  believe,  like  the  feverish  excite¬ 
ment  of  quarrels,  but  I  only  wish  lor  peace.  This 
miserable,  petty  je.nlousy  is  quite  unworthy  of 
you.  Do  try  and  put  It  from  yon ;  and  remomher 
that  love,  once  wounded.  Is  sometimes  hurt  past 
hone  ig  reenverj'.  I  rceclvi-U  .Aour  article  quite 
safely,  but  1  cannot  spctik  about  11  now.  You  have 
made  me  loo  sad.  too  weary,  and  even  a  Itl  tic  In¬ 
dignant.  A'quih  alTeeMonately, 
Al  ICR  Cll.iRKlTEf.D. 
He  replaced  the  letter,  closed  the  diavy,  took 
up  Ills  pipe,  and  began  smoking.  The  early  part 
of  this  d.ay  hud  been  Hue  and  mild,  but  toward 
the  altemoon  the  .sky  grew  all  at  once  leaden  and 
the  Avind  shifted  to  Mio  north-enat;  now  tUcAvlinl 
w.as  rising  and  the  rain  Avas  falling— a  cold,  pene¬ 
trating,  Impetuous,  dcleriiilncd  rain.  The  coun¬ 
try,  Avnicli  but  a  hriei  while  since  had  lookeil  so 
fair  In  a  bland  October  sunlight,  now  seemed  a 
thing  to  shudder  al..  The  dun-colorcd  woods,  Avet 
and  forlorn,  seemed  to  have,  no  hoiioofaiiy  re¬ 
turning  summer  and  to  know  I, he  utter  dosolntlon 
of  the  end.  It  Wiis  Impossihio  Indeed  to  Imagine 
that  In  the  green,  .soaking  Helds,  where  now  a  few 
cows  wore  huddling  together  and  loAvlng  discon¬ 
solately, glad  children  could  ever  have  to.ssed  each 
other  In  the  1  arm,  sweetz-smelUng  hay;  the  rain 
drove  drearily  against  the  wDidow,  and  the  wind 
shrieked  round  l.he  house  and  occn.slonall.v  thun¬ 
dered  hi  the  chimney;  and  the  wagons  lumbered 
by  or  drew  up  In  front  of  the-  door,  and  while  the 
drivers  fi.v.1  lied  themselves  of  the  tavern’s  hospi¬ 
tality,  the  large,  bro.id-buckccl  horses  bctit  the 
rulry  roiid.s  with  heavy  hoofs,  d’here  was  not 
much  to  occupy  a  mail's  thoughts  lu  the  drearjr 
lltUe  parlor.  A  great  variety  of  whltts  hung 
against,  the.  wall,  and  over  the  mantel-pleeo  wa.s 
a  photograph  of  aline  ehe.stnut  m-irc.  I  ndorll. 
w-os  written,  “  Being  Mr.  Hiirder’s  favorite  marc, 
who  died  In  her  fourteent  h  year.”  A  short,  way 
on  Avasa  phoiograoli  of  .Airs.  Hunter  In  full  holi¬ 
day  coslliiiic.  A  large.  Bible  and  photograph  al¬ 
bum  lay  upon  the  table. 
Seton  mechanIcnUy  opened  the  album.  Here 
was  a  Mnteil  phntogrupli  of  ayoungglrl  wll.h  pro¬ 
fuse  gold  ringlets,  a  large,  round  fticc,  and  mean¬ 
ingless  blue  oyt‘8,  i  ndor  It  was  AA'rli.tou,  “  I’rc- 
sented  to  Miss  Hunter  by  her  alfoctlonato  irleiid, 
Isaholla  Graid..”  Poor  Isaliella!  How  many  hon¬ 
est,  country  linarfs,  I  wonder,  liad  she  caused  U) 
ache  while  the  Uulr  wasgold  and  the  bu.xoin  llgure 
still  shapely! 
For  want  of  sfimethlng  bettor  to  do  Heton  began 
to  wrtlc.  a  letter ;  but  he  made  slow  way  with  It. 
For  mlnuto.s  together  ho  sal.  holding  the  pen  list- 
leaalj’  in  his  hand,  loaning  his  arm  wearily  upon 
the  table  listening,  as  we  all  listen  when  alone, 
to  what  sounds  may  ho  going  on  near  u.s,  from  a 
Biding  which  Is  not  curiosity,  but  more  overiKiw- 
crlug, 
.Suddenly  wbat  must  have  been  a  very  light  ve¬ 
hicle  dashed  SAvlftly  down  the  ro'vd  and  drcAV  up 
wll.h  groat  precision  al  the  <loor  of  tlio  liousc, 
while  tho  voice  of  a  ncw-coraer  became  audible. 
tjcLou,  however,  could  only  cateli  a  few  discon¬ 
nected  words,  such  us  “Caught  In  the  rain- deli¬ 
cate— shelter- a.  closed  earrluge,” 
Then  the  door  opened,  tho  landlord  iiresented 
himself  upon  tlic  threshold  and  said,  In  a  very 
polnuid  njanner,  “  H  you  plea.so,  sir,  a  young  lady 
driving  over  to  Govlngion  In  a  light,  open  car- 
rliigo,  him  4|eon  eauglit  In  l  lio  r.Uri,  and  her  sorv- 
atitw  want  to  know  If  I  can  give,  herasltlliig-ronin 
AVhllc  ho  drlvos  tiack  for  a  closed  carriage.'* 
“  And  Lhl.s  l.s  the  only  one  you  have  7”  rejoined 
.Setou.  “i/iiJ  ask  her  In  by  all  means.  However, 
I  .am  sorry  t  lie  room  smells  so  of  smoke,”  he  atld- 
ed,  knocking  the  a-slies  Horn  hla  filpo. 
''  Don't  yon  menilon  it,  sir,  .itui  thank  you  vory 
innch,”  replied  the  landlord,  rci  lrlng. 
In  another  moment  the  door  opened  .again,  and 
the  unexpected  lulrudor  entered- a  lady,  tall  anti 
very  gr;w,efiil.  having  a  pale,  .Madonnii-likc  face, 
and  gold  hair  shining  like  an  aureole  round  a 
small,  classclal  head. 
Scion's  face  h.ad  grown  white  to  the  lips,  and 
Ids  voice  quivered  perceptibly  as,  extending  his 
hand,  he  sahl— 
“Thl-S  Is  a  very  unexpta'lt.'il  meeting.” 
“A’ery  unexpected,”  echoed  the  lady,  removing 
her  wet  mantle,  and  sitting  down  on  the  worn 
leather  sofa.  The  recognition  htul  been  mutual, 
but  women  as  a  rule,  are  more  aclI-corni>oscd  than 
men. 
“Let  me  recommend  this  chair,”  said  Seton, 
laying  Ills  hand  upon  the  one  from  which  ho  had 
just  risen. 
“  No,  thank  you ;  I  prefer  sitting  atvay  from  tho 
lire.” 
“  I  am  sorry  the  room  should  smell  so  of  tobac¬ 
co,”  obseiwed  Seton,  after  a  pause ;  “  but  you  see, 
1  did  not  expect  the  pleasure  of  a  visitor.” 
.•^hu  smiled  a  rather  forced  smile  by  way  of  an¬ 
swer,  and  Setou  folded  elaborately  and  put  into 
an  envelope  a  sheet  of  hlank  paper. 
“The  country  is  very  beautiful  around  here,” 
he  observed,  writing  hla  awn  name,  with  great 
care,  upon  the  envelope. 
“  Wo  have  only  been  back  from  Europe  about 
bLx  Aveeks,"  site  observed,  after  a  pause.  “  Mam¬ 
ma  has  token  a  house  near  C - ,  1  w'as  driving 
over  to  Covington  this  morning  and  I  was  caught 
In  the  rain  aiul  induced  Ui  ask  for  shelter  here.” 
“.And  how  la  .Mrs.  Clarcfleld?” 
“Mamma  la  quite  well,  thank  you.”  Then,  after 
a  pauso.  In  a  full,  sweet,  low  contralto  voice, 
which  had  a  ring  of  laQnlto  pathos,  “Arc  you 
stopping  here?” 
“Hardly,"  siild  Seton,  Avlth  an  assumption  of 
gaiety  in  hts  tone ;  “  but  I’ll  tell  you  all  about  It. 
My  friends  kindly  took  It  Into  their  hcauls  that  I 
was  sucking  too  closely  to  work— that  I  wanted 
fresh  air  and  exercise— so  they  bound  me  over,  on 
my  word  tif  lionoi',  to  walk  from  C —  to  this 
place  dally.  1  acquiesce  In  everything  novi',  so  of 
course  I  acqulesm-d  lu  this,  ana  this  Is  my  nrst 
day  of  hard  labor  and  Imprisonment.” 
“But  you  used — ”  began  the  lady;  then  she 
colored  a  UttUs  and  seemed  unwilling  to  finish 
her  sentence ;  “  you  used  to  be  so  fond  of  walk¬ 
ing.” 
“  But  a  man  changes  a  good  deal  in  throe 
years,”  he  replied  wearily. 
Then  c.ame  a  long  silence,  broken  at  last  by  the 
pop  of  an  ale  cork,  at  which  they  started  as  It  an 
explosion  had  tokoii  plane. 
"Oh!  you  grow  used  to  It  In  time,” observed 
.Seton. 
It  seemed  Impossible  to  Imagine  those  two  per¬ 
sons,  mote  formal  to  each  other  lu  manner  than 
Uio  most  distant  acqualutances,  could  ever  have 
been  jia-sslonate  and  devoted  lovers.  What 
thniighto  nacl  they,  I  wonder,  as  they  sat  togol.h- 
er  and  yet  so  f.ar  apart,  of  t  he  old  days  Avheretn 
love  led  them  and  all  was  well?  It  would  weary 
you,  dear  reader,  and  to  no  purpose,  Avere  I  to  set 
down  here  the  drc.ary  conuuonpl.iccs  Avltli  Avhlch 
those  two  tried  to  beguile  the  lime  for  over  an 
hour.  .\t  length,  Avorn  out  by  l.he  arduous  ellorl. 
of  trying  to  entertain  each  other  while  their 
thoughts  were  HO  far  away,  they  look  refuge  In 
slloncc ;  and  the  Avlml  roared,  and  tho  rain  lashtul 
the  wIndOAV,  and  I.Un  dusk  came  on  prematurely, 
and  .Seton,  looking  out  on  tlie  clieerlcss  prospect, 
shivered  as  with  the  cold.  Then  that  other  per¬ 
son  In  the  room  rose  very  quietly  and  stirred  the 
fire  Into  a  blaze,  .and  resumed  her  seat  outhnsom. 
“No,  you  sliouklirt  rcklly,”  .said  8cton,  not 
turning  round,  however,  though  wll.h  a  look  of 
great  pain  ujion  his  face.  It  la  Avnnderfiil  what 
safTering  some  smalt,  eommon-plaeo  Avord  or 
motion  may  cause  us.  What  vistas  of  Impossible 
Joys,  again,  may  l.hey  not  open  up  to  us! 
“I  suppose  the  carrhige  will  soon  be  back,” 
said  Alice  presently,  and  speaking  with  elTort., 
“and  our  new  eonehtnan  drives  so  fJRt,  too.” 
*•  Yes,  and  jnnr  terrn  of  InqirlsoLiriient  will  soon 
be  up,”  rejoined  «oton,  resting  Ids  arms  upon  the 
inaritelpicee,  and  examltdng  with  critical  Interest 
the  photograph  of  Mr.  Hunter’s  defunct  marc. 
"  How  the  lime  passes,"  said  Alice,  In  a  low 
voice,  as  If  .speaking  to  herself.  Then  Avlth 
siidden  energy,  “I  cannot  tell  wlun  Ave  shall 
meet  again.  Before  we  part,  answer  me  one 
question.  Von  aro  looking  worn  and  Aveary— are 
jron  happy  7" 
Noav  ho  stood  before  her,  and  through  the  iliisk 
and  the  llrellght  his  eyes  Hashed  on  her,  as  he 
said.  In  a  Ioav,  harsh  voice—"  From  your  llp.s  thl.s 
iptosUon  Ls  an  Insult.'* 
“Of  which  you  tietsl  not  fear  Lite  repetition, ’> 
she  rejoined  prompt.Iy,  with  cutting  formality. 
“No,  It  can't  end  like  this,”  he  Avonton.  “  Do 
yon  knoAV,  OA’cr  since  .vou  have  been  here,  I  have 
bitten  niy  Ups  through  and  through  to  keep  them 
from  .speaking  of  the  past.  This  meeting  Avns  not 
of  your  seeking,  and  It  seems  to  mo  urunaiily 
and  diustardly  to  take  ailvantage  of  this  opportun¬ 
ity,” 
“  Wo  are  sometimes  so  mistaken,”  she  said 
hurriedly,  but  her  Avords  avcic  Itardly  audible, 
and  he  eoni.lnucd- 
“  Alice !  you  havo  treated  me  very  lU.  Gn  t  luit 
day,  noAv  three  years  ago,  when  I  gave  you  my 
love,  and  bellnvod  In  yours,  I  aviih  frank  with  yon. 
I  told  ynu  how  wild  ami  Irregulnr  my  lllo  had 
been,  and  Imw  full  of  taulto  I  w.as.  You  rcolalmeit 
mo— you  transformed  my  ditys— you  made  my 
life,  allatoiicc,  pure  and  fair;  ami  then,  because 
some  thorn  in  my  love  hurt  you,  you  tbrewltall 
aAvay,  and  left  me  to  perish  mlsiTubly.”  .She 
would  have  Intcrrupteil  him,  but  lie  .silenced  lier 
by  a  ge.sture  and  went  on;  “and  now  when  we 
meet.,  after  l.hree  years,  you  ask  me  11 1  am  happy  ? 
If  1  loved  you  enco,  I  shall  love  you  lorever.  Do 
I  look  happy?" 
“  I  think  there  Avere  faults  on  both  .sides,”  she 
said  quietly. 
“  Yes,  perimps  there  were,”  ho  replied :  “but  l 
was  rcatllng  yoitr  last  lctl.er  over  only  to-day. 
Oh :  how  ti-rrlbly  bitter  It  Avaa !” 
“And  have  you  rorgottmi  your  answer  to  that 
letter?”  she  H,i|d,  almo.st  iiawdonately,  her  voice 
quivering,  and  her  breast  heaving. 
“  I  don't  rtunember  ft  wonl  for  word,”  he  re¬ 
turned  quickly;  “I  know  It  was  written  on  the 
Impulse  of  the  moment.” 
“But  I  have  11  by  heart;”  then,  very  slowly, 
“you said.  If  your  love,  lu  iw  heart  and  strength 
was  a  little  exacting,  mine  was  cold  and  tldoloss ; 
In  fact,  no  love,  oidy  a  .sIoav,  sluggish  alTcetlon. 
You  almost  thought  I  Avas  right,  and  l.liat  wo 
could  not  bo  happy.  I  am  naturally  proud,”  she 
went  on  ;  “but  a  woman  with  loss  pride  than  I 
hiivo  coiihl  not  have  acted  differently.  Only  one 
course  was  loft  mo— to  be  silent.” 
“Well  It  Ih  all  over  now,"  he  rejoined;  “wo 
shall  uevor,  never  meet  again.” 
“  You  won't  take  my  friendship,  then  ?’’ 
“No.  thank  you;  you  are  very  generous,  but  I 
do  not  want  this  gift.” 
Ho  threw  UirniAelf  AA’earlly  Into  a  chair,  and  for 
some  time  there  was  a  complete  silence.  Hope  Is 
so  subtle,  80  Intangible,  that  wc  are  often  only 
aAvaro  of  Ito  existence  Avhen  it  has  ceased  to  be. 
Arthur  Seton  looked  upon  himself  as  a  man  quite 
without  hope,  it  seemed  to  him  that  his  life 
could  hardl,v  be  more  gray  and  desolate  than  It 
was,  yet  who  shall  say  Avhat  reefing,  of  Avhich  lie 
was  not  directly  conscious,  may  have  sustained 
him  through  the  last  three  years.  Now  every¬ 
thing  seemed  gone— there  was  nothing  but  death 
left. 
Presently  carriage  wheels  came  down  the  road  ; 
carriage  lamps  Hashed  ih rough  the  dusk,  and 
grew  stationary  opposite  tho  window.  M  r.  Hunter 
bustled  In,  and  armonuced,  m  a  tone  of  Irluinph, 
that  tho  carriage  find  come  for  tho  young  lady, 
and  done  the  distance  Avoiiderfully  quick.  Then 
the  door  .shut,  aud  they  AA'cre  alone  together  ag.aln. 
Very  softly  and  dLscmcily  Seton  heard  her  say 
his  name,  “Arthur;”  but  he  did  not  move.  It 
seemwl  to  him  that  he  Avouhl  keep  back  all  his 
jove,  clinch  fast  Uls  heart  till  .she  were  gone,  and 
then  die  swiftly  of  the  pain. 
“  Arthur,  I  am  waiting,  dear.  AVon’t  you  come  ? 
Are  not  you  going  to  forgive  me?” 
Noav  he  rose  and  groped  his  Avay  toAvard  her 
like  a  blind  muii.  She  stretehed  out  her  hands 
and  drew  him  to  her.  Then  he  bent  down.  Sho 
ratsod  Iter  face,  and  tho  licarts  and  the  lips,  so 
long  disunited,  c.ame  together  in  a  prolonged 
passionate  kiss.  Ho  knelt  doAvn  by  her,  her  head 
sank  upon  hla  shoulder,  iuul  for  several  mfiuitos 
(.lic,y  remiiincd  thus,  lost  In  love’s  profiiiind  peace 
and  mystor.v.  I'hoy  Avere  soon  dtstiirhcd  by  tho 
landlord’s  summons,  an<l  as  A n.liur  folded  Alice’s 
mantle  round  her.  she  sahl,  half  shyly,  “  A'on  aro 
coming  bJU'K  with  me  to  sec  mamma,  are  you 
not’f” 
“  May  J  ?’’  he  ansAverod,  groat  joy  evident  I u  face 
,anil  voice. 
So  the  bedroom  wlileh  Mrs,  Hunter  hiul  been 
preparing  .all  tho  n.fl.ei'hoon,  and  of  AvhIch  she  Avns 
not  a  little  proud,  remained  unoctsiplod  ;  but  the 
payment  Avas  lavish,  and  the  day’s  labor  was  not 
regretted. 
Dll !  that  ncvcr-to-l)o-forgot.tcn  ride  to  c - 
through  the  wild,  Avlndy  oA'euliig.  Between  it  and 
the  Inst  tUreo  years  lay  all  the  pains  of  hell.  And 
the  ruin  ecased,  and  atrange-volces  were  abroad 
In  the  wind,,  singing  jubilantly  over  love  rerlson 
and  rodooraing.  Aud  the  clouds  drifted  away  and 
the  pure,  sweet,  Avindy  moonlight  quivered  over 
wet  fields  and  trees,  and  seemed  love’s  benedic¬ 
tion. 
I  leave  you  to  imagine  thn  arrival  homo.  Ar- 
lliiir  had  always  been  a  favorite  with  .Airs.  Clare- 
Held,  and  In  tho  old  days  of  quarrels  she  used  al¬ 
ways  to  take  Ills  |nirl.  When  dinner  had  at  last 
boon  disposed  of.  Airs,  clareilelil  pleaded  house¬ 
hold  diitloa  anil  AvonI  to  her  bedroom.  Tliere  she 
sat  doAvji  Before  the  bright  lire  and  Avept  profuse¬ 
ly,  dear  soul,  over  tho  happiness  of  her  children. 
And  doAV II  stairs  these  tAvn  were  vor.v  quiet.  To 
them  love  was  a.  solemn  Hung,  and  they  Avero 
solemn  lovers.  And  the  Avonderful,  pricele.ss  mo¬ 
ments  went  silently  and  swiftly  by. 
Presently,  however,  Alleo  said,  looking  up  In 
Arthur’s  face,  and  pressing  his  iiand  vtu’y  tightly, 
“  You  won’t  coDtluuo  your  walks  this  Avook  7” 
And  he  ansiveriHl.  aa'IMi  a  bright  smile,,  “But  I 
have  pledged  my  woi'd  of  liuuor  to  tlo  .so.” 
“  And  I  command  ynu  Bi  break  It.” 
A'es,  he  did  break  It ;  but  none  or  his  friends 
brought  It  as  an  aeeusatlon  against  him  that  for 
once  in  his  life  he  had  broken  btsAvordof  honor! 
DOT’S  VISIT. 
A  STORY  FOR  THE  LITTLE  FOLKS. 
I(V  KBKN  K.  REXKORD. 
“GooD-nvK,  little  Dot,”  Grandnia  sfild,  as  slio 
stooped  down  to  kiss  the  round,  pink  cheeks  tliat 
were  ludd  up  for  a  parting  kiss.  “  Como  and  sco 
Gruiidinfl  before  long,  won't  you,  little  Dot?  ” 
“  ’Ka,” answered  Dot,  In  her  blrdliko  way,  much 
tlio  samo  as  a  robin  would  talk  to  Its  neighbors 
on  a,  cherry  tree,  if  tliey  wore  eating  cherries  to¬ 
gether.  Dot’s  cherries  hupponed  to  bo  bread  and 
milk.  "  'Ks,  I'll  tome  au'  stay  one,  livo— ever  so 
many  days.” 
“'I’liat’s  right,”  said  Or.audma.  “Don’t  forget 
now,  Avill  you  7”  andAvUh  another  ktss  she  started 
for  home. 
Dot  sat  doAvn  and  Avatched  her  till  shn  Avas  out 
of  sight,  AvondiTlTig  how  many  thousand  miles 
aAVfiy  Grandma's  house  Avas  'way  oIT  m  Um  other 
end  of  Uio  Avorlrt,  Dot  thought..  Her  Ideas  of  uial,- 
ters  and  i.hings  were  somewhat  vague,  sometimes. 
Never  having  been  any  fari.lier  away  from  home 
I, ban  to  r.i-.'i  ndma’s,  hor  knoAvledgo  of  the  Avorld 
was  very  limited,  and  .she  rather  Umiglned  there 
wa.sn't  much  In  it  except  tho  idaeo  where  Grand¬ 
ma  lived,  and  her  OAvti  pretty  home.  But  very 
soon  she  gol.  tired  of  puzzling  her  little  hearl  over 
tho  prolilcm,  and  turned  her  attention  to  her  bowl 
of  bread  anil  milk. 
The  next  atUrnoon  Dot  Avas  out  In  the  garden 
at  pl.ay  with  Spot.  Spot  Avas  her  kitten  ;  and  a 
pretty  little  thing  she  was,  too— white  all  over 
AVith  the  e.xccptlon  of  a  oitfiiilng  black  spot  over 
one  eye  that  gave  her  tlie  most  knowing  loc  k  Im¬ 
aginable.  Dot  loved  her  Kitten  very,  very  iimch. 
She  Avould  say,  •*  1  Ioa'o  mamma  over  so  much,  an' 
papa  a  bushel;  but  Spot  1  love— oh,  I  love  Spotty 
/of.-#  /” 
And  Spot  returned  the  afiectlon  of  her  little 
mlslreH.s,  for  she  followed  her  all  day  aud  slept 
witli  her  at  night,  and  very  often  Dot  allowed 
her  a  share  of  her  broad  and  milk. 
1  don’t  knoAv  what  put  tlio  Idea  Into  Dot’s  head, 
but  8bc  determined  to  pay  Orandma  a  visit  that 
I  afternoon.  She  noA'or  once  thought  of  the  po.-;sl- 
j  blllty  of  her  losing  her  Av.ay.  Ifiulu’t  .she  been 
there,  and  hadn’t  she  watched  Grandma  ever  so 
many  times  and  knew  ju.st  the  AA’ay  she  wont  V 
So,  calling  Spijt,  Dot  crawled  through  an  open¬ 
ing  In  tho  garden  fence  and  trudged  off  along  tho 
gra.s.sy  highAvai',  singing  and  talking  to  the  kit- 
ten,  Avho  trottml  along  by  the  side  of  her  little 
mlsD-esw,  seeming  to  enjoy  the  walk  quite  as  much 
I  a.s  dot  herself. 
Dot  went  along  voi’y  slOAvly.  Her  eyes  caught 
I  sight  Of  too  many  strange  and  beaut, llul  things 
i  along  tho  road  to  allow  of  her  getting  over  tho 
I  ground  very  fast.  Here  she  found  a  pretty  flower 
and  there  a  curious  old  stone,  covered  all  over 
I  Avlth  moss  as  soft  and  green  us  tho  velvet  on  papa's 
I  easy  chair  at  liomc.  Then  she  heard  tho  birds 
singing  .TAvay  up  in  the  trees,  and  wondered  AVhy 
they  Averen’t  taking  their  afternoon  nap. 
Pretty  soon  she  came  along  to  a  place  where  a 
company  of  blackbirds  were  holding  a  concert, 
‘  and  of  course  she  had  to  stop  and  Itston  to  them, 
!  and  when  they  had  finished  she  thought  It  only 
fair  tliat  she  should  return  their  favor,  so  she 
sang  them  one  or  her  little  songs  that  was  almost 
I  as  blrdliko  and  silvery  as  theirs. 
