MOORE’S  RURAL  NEW-YORKER. 
SPRING-TIME  AND  FLOWERS. 
BY  MRS.  E.  P.  MILLER. 
All  over  the  fields  and  the  meadows 
The  dandcUon  blossoms  have  come ; 
The  new,  golden  guineas  of  childhood. 
Sun-coined  in  my  far-away  home. 
Down  by  the  swlft-running  brooklet 
The  Bwnet-scentcd  violets  spring : 
The  pitcher  plant.,  too,  m  tho  fen-land. 
And  wild,  yellow  lily  beUa  ring. 
Along  the  brcFad  lane  to  the  pasture. 
Sweet  anow-drops,  so  coj’,  trail  about. 
While  drifts  in  the  edge  of  the.  forest, 
Unlocking  let  finest  onus  out. 
In  tho  soft,  springy  moss  of  the  wood-depths 
The  trilUum  and  star-flowers  blwm, 
Spnng-briiuty  and  fair  lailyV-slipjier, 
Where  cedars  and  balsam  trees  loom. 
There  the  delicate  |iartridgc-vine 's  budding, 
Whiie  berries  of  uearlet  t>eei)  out; 
And  groat  snowy,  wayfaring  salvers 
Are  everywhere  dotted  about. 
Tho  cbochcr-lnish.  too,  with  its  younglings. 
And  fruitage  ilelJeioua  and  gay,  - 
Our  Jewels  of  coral  lii  sprlng-tliiie. 
With  aroma  as  swcol  os  the  May. 
AVith  aprous-fuli,  yes,  and  with  bonnets. 
We,  Joyous,  our  treasures  would  bring ; 
O,  blusl  are  the  memories  of  childhood. 
And  bleat  each  new  coming  of  .Spring. 
Yet,  as  she  sat  there  with  bowetl  head,  lu  Imag¬ 
ination  living  over  and  over  agulD  the  past,  she 
could  not  help  remembering  how  often  sho  had 
thought  thill  the  gi'eatest  blessing  of  her  life  was 
ability  ijn  care  for  her  inoLUer  anti  poor  Idiotic  sis¬ 
ter.  For  sl.\  years  she  bad  provided  them  food 
®I)C 
LOVE  AND  DUTY. 
BY  IPA  M.  ALBRO. 
The  clear  starlight  of  a  winter’s  night  was 
softly  shining  on  the  hlll-Incloaod  town  of  Web¬ 
ster.  The  great  clock  la  the  tower  of  tho  school 
building  pealed  forth  the  hour  of  tour— welcome 
tidings  bj  the  sleepless,  comforUiig  them  with  the 
thought  that  t  ho  night  wiis  fn  r  spent  and  ere  long 
their  eyes  woultl  behold  tho  tlawn. 
The  solemn  sMlinoss  eame  uoi  back  again  as l.ho 
clock  ceased  striking.  Away  on  a  htllsldo  t«  tho 
northward  a  tariner’.s  dog  had  eommonced  a  fu¬ 
rious  barking  that  acted  as  a  signal  for  every  yelp¬ 
ing  cur  In  town  to  join  In  a  spirited  choru-s.  The 
leader  of  this  canine  bund,  however,  was  too  sen¬ 
sible  a  dog  to  be  heard  barking  at  sueli  a  common 
occurrence  as  the  striking  of  the  town  clock.  He 
had  boon  awakened  from  his  slumber  by  faint 
sounds  of  talking  and  laughter  that  came  from  a 
merry  sleighing  party  far  away  over  the  hill,  just 
returning  from  a  midnight  ride  Into  the  midst  ot 
a  viist  plno  forest.. 
“  Almost  home,”  said  ono,  as  they  reached  the 
brow  of  the  hill  and  looked  down  on  the  snow-clad 
roofs  of  the  town. 
“  Anybody  bIO|)  hero  ?”  asked  the  driver,  as  he 
drew  up  before  a  large  dwelling  that  stood  back 
from  the  street,  presenting  tho  appearance  of 
being  a  staUily  private  resldouee  Instead  of  that 
iQOckeiYOf  liome  and  Its  eomforUS— a  boarding¬ 
house. 
“Yes;  Kllen  Bauton  and  Jack  Uamkkon,”  a 
chorus  of  merry  voices  replied. 
“  Don’t  keep  us  walling  long,  .f  ack,”  called  the 
driver ;  “  I  want  to  get  around  home  before  day¬ 
light.” 
But  .lACK  and  Kllen  had  not  a  care  or  thought 
for  their  companlcms.  Slowly  they  went  up  the 
broad  walk,  bordered  with  sighing  evergreen 
shrubbery— slowly  and  allenlly.  Tho  magic  spell 
that  held  them  silent  wa.s  more  expres-slvo  than 
anything  words  could  contmunlcaie. 
“  Good  night,”  said  Ki.lkn,  os  they  reached  the 
door. 
Jack  clasped  her  extended  hand  but  uttered  no 
word  of  leave-taking. 
“  eli.kn  !”  That  was  all  ho  said ;  yet  that  ono 
word  betrayed  the  tender  and  uncontrollable  feel¬ 
ing  that  had  been  awakened  Avlthln  him  for  the 
pretty  teacher  tvho  had  lately  accepted  a  position 
In  the  AVebster  Union  School. 
“Jack, Ave  shall  go  on  and  leave  you," came 
from  the  sleigh. 
“May  I  come  to-morrow  evening?”  lie  hastily 
asked. 
She  murmured  an  assent  and  entered  the  house 
with  only  the  cottsclousneas  ibal  never  lu  her  life 
had  she  been  so  happy. 
But  this  happiness  wiiS  of  shoit  duration.  When 
she  reached  her  room  It  was  but  a  trivial  circum¬ 
stance  ihfit  couipellea  her  to  come  down  from  the 
Ideal  existence  created  by  tbLs  noAvly-awakened 
feeling— down  to  real  life  again.  The  first  thing 
that  she  saw  by  the  light  ot  her  lamp  was  a  letter 
lying  on  tho  table  with  the  superscription  upper¬ 
most— a  letter  that  banlsheil  the  bUsslul  dream 
at  once,  leaving  her  pamrully  conscious  of  the 
demands  of  duty  and  tho  possession  of  a  love 
which  she  fell  must  be  hopeless. 
The  letter  was  from  her  mother.  It  contained 
nothing  that  Avas  startUng.  It  was  like  many 
other  letters  that  she  hod  rc-celved— Avrltten  as 
only  a  widowed  mother  can  Avrlte  to  a  daughter 
who  Is  her  sole  support  in  the  feebleness  of  old 
age.  A  few  trifling  wants  Avere  made  known  In  a 
manner  that  Indicated  a  perfect  trust  In  the 
daughter’s  wUllngness  and  abUlty  to  provide  lor 
them. 
“  o.  Jack,  it  can  never  be !”  e.xclalmed  Ellen, 
dropping  the  letter  and  covering  her  face  with  her 
hands.  “  Hoav  could  I  forget,  for  a  single  moment, 
that  this  world  contains  nothing  for  me  but 
slavish  toll  and  a  glA'lng  up  of  all  that  makes  life 
BAveet  and  happy?" 
and  clothing,  every  neccspiry  Of  life  excepting 
Shelter.  Ucr  mother  OAvned  the  house  In  Avhlch  i 
she  lived.  She  had  paid  for  It  art.er  the  ('xpouses  I 
of  her  husband’s  Hlckncsa  and  death  had  swept  i 
.lAvay  the  lllllo  property  they  hiul  accumulaled.  i 
But  as  the  year.s  went  by,  age  and  hard  Avork 
began  to  tell  upon  her  strength.  AVheri  Ki.le.n 
Avas  seventeen  years  of  age  she  AV;ts  summoned 
from  school,  whither  she  liud  been  scut  by  the 
charily  ot  a  dlsiant  relailou,  Avlth  the  intelligence 
that  her  mother  had  at  last  succumbed  1.0  fatigue 
and  sickness.  Then  she  delcriulncd  lliat  henco- 
torth  her  time  In  the  school-room  would  be  spent 
as  teacber  lnste;id  of  pupil.  Thus  she  took  upon 
herself  tho  care  of  her  motlirr  and  sister.  And 
she  now  reuieinbered  how  oflon  she  had  thought 
If  human  strength  AVore  called  to  bear  no  heavier 
burden  than  hers  had  been,  then  she  could  see 
no  cause  for  so  much  complaining  of  thesorroAvs 
and  hardships  of  this  world.  But  that  was  liefore 
she  kncAv  Jack  I'amkron.  'I'o-nlght  she  felt  that 
human  strength,  could  scarcely  bear  so  heavy  a 
burden  as  hers  must  be  liencerorth.  Hhe  noAV 
reall/ed  for  the  first  time  hoAV  much  the  word, 
self-sacritlce,  could  mean,  Mho  Imd  orteii  coviil- 
dentlally  told  her  young  lady  frlend.s  that  she 
AA’Ould  never  bring  to  any  man,  no  matter  hoAv 
willing  he  might  he  to  take  11  uptni  himself,  the 
responslblllti'  of  caring  for  her  mother  and  uufor- 
tn  lale  sister.  She  Imd  often  said  and  told  Uersel  C 
so  still,  that  to  tho  poor-house  they  should  never 
go  as  long  as  sbe  was  able  to  .suiiport  them. 
“  I'oor-houser’  exclaimed  Kllkn  with  a  shud¬ 
der  and  she  InA'aluntarlb'  sturlod  up  and  Avent  to 
tho  AA’lndoAV.  “  The  very  name  ha-s  always  lllletl 
me  with  a  dread  of  wdilch  only  those  who  have 
but  tho  frail  barrier,  Ueallli,  separating  them  from 
such  a  home,  can  form  any  concepUeu.” 
She  drew  aside  the  curtain  and  stood  for  some 
time  looking  out  of  the  AVindOAv. 
“  Asylum  does  not  sound  so  bad,”  mused  she,  as 
her  gaze  rested  on  a  large  building,  the  outlines 
ot  whloli  were  dimly  visible  in  tho  pale  starlight 
and  coming  dawn.  “  It  has  a  more  protective 
sound— more  suggestive  of  eornfort  and  respecta¬ 
bility.  AVhat  am  I  thinking  of?  Hoav  Avlckod  l 
am!”  she  exclaimed,  suddenly  appalled  by  the 
thought  that  she  Avas  scheming  to  neglect  the  de¬ 
mands  of  duty. 
“1  must  try  and  gel  some  sleep,”  she  said,  Avear- 
lly  leaving  the  wlndoAV.  “'t'he  other  girls  can 
afford  to  spend  a  night  for  pleasure.  Their  Lime 
Is  their  OAVii  and  they  can  rest  the  next  day.” 
Nine  o'clock  came  and  not  for  a  moment  had 
sleep  rendered  Ell.v  uncgnsclons  of  the  dllllculty 
that  lay  lu  the  way  ot  her  happiness.  Never  hatl 
the  duties  of  the  school. room  been  so  1  rksome  to 
her  as  they  AA'oro  all  that  day.  Never  had  her 
pupils  been  so  refnioUn’y.  Mho  could  not  awaken' 
lu  them  a  particle  of  t‘ntUu.HlaHm  during  their  rec¬ 
itations.  Tills  .sudilen  change  was  to  her  nn.ac- 
(lountable;  but  If  She  had  made  l.ho  subject  her 
study,  she  might  have  traced  the  eiin,se  home  to 
herself,  She  might  have  perceived  that  It  w.os 
her  own  dlsconUiiit  and  distaste  for  the  Avork  that 
Avas  rellected  hack  t<i  her  fiom  her  pupils. 
Professor  Com rj'oN,  the  Principal  of  the  school, 
paid  a  visit  to  her  department  during  the  after¬ 
noon,  lii.r.K.s  looked  upon  this  as  an  unfortunate 
event,  for  she  could  not  bear  to  forfeit  his  good 
opinion  ot  her  Iltness  for  the  AVork  In  Avhleh  she 
Avas  engaged.  It  luul  afforded  her  uiiieh  pleasure 
during  termer  vlBlW  01  the  Principal  bj  see  upon 
his  face  a  look  of  appreelatlon  of  the  manner  In 
AVhlchsho  performed  her  Avork.  Noav  she  hardly 
dared  raise  her  eyes  to  ills.  And  avUcu  she  chanced 
to  look  up  and  saAV  him  regarding  her  wltli  such  a 
puzzled  expression  on  Ids  laco,  the  Inxik  fell  from 
her  hand  and  she  was  obliged  to  call  forth  all  tho 
self-control  she  was  capable  of  exercising  to  pre¬ 
vent  herself  from  breaking  dOAvn  entirely. 
“Allow  mo  to  relieve  you  a  few  momenta.  Miss 
Barton,”  said  he,  kindly ;  and  under  hl.s  super¬ 
vision  the  pupils  at  oneo  regained  their  usual  ani¬ 
mation. 
Ellen  could  not  tell  Avhether  thlSAvas  meant  as 
an  act  of  kludnessor  a  rebuke;  but  shekncAv  that 
shj  felt  very  grateful  toward  him  tor  leaving  the 
room  as  she  called  another  cla-ss  to  the  recitation 
seat. 
you  spend  your  life  for  such  a  life  as  hers— a  life 
that  can  benefit  no  one  7  Every  county  provides 
a  home  for  such  as  she— a  homo  that  would  bo 
just  as  .satisfying  to  her  as  the  gramlust  mausloii 
lu  the  Land.” 
“  Wherever  Alma  goes  mother  avIU  go.” 
Jack  conliln'I.  immediately  see  a  Avay  out  of  tills 
dilemma  save  that  liidloaUMlIiy  the  thought.  “  Let 
her  go.  theu."  This  he  was  too  polllle  to  express 
to  Ei.i.RS  luul  he  arose  and  Aveut  to  the  other  aide 
of  tho  room.  As  he  looked  out  toAvard  the  east 
through  the  partially  closed  blinds  and  saw  the 
lighted  AVlndoAA-s  ot  the  sisylum,  tho  same  thought 
occurred  to  him  that  templed  Ellen  as  the  morn¬ 
ing  LAvlIlght  disclosed  the oulllnes or  thlsbulldlng. 
“  Mhe  might  lake  Al.ai,a  to  an  asylum,”  said  he, 
eagerly.  “  Tlicie  would  bo  no  disgrace  In  that. 
Here  Is  a  poimlar  asylum  lu  this  place.  Why,  the 
lion,  (HfARLKS  SUELiioN‘8  mother  Is  there  aiid  he 
tho  richest  man  In  town.  Tho  outranee  fee  tor 
them  both  would  be  only  $?tio.  Of  course  they 
expect  those  that  are  able  to  work  a  lllUe.  Ei.lkn, 
I  Avlll  pay  thlssuin  ” 
“  No,  you  will  not.  I  can  pay  It  myself,  but  I 
don’t  think  mother  would  AVllllngly  eoiweut  to  go 
there." 
“  Sho  would  ho  much  better  situated  there  than 
she  now  Is  with  you  so  far  aAvuy,  and  she  could 
eiii-e  for  Ai.ma  Just  as  Avell  at  the  asylum,”  pleaded 
J  AOK. 
Although  Ellen  would  have  felt  very  much 
aggrievial  had  sho  been  accased  of  the  fact,  yet 
she  really  desired  to  be  eouvlncefl  that  It  Avould 
not  bo  Avrong  to  uUoav  her  mother  to  go  to  the 
asylum.  .Mid  her  usual  good  sense  did  uot  onahle 
her  to  deteet  the  fallacy  of  l.he  rcasoulug  by  Avhleli 
she  was  convinced.  WhonJ.vcK  Avonl  away  the 
ring  Avas  on  her  finger  and  She  tried  to  persuade 
herself  that  she  Avas  happy. 
There  was  Ui  bo  a  vacaUon  of  three  Avoeks  be¬ 
tween  tho  Avmter  and  the  spring  term.  ItAvas 
deeldtal  that  Ellen  Khoiild  go  home  then  and  see 
hoAV  Mra.  Barton  would  roeolvo  their  proposition. 
“Jack  AAdll  soon  be.  here,”  said  Ellen  to  lieraelf 
as  sho  entored  the  boarding-house  parlor  that 
evening.  “  1  mmst  decide  Avliethermy  future  shall 
contain  any  happiness  or  AVhother  I  iniiat  rlrudge 
on  and  Avoar  my  Ufa  out  In  the  school-room.” 
“  Whether  you  will  save  your  life  for  your  oavu 
Sfike  or  do  your  duty,”  was  the  mocking  response 
of  coiLSClence, 
Jack  came  and  Ellen  had  not  made  her  deci¬ 
sion.  IHb  manner  plainly  showed  that  he  consid¬ 
ered  himself  an  .accepted  lo_ver. 
Ellen  Avas  at  first  powerless  to  disarm  him  of 
this  opinion.  It  was  only  Avhen  he  drew  a  beauti¬ 
ful  ring  from  his  pocket  and  attornpied  to  put  it 
on  her  floger,  saying  playfully,  “  Let  me  see  hOAV 
good  I  am  at  guessing,”  that  she  Avas  able  to  tell 
him  that  his  case  Avas  nocqulto  won.  Sliesnatchcd 
away  her  hand  and  exclaimed  with  a  vehemence 
that  caused  Jack  to  drop  the  ring,  “  It  can  never, 
never  be!  You  do  not  know  who  my  sister  Is," 
“  Yes,  Ellen.  I  do  knoAv  about  your  slater.  Do 
not  think  you  can  remain  In  such  a  gosslpplng 
tOAvn  as  this  tor  any  length  of  time  without  such 
a  fact  being  as  well  known  as  yourself  through¬ 
out  the  entire  community;”  and  he  stooped  and 
picked  up  the  ring. 
“My  mother  expects  that  I  Avlll  alAvays  take 
care  of  Alma.” 
“  Your  mother  Avrongs  you,  Ellen.  iVhy  should 
“  It  seems  to  me  that  Ellen  will  bo  homo  to¬ 
night,”  salfl  Mrs.  Uauton,  as  she  went  to  the  Avlu- 
dow  and  looked  out  on  the  village  street  that  ai>- 
peared  to  be  composefi  of  cfiual  parla  of  mud  and 
snoAV.  “It  has  been  a  long  time  since  we  hoard 
from  her.  hasn’t  It,  .\i.aia  ?” 
The  ereatiire  t,hus  addressed  Avrung  her  hands, 
underwi'ut  various  eouturtlous  of  face  and  body, 
and  theu  gave  utterance  to  a  prolonged  cry  that 
might  sound  to  over-sensitive  ears  like  a  desolate 
wall  for  the  return  of  lost  reason. 
Mrs.  Barton  drcAv  the  poor  creature's  chair  to 
the  tli'o  and  sat  down  beside  her  to  enjoy  tho 
Avarmth  and  to  let  her  thoughts  fondly  linger 
arout»d  Die  dear  ono  Avhose  self-denial  Avas  mak¬ 
ing  tho  patliAvay  of  her  declining  Ilia  so  smooth 
and  happy.  Mhe  lieanl  the  heavy  old  stage  c.oaeh 
eotning  iloAvn  the  stretU,  and  as  Its  rumbUiig  ceasea 
she  started  uj),  but  hall  eompreheudltig  that  It 
had  slopped  a  t  her  gate.  Hhe  went  to  the  window 
■  and  saw  I  hat  a  lady  was  being  helped  out.  Thou 
slio  kucAv  that  her  Ellen  had  comi!  home.  Yet, 
fi’om  tho  very  fli'st,  she  felt  that  she  AVas  Itot  the 
same  ellkn  aviio  naa  ever  beloro  been  so  consld- 
crate  for  her  comfort.  Formerly  she  had  been 
very  talkative,  putting  the  utmost  comideuce  In 
her  mother,  scanjcly  having  a  single  thought  that 
she  would  hesitate  to  make  knoAvn  to  her.  Hhe 
used  to  have  an  inexhaiLstlblo  fund  or  anecdote 
over  Aviiicu  Uic  fond  mother  lovcu  to  llngijr  Avuen, 
vacation  over,  her  dai»ghter  had  gone  clieerfully 
back  to  resume  licr  labor  again.  Now,  hours  would 
pass  and  sins  would  uot  say  a  Avord.  Mrs.  Barton 
stealthily  Avatohed  hei'  daughtor  avIUi  Increasing 
anxiety.  .Hhe  knew  l  hat  a  ehungi;  lu  Ellkn  could 
not  tall  to  aflect  ncrseif  and  alma.  She  feared 
that  the  time  had  come  when  this  daughter,  her 
sole  dependence,  was  her  Ellen  no  longer. 
Ellen  Intended  to  make  ktioAVU  her  errand  as 
soon  assho  reached  home,  butshecould  nol  dami)- 
per  hei-  mother’s  Joy  at  seeing  her  that  fli'st  night. 
.She  would  Avait  uuul  the  next  day.  uut  then, 
everything  about  the  hou,se  that  she.  had  provided 
for  her  mother’s  comfort  seemed  torcjiroiich  her. 
There  was  the  large  ana-cmalr  Avhleli  she  had 
cushioned  and  covered  with  her  blown  merino 
dress.  She  remembered  how  much  pleasure  that 
simple  task  had  given,  anti  stie  knew  t.hat  lier 
mother’s  gratUleatloii  avus  derived  , uot  so  luueh 
from  the  case  of  the  clialr  as  the  thought,  “  Ei.lkn 
did  ID  for  me.”  Every  little  task  she  had  been  ae- 
cuKtomed  to  do  reminded  her  oi  the  saerlllco  that 
she  Avould  he  asking  her  mother  to  make.  She 
ri'Ctiiienuy  uttered  complaints  about  mo  disor¬ 
dered  slate  of  the  house,  lulendlug  that  they 
should  lorm  the  basis  of  an  argument  that  her 
mother  w;vs  no  longer  rlt  to  live  .alone,  and  thus 
bring  inm  consideration  Jier  plan  for  their  future. 
But,  she  could  not  help  observing  hoAV  lovingly 
her  mother’s  eye.s  roiioAved  her  about  the  room, 
and  she  felt  It  would  bo  cruel  to  bring  to  them  the 
look  of  grlof  Avhleh  sho  kncAv  such  an  argumi'nt 
would  call  lorlh.  Her  task  was  hourly  growing 
harder  to  perform,  yet  she  rniLst  put  It  otT  till  to¬ 
morrow.  When  the  moiroAv  eame  It  Av.as  no  easier, 
but  she  Avould  certainly  have  It  over  with  the  next 
day,  I  n  this  manner  each  day  p.assed  and  the 
evening  before  the  day  she  Avas  to  return  to  Web¬ 
ster  came.  “It  must  be  now  or  never,”  thought 
Ellen. 
The  hours  were  slliJplng  aAvay.  A  t..AiA'  had. long 
ago  been  put  lu  bed.  It  waa  almo.st  their  bedtime. 
Ellkn  otl.en  glanced  tOAvard  her  mother,  Avho  sat 
with  closed  eyes  fooking  to  and  fro  la  her  chair. 
EuLKN  could  not  remember  that  she  ever  felt 
afraid  of  her  beloro.  Yet,  If  the  proiKJSltlon  she 
wiihed  to  make  contained  any  wrong,  the  Avrong 
would  bo  done  by  hei'seir  and  her  mother  Avould 
be  the  sutfercr.  Hhe  fancied  that  she  could  al¬ 
ready  delect  the  shadow  of  some  secret  sorroAv 
resting  upon  her  face,  darkening  the  peaceful  ex¬ 
pression  It  usually  Avoro. 
“  M  M  hc)',  Isn’t  the  care  of  Alma  becoming  too 
muc  I  Ot  oil?” 
“  Who  will  take  care,  ot  her  If  I  don’t?” 
Eli.kn  Ignoretl  this  thrust  and  recklessly  pro- 
coodod  to  make  knoAvn  her  errand. 
“  I  didn’t  know  but  you  wouhl  consent.  I’vo 
been  thinking  It  wouUl  be  better  for  you  to  take 
Ai.ma  to  an  asylum  than  to  live  here  alone.  There 
la  no  ono  in  Wehsl  cr - ” 
“Eia.EN,  you  needn't  tell  me  any  moi'e!"e.x- 
elalmed  Mrs.  Barton.  “Yea,  this  Ls  Avhat  you 
have  come  home  for.  You  are  tired  of  t  aking  care 
ot  U.S.  You  think  that  I  avIU  die  before  Ai  MAdoes 
and  If  you  get  us  err  your  hands  hoav  you  Avou't 
havi!  to  take  care  of  her  or  let  her  go  to  the  poor- 
house  Avhen  I  arn  gone.  1  hope  and  pray  that'  sho 
may  die  before  I  do.  Ob,  Ellen  I  I  have  alAvays  ^ 
depended  on  you.  You  have  told  me  so  many 
Umes  that  you  would  lako  care  wf  Alma.  Sho 
would  do  It  for  you,  I  Know,  If  you  wore  In  her 
place  a  nd  she  In  yours.  Hhe  was  !i  blighter  child 
than  you  before  she  began  to  have  t  hose  Mbs  and 
the  MAveelest  tempered  little  thing  I  ever  saAV  ; 
and  you  would  see  her  suiter  rather  than  deny 
yourself !  Ellen,  what  has  elianged  you  so  V  Do 
you  Avant.  to  get  mauled  ?” 
“  Yes,  mother,  I  am  going  to  bo  married,”  re¬ 
plied  Ellen,  her  voice  tremulous  with  supiu’essed 
passion.  “  Many  iieople  seem  to  think  that  It  Is 
mere  play  to  teach  school;  but  there  Is  no  em¬ 
ployment  more  wearing  upon  life  I, hail  that  of 
t.hose  leaohors  who  eonsclenl.lously  feel  t  he  re¬ 
sponsibilities  resting  upon  them.  If  my  health 
should  fall  we  Avould  all  have  to  go  to  a  Avorso 
home  than  you  aviU  find  at  the  asylum.  And  t  hen 
peiiiaps  I  would  receive  only  reproaches  because 
I  could  l^bor  no  longer.” 
"Forgive  mo,  Ellen,” exclaimed  .Mrs.  Barton, 
her  disappointment  having  given  place  to  that 
submission  to  the  avUI  at  PrnvldeneobyAvhlchsho 
was  sustained  when  the  strong  ha.nds  and  loving 
heart  on  which  she  deiieiided  were  lorevcr  sHIled 
and  sho  knew  not  how  she  ouiild  care,  for  her 
young  children.  “  I  am  old  and  childish  ;in(l  you 
must  not  mind  wliut  I  have  said.  You  havoal- 
AA'ays  been  so  cheerful  and  uneoinplalnliig,  I  had 
come  to  regard  as  our-  right  that  Avlileh  you  did 
from  your  own  iinselflslmihs.  Your  life  shall  no 
longer  be  a  saerlllce.  Tell  me  about  the  asylum." 
Ellen  told  her  mother  AVhat  were  the  terms  on 
Avhleli  tlKiy  could  enter  the  asylum  and  all  she 
kncAv  coneornlng  life  tliere. 
“Don’t  you  liilnk  you  could  bo  happy  there, 
mother  7” 
“  Yes,  If  yon  are  happy  and  Alma  hits  good  earo 
I  c.nn  he  happy  anyAVhere.” 
Thou  Ellen  told  hor  niother  what  she  should 
have  told  her  at  first— about. I  ACK  Cameron.  After 
that,  uo  luaUer  how  dark  life  at  the  a.sylum  might 
appear  to  Mrs.  Barton,  she  Avould  endure  any 
amount  ot  torture  rather  than  utter  one  Avoid  of 
complaint  that  avouKI  les.sen  the  Inippliiess  ot  her 
daughter, 
Ellen  returned  to  Webster  tliluklng  that  In  a 
few  months  she  would  be  freed  from  the  routine 
Of  the  school-room.  But  tho  thought  that  this 
Avas  Uj  ho  hor  last  torni  of  impiisonment  did  not 
afford  hor  as  much  happiness  us  she  had  aiillel- 
puled.  Hhe  felt  that  the  ties  Avlfieh  bound  her  to 
a  teacher’s  life  would  be  severea  Avitli  Home  regret 
'  as  well  as  gladues.s.  Hhe  had  liecoiae  warmly  iii.- 
I  tacliod  to  hor  pupils  and  It  gave  her  much  pleas¬ 
ure  to  knoAv  that  she  had  Avon  the  respect  and 
eoiilldeiiee  ot  tlioir  parents.  HliekiicAV  tliat  she, 
I  owed  muoli  of  her  success  to  I’rof.  comi-ton,  who 
I  had  so  kindly  and  Avisely  ailvl.scil  her  and,  al- 
,  though  she  had  ever  stood  lu  a  soil,  of  revorentinl 
J  tear  ot  lilm,  yet  she  know  that  she  h;ut  uo  friend 
j  more  true  than  Uo  would  ever  bo  to  hei —sueli  a 
.  friend  as  ho  AV.as  to  every  ono  whom  ho  could  aid 
lu  any  way.  It  was  this  friendly  Av.iy  toward  tho 
j  pupils  and  those  (pialltlos  that  awaken  respect 
and  rollaneo,  ratlior  than  any  supiTlor  abllliy  to 
govern,  that  gave  him  his  Infiueiiee  In  the  sehool. 
Ellen  felt  that  the  llmcAvus  passing  too  swiftly 
J  away  nolwlthstaiidlng  the  happy  release  lt.s  clone 
would  bring  to  her  life. 
I  "Only  one  day  more,”  thought  sho  ono  after- 
,  noon  as  sho  left  tho  school  building  for  her  board- 
lug  place.. 
P  l.lttlo  feet  canio  pattering  along  the  walk  be- 
^  liind  her  and  a  little  hand  was  thrust  Avltblii  her 
own. 
“Why,  Myktik,  not  gone  home  yet?  Where 
^  have  you  been  ?’’ 
y  “To  the  asylum,  to  see  Grandma  Hhelhon.  Hhe 
gets  uwtul  lonesome,  If  there  are  so  many  there, 
and  tired,  too.  Mls.s  Barton,”  said  the  eager 
child,  as  she  still  kept  hold  Ot  Ellen's  hand  and 
g  skipped  in  front  of  her  to  iieei'  Into  iier  taco, 
“don’t  you  think  I'nele  (.’iiarlks  ought  to  be 
y  ashamed  of  him.self  to  poke  grandma  olT  to  tho 
asylum  after  he  got  all  her  money  ?  .Al  iUunia  says 
It  he  Avun’t  take  her  aAvay  from  there  she  shall,  If 
she  Inks  to  take  lu  washing  to  support  her.” 
g  They  had  now  reached  the  boarding. house  and 
,,  Mvrtie  stood  on  tiptoe  for  a  good-night  kkss. 
.  “  I  am  uo  better  than  your  uncle,  ,M  vrtie.  If 
I  you  knew,  you  woidd  not  earn  to  kiss  mo,  ”  thought 
g  Ellen. 
Ellen  felt  sad  ere  sho  was  overtaken  by  Mvr- 
TIB.  Noav  she  know  that  she  Avas  unha{)[iy ;  and 
when  she  roiiyched  her  own  room  she  found  more 
g  unhapplnesa  awaiting  her.  She  found  another 
,  letter  lying  on  her  table— a  letter  from  her  mother. 
M  its.  Barton  had  seldom  av  rltten  during  tb  1  s  torm 
/  and  Ei-LENkeealyfeltthedirrereneebctweeathese 
j  letters  and  tho  ones  she  used  to  receive.  They 
g  wore  fraught  Avith  just  as  much  a  tfectloii,  but  the 
g  trustful  dependence  wms  gone.  N ot  a  si ngle  want 
(j  had  she  made  knoAvn.  This  letter  avus  unlike  any 
she  had  ever  received.  It  eonuilned  somellilng 
y  slie  had  never  expected  to  hear  from  her  mothei-. 
..  Mrs.  D  artoi;  wrote  as  folio avs  : 
“  Dear  Dadoiiter  :  -I  Avrlte  to  let  you  know 
