She had said It, and now Bbe shrunk, trembling, 
from him, feeling sure she had angered him. But 
whether it was anger or shame that turned his 
face of so fiery a red, who could have told then? 
He caught her by the arm, and wheeling her 
around looked Into her face as though ho would 
read her very soul. Perhaps he read a secret 
there. Amcx verily thought ho must, and shrunk 
from him all the more, coloring violently. 
“Supposing mother doesn't ask any promise of 
me ?” he said, still keeping his eyes on her face. 
“Then promise tnc," she said, mectlDg his gaze 
frankly, her faco grown suddenly pale. 
“ Do you know how they do in some places 
where they seek to reclaim such as I might be¬ 
come. They hold hope out to them. But 1 prom¬ 
ise, Alice, for t he sake of the old days I promise; 
and now—" changing the subject to keep down a 
struggle that was Using within him, “let us go 
In and see mother." 
“Go In alone, that Is best,” Alice said, chok¬ 
ingly, “you will be better than medicine to her." 
And so It proved; for, whon at tho end of a fort¬ 
night Jamik went away, she wasable to leave her 
room for a few hours each day. 
Jambs Eastman went back to tbc business 
which he had established for himself and which 
—especially latterly—had been conducted In a 
rather loose way, feeling altogether a new man. 
Jle laid hold of what he had to do with a will and 
energy he bod never felt before, and his work 
prospered with him. He was soon spoken of as a 
rising man. People wondered and admired where 
before they had not been slow to blame and cen¬ 
sure. Job II yatt heard of him as one made much 
of la society, and never lot puss an opportunity 
of mentioning that he hart once been an esteemed 
friend of their own, but they never met. Jamik 
wrote home occasionally now, long, pleasant let¬ 
ters whlsh the old folks took a world of pride In 
showing to llielr friends. 
A year went by and the return of autumn round 
Jamik once morn at his old home. Oddly enough, 
a3 before, Amok Budlong was the ilrst to meet 
him. She was coming down the walk after a visit 
to his mother when ho met her. Was It any won¬ 
der that Mrs. Eastman, stealing glances at the 
pair from behind tho window-curtain, thought 
her son long in coming Into the house ? Not that 
she was sorry either when at length Jamie turned 
his face from Amok and she read what was writ¬ 
ten thereon. And stall James Eastman hud not 
spoken the word which might win Aucf. for his 
wife. Would ho ever when he know that Joe 
Hyatt was stopping at tho Budionos? 
“You will not fall to come over Boon,” Alice 
had said. “ Jor Hyatt is there for a few days ; 
you will be pleased to meet her.” 
“Then she Is Joe Hyatt still?” 
He had spoken tho name easily enough, and yet 
It was tho first time since that day, four years 
ago, when her words had cut him so cruelly. 
“ Yes, Joe Hyatt still, and more beautiful than 
ever and more sensible and womanly by far than 
when you know her," Alice said, quietly. 
Mr. James Eastman lost little time In calling 
on his old neighbors, tho Budlonbs. Miss Hyatt 
took the honors of Ills visit, quit© to herself. He 
had loved her once passionately, as she was very 
certain. Did he love her still ? That, with her, 
was t he all-1 mportant question. If not, was It too 
late to win him? 
He came orten and Joe, pleased and flattered, 
did her best to captivate until one day, going Into 
the garden when sho supposed Jambs at home, 
she found blm and Alice standing under a vine 
from which hung a few late clusters of grapes, 
and talking In that peculiar undertone which lov¬ 
ers affect. Something too, in the attitude ol the 
parties told her she had nothing to hope from that 
quarter, and so the next morning’s train bore her 
away, chagrined and disappointed beyond meas¬ 
ure. Farmer Eastman thought sho was In a 
“mighty hurry, all of a sudden,” and might, at 
least, have watted till after tho wedding which, 
It was arranged, should take place soon. 
There was no more going back to the business 
In town. A farmer’s life was what suited James 
best, and Alice was well pleased when a pleasant 
fa rm was purchased not tar from the) r old homo. 
To the day of his death no man was ever prouder 
of his sou or of his son's cosy and pretty home 
than was Farmer Eastman, ne delighted, too. 
In telllDg his friends how well James was get¬ 
ting along and what a knack ho had of getting 
everything nice around him: though for his own 
part, he declared, he never could “ see the sense 
on’t. A farmer hadn’t ought to set up to live like 
a king." 
If James did not live quite “ like a king," he 
certainly was as happy as one, and no brighter 
or more home-Uhe home could be found anywhere 
In the broad West than was his. 
-AT*- 
ON THE SHELF. 
Men often pray that, they may live to what they 
call a good old age. Yetlt Is to be feared that a 
great portion of humanity never appears to so 
little advantage as It does In the evening of life. 
Nor is this to be wondered at. People’s disposi¬ 
tions depend largely upon the st ate of their con¬ 
stitutions. If a man is strong and robust, there 
is small credit due to him for being cheery and 
sweet-tempered. On the other hand, If a man Is 
troubled with many aches and pains, there Is little 
blame owing to him If he Is discontented and quer¬ 
ulous. Now, there can be no doubt that a large 
number of old people are discontented and queru¬ 
lous, and it Is equally clear that their fallings 
have their origin In the frailties of their flesh and 
blood rather than any serious defect In their men¬ 
tal composition. At the same time, It must also 
he said that In addition to their physical weak¬ 
nesses and the contemplation of their falling pow¬ 
ers, old people have much to aggravate them. 
Jn the first place, the young are apt to display 
no consideration for their feelings. Many young 
men assume that old men have had their day and 
that It, Is time for them to make way for those 
who arc pressing on t heir heels, if the old men 
can be thrust aside, well and good; If they de¬ 
cline to be removed from their places before death 
takes them, the eUanccsarc that they arc regarded 
as nuisances, and their transmutation Is spoken 
of as a thing to be desired. Indeed, It often hap¬ 
pens that they are shown that ttls difficult to tol¬ 
erate their presence, and that the same would not 
be tolerated if it were not for the fact that blood 
Is thicker than water. 
At many a Preside does the old grandfather sit, 
a sort of chilling Influence on the gay BtrtpUngs 
who have life before them and can barely be pa¬ 
tient with the poor old man who has Jetl life be¬ 
hind him. Who cares to talk with him? Who 
sympathizes with his hopes and aspirations? 
Hopes and aspirations, forsooth! What business 
has he with such things? At any rate, It is sup¬ 
posed that he ought not to have any which per 
t-aln immediately to this world—though, after all, 
this world, wicked though It Is, is tbc world in 
which the loves and Joys of most of us are wrap¬ 
ped up. Whatever properly he possesses It Is felt 
that he Is In duty bound to give to some ono else, 
and very few of those whuhavc constituted them, 
selvrs Uls i>rote(i<‘* feel any compunction In at¬ 
tempting to wheedle whatever they can from 
him. He has the sense to perceive all this. He 
has the discrimination to detect that holslaughed 
at, regarded as Ik ing a pari of the past, put upon 
one side as If he were nothing, petted aslt he were 
a child or a person of weak Intellect, and In other 
ways, possibly unintentionally, mortified and In¬ 
sulted, Can It be wondered at that he often makes 
peevish attempts to resent the treatment which 
he receives; that he is Induced to take misan¬ 
thropical views of life and his condition? Verily, 
a man must have a wonderful mental and physi¬ 
cal constitution U he can remain cheerful, hearty, 
frank and good-natured during the period In 
which be awaits the writing of llnls to the chap¬ 
ter of his life. .Some manage to do this, of course; 
but they are brave souls, who are largely favored 
by exceptional circumstances. 
II must be remembered that age naturally ex¬ 
pects to receive a certain amount ol deference 
Irom youth. We are sorry to have to say that It 
does not always even command respect. A young 
man is inclined to be particularly resentful when 
lie sees a would-bc rival In the shape of an old 
man, and he Is apt to indicate his resentment in 
unpleasant ways. He seems unable to see that 
he ought gracefully to allow his elders to take the 
Initiative except when Ills own abilities are of an 
undeniably superior order. Indeed, he does not 
hesitate to regard that weight which Is occasion¬ 
ally permitted to attach to ago as a personal af¬ 
front to himself, as a grievance wstch he is bound 
to light against with all tho bitterness of Ills na¬ 
ture. 
It.maybe that age Is disposed to monopolize 
certain privileges and to presume upon Its rights, 
hut every excuse can be raaae for tills by reason¬ 
able minds. It would be strange If an old man 
did not display irritation when he sees young¬ 
sters whose heads he has patted when they were 
mere children—whom he has, perhaps, nursed 
upon Ills knee, acting flippantly and arrogantly 
towards him. it, would be still more singular it 
he failed to feci dismayed when he perceives one 
whom he has considered barely worth his notice 
suddenly rushing to the front and making tho 
running at, a tremendous pace. He could, per¬ 
haps, bear with equanimity being beaten by a 
person who has been buffeted about by time as 
he himself has, but the case Is almost intolerable 
when he suITers defeat, and has the bread taken 
out of bis month by an individual who Is Just en¬ 
tering upon tho serious business of life. Old men 
are displaced dally by youthful rivals. At any 
time you may hoar their murmurs and perceive 
their unhappy condition. They have not the 
philosophy to accept their discomfiture as one 
which has been deereod by late, and they have 
not the strength to grasp the prizes which lio 
beloro them and are secured by holder hands than 
theirs. Ho they fall hack. In their trouble, upon 
the stale device of abusing youth, of expressing 
contempt for youth's works and railing against 
society lor Its patronage and toleration of young¬ 
sters. As they are being put upon the shelf they 
derive such solace as they can from pouring Into 
compassionate ears the story of their wrongs; a 
proceeding which often excites as much contempt 
as pity. 
Youth may learn one lesson from all this. It 
should see that It must make Its position before 
It gets old If It wishes to retain respect. Itsbonld 
perceive that age, to be happy, needs an estab¬ 
lished status, and that if it has not laurels to re¬ 
pose upon It. will meet with but scanty considera¬ 
tion. Tho despised senility of dotage Is simply 
the culmination of a life of failure. It will ever be 
so; and however much lovers of the traditional 
past may bewail the fact, age will not command 
respect on account of its white hairs and totter¬ 
ing limbs. Indeed, we fear that white hairs and 
tottering limbs, when they are all that an old man 
has to rely upon, will mostly excite contempt and 
give rise to an opinion that he is cumbering the 
earth too long. 
acters; and It, la rarely rounded, turned under or 
softly curled In men of rough natures, bom for 
contradiction and conflict. To draw it to a fine 
point, as was done under the empire, whether 
from a spirit of mere Imitation or courtler-like 
flattery, Is to give the face of the wearer a fastid¬ 
ious and evanescent expression, since the points 
cannot bo kept stiff without the use of a cosmetic, 
easily detected and soon melted. 
>aWrat|i ^taitutg. 
®Jr* Citfranr Uortti. 
CDMING EVENTS. 
Ilncortl of Mr. Alrotl’n School. B'>*Utn : Kob- 
brta Brother*. 
Tub peculiar and original manner In which this 
school was conducted and the evident thought 
given to the subject of educating children by Mr. 
Alcott, as here.recorded, could bo read and stud¬ 
ied with benefit by every parent. In the land. 
While It would, or course.be difllcultto foUowthls 
| model Implicitly, many valuable suggestions can 
| be obtained from the perusal of the work. It 
should be read by every mother. 
A Study ol Hawthorne. By GKOHHB P. Lath- 
itoo Boston ; Jaint-n R. Oh«ooO It Co. 
As a literary effort, which its author claims It 
Is not, It Is certainly a success. Displaying a deep 
research and careful study of 11 a wtuoknk, Lath- 
hot has not only expressed his opinions perspicu¬ 
ously but elegantly at the same time. It Is a his¬ 
tory of the birth, rise and development of the lit¬ 
erary genius of the subject and deserves a much 
more extended notice than space will permit. He 
who loves Hawthorne must love this book as 
well. 
Tho niioiun of Hlarlt Rifle. By Kli.mii KEL¬ 
LOGG. Bouton : Loo A Shepurd. 
The early history of our country is pot bo far 
back In the vista of time as to render It legend¬ 
ary, nor Is it sufll'dcntly near to this generation 
to make it uninteresting. Wo can get truthful 
pictures which shall be strange euough to us to 
absorb our Interest, and such is the charaou-r or 
the work beloro us. Well written, apparently 
drawn Irom facts, the story of the strange adven¬ 
tures of the frontiersman can but be tho delight ol 
all who are fond of good fiction. 
Index to the Atlantic Monthly. 
O. Houghton i It Co. 
Boston: II. 
Tins Is among tho most valuable works to all 
subscribers and readersof the Atlantic that could 
Lave been prepared. Its compilation and general 
plan evlnco the utmost caro, the greatest Judg¬ 
ment and a very superior discrimination. Who¬ 
ever owns any volumes or tho magazine should 
possess himself of this Index. 
A Point ot Honor. By Mrs. Annie Edwards. 
Now Yorlt: Sheldon & t’o. 
To the lover of light Action this book 13 com¬ 
mended as one of the most Interesting stories ever 
written by the author. The moral effect of good 
stories like this one, Is a matter to bo sought and, 
in many instances, can only be obtained by like 
means. 
The IlluMirnied A noun I IteglHier of Rurnl 
A flair*. By J. J. Thomas. Albany: Ruiber 
Tucker & Son, 
Few little annuals can be obtained so full of 
valuable luformatlon as this. No farmer or sub¬ 
urban resident, can afford to be without It when 
It Is sold lor the paltry sum of thirty cents, in 
addition to the articles upon rural practical sub- 
ects are an almanac and a list of dealers In articles 
of general use among ruralJsts. 
The World 1 .Song. Boston : Oliver Dltson A Co. 
This Is a collection or Songs, Ballads and Duets 
arranged for voices and pluno or reed organ. 
Many of them are like old friends, having beeu 
published before in different forms and, indeed, 
some of them are like one of the family. They 
are not difficult, and will help to cheer number¬ 
less firesides. 
Handy Drama*. By Geohge M. Baker. Bos¬ 
ton : Lee A Shepard. 
This Is a fitting successor to the preceding vol¬ 
umes ol the “ Amateur Drama 8erles,” and con¬ 
tains eight little plays which are in themselves 
good light reading. Where private theatricals are 
at all used, this work will he found of great value. 
The plays are moral and lit lor all conditions of 
me. 
Cyrilla. By the author of “ The Initials.” Phila¬ 
delphia : T. B. Peteraon A Bros. 
Another love story, rull of mystery, schemlnga, 
cross-purposes, disappointments and happy re¬ 
sults. Those who are fond of sensation and ex¬ 
citement, can here find a plenty of both. 
CHARACTER IN MOUSTACHES. 
A PARTicHLAR face shows determination merely 
by the turn of the moustache; but the moustache 
Is robbed of all Its expression unless It be worn by 
Itself. When It. grows naturally the moustache 
Is always a sign of a manly temperament. It 
never, or at any rate seldom, happens that It Is 
bristling, hirsutal, In gentle and thoughtful char- 
The Magazine of American History, edited 
by John Austin Stevens, January. 1877, (A. S. 
Barnes & Co..) Is the first number of a new pe¬ 
riodical devoted to topics connected with the early 
history of this country. Including original essays, 
antiquarian documents, notes and queries, and 
Intelligence of an interesting character to histori¬ 
cal students. The plan of the work is highly com¬ 
mendable, and the execution of the present Dum¬ 
ber, together with the learning and experience 
of the editor, affords a guarantee of a valuable 
and successful publication. 
-4~*-W- 
Magazines nor February: 
Harpers’, Scribner’s, St. Nicholas, Wide Awake, 
Atlantic, Quarterly Journal of Inebriety. 
AN AN8WERED PRAYER. 
Totrrttpn by tbr wand of Memory, now 
Tim portals of toy heart 
Swing open, and 1 view the years 
Since we have walked apart. 
“ God have yon in Ilia keeping!" so 
Yotir dear lips whiepered me, 
“ And Krsnt Hi* tender mercy, where 
Soever you may be 1" 
Since then, O friend of by-gone years. 
Hi* love ha* been tho balm 
For every wound that time has made, 
" Thy will V my daily psalm. 
The water* of deep Morrows have 
Swept o'er Ihe patlm I've trod. 
But with the Mandate of my faith, 
I've walked them o’er dry-shod. 
One after one my loved one* have 
Gone to the Better Land, 
But yet, Just like a trusting child. 
I’m clinging to the hand 
That chastened me, for well I know 
God will not cease his care. 
Nor will He give of sorrow more 
Than my heart well can bear. 
And so, dear friend, your fond prayer has 
Forever answered been. 
For He ha a had me in His care. 
His tenderest care since then. 
[Helen A. ManviUe. 
•-- 
THOUGHTS FOR THINKERS. 
The grandest and strongest natures are ever 
the calmest. A fiery restlessness Is the symbol of 
frailties not yet outgrown. The reposo of power 
is Us richest phase and Its clearest testimony. 
Religion Is not a quality exterior toman, which 
Is Infused Into him as something separate from 
his own personality. It Is that name by which 
we designate all right human volition, emotion, 
and action. 
Evert saint In Heaven is as a flower in that 
garden of God, and holy love Is the fragrance and 
sweet odor they all send forth and with which 
they fill tho bowers of that paradise above.— jor- 
athan Edward*. 
Alexander once offered a princely annuity to 
one whom he wished to reward. “ OhI this is too 
much for me to take,” exclaimed the man. “ But 
It Is not too much for me to give,” replied the em¬ 
peror. Bo God reckons by what Is flttiDg for tho 
King of Heaven to bestow; and wo a re gladdened 
at once, as well as humbled by the measureless 
benefit. 
Trouble, like a strong electric, light , casts an¬ 
other color over the formerly dark scene, and we 
discover what, wo had forgotten. Trials work a 
degree of tenderness of spirit, and so make sin 
conspicuous to the weeping eye and to the 
troubled heart. Many a man when in great 
trouble about other mat ters has also begun to be 
Hi deep distress on account of sin .—Spuryeon. 
Christianity did not come from Heaven to bo 
the amusement of an Idle hour, to bo t he food of 
mere Imagination, to be as a very lovely song of 
ono that has a pleasant voice and playeth well 
upon an instrument. No, it Is Intended to be the 
guide, the guardian, the companion of all hours; 
It, Is intended to be the food of our Immortal 
spirits; It Is intended to be the serious occupation 
of our whole existence .—Uishop Jetttt. 
When a child picks flowers In a neld and brings 
us the whole handful, one up and one down, all 
thrown together, then In each Individual one we 
see more clearly the beauty, t he harmony In color 
and form that la so good to our sight. We ar¬ 
range them, and altogether they blend in a beau¬ 
tiful whole, so that we do not look at one, but at 
the whole bouquet. This perception of the har¬ 
mony of beauty is an instinct in us, lying in our 
eyes and eursr—these bridges between our souls 
and the created things, even In tho beating of the 
waves of the air made manifest In sound.— Han* 
Christian Andersen. 
Power of a Little Child.— Recently two men 
engaged In au angry dispute on the street, during 
which one shook his fist beneath the other’s nose 
and appeared to have worked hlraseir into a fever 
heat or passion. Just then a little girl, almost an 
Infant, who had been going by, but stopped, ap¬ 
parently paralyzed by the man’s fury, moved 
quite close to him, and, looking up into his face, 
Inquired: “Whatmakes you so tross, Mister?” 
It was so unexpected that the man evidently felt 
a complete revolution of feeling. Gradually hla 
countenance cleared, and finally was lit up with 
a smile as he patted the little peacemaker’s head 
and remarked, as he moved away, Ignoring the 
other man altogether: “ I guess you’re right, little 
pet.” 
Many authors speak of their “fame” as If It 
were a quite priceless matter—the grand ulti¬ 
matum and heavenly Constantine^ banner they 
had to follow and conquer under. Thy “fame,’' 
unhappy mortal! Where will it and thou be in 
some fifty years? Shakespeare himself hath 
lasted but some two hundred; nomer (partly by 
accident), three thousand; and does not already 
an eternity encircle every ine and thee? Cease, 
then, to sit feverishly hatching on that “fame” 
of thine, aud flapping and shrieking with fierce 
hisses, like a brood-goose on her last egg, If man 
shall or dare approach It. Quarrel not with me, 
hate me not, my brother [sister?]. Make what 
thou canst of thy egg, and welcome. God knows 
1 will not steal it, I believe it to be addled.— 
Carlyle. 
