NOV. 2 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
701 
fittrarg Ifttmlkitg, 
THE OLD PASTOR’S DISMISSAL. 
ELIZABETH CUMINGS. 
" We need a younger man to 8tlr the people. 
And load them to the fold,” 
The deacons said: “ We ask your resignation, 
Because you’re growing old.” 
The pastor bowed his deacons out in silence, 
And tenderly the gloom 
Of twilight hid him and his bitter anguish 
Within his lonely room. 
Above the violet hills the sunlight’s glory 
Hung like a crown of gold. 
And from the great church spire the bell’s sweet an¬ 
them 
Adown thestillness rolled. 
Assembled were the people for worship ; 
But in his study chair 
The pastor sat nuheeding, while the south wind 
Caressed his snow-white hair. 
A smile lay on his lips. Hia was the seonet 
Of sorrow a glad surcease, 
Upon hia forehead shone the benediction 
Of everlasting peace. 
" Tho ways of Providence are most mysterious,” 
The deacons gravely said. 
As wondcring-eyed. and scared, the people orowded 
About their pastor—dead. 
“ We loved him.” wrote the people on the coffin, 
Iu words of shining gold : 
And ’bovn tho broken heart they set a statue 
Of marble, white and cold. 
-*-♦•*- 
EVERLASTING FLOWERS IN VASES AND 
BASKETS FOR ROOM DECORATION. 
JULIUS J. HEINRICH. 
SECOND PAPER. 
Dried Grasses, Everlastlog Flowers, Pressed 
Ferns and Autumn Leaves can be arranged In 
many hundreds of beautiful designs. 
Fig. 1—drawn from nature by Mr. L. F. Grteth- 
er—represents a wall-pocket,—basket, filled 
with flowers, 
grasses and ferns. 
It makes a very 
effective and 
charming orna¬ 
ment for hanging 
against the wall. 
Fig. 2 Is a Swiss 
moss-basket filled 
with grasses and 
flowers, it can 
be placed on the 
table or on the 
mantel In the par¬ 
lor or sitting- 
room. Fig. 3 Is 
one of the neatest 
and at the same 
time one of the 
easiest designs to 
make. Glue a piece of bark on a cardboard 12xU 
Inches, so as to represent a log of wood; then run 
the fernB tn behind the bark and fill out with 
grasses and flowers. A Swiss moss-basket may 
be used, cut lu two lengthwise. Glue this on the 
cardboard instead of the bark. After the basket 
has become dry, fill up with moss and then put 
the ferns and grasses m it. This can be framed, 
with or without glass, and looks very pretty. 
Fig. 2. 
Fig. k is a bouquet made of grasses only. Fig. 
8 Is a bouquet made of flowers and grasses. These 
designs are popular, as they form beautiful orna¬ 
ments for tilling vases and they retain their 
shape and beauty for years. They can be made 
of all natural grasses, or the grasses may be dyed 
according todlrectlois given In a previous arti¬ 
cle. In arranging the bouquet It Is essential to 
use Stlpa pennata to give It the graceful look 
whloh otherwise is lost, and which gives the 
beauty and shape to the bouquet, as shown In 
Pig. 4. Bouquets of domestic grasses can, however, 
be made without the stlpa, but they do not look 
aa well as those with It. Before using the grasses, 
It Is best to hold thorn over a kettle of boiling 
hot water and let the steam rise up among the 
grasses; this will expand them and also soften 
them, which will be found to make them easier 
to work with. 
Fig. S. 
The hanging basket (Fig. 5) is made of Everlast¬ 
ing flowers and grasses. This design Is very 
hard to make, as each flower la wired on One 
hair wire, then twisted over line pleoes of moss, 
and lastly fastened to one long piece of wire 
which runs from the inside of the basket to the 
end of the 
branch; this 
Is called 
branching. 
After the 
branches are 
made,the rest 
of the basket 
can be easily 
arranged. 
This will 
make a beau- 
11 f u 1 orna¬ 
ment for a 
bay - window 
or chandelier. 
It will last 
for years and 
needs but lit¬ 
tle care. If 
dustsettleson 
any or them, 
they need 
only be well 
shaken and 
all the dust 
will be shak¬ 
en o ff. Be¬ 
sides these, 
designs can be made In the shape of wreaths, 
crosses, anchors, stars, and In many other styles. 
The straw baskets so much used by florists are 
especially adapted for this work. An article on 
Straw Baskets (Illustrated) will appear in the 
Rural in the course of a few weeks. 
-»-»-»- 
WEAKER THAN - A WOMAN. 
CHAPTER III.—(Continued.) 
The question seemed to him almost decisive. 
She would not have asked It had she meant to re¬ 
fuse him. He could hardly answer her calmly, 
but be beat back his emotion. “ She la so easily 
startled," he said to himself—*’ I must be very 
cautious what I say to her." He answered— 
'• Yes ; and many of the beautiful things that 
Captain Henderson bought are there now. To 
my mind It Is the prettiest house In Lllford; and, 
my darling, I have a vision of you standing In 
that pretty entrance-ball, waiting ror me when 
business hours are over. I can see the light from 
the stained-glass window falling on your golden 
hair. I can see the sunlight lying outside on the 
flowers. I can see my wife’s sweet face grow 
brighter for my coming. I oan see your hand 
stretched out to welcome me. I can also see the 
years pass od, and lire grow brighter and more 
beautiful. Do you like the picture, Violet ? Will 
you make It real ?” 
Hls great, passionate love, shining In his eyes, 
trembling on hls lips, touched her. Her beautiful 
race grew pale. She was woman enough to feel 
the beauty of the future he had painted for her— 
woman enough to appreciate the deep, honest, 
true love offered to her. 
“ I would rather not promise,” she said; “ but I 
will think of it, Felix.” 
“ You do not refuse, violet?" 
“ No, I do not refuse,” she answered. 
“ Why, then,” he cried, •* the victory la won. 
You will be my wife. My darling, I love you all 
the better for your shy, sweet reserve. How 
could I be so foolish as to fear that I should not 
marry my sweet girl-love violet ? See, darling, 
I have been keeping this for you ever since I 
came borne from London, last year.” He drew a 
little morocco-case from hls pocket, and, opening 
It, took out a pretty ring. It was of gold, set with 
pearls. '* You will let me put this on your Unger, 
Violet. This Is your betrothal ring. You will 
never part with It—promise me.” 
She looked at the pretty Jewel shining on her 
Unger. 
No, 1 will never part with It,” she said ; “ but 
remember, Felix, I have not quite promised.” 
*• Not quite," he returned, with a happy laugh. 
“ You will let me go back to the Limes with you, 
violet, and tell Mr. Haye what 1 have asked 
you?' 1 
“ Must you tell them now so soon ?” she asked. 
“ It will be almost the same thing as being mar¬ 
ried if you tell them.” 
** It will be only the foreshadowing of a happy 
future, my violet. Yes, I must tell them to-night. 
It would not be honorable to keep silence ; be¬ 
sides, I am so proud of the treasure I have won 
that I could not be silent If I would.” 
They went back to the Limes; tea was ready 
In one of the sunny little rooms that looked Into 
the garden, and Mrs. Haye sat waiting for her 
daughter. She smiled as the beautiful girl en¬ 
tered with her lover. 
“ I am not surprised,” she said. *‘ I thought it 
was so. violet Is two hours later than she 
intended to be, and then does not return alone. 
That is like Violet.” 
Later on In the evening Felix told hls love- 
story to violet's parents, who were pleased with 
It—pleased but not elated. Violet was very 
lovely; she belonged to the gentry. Her beauty 
ought to have done much ror her: still Felix 
would certainly ono day bo the loading lawyer In 
Lllford, and the legacy had quite altered matters. 
But for that and the partnership, Mr. Haye would 
not have been willing tor hls daughter to engage 
herself to Felix Lonsdale; however. In that 
country spot lie was now a good match. They 
talked for some time about the prospects of busi¬ 
ness, about the cottage arm, about Lllford, and 
then Felix knew that It was time for him to go. 
Violet wont with him to tho garden-gate. How 
many times he had blessed that garden-gate! 
A great Ulan- bush shaded It, and some of the 
happiest hours of hls life had been spent there. 
Thu moon was shining and the flowers were 
steeped In glittering dew as the lovers walked 
through the garden. It was a long good night. 
They stood under the sweet-smelling lilac, and 
the moonlight Beemed to soften Violet's heart 
Just as Itsoftened the beauty other marvelous 
face. 
“ violet,” said her lover, “ will you give me one 
kiss? It Is customary at all betrothals, and this 
has been our betrothal-day.” 
She raised her fair face to hls in the moon¬ 
light., and he kissed the sweet Ups. 
“Remember” she told him, “I have not quite 
promised.” 
“ I have been thinking of your wedding-dress, 
Violet,”he said; “it shaU be of white silk. My 
darling, you will be such a beautiful bride that 
every one who sees you will want to take you 
from me.” 
The lilac-leaves were wet with dew, and the 
lovers laughed as the dew-drops fell over them. 
They laughed as the nlght-wlnd swept over the 
sleeping flowers—as the great boughs swayed and 
murmured. All the world seemed bo fair. Then 
Felix found that It was growing late. It was 
hard to shorten this the happiest hour of hls life, 
but it must be done. 
“ violet, I could Btand here saying good night 
until morning dawned; but that must not be. 
Good night.” 
Once more ho kissed the beautiful face, and 
whispered to her that she was dearest, sweet¬ 
est, truest, that the world had no other Jewel so 
rare, that he loved her with hls whole soul; but 
she, when her fair face was resting on hls breast 
and bis strong loving arm enfolded her, whis¬ 
pered— 
“ I have not quite promised. Felix, do not for¬ 
get that.” 
“ I shall remember ltonly to love you the more,” 
he answered as be left her; and be smiled to 
himself each time that he thought of the words. 
“You have brought good news home, Felix,” 
said Mrs. Lonsdale, when she saw the happy 
light shining In hta dark eyes. 
“Yes, maare, good news,” he replied.” I have 
seen Violet, and she was more beautiful and 
charming than I have ever seen her yet.” 
“And she promised,” began Mrs. Lonsdale—and 
then sbe stopped suddenly, thinking to herself 
that after all she had no right to put the inter¬ 
rogatory that was on her lips. Felix looked at 
her with a bright smile. "She 111 be my wife, 
madre. Mr. and Mrs. Haye are both willing. 
She has not exactly promised; but s be will 
marry me when I have a bouse ready for her." 
Love and youth were strong within him; the 
mighty passion stirred hls heart; he could not 
breathe within the narrow compass of tour walls. 
He went out into the moonlight; he could think 
of It all—realize It all—better there. He bad won 
violet. She was hls own, the beautiful girl whom 
everyone loved and admired—hls own, to love 
him and bless him, to crown hls life. 
The union was a settled tbtng. Both families 
met and talked It over It was a certainty; and 
a few days after Felix had placed the little pearl 
ring on violet’s finger he went to make Inquiries 
about the cottage omc, while Mrs. Lonsdale said 
to herself more than ooce, “ I do not know how 
It Is, but I wish that he had choosen Evelyn 
Lester.” 
CHAPTER IV. 
The news of an engagement was always well 
received in Lllford; It was something to discuss, 
to think of—something In which both maids and 
matrons took a lively Interest; and it was certain 
that no engagement ever courted so much discus¬ 
sion as this. How intensely the young farmers 
In the neighborhood detested Felix Lonsdale for 
having won beautiful Violet! Each one made up 
bis mind that Felix LonBdale should do no more 
business tor him, and wondered why she pre¬ 
ferred a lawyer to a farmer. All the old people 
thought It a most suitable alliance. Felix and 
Violetv they said, were equal in position, and mar¬ 
riages of that kind were the best. Mothers who 
had daughters of their own to marry were thank¬ 
ful that beautiful violet could rival them no 
longer. The girls thought that Vtolet had won a 
prize, for there was certainly no one tn all the 
country-side like Felix. 
Fig. 5. 
There was one pure, gentle heart to whom the 
news of the engagement came like a terrible 
blow, although It had long been expected. Eve¬ 
lyn Lester had never even owned to herself that 
Bhe loved Felix Lonsdale, yet when she heard the 
news, It seemed to her that the bright face of 
heaven was bidden trom her by a dark funereal 
pall. They had all been ohlldron together, and 
In their childish quarrels It was always Evelyn 
who defended Felix. He could do no wrong In 
her eyes; in her opinion the wide world hold no 
other so brave, so handsome, or so noble ;|and 
the childish love had unconsciously grown with 
her—she called It friendship, and believed it to 
be nothlDg else. Felix had a real friendship for 
her, a real admiration, a great esteem, but uoth- 
tog like love. He lent her book3, he frequently 
aBked Mrs. Lonsdale to Invite her to the house ; 
out It was all because he was sorry for her, and 
thought her lire lonely and sad. Evelyn was an 
orphan, left to the tender mercies of a strong- 
minded aunt, Jane Lester, mistress of the pretty 
little farm known as the Outlands. Miss Lester 
would Bay of herself, “ I am nothing if I am not 
strong-minded;” and therein she spoke the truth. 
Fig. 6. 
She looked like a strong-minded woman. She 
was thin and angular she had what she called a 
userul complexion—the sun did not darken it, 
nor did tho wind ever freshen It Into deeper 
bloom; her gray hair was braided tn most severe¬ 
ly uncompromising style; her dress was of plain, 
rich material. In wilting the word “woman” 
she always used a capital “ W,” and a capital 
“ H " In “ humanity.” Of men as a whole she had 
the poorest possible opinion; she had the pro- 
foundesc contempt for all their sentiments, prin¬ 
ciples, and inventions. She went to extreme 
lengths tn her views about the rights of women. 
Where there was a man, she was accustomed to 
say, there was mischief. “ If you want anything 
done well, do It yourself,” she counseled; “ do 
not leave It to men.” She had a certain convic¬ 
tion that, if the world were governed by women It 
would be quite another place. She did not dis¬ 
like men, she had simply a superb contempt for 
them—a lofty pity and compassion that were in¬ 
finitely amusing even to the objects of them. 
it was the puzzle of the whole neighborhood 
how so sweet a girl as Eve Lester could have 
grown up under the charge of one like her aunt 
Jane. Eve was not beautiful. She was the per¬ 
fect type of an English girl—graceful, healthy, 
with a rounded figure, a clear complexion, fair 
brown hair, red, ripe lips, a face that one would 
call sweet rather than beautiful; the dark-gray 
eyes were clear and tender, long lashes shading 
them—a frank, noble soul spoke from her eyes; 
her Ups were Ann and sensitive, with sweet and 
gracious curves about them. Of a hundred men 
perhaps ninety-nine would have passed Eve hy 
and thought but little of her; the hundredth 
would have considered her face one of the sweet¬ 
est and dearest. There was a quiet dignity about 
her, a graceful ease and self-possession that de¬ 
lighted her aunt. Evelyn had a small fortune 
entirely at her own command, but her aunt was 
always at band to see that there was no undue 
expense. 
The Outlands was a pretty farm not more than 
half a mile from LUford, and Miss Lester was sup¬ 
posed to have made money. She, with her niece, 
belonged to the gentry, but, owing to the elder 
woman’s peculiarities, the two ladles visited but 
seldom and seldom received any visitors. 
If there was one man In Jane Lester’s eyes less 
contemptible than another. It was certainly 
Felix Lonsdale. “ The boy has a beautiful face,” 
she was accustomed to say of him, ** and beauty 
Isa woman’s gift.” So because be had a '• woman’s 
gift” Miss Lester looked more kindly on him. 
She liked to see him at the Outlands. She gave 
him any amount of good advice; she was pleased 
that he should be a friend of Evelyn’s. 
No one was more delight’d than Jane Lester to 
hear of the legacy, but the engagement did not 
please her so well. Love and marriage were folly 
In her eyes. 
“I am disappointed In you. Felix Lonsdale,” 
she said, sharply. “I thought you had a Utile 
more sense than the generality of men. Pray 
expect no congratulations from me—I have none 
to give.” 
But Eve smiled at him with her clear tender 
eyes. 
“I am very pleased,” she said, “for 1 know 
that you love Ylolec dearly.” 
“ We shall always be friends,” he told her. 
And she answered him with a happy smile on 
her sweet face—" Always.” 
They would always be friends; for she desired 
nothing better in life than the friendship of Felix 
Lonsdale. 
