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mass of tempted men and women; but we shall be none the worse for thinking as well of them as we can; we will be none the more wretched either in this world or in that to come for believing them good and true until we have proved them unworthy. I would not give much for that man's faith in his God who has next to none in his neighbor.

We take our ideas from what we have been taught of life; and though our bodily eyes may never see perfection, we believe there is such a thing. We all have our beau ideals; and our beau ideals are perfection to us. Our maturer judgments differ from the judgments of our youth, and we are made happy in our better choice.

MERNA.

Do angels wear chip hats, and romp in the most extravagant manner on the slightest provocation? I am really afraid Merna was not an angel otherwise. She, moreover, usually appeared in a bright pink dress, that defined clearly the outline of her lithe, rounded figure, for Merna was a substantial bit of humanity, and eschewed all aerial illusions to airyness. I had lived near her since my boyhood, and it had caused me not a few spasms of my twentyone heart to leave her in Holden, while I went to Worcester to enter my uncle's store. She had wept a little, and I had called her a great many affectionate names the evening before my departure. And the next morning I left my angel in pink drapery, with a most dubious look upon her round rosy face, as she watched the gig that hurried me away.

Everything was strange and new in the city. My head and hands were busy, and I found no time to send tidings to my village "ladye." The next week I neglected it, and the third, I was devoting my leisure moments to the young ladies who frequented my uncle's house to gossip with cousin Lizzie. Thus three years sped by, and I never heard whether Merna was well, or even alive.

At the expiration of that time my uncle concluded that I must have a respite, in the shape of a three week's visit to Holden. I accepted the favor heartily, for I was not a little proud of my manly proportions and the distinque air I had attained. I was very willing to parade my broadcloth, patent-leather and kids, before the youths who had played "pull-away" with me down by the old brown school-house. A sudden idea of Merna flashed through my brain. I became a little anxious to see her, wondered if she had changed as much as I— wondered if she had missed me, and if she would be glad to see me again.

Well, she had not materially changed, save that her face was more arch than ever, and her laugh savored more of the bird's carol. She happened to be at my sister's to tea the very evening of my arrival. After welcoming me in a very matter-of-fact way, she executed an audacious pirouette, and sank upon the sofa, chattering like a magpie. I believe I was disappointed. I had almost hoped the color would deepen in her cheek, or that she would refer sadly to my long silence. Hadn't we played together, robbed hen's nests and orchard's together? Hadn't I kissed and caressed her long before she was out of pinafores ? What did she care? Bah! I began to lose my faith in woman.

My sister was too deeply interested in her household to accompany me in my rambles. It was but natural that I should seek my old companion, and I always found her ready to wan

der in the forest, sail on the bay, talking idly for hours, while our diminutive bark moved rapidly upon the waves, throwing up clouds of foam, which the sun turned into rainbows; or to mount her pony and ride neck-and-neck at a break-neck speed. Wasn't she kind? Certainly, and yet I felt piqued that she did not try to punish me with coldness. Her frankness galled me. I enjoyed the field alone the first week, but the second I met a rival-Henry Livingstone. He used to ride his magnificent horse over to Mr. Earley's very often, and I began to consider him an outrageous nuisance; but Merna evidently differed in opinion. She treated him as blithely as she did me-no better, no worse. He was in Holden on business, she said, and she would try to give him a little pleasure in the stupid place.

Let me cut that visit to the old village short. The remembrance pains me. I learned to love the village maiden. I saw her more worthy than all the belles I had flirted with. I went to her the evening before my departure, as I had done three years before. I asked her to walk out with me. She tied her chip hat over her curls and bounded down the gravel-path, out into the woods. The effluent glories of departing day rendered the forest a fairy-land of unimaginable beauty. The great oaks towered like giants toward the sky; the maple, elder and dog-wood trees, were burning in gold crimson; perfume floated from the thousand delicate bell-shaped flowers. The woodland was wrapped in a hazy, delicious dreami

ness, that saddened even Merna's glee. I prisoned her hands; I do not know what I said; but I finished by asking her to be my wife.

She leaned against the great oak a moment, her face growing paler, and her lips trembling. "I shall never marry you, Gerald Manny. You should not think that because I have been kind enough to make your visits pleasant, that I place more than a just value upon your lasting protestations.

She flitted away then, and I was left alone, looking at the golden shield behind the great purple clouds.

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"You have had quite a bout of it, my boy," said my uncle, rubbing his hands briskly together, “and you shall post off to Holden to fish, for a while. Don't say a word; didn't you save the life of my daughter when you received that murderous knock? I don't begrudge the time.”

"Not to Holden, uncle; not there!" I involuntarily said. "Let's say to Springfield, to see my brother Tom."

"As you say, my boy," and he relapsed into his regular Sunday afternoon nap.

So I went to Springfield. Tom was delighted to see me, congratulated me that Nero did not entirely shiver my frame when I caught his rein, and asked if Lizzie had quite fainted when I loosed her foot from the stirrup. I described the accident as we went up to his house, and there received a sisterly hug from his wife, Emma. The children—and my brother has a flourishing crop-crowed over me, and even the servants grinned a welcome.

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