PETERSON'S
VOL. LI.
MAGAZINE .
PHILADELPHIA , JANUARY , 1867 . TWO
NEW - YEAR
No. 1 .
EVES .
BY GABRIELLE LEE . MRS . SEYMOUR'S " boarding-school for young The next day found the three girls "at ladies " looked quiet enough externally, stand- home," in one of the brown-stone fronts facing ing in the white light of the December morn; the bit of park on Madison Square. At first but it was fairer inside, with its study-room the splendor bewildered little Hildah . "The lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and full of bright, happy girls. Maud Sutherland was the pet of the school, the pride of life," were sated almost to the full and petite, as pets are apt to be, with eyes of in this beautiful home of Maud's. But far honest hazel, and a mouth whose sweetness won away, in a simple farm-house, set in the midst you before it spoke. She had a sofa-cushion of snow-clad hills, devout hearts were praying nearly completed, and bending over it, was that "daughter Hildah" might be kept “uneagerly matching silks. At last, turning in spotted from the world ." Presently the mist feigned ecstasies of distress to a school-mate cleared away; Hildah's serious, thoughtful naon either side, she besought them to tell her ture regained its balance ; she saw that, while whether this last rose should be " cream- color all these beautiful things were given by "our or pale-blush ?" Father" richly to enjoy, they were only the "Oh ! pale blush, like little Hildah's cheeks " meat" and not "the life ;" and that the mohere !" said Brenda Marchwood, a girl of eigh- ment the heart acknowledged itself the slave of teen, with dark, straight eyebrows, and a mouth externals, then, indeed, these things of beauty curved in lines that could command at will. were "not of the Father, but of the world." Mr. Sutherland was what is called a " scien"There now," laughed Maud, " you've spoilt Hildah's cheeks for the present. They're as tific man ; " that is, his house was the resort red as Spitzenbergs. But never mind the silks. of men who loved letters, and whose intellect You two come over in the bow-window and { swayed the circles in which they moved. It was odd to see how this quiet little Hildah, we'll have a talk. Just to think, I shall have with her blush-rose cheeks, lashes that often you both to go home with me to-morrow !" Maud was to bring her two prime friends, fell, yet, whenever they rose, showed clear, Brenda Marchwood and Hildah Brownway, sweet eyes, full of repose and undeveloped home, to spend the "holidays ; " and wonderful power. It was odd to see how this Hildah were the excursions she planned , and the sights “ took " with these men learned in art, possessed of nicest taste and culture. Not that she they were to see. Now Brenda was used to attention , had in- talked fluently or often, but she possessed that haled homage from her very cradle ; it would rare gift, the art of earnest and intelligent atbe no novelty to her to visit Maud in her luxu- tention. I think men care for that in women rious home. the most of all ; the gentle, womanly tact, that But little Hildah Brownway knew nothing will listen patiently and sympathize nobly with of city life and city manners. She was the them in all noble pursuits. They like well the daughter of a plain farmer. Her small, childlike attentive gaze, the bowed head, the timid queshands had done many a churning, turned out tion that shows the clear head, and that draws many a pot of golden butter, had brushed, and them on to speak out their choicest thoughts, swept, and cleaned through the long summer feeling that the woman is listening and sympamornings. But the afternoon always found her thizing as well. fresh and fair in her simple home-dress. At all events, Hildah pleased these men most VOL. LI.- 2 21
