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��THE OLD FARM.
��be to her child ; then Charles turned to look for Nellie. He found her in the old sitting-room, nearly convulsed with grief.
" Nellie, darling, do not cry," said Charles. " I shall come back ere many years, and we shall meet, let me hope, not to part again. I love you, Nellie, with more than a brother's love. I had thought to go with the words unspoken, but could not. If you care for me as I do for you, the knowledge of the fact will encourage and strengthen me more than anything else in my efforts to win my way to honor and fortune. If you do not, cannot give me such return, the fu- ture will be cheerless iudeed to me, and the success I would achieve scarcely worth the winning. I ask no promise, Nellie ; even if you love me, I would bind you with no pledge. But if there is ground for hope that I may sometime win you for my own, give me some sign of encouragement to gladden my heart and strengthen my purpose in the long days to come, and I shall leave you with a cheerful spirit and full confidence of success."
He stood by her side and clasped her hand, and her drooping head rested upon his shoulder as he spoke. Raising her eyes, brimming with tears, and yet filled with a joyful light from the assurance that the love she had jast come to realize within her heart was so earnestly recip- rocated by Charles, the fair girl said :
" I love you, dear Charles, with all my heart, and will be true to you always."
��His arms were about her in an instant, and she was clasped to his heart. A lin- gering kiss, a fond farewell, and he was gone. Edward was waiting in the wag- on at the door; Charles sprang lightly in by his side, and they drove away. Few words were spoken during the ride to the " Falls," where they arrived just as the stage was coming in sight.
"Goodbye, Charles," said Edward. Keep up your courage whatever happens, and when you have seen enough of the world and long for the old home com- forts and farm life, remember there is room for you at home and we shall all be glad to have you there."
"Thank you, Edward. I shall miss the home comforts for a time, I have no doubt, but am sure I shall never long for the farm life, and as for returning, that I shall never do till I have made my mark in the world ; but I hope to be with you all again ere many years."
The stage was at hand. The driver drew up his horses with a jerk, and, springing to the ground, had Charles' trunk strapped upon the huge pile behind in a moment's time. " All aboard," and Charles mounted the box by his side, and with a hurried "goodbye" to Edward, they were far down the road in a mo- ment more. Thus day after day from our farmers' homes the young men take their departure, some to win renown in other fields of labor, others to fail utterly and drag out a miserable existence, glad when the end shall come 1 How will it be with Charles?
��WOMAN'S INCONSISTENCY.
��Last night you made complaint against the moon, Because the sun had gone and she had come to soon ; But now, forsooth, you must upbraid the sun, Because he wakes you when your night's begun !
— Lucia Moses.
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