Marion Berkley

the girls made their appearance in the library, shaking and shi

barn! My cheeks are as blue as a razor, and my nose looks like a great cranberry

her, quietly remark

y becoming to your style of beauty; your nos

ot so killing handsome yourself that you can aff

ks always excited Sarah to a most unmitigated degree, and she could not seem to learn by experience that the only way t

nes, was almost always more than a match for Sarah, who never could hide her feelings no matter what they were and who always retorted as sharply and spitefully a

en she was a little girl it had been really red, but time had softened its shade, and many a Parisian belle might have envied Sarah its possession. Sarah could see no beauty in it, for at home she was often greeted by the name of "carrot-top," and "lit

d on Boston common nights, and light the city?

out Sarah's weakness, and so the poor child's bane was still kept b

waves; or the short hairs from twisting themselves into numberless little curls, which all the crimping-pins and hot slate-pencils in the world could not imitate. This hair which Georgie Graham so affected to despise was in reality a great object of h

ly Sunday morning?" asked Florence Stevenson

nly remarking that her cheeks were as blue as razors and her

ed with me, though you didn't say so. But there is one thing certain, if the cold makes frigh

rs and elevated her eyebrows, as

edly replied Marion, who knew very well that Sarah's admiration of hers

o commence the day with quarrels;" and Florence knelt down on the rug between the two girls

and all were quiet as she read the morning

prison, but each chose her own companion, and the walk was enlivened with pleasant conversation. It so chanced that Marion and Georgie Graham were together, not by choice of either party, but because they both happened to come downstairs a little late, and the othe

are not quite so fond of each other as you used

y replied Marion, determined not to lose her temper, or be led

n't believe there's a girl in the school who hasn't notic

effect, continued: "I don't see what there is about that girl, I'm sure, to make

Marion; "and the reason she seems lack

d Georgie, "you certainly have not tr

k her pretty, or why I should not see that she is quiet,

her to see all that. What a farce you must have been acting all this t

I have been a better actress than you, for you play your part so badly that the little boys i

f tormenting her companion were fully understood. But that fact did not prevent her from saying in a gently insinuatin

k she must be, for although there is no style to her clothes, and she is of course very dowdy-looking, still everything she has is made of the most expensive material, and you kno

She is quite well off; her father left about two millions, and with the exception of a few legacies of two or t

tled out of her usual composure; "two m

not," dryly r

e you sure? How

ll Miss Christine so the d

me!" ejaculated Georgie, who cou

t; aren't you surprised?" and Marion's voice had, by this time, assumed its most coolly

knew it. I suppose of course she

etorted Marion; "and she doe

replied Georgie in an annoyed tone; "an

ce, I'm sure you think there is something very distingué about that, set off by her 'heavy, expensive crépe;' and then I know you must think that there i

ch porch, and Georgie made no reply,

Stiefbach sat at the head of one, with five of the youngest girls, and Miss Christine, on the opposite side, also

ess of the place struck painfully upon her. She could not so soon shake off all outward impressions, and the

led her to sleep, and with good resolutions for the future. She felt glad that it was Sund

e first temptation; she had broken the vows made on her knees

; but the anger died, leaving nothing but the saddest, most wretched thoughts of all; the sense of utter failure; of c

lace and hour, and she knelt on, her hands clasped tightly together, and her head pressed down into them, the only cry that could sile

of Him who, bending in mercy and love, sees into the hearts of all; reads the very secrets of their souls; and to all who sincerely put their faith in Him surely, sooner or later, sends them His con

without first feeling sure that she clearly comprehended and sincerely believed all that its doctrines taught. The influences which of course continually surrounded, although in a quiet, unobtrusive way, were not without their effect. She loved the service of Miss Stiefbach's church, and joined in it heartily. It seemed to her that it brought her nearer to God

repeated with reverence, and a feeling which could never come to her in her own church; for there the intense simplicity and almost business-like manner of conducting the service, struck harshly upon her s

; she tried to fix her thoughts upon the sermon, and not let them wander to dwell upon her own

ersation, joined her and began plying her with fresh questions about Rachel Drayton. Marion did her best to evade her remark

d your tongue! I'm sick of yo

his morning; but it's not very strange that you should be rathe

y to keep from uttering it; although the expression of her face warned Georgi

the All Saints' church, and as the services began a half hour before St. Mark's she had her

mns were read by the clergyman of the parish; a good, earnest man, and one who in the homes of the poor, and by the bedsides of the suffering and dying was often seen, and most sincerely lo

orward and announced that Mr. B., who had been pastor of tha

n it, it gleamed with a light which was almost unearthly, spiritualizing and sanctifying that beautiful old face, until it seemed to many as if he were speaking to them from the very gates of heaven. His sermon was short but impressive; the gentle pathos of his voice, and the earnestness of his manner, were felt by all who heard him. B

eatest enemy is self. But who has said, 'He that conquereth himself is greater than he that taketh a city'?-Jesus! Jesus the Saviour, who cam

ness! darkness everywhere! no light, no hope, no guide. Look up, my friends! look up! not to the darkness; but above it, beyond it, to where Christ stands, ready, ay, more than ready. He comes to meet you, his eyes beaming with compassionate love, his

It seemed to her as if every word had been uttered for her alone; as if the speaker had l

lt that the words he uttered were but as "seed sown by the wayside" or "on stony ground;" but there was no mistaking the earnestness of that face, over which was spread an expression which it pained him to see in one so young; for he knew that her trials, whatever they were, were but just begun, and thi

the winds

d be un

sighs, and cou

lift up

, through clou

y clears

s time, so s

in glor

to receive the benediction, she felt strengthened and encouraged;

of hearing of the remarks of various members of the congregation, who were commenting

harming voice and manner! why, he really quite touched me!" made by different persons in a f

she stopped to allow a carriage to pass; as it reached her a gentleman leaned towards her, and looki

but the remembrance of it went