A Letter of Credit

eople do, when they are

peated h

nder how t

to tell; and then they tell i

but I mea

y have you

n the floor at her feet, with an octavo volume in her lap. The floor was clean enough to sit

her mother's question. "O mother, when I am

hy

so nice. Why, mother, one co

ther. "I never imagined

wa

ps you and I a

ow and then looked at her daughter, her fingers were untiringly busy with the peas and peas pods and never paused for a minute. The girl on the floor did not look like her mother. She was dark eyed and dark haired; with a dark complexion too, which at present was not fine; and the eyes, large and handsome eyes, revealed a fire and i

forbid you to read stories

, mo

eve they are

arm should

ry. I don't want y

ry, mother. I think it will," said the girl slowly.

ou not

like to be a princess, or to have adventures

rmer's daughter. You had better make up your mind to it, a

doubtfully, looking at her mother's fingers and the quick str

es

good farm,

Carpenter sighed. Rotha had often heard her

hat you mean by

ful you should

to know, mother.

ver mind. He has a great deal of money to pay out for it eve

st he p

; and if the interest, this yearly money,

? H

or the mone

g which only the pea pods rustl

then, mother, if

ow." The wor

rouble you

less the Lord will; and that is enough. Now you may

away her book, "all you say makes me wish more

er laughing slightly, but with a very swe

w. Across the intervening piece of kitchen garden, rows of peas and tufts of

hat, mother? There is somebody getting out of a wagon and tyi

throwing her peas into the pot of boiling water, went herself to t

penter. Kin you he

he matter

w; but he's to

, pr

d axed fur a horse and wagon to carry him to Rochester; and he's got so fur,-that'

, is

And he l

o on to R

like to be the man to drive him. He can't go an

out and carry him b

l know. Can't you let him come in and rest a bit? Mebbe you could give

r looked grav

dea, or the str

down some'eres, for he couldn't hold out to go on nohow; and then he

he matter

He don't say nothin', but he gits as white a

e for all her preparations, for the bringing the stranger to the house was a work of some difficulty, and not accomplished without the help of one of the hired men about the

d. An intellectual looking man, in spite of his farmer's dress, and handsome; but thin, worn, with an undue flush o

we don't know the least bit who he is; only 'Siah Barker said he was English, or an 'Englisher,' he said. We don't know

re adjectives than

t is something to

s if you wer

s sick. I am just glad t

ver do ha

rdly feel as much pleased as you

is too ill to te

ur hands then fo

or more t

ing anxiously at the sweet face which already

e was dishing the dinner. "The Lord seems to have given me this

can say that, mothe

ha

happened to come in here. How can you say,

come on a little sooner, or a little later? why wa

there was any

both smiled; the

ugh a field, without meanin

fat

es the Lord

For several days her mother was much engaged in the care of the sick man, and put all she could of the housework upon Rotha's hands; the nursing kept herself very busy. The sickness was at first severe; and then the mending was gradual; so that it was full two weeks before the stranger could leave his room. Mrs. Carpenter had no servant in the house; she did everythi

she said one day at dinner,

at?" her hu

e of our

who

months ago; to New York; then found it was needful for him to see some p

t's

much of a talker. I never fo

I suppose he will go

ave him out to supper with us this evening. You may put a glass of roses on

ilt originally for somewhat different occupation. At any rate, the hall served as a great comfort to Mrs. Carpent

of doors, the eye saw green fields, with an elm standing here and there; and on one side, a bit of the kitchen garden. Mr. Southwode was a silent man, at least he was certainly silent here; but he was observant; and his looks went quietly from one thing to another, taking it all in. Perhaps the combination was strange to him and gave him matter for study. There was conversation too, as the meal went on, which occupied his ears, though he could hardly be said to take an active part in it. His host made kind efforts for his entertainment; and Rotha and her father had always something to discuss. Mr. Southwode listened. It was not the sort of talk he expected to hear in a farmhouse. The girl was full of intelligence, the father quite able to meet her, and evidently doing it with delight; the questions they talked about were worthy the trouble; and while on the o

r and daughter resumed their seats. Mr. Carpenter read a chapter, like a man who both knew and loved it; and then, a book being given to the stranger, the other three set up a hymn. There was neither formality nor difficulty; as the

ove thy cha

sic to

m it? Not the abstract love of music, certainly; though the melody which they sang was sweet, and the notes floated out upon the evening air with a kind of grave joy. So as the summer breeze was wafted in. There was a harmony, somehow, between the outer world and this little inner world, for the time, which moved Mr. Southwode strangely, though he could not at all understand it. He made no remark when the service

e his journey. Rotha had gone to the field with her father, to have some fun in the hay; Mr. Southwode and Mrs. Carpenter sat together in the wide farmhouse hall. The day being very warm, they had come to the coolest place they could find. Mrs. Carpenter was busy with mending clothes; her guest for some time sat idly watching her; admiring, as

to have a fine far

enter answered, without lifti

this morning. He knows what to do

order, if my husband

orry to see

sently, with a smothered apprehensiveness which touched her

, though," he went on a

had advice

another a little more firmly. They always had a firm though soft set, and the corners of the mou

ll in anybody,"

talk about, though closely connected with the

he said after a long enough pause had ensued, and begin

e been able to do anyt

no need

eserve to live. It astonishes me, how you

ded it," she said w

other people's needs-Why, you have done everything for me, night and day, Mrs. Carpe

said in the same way. "There is

t what made you do all that for a person who was nothing to y

ht way," she returned. "Anybody wh

y?" said h

smile again. "Don't you know the gospel rule is, to

ody before who ob

y for that. It is a pl

echoed. "Excuse me;

ng, Mr. Southwode; I like to do whatever my Master g

d h

hink

lowly. "Mrs. Carpenter, I am unde

welcome," sh

. I never saw what religion can be-what

ely that he must not offer money here. The people were poor unquestionably; at the same time they did not belong t

is affairs as we walked this morning," he began again.

aid with a sigh, and a

, by you and your husband; but I shall be a friend a good way off. Mrs. Carpenter, do not be offended at my plain speaking;-I would say, that if e

& Buckingham, 46 Barclay St., New York." Mrs. Carpenter turned the letter o

t the place where it is to be delivered, and an open letter would not carry the same credit. With the letter, if ev

said in a little bewilderment; "bu

all feel better, if you will promise me to

o use it? Such a time could not come, unless after the wreck of her home and her life happiness; never could come while her husband lived.