The Old Homestead

full of ten

strong but

purest gold

that banque

more holy

n passion

m Heaven its

earth its s

strious as a bee, meekly cheerful, and with a sort of homely sweetness in her manner that won affection without effort. Never boisterous or obtrusive in her desire to please she moved about the house like some meek and good spirit, acting, not speaking, the soft gratitude with which her little heart was brimming over.

its might, and sorrow becomes our master. When troubles flow upon you, dark and heavy, toil not with the waves-wrestle not with the torrent!-rather seek, by occupation, to divert the dark waters that threaten to overwhelm you, into a thousand channels which the duties of life always present. Before you dream of it, those waters will fertilize the pr

g, she was only twelve years old-she felt thus, and

industry, this little girl might have shamed the fortitude of many a stout man, for there are no sufferi

es of sugar, and plates of butter-and there was Mrs. Chester, with the sleeves of her calico dress rolled up from her white arms, and her slender hands, all snowy with the flour she was measuring out in a tea-cup, while her sweet smiling lips were in motion as

l as she gathered up the fruit, and allowed it to flow from one thin hand to the other, blowing away the dust with her mou

ly opened the stove door, and the precious cake was soon browning over, and rising in a soft cone, almost to the top of the oven. Every other instant Isabel would take

baking by constantly opening the door. In short, you have no idea what an interest was

d with a light golden fissure breaking through the warm swell, like the furrow in a hill-side, betraying the perfect lightness and spongy p

ullets waiting to be stuffed, and so many things to be done, that with bringing out little round wooden boxes and bright ti

ine tufts fell along the snow-white wall. On a little shelf under the window, stood a bird cage sheltered by a miniature forest of tea-roses and ivy geraniums. The golden feathers of its inmate gleamed out bea

e sun went down, he kept chirping about, hopping hither and thither, flinging off the husks from his seed on the bottom of the cage, or standing on his perch with his head on one side, and eyeing the tea roses askance, as if questioning them regarding this unusual commot

petty arrangements of the table-top

with Isabel's curls, rolling their glossy blackness delightedly around her finger, and dropping them in sh

ders, with knots of ribbon, her embroidered pantalets peeping from beneath it, and those dainty little slippers on her feet-altogether, the two girls made a charming pictur

r shy of appearing before her children in that pretty, white-muslin dress, fastened over

kwardness, Mrs. Chester kissed them both, while the bird went off in a fit of musical enthusiasm quite astounding, hopping f

on, looking wistfully from her benefactress to the crim

tly bending down one o

and Mary broke off

let me p

hair, while Mary placed the rose among the snowy folds o

exultant, standing back to enjoy the contras

r young beauty, "Isn't she, my own, dear, pretty

ently, for she tho

o before the looking-glass, which of course made four by reflection, and a

ss. After a little hesitation, Mary drew her stool to the other side and sat there, smiling softly and with her eyes brimful of contentment, as Mrs. Chester laid one hand kindly upon her

any was all this

essed some other means of subsistence. His family consisted of an only son, apparently not more than eleven or twelve years of age. He was some years older than that, but the extreme sensitiveness of his character and ill health gave unusual delicacy to his appearance. A distant relative of the artist lived with these two as a housekeeper, and by her needle man

re the guests that Mrs. Chester expected. Even in her amusements she loved to blend the exquisite joy of charity. With every da

tation. It was her wish that every one sheltered under the roof with her husband should be as joyou

ly at home. The man on the first floor kept a small thread-needle establishment. The difference was considerable, and the aristo

ickens that lay cosily, wing to wing, in the oven, simmering in their warm nest. The potatoes in a sauce-pan in front of the stove were slowly lifting up the li

the apple of his eye, was the pride of his station; but then the needle-merchant had members of the corporeal frame, petted and prompted till it was difficult to resist them. He loved his dignity much, but dignity was, after all, an abstraction, while in a good supper there was something s

ld be rather tantalizing to sit down stairs alone all the e

lf had made a laudable sacrifice for the good of society, the little needle-merchant and his wife sat down together over a weak cup of tea, feeling rather miserable and disconsolate. They had no children

ded along the hall and ascended the stairs, seemingly two steps at a time. There was something so buoyant and cheerful in this

oks. Hark! here comes his wife to meet him all in white-upon my word she is a handsome woman-and here is the lit

e gone in now," continued the little man, going sheepishly to the door again. "They cannot have closed the door though-Laura-Laura! come here, is not this tantalizing?-turkey or chickens, one or the other, I stake my reput

ften that he stoops to this!" said the wife brightenin

old fellow enough. I dare say he would not pres

hand into the worked collar which she had just arranged about her neck. "It will be our f

my satin stock from that drawer and give my coat a dash with the hand brush!" and inhaling a

hat night as he kissed his wife, gave the beautiful Isabel a toss in

whose soft shadows were trembling like pencil-work on the walls. Why the very Canary seems all in a flutter of delight! Cake too, frosted like a sn

" cried Mrs. Chester, delighted with her husband's spirits, "the J

py flash of John Chester's eyes, could have

ust have worked night and day!-and Isabel, what portion of the work has my lady

ger voice, creeping to Chester's side. "You have no idea h

vat, and his darned and well-brushed coat. He led by the hand a tall delicate boy with light brown hair and sad blue eyes; a smile seemed struggling with a look of habitual pain on his face. He sat

r to her husband. "They came so soon I had no time to

k hands with his guests, that he had been expecting them with the utmost impatience. His manner brough

stool with moist eyes, as she saw a spasm of pain pass

and his heart yearned toward one who bore

it by her," he said, a

ows wha

within hers, and Mary was soothing him in a low

ng fowls, plump with a rich load

occupied the centre of the table. The little candle-stand on one side, supported the fruit cake, all one crust of snowy sugar, with the most delicate little green wreath lying around the edge. Over all this the four lamps shed th

able-the needle-merchant and his wife made their advent, arm in arm, all pompous with a sense of per

into its bosom, seemed to soften down and carry off all their superfluous dignity. Before the little needle-merchant knew it, he found himself quite interested in the old man

ed morsel melted away in his mouth, the pride fled from his heart, and in less than three minutes he was the most natural and happy person at the table. It was delightful to hear him complimenting Mrs. Chester, while he he

upon his mouth, as he lifted that delicate face to his widow friend; and for the first time in months, her pale chee

eautiful every moment; the needle-merchant told her so. Chester only laughed, and his own wife did not frown,

ere the old artist's talent came in play, and he made even the tall lady shake with merriment behind her broad cameo; and the gentle boy who had

nd bright father is-wouldn't it be pleasant if we coul

ow how, like him

d to look at me, but you have done someth

y, pointing to the birth-day cake which still lay

or me new year's day. It did not cost much, but there is music in it, and I have learned to play a little. Now I will just steal a

and he seemed quite anima

equally delighted with the idea. "Let

ttle fire-light-you will not miss it,

d to reach the boy without being seen, and the two sat close to

entary hush in

ispered M

of music poured from the strings, tha

tist, "that was well thou

rs flew up and down on the strings, the bow flashed acros

one wing, but with the first note of music it was all in a flutter of delight, and set u

to waltz about the room, her curls floating in the air, and her cheek

dance?" said Chester, approac

ed at he

ttle man, all in a glow, seizi

faltered the widow, half withdrawing her

nce, only this once!" cried the bo

ss upon her charge, and with a blus

e with me?" said Mrs. Chester, casting

the boy, "see, they cann

aven't taken a step in twent

roke from half a dozen voices, and Mrs. Chester laughingly took the ol

y to join her, took a side by herself, quit

e old man was rather stiff and awkward at first, but the young folks soon broke him in and he turned, now the little girls then Mrs. Chester, and then the tall lady with the cameo

pirit of it, and he went through the whole like an old h

every lady, and getting up a sort of extemporaneous affair, made from old remembrances o

s my

ndkerchief, he made a motion, a

d, "Laura, my dear, have th

spite of her cameo def

ave expected this?" she exclaimed, instantly assumi

loor trembling over head, and that violin-? I beg your pardon, sir," continued young Farnham, addressing Chester, "but the fact is, everything was so glo

a birth-day, and is making the most of it," answered Cheste

ht fell upon his face. His eyes lighte

ith a dash of young Americanism that was only

heartily glad to see

r. Chester, allow me to present Mr. Frederick Farnham, my nephew,

blushing at his pompous introduction, "this gen

nting, my dear Chester. I'm charmed to have been found enjoying your hospitality. Laura, my dear, we are both c

Mary Fuller till his face became quite serious, then, turning to Chester, he said in a

the wall he leaned against it, pale and with a wild expression in his eyes. When Mrs. Peters proclaimed the lad's name this strange agitation subsided somewhat and took a shade

he old man had abandoned. Fred smiled his assent, and the dance went on again; but just as the young musician began

pa," she said, hol

irection from the captain or chief, I suppose,

her partner, and the

strange magnetic influence was in the glance, for it thrilled him from head to foot. He was seized with an unaccountable desire to hear the old man speak, b

come upon his father's face, and, lay

uired in his usual low voice, "or is it only the

to young Farnham. At last he drew a heavy brea

you ask,

t is the matter, fath

his, you know," faltered the old

Farnham heard the old man's voice. It ran through his veins with a glow, as if he had drained a glass of old wine, and it was some moment

ed by the artist. Another strange impulse seized him. He obe

fted his eyes and a sm

youth deprecatingly,

ng, but the smile grew sad as he gazed; and when Fred turne

et," said the old man i

aid the youth gently. "I co

, bowing his head, allowed th

ester in broad, liberal slices, and then, after another dance, and a plaintive song

g Farnham, who had remained a moment to speak with Cheste

lad with gentle respect, paus

d held it between his, without speaki

e you again?" inq

me and see you?" as

e like the break of da

" said the yo

n his clasp. At length he bent forward

w, solemn voice, and the old man glided away through the dar

er guests departed, and leaned against the mantel-piece, longing t

e dread came over him, but taking the note in his hand he broke the seal. Mrs. Chester was l

e letter bring?" she faltered out,

ed the letter

w me!" he said bitterly-"that c

me in this terrible suspense, C

replied Chester, forcing himself to speak calmly, though the huskines

of proud scorn swept over the fe

ster, taking her hand. "Let u

Jane Chester, placing her hand in that of her hus

down by the stove and locking both little hands over her forehead. "Oh, if I could hel

the closet door where the two girls slept together, and yawning heavily-for the chil

the tearful depression that hung over her patient friend. But during all that night, the beautiful eyes of Isabel alone in that humble dwelling, were vis