From Jest to Earnest

h and laughter ceased, an

ore retiring. A dreamy smile played upon her face, coming and goi

en humdrum, like a score of others. But he was so delightfully fresh and honest, and yet so clever withal, that her eyes sparkled with anticipating mirth as she saw h

he gets back to Michigan, the doctrines will come creeping back into their old place, and he will get comfortably over it like the rest. In the mean while, as substantial and useful results, I will have my rare bit of sport, and he will know more about th

eeded more than in Fifth Avenue? They had better not come,

ie, that you are smiling so sweetl

in the still house, and sounding as oddly as a bird's song at night. "I'm glad Fr

, indeed. He is such a sincere, good young man, that

all you have to do. Poor Bel, you are always in need o

hite-robed saint at her devotions. But the parrot-like prayer that she hastily mumbled was of no possible value to any one. She had continued the habit from childhood

have been taken as a mo

ts, beautiful to Heaven's eye, that are enshrined in painfully plain caskets. In the instance of Lo

previous evening? Even his limited experience of the world had shown him that in the matter-of-fact and searching light of the morning many of the illusions of the night vanish. He had noted with no

fast-room considerably before the others, and in a

so nature, that had been stingingly severe the evening before, was now quietly letting fall a few final hints of the harsh mood that was passing away. Even while he looked, the sun broke through a rift over the eastern m

them. Whiter even than the pink-tinged blossoms of May, was the soft wet snow that incased every twig, limb, and spray. The more he looked, the more the beauty and the wonder of the scene grew upon him. The sun was disp

s might be the Millennial morn, and nature standing decked in

ie Marsden put her hand lightly on his arm and said, "Cousin Frank-pardon m

s face was a being that, with her brilliant eyes and exquisitely clear and delicate complexion, se

seemed so innocently oblivious of it, and for a moment left him under the spell, the

ed, and he pointed to

most equal to his own, for she had

hing like this in the city. Look at those sn

leaming against the snowy foil. They look like those

morously, asking, "Where did you

on to the truth that, like all His work, the least thing is perfect. That little tree with its red berries is beautiful as well as the mountain. I now am glad too that you came, though I dreaded any one's coming b

ake-as pure and as cold?" she asked,

es, Miss Marsden, and can better express my thoughts than hide them. You know you are very beautiful. Why should I not say so as well as involuntarily express the fact in my face as I did a moment

sparent as those snow-crystals there. I cannot say that it does. Why should i

in my memory as an emblem of spiritual beauty. Suppose every one that came in should touch that face, and some with coarse and grimy fingers, what a smutched and tawdry look it would soon have. You cannot help the admirin

ie, looking demurely down. "Perhaps I should have been bet

you were not somewhat vain. And y

ference does it make, if no on

o who always

ho

all masks must be dropped, and

she asked, a little s

at carries more conviction than loud assertion. "Moreover

n you will prove beauty a great misf

fro

nt your premise, how am I bu

if your honorable father were misappr

ggest suc

ties and position which led a great many to place their mean

accepted s

r. If a beautiful statue can ennoble and refine, a beautiful woman can accomplish infinitely more. She can be a constant inspiration, a suggestion of the perfect life beyond and an earnest of it. All power brings responsibility, even that which a man achieves or buys; but surely, if one receives Heaven's most exquisite gifts, bestowed as directly as this marvellous beauty without, and so is made pre-eminent in power and influence, she is under a double responsibility to use that power for good. That

is words. Had he learned of her plot? Had he read her thoughts, and been informed of her past life? Did quiet satire and denunciation lurk under this seeming f

or pointedly at her; so she asked, in some little trepidation, "Has

our proud belles would not even condescend to flirt with a poor awkward fellow like me. But I am not a croaking philosopher, and look on the bright side of the w

n much of it,

excursions have been few and far between. I have already proved to you what an awkward stranger I am to society. But in thought and fancy

ooking at him rather distrustfully. "I shoul

as yourself, Miss Marsden. In any case, you

y n

me. I have received more kindness from y

very gr

s ingratitude a 'mar

y are not 'ma

ibly a fiend

e were no wo

have occasio

very much. Perhaps it would

y s

do wrong. Miss Parton cannot do

ion which consisted only in being

owever, for I suppose it would take you a year to answer it

t in a sentence. True

nd faith, and

aimed Lottie, in un

s a gre

ly long and difficult sermons from simple texts. But I never

morning by explaining. When an artist is in his best mood, he wishes to be at his easel. The same is true of every on

ertainly was pointed, and seemed pointed at me, and I have heard it said that it is proof of a good sermon for each one to go away feeling that he has been distinctly preached at. But permit me as a friend, Mr. Hemstead, to sugg

o preach. At least upon the

, and I suppose an ambitious man, look forward to bei

hurch at the East. I think the extreme West, where states and society are forming with such marvellous rapidity, is just t

at you are am

es

hat r

hink

inst ambition, as if it we

y that is miserable without a looking-glass. An ardent desire to obtain my Divine Master's

lly; and said with a tinge of sadness, "You will feel very differently I fear, twenty years

needs consta

mmerly appeared, and soon after the