The Old Stone House

air, was gazing dreamily out through the open window over the pasture, and grove, and the blue lake beyond. "I think life is very beautiful," he said, after a long

s, or enthusiasm for great deeds, and, judging others by themselves, of course they are always

these thoughts to

he lake. How can any one loo

ght not have time to look at them,"

blind! I expect to work all my lif

you love,-suppose they should all die

h their great Creator? Can we not trust them to Him? Why, when I look up into this blue sky, I can almost see them there. My mother,-how often I think of her; not with sadness, always with

?" said Bessie, laying down her b

d of my relationship, I shall no doubt be able to obtain a good position there in the course of a few years. Gradually I shall mount higher and higher, I shall make myself indispensable to the firm, and at the end of ten years you will see me a partner; at the end of twenty, a rich man. I shall then retire from active business, and spend part of my time in travelling, although I intend to be very domestic, also. I shall buy beautiful pictures, choice books, and fine statues; I shall give private concerts, and, if possible, have a small orches

will it be so ea

ning I have. I suppose it sounds conceited, but I have unbounded confidence

can do anyt

I can take my place in the world, and make my mark among men. I do not, mean that I am wiser or stronger th

brush again, and looking at her cousin's kindling e

to render my account at last. Oh, Bessie, it is a glorious future! Life is so beautiful,-so full of happiness!" Hugh paused, and his eyes wandered over the blue horizon; Bess

ng the door and going down to th

u come into m

ar boy, on a matter of business," she said. "You know the condition of my property and the amount of my income, I am anxious to make some necessary repairs in that little house of mine in Albion, where poor Mrs. Crofts lives, a second cousin of mine, you remember, a widow with very limited means of support. The repairs ought to be made at once, and, just at present, I have not

e did not raise his eyes, but

Aunt Faith in some s

gh in a low tone; "I have not go

aith in astonishment. "My

one," said Hugh,

wn fitness for her position with its heavy responsibility of training five young souls in the path of duty and righteousness. "Hugh must have got into some trouble," she thought, "and something, too, which he has not confided to me. I

lways ready to he

was a deb

bt, Aunt Faith,"

all pai

cent. I have

at; but have you

righter expression. "I cannot tell you about that debt, Aun

ke your father, and he was my favorite brother. I love you very much, more than you know, and I believe you would not willingly grieve me. You are still under twenty-one, and you are

she spoke, and Hugh felt

th?" he said

rd Jesus Christ, and a realization of the necessity of a S

ur every-day life. How can any one look out of the window, at night, and see those myriad lights on high, without bowing in adoration before the incomprehensible greatness of the Creator? What do we know of the stars, after all? How much has

twinkle, l

der what

unt Faith; "but in addition to your belief in the Creato

intended that we should enjoy its beautiful life, and be happy with our fellow mortals. I believe men should try to be good sons, good husbands, and good citizens, and should try to be happy themselves, as well as to make others happy. I can never believe in the virtue of morbid self-analysis, gloomy depression, and harsh judgmen

he idea of a merciful Saviour to for

in Him. But I have been kept from coming forward as an 'avowed disciple,' by the contempt I cannot help feeling for some whom I know as 'avowed disciples.' If there is a contemptible fault in the world it is hypocr

unded man, while the priest and the Levite, men supposed to be particularly religious, passed by on the other side! The world was the same in

s are so often prominent in the c

Saviour saw it, and repea

re in the church, is it

ty. It is not enough to believe; we must also openly avow our belief. Because there are tares in the field we must not, ther

nt! We could be just as go

must not question His wisdom. The dangers are ten times greater outside the church than within it, and a blessing is given to obedience. God requires obedience. He distinctly says, 'he that i

duct, and yet, there was not a meaner boy in town. He copied the other scholars' exercises, peeped into the books, and had a key to his Arithmetic. He never got into trouble at recess, and why? Because he was too cowardly to take his share of the sport. As he grew older, he grew to be more and more of a pattern. He was always talking about his feel

sh; perhaps some great affliction or disappointment will open his eyes and cause him to see his selfish propensities as they are. In the meantime, let us not forget the beam in our ow

knowledge that the world is a mis

w many are the relapses into which the best of men are apt to fall. It was only when worn with the contest and depressed by repeated failures that the good men of all ages have sent up those cries of abasement and gloom which you so much dislike. This time has not yet come to you; you know n

ose. "Dear Aunt Faith," he said, "you and I will have many more talks on th

duty of the present. Give the best of your life to your Ma

oo. How glorious, how bright it looks! Yo

s to his safety. Oh, Hugh! if you could only say in perfect sincerity these two sentences: 'Lord I

say them with all my heart,

may be soon," and

back. I cannot get the exact color of your eyes. Sit down, please, and let me try again." Hugh sat down in the old arm-chair, and f

nd give up a

rating away against Gideon Fish without even a thought

l that hypoc

hypocri

s to be very good, and I am sure you

rue," he said "but I hat

t tell, Hugh?

tu B

quote Lat

help my good intentions instea

myself, Hugh,

you are,

I have been e

your nature to be

o. Everybody loves beautiful children, everybody admires beautiful girls; people are predisposed to like them, and make the best of everything they do. Beauty is of litt

ade. "But, Brownie," he said, "I

d quickly, "you are kind to say so. But your real taste is for a very dif

in his eye. "Well, a man might do worse. I venture to say the

Bessie sharply. "And, by the way, Hugh, of

ou are incorrigible! W

is to-night

n it; but we ca

you will me

a new pa

on a little picture at Gurner's. You have no idea how much I want it; I stop to look at it every

s the s

here is all morning, early morning, with purple hues on the hill-side, mists rising from the river, and a vague remoteness even in the nearest forest; deep shadows lie over the valley, but the rising sun shines on the mountain-peak, lighting it up with a golden radiance, while behin

ight over the mountain-top, and the outline of a great cross in t

me. His face expressed aspiration, that bright confidence in the

her room all tha

ng. I am growing shamefully lazy. Good-bye, Queen Bessi

pe to make it as handsome as the origi

had left the turnpike where they usually rode, and, instead of going at headlong speed, the horses were wal

before," said Bessie; "w

where we used

e turned, and, after a pleasant ride through the woods, they reached the edge of the ravine; the pa

said Bessie eagerly; "I wa

hat long skirt, Bessie. I will

nt to go now, t

r cousin, as he lifted her to the ground; "wait u

ushes, as actively as a squirrel; she had reached the bottom of the ravine as Hugh app

s it; Hugh's warning, as usual, only stimulated this desire. If there was any danger, she wanted to be in it immediately. So she clambered over the rocks towards

shouted Hugh again, by this

chasms in safety, and she laughed to herself as she heard Hugh crashing through the bushes down the bank behind her. "He will like me all the better for my courage," she thought, somewhat surprised at his silence, for she had expected to hear further remonstrance. Suddenly, when she had reached the middle of the bridge, the plank cracked, gave way entirely, and in an instant she was in the foami

ur head strike the rocks?"

feel rather dizzy," said

ack to the farm-house? Fortunately the weather is so

his words. He sprang up the bank, and after some delay reappeared carrying shawls and wra

l now," said Bess

ing to carry y

e kind, Hugh. I am able to

on, for it will be useless. The farmer will have his carriage

avy! You will never b

ted her slight form

elephantine! A matter of ni

I weigh one hu

at cleanliness is next to godliness; if that is so, I give the third place to strength. What a pity we cannot say

e has musc

their very best to the cause. He did not take to the ministry because he was not fitted for anything else; he has the capabilities and qualifications for a first-rate business man, civil engi

dmired him so much! Are you thi

sie. The subject

g," said Bessie

ched the lane; "I could never do as Mr. Leslie has done.

ubles," interrupted Bessie, "paying their debts,

g the other alongside. When they reached the back-pasture it was quite dark. Hugh lifted Bessie out, threw the shawls back into the carryall, and farme

us have a run across the garden," said H

of her objection, Hugh lifted her up again, and carried her across

le?" he whispered, as he pu

wish you would make

headache; the fr

ning dress. Aunt Faith came in a few moments afterwards, dressed in gray silk with delicate

from the parlor; "I hav

ild, and let

n; she wore no ornaments, and the flowing drapery floated around her devoid of any kind of trimming. "Her dress was nothing; just a plain, blue tarleton," sa

e evening star, s

ous, because rare," said Sibyl, smiling; "and as fo

ing back his golden locks. "And now that we are both gorge

?" said Aunt Fai

She has a headach

ll run up and see

she would rather not be disturbed,"

ething wrong," she thought ruefully; "I let Hugh pay that debt; then I teased him out of his idea of telling Aunt Faith, and made him take me riding again, and when he was kind enough to give in to my wish, I deliberately went out on that plank when he told me not to go, and the result was I came near being drowned, and poor Hugh must have had a struggle to get me out in that current. I suppose he is over there now talking with Edith Chase! she is an affected, silly girl, but I sup

, and the sound of a latch-key in the front-door; in another minute Hugh came up t

cousin, lighting a burner in the chandelier. "Why, you

t I am wicked," murmured Bes

t do you mea

awing you in too. You would be a great deal better wit

, Bes

e better for you,

about y

sound of tears in her voice. Hugh did not reply, but he put out his hand and stroked the dark curls gen

said Hugh, laughing;

ham Marr

eft him w

quote

intervals of the music

f the supper-r

ing at the salad

why did you leav

little tired; I strained my

me arnica for

ery slight. It will be a

eally any da

deep there, and the brook swollen by the last rains; the current was very strong, and there is a fall just below. B

all owing to my obstinate wilfulness," she sai

" said her cousin, "but come

his old wra

anity. As though I knew

ht she played soft airs, and minor chords, weaving in among them Hugh's favorite plaintive melodies, with her now wild improvisations between. At last she rose and replaced the harp-cover. "It is late; I must go," she

itious,

ink how much trouble I have given you, too! And, oh, Hugh! you had to pa

s, Brownie;

d to pay him that ten dollars, and I have robbe

face! Run, before

e going to buy," said Be

hen I am rich I shall buy a whole gallery. Now r

Graham Marr came up the garden-walk and entered the house. "Yo

d, aunt; t

continued Aunt Faith; "di

it!" said S

"one seldom meets such a combinati

not there, how

sicians," said Graham, in his slow way. "They have not

Hugh bluntly; "I have seldom heard s

ich baritone. As he rose to take leave, Sibyl said, "I wish you would bring over your music, Mr. Marr, and si

as Sibyl accompanied the poet into the

forth, Hugh," said Sibyl's voice from the

o hear the epithet, but I cannot wit

Sibyl, "they have beau

loses her temper, and truth always comes out with the temper, you know. Well, A

said Aunt Faith, smilin

what I said to you

. Your words sank deeper than