Mattie:—A Stray (Vol 3 of 3)

ay, or ossifies. Both are dangerous crises, and require more than ordinary care; the physician must be skilf

ten shows woman at her best, transforms man to his worst; if he be a man of the world, worldly, he is dumbfounded by the calamity which has fallen upon him. It is incomprehensi

will not bow to God's will, or resign themselves to it-their outward calmness is assumed, and they chafe

his way in it, and the obstacles ahead had but nerved his arm to resist, and his heart to endure. He had talents for success in

's carriage to pass, before we cross to our publishers'. Is not that man a genius who in these latter days rises to wealth by his own exertions, in lieu of having wealth thrust upon him? A genius, with wondrous powers of discrimination, not to be led into a bad thing, but seeing before other

n him anxious-he never lost his hope of ultimate success. When he knew that there must come a period of tribulation and darkness for him, he had trusted to have t

honourable, earnest, everything that makes the good worldly man, but he had never been grateful to God for his endowments, and he bore God's affliction badly in consequen

ave "none of it." He did not complain, he said; he had faced the worst-it was with him, an

d to a consolation even in distress, but that was to have been a long day hence. Now his day had been shortened, and the consolation was denied him. He knew that that was los

fforts to console him. Geoffry Hinchford offered his nephew money, all the influence at his disposal in any way or shape, but Sidney declined all coldly. He did not require help yet awhile, he had saved money; he preferred bein

r common sense assured her that in the first moments of sorrow, intrusion would be not only unavailing, but irritating-and her belief in becoming of service to Sidney was but a small one at the best. In the good,

n a fair share of his own way; and he was a man who liked his own way, and with whom it agreed vastly. But we have seen that he was a jealous man, and that Mattie's interest in Mr. Wesden had discomfited him. He was a good man we know, but jealousy got the upper hand of him at times, when he was scarcely a

, for they drew his daughter's attention away from himself. He liked still less Mattie's visits to Chesterfield Terrace-flying visits

ie come to s

face towards the door whence the voice iss

ng that I can do

rl, tha

pth of thought upon which the fugitive efforts of Mattie had no effect. Standing in the shadowy doorway s

refused an interview. He was unwell; some other day when he was better; it was kind to call, but he could not be seen then, had been his excuses sent out by the servant maid. Mattie, who had always foun

ighten him a bit-he's wus at that, which is nat'ral, not being in my line, and wanting brighten

father died now," s

very day

ead the Bible to him?" a

who have been brought up to it with a dog and a tin mug," said Ann in reply

ng woman, if you ever

t of spelling with it, and it aggravates him. All the larning I've ever

," said Mr. Gray, suddenly; "I might impress

suggested Mattie; "besides, his is a stran

e that my duty lies in that direction. I have been seeking amongst the po

m in his distress," s

shock me! Where's my B

t cannibals," snapped Ann. Cannibals and hea

on,

intention of accompanying her fat

t, Mattie," he said; "I never like the

for Sidney Hinchford. Sidney had been well educated; his father was self-taught, and brusque, and Sidney had grown very irritable. In her own little conceited heart she believed that no one could manage

een him?" a

he room, if I chose to enter. An obstinate young man-as obstinat

speak

r an hour, locking the door first, to make sure that he did not run for it, blind as he was. Then I gave him the best advice in my power, bade him

wrong way to work.

w that he's a m

ther's obtrusiveness-her father, oblivious to suffering, and full of belief in the conversion he was attempting. She knew that her father was wrong, and she felt vexed that Sidney had been intruded upon at a time wherein she had not found the courage to face him herself. Things must be altered, and her promise to Sid's father must not become a dead letter. In all the world her heart told her she loved Sidney Hin

arranging his chimney ornaments, and putting thin

dden me the house; he actually-actually swore at me this even

lly before her for a while. Then the dark eyes t

I were with him in that house-I, who

Mattie

new his father, who was my first friend,

gh, goodness knows!" Mr. G

d. What are a few minut

-speaks well for your kind heart, an

rse, mu

in the right; we will not profess to constitute her a model heroine in the sight of our readers, who have had enough of model heroines for awhile, and may accept our stray for a change. We are even inclined to believe that Mattie was, in this insta

Gray, looking in a dream

hat no one understands him but me, and I hear that he is sinking away from all that made

r fa

he hasn't the power to make me break my promise to the dead. Tha

st MY

the world-if they were uttered i

ill choose between him and me. He will be a

not be

efy me. Girl, you are going into danger-the wo

shall not study it, when the interest and happiness of a dear friend are at stake. He is be

I have no patience with you-I have

me. I have done wrong to remain id

ng up this home-

would have him look upon me as his sister, his one friend le

he devil on the lips of my child," he said, snatching up hi

ence, and his own power over her yet; and he was an obstinate man, whom it took a long while to subdue. He went out of the room wildly gesticulating, and Mattie sat panting for awhile, and trying to still the heaving of her bosom. She had gone beyond herself-pe

She thought that she was doing right, and that good would come of it; and she did not hesitate. Before her, in the distance, sat th

good, Mattie made a false step, and t