Veronica And Other Friends

and lassies came in close ranks, moving slowly towards the parsonage. They were the newly-confirmed young people of the parish, who had that day partaken of the Communion for the first time. They

aithful girl had spoken in the morning, as she left her to go to the church. "I cannot thank you enough, as long as I live, for what you have done for me, mother." A yet brighter expression of happiness crossed Gertrude's countenance when the young men came in procession after the girls, as her eyes fell on the well-formed lad, a head taller than his companions, who nodded at her, and greeted her with merry laughing looks, kissing his hand again and a

r care, and I feel the greatest interest in them. The lad has a clear head, and a winning grace that draws everyone to him. Veronica is serious and conscientious; she has a calm steady

ith tears of happiness in her eyes. As she passed the garden o

e that while all babies in the cradle look just alike, so that you can'

replied Gertrude, "but I agree that the

lot in children," said Judith with enthusiasm, "two like your two are not to be found

f. There is something feverish in her love of work; she can never do enough. No matter how late I go into her room at night, she is always finishing off some piece of work; and no matter how early I get up i

ut I don't see the need of her scowling so all the time. She looks for all the world as if she were fighting and struggling against enem

y and

-day ch

are and

ill to-

I could sing too for very joy

to these words of praise, but a little clo

of purpose. It is very pleasant to have every one like him, but too great popularity is not always a good thing.

chief. Blasi is not an ill-meaning fellow, but he is lazy, greatly to his own injury. Long Jost is the worst of the two; a sly-

ieve that the good God holds the children in his protecting hand. We have given them to him; that is

le figure, and laughed from the depths of his clear eyes. On the other side Veronica walked, listening in silence. Her noble features, above which her black hair fell in shining waves, had a serious, thoughtful expression, but every now and then, when Dietrich let fall some particularly apt expression, a look would cross her face that irradiated it like

avern of the Rehbock, Dietrich turned into it, and his mother was

r dear; it is not much fa

h laugh

the Rehbock. She would rather go ten minutes farther round, and she will not say why e

entreatingly, but with a tone that showed no signs of yielding her

steadily along the road

sing 'Gladly and merrily'"-and h

ut demur the good-natured boy dropped his song, and joined his clear tone

oat, a fi

tly on the

rocks, in

gulls circ

at, a fis

draws his s

ream-land se

-morrow wil

f evening, the happy trio drew towards their