Clover

e day. The air was full of the chirps and twitters of nest-building birds, and of

rs before long; the hedges were quickening into life, the long pensile willow-boughs and the honey-locusts hung in a mist of fine

seems like flinging the gauntlet down to the powers of cold. Hope and renovation are in the air. Life has conquered Death, and to the happy hearts in love with life there is joy in the victory. The two sisters talked busil

things of interest to the Carr family had happened during the interval. The "Natchitoches" had duly arrived in New York in October, and presently afterw

radual growth of population two or three younger men had appeared to dispute the ground with him, they were forced for the most part to content themselves with doctoring the new arrivals, and with

essarily command a wide influence. Dr. Carr was "by all odds and far away," as our English cousins would express

aty had won many friends by her own merit. So long as Ned Worthington stayed, a sort of tide of congratulation and sympathy seemed to sweep through the house all day long. Tea-roses and chrysanthemums, and bas

can of oysters would have been left in the place if Lieutenant Worthington's leave had lasted three days longer. Clover and Elsie loudly complained that they themselves never had a chance to see him; for whenever he was n

eir future brother-in-law to grow fond of him; and notwithstanding some natural pangs of jealousy at having to share Kat

o marry; so it was agreed that the wedding should take place in June, and Katy set about her preparations in the leisurely and simple fashion which was characteristic of her. She had no ambition for a great trousseau, and desired

r sewing, and thread everybody's needles. But the most daring and indefatigable of all was Clover, who never swerved in her determination that Katy's "things" should be as nice and as pretty as love and industry combined could make them. Her ideas as to decoration soared far beyond Katy's. She hem-stitched, she cat-stitched, she feather-stitched, she lace

ribbon, and laid aside in a sacred receptacle known as "The Wedding Bureau." The handkerchiefs, grouped in dozens, were strewn with dried violets and rose-leaves t

and the two girls on the doorsteps were talking

of an affair you want

ou have worked so hard for it," replied

ess and a great many wedding-presents and everything as pretty as can be, but not so many bridesmaids as Cecy, because there is always such a fuss in getting them n

on't be shocked, Clovy; but, do you know, I don't want to be married in church at all, or to have any bridesm

get into a snarl if there is no planning beforeha

and the bride looking tired to death, and nobody enjoying it a bit. I'd like mine to be different, and more-more-real. I don't want any show or processing about, but just to have things nice and pretty, and all the people I love and w

Inches would say, perhaps it would. Still, bridesmaids and all that are ve

of some early cathedral as having been perfectly beautiful. But nowadays, when the butcher and baker and candlestick-maker and everybody else do it just alike, the custom seems to me to have lost its charm. I never did enjoy having things exactly as every one else has them,-all going in th

al to admire Katy and think that whatever she meant must be right. "But tell

, in

ought what i

and it came to me the other day that it would make a charming gown, with white surah or something for the under-dress. I should like that bet

blue eyes for a moment, "and just like you. Yes, that shall be the dress,-d

ed into the dress somehow. I should like to wear something of hers too, for she was really good to us when we were little, and all that long t

t a born angel. I am afraid I don't remember Aunt Izzy well. I jus

reat deal more than that. Cousin Helen helped me to appreciate what Aunt Izzy really was. By th

she could. Do you suppo

red yet. Of course it depends on how she is; but th

g you have set your hea

lso, and coaxed hard. Wouldn't it be too enchanting? You know how we have always longed to

eft Hillsover. "It would be the greatest lark that ever was to have the Roses. When do y

ose she s

y. Now go on. I suppose your princi

everybody in Burnet,-all the poor people, I mean, and the old people and the childr

cost a lot," objecte

it won't be such an immense piece of work. Debby has quantities of raisins stoned already. She has been doing them in the evenings a few at a time for the la

! What an imm

nt one. I don't think it will be too many. Oh, I have arranged it all in my mind. Johnnie will slice the citron, Elsie will

xand

od-for the purpose. He says it will be a sight easier than digging flower-beds. We will set about it next week; for the

a bower to stand in, or something of

arps and 'floral pillows' and all the rest of the dreadful things that they have at funerals. No, we will have plenty of

our wedding. I want you to hav

tenderly. "Everybody is so kind about it. Did

come after I went

; but it's really too pretty. How dear Polly is! She sends me something almost every day. I seem to be in

you almost as much

Ned is her only brother. Th

he past year. Her face was as frank and childlike as ever, and her eyes as blue; but she was prettier than when she went to Europe, for her cheeks were pink, and the mane of waving hair which framed them in was very becoming. The hair

e Katy a long, close hug; then she produ

think, for mamma cried when she was writing the note; not a hard cry, you know, but just two little teeny-weeny tears in her eyes. She ke

eheld a square veil of beauti

might want it some day; but instead I send it to you, without whom there would be no Amy to wear this or anything else. I think it would plea

r l

ll

and beheld a square veil

while among the soft folds of the lace, about which a faint odor of rose

queried Clo

sn't it seem too swe

I never supposed they made people feel badly. I sha'n't ever let Mabel get married, I think. But

bout old maids, mid

member, Tanta? And the two on the steamer when we came home. And there's Miss Fitz who made m

ed on Amy's arm, and who did not look a day older than she had done eighteen months previously. "Amy, we'

do. What fun! Whic

lexander, with the "spade" which he had invented, in a large new wash-tub. Then came the baking, which for two days filled the house with spicy, plum-puddingy odors; then the great feat of icing the big square loaves; and then the cutting up, in which all took part. There was much careful measurement that the slices might be an exact fit; and the kitchen rang with bright laughter and chat as Katy and Clover wielded the sharp bread-knives, and the others fitted the por

wait till they were wanted,-an arrangement which naughty Clover pronounced eminently suitable, since there should always be a doctor close at hand where there w