Faith Gartney's Girlhood

nner more entirel

ey S

usness crept, at last, a feeling of music that had been wandering in faint e

ed her at her waking on this New Year's Day. A moment she lay in a passive, unthinking delight;

high and holy

gel's happines

. For a little, she was touched in her deepest and truest nature; she was uplifted to the threshold of a great resolve. But gene

er down with its rough and common call to co

hing and planning, when I've nothing to show for it but just being l

kfast room, where her consciousness of shortcoming was in nowise lessened w

thy, wealthy, or wise!" Aunt Faith, who had never quite forgiven our young heroine for having said, at the discreet and positive age of nine, that "she didn't see what her father and mother had called her such an ugly name for. It was a real old maid's name!" Whereupon, having asked the child what sh

extreme fashion of putting things; never

grim bending of the old lady's brows; but, below, a half-belying twinkle in the eye, that, long as it had looked out s

g the "bull by the horns," and holding out her hand. "I wish you a Happy New Y

unt, in stereotyped phrase. "It seems to me, t

yly. "I had that at the party

said Aunt

oom, the parlor girl made her appearance with her mop

owel from the girl's arm as she set down her tub upon

f visiting was not a large one-Aunt Henderson

m the comfortable fender, and departed to the kitchen to give her household orders for the day. Faith removed cups, glasses, forks,

n for," said Aunt Faith, when Mrs. Gartney came back i

hy, what has bec

That's what's become o

r a servant? It's the worst possible place. Nine

look out for t

h in Kinnicutt who would be g

off where they are. When I have a chance to give a

ient girl who will appreciate the chance

nt girl. I'm efficient m

your time of life, aunt?" as

let her train me; and, at my time of lif

o inquire?" resumed Aunt

ably recommend you somebody they've made up their minds to put out to service, and she might or mig

son. "I want to see all sorts. Faith, you'll go with

in copying into her album, in a clear, neat, but rather stiff schoolgirl's hand

ild! don't

aunt. Wh

a what-d'ye-call-it o

xplained her mother. "Aunt

, from her little stock of Latin. "Stupidity offices,

Don't talk Latin to me!

fter, when Mrs. Gartney had again left her a

ored, and

t was told me last

'no bigger than my thumb; put him in

usness. "It's nothing of that sort. At least," she added, glancing

ook, and went upstairs fo

cause she had no mean motives, deliberately walked over and fetched the elegant little volume from the table, reseated herself in her armchair-felt

rtune. Only you'v

"And I don't see how. There does

f the Lord's got anything bigger to give you, he'll see to i

laughing. Presently

something would happen to me. I get tired of l

ightly, and opened her eyes wid

. "Things happen fast enough. Do

replied Faith, an undertone of reverence qualifyin

, thinking over the brief conversation. "She'll be something