Medoline Selwyn's Work

avenue bordered thickly with evergreens mostly pine and hemlock. "These trees look a trifle hot in summer; b

suitable reply; so

that the Winthrops believe in getting the

hey suc

e come pretty near extinction, at least on this si

no chi

a bac

e children and

ot marry, I believe he is your heir by your

e probably. What good would his money

dren might

eminded me more of old world buildings than any I had yet seen in America; and, on the spot, I took a fancy to it, and felt that here I could easily cultivate the home feeling, without which I should still be a wanderer on the earth. Mrs. Flaxman was standing to receive me as I asce

other, while I take a little longer drive

he said, receiving me with a cordiality that warmed my heart. "You

that I have left sch

their boarding-school home, so I think we shall suc

wn sources of content. We were left at scho

our pleasure. Mr. Winthrop is not much of a soc

y own room, its dainty furnishings and appointments made it appear to me, after the plain accommodations of the school, a perfect bower for any maiden. I went to one of the deep windows and looked out

sensations be when you have grown intimate with its beauty

ean?" I asked,

are admired, we are continually discovering hidden beauties. But you must s

ch me what you

nk we must each study her for ourselves. S

ose and amethyst, and the sky that seems another part of the same, an

years clustering around each well-remembered spot, they may look the same to yo

isite view better without the mem

life. To live as God wills, le

our loved ones? How alone I am

not always our worst enemy; we may have a death in life

t the best! Is it worth being born and s

is only the faint dawn of a brighter, grand

ler, higher life;" I said, suddenly

d compass

won't talk in this strain any longer, I scarce know why we drifted into it. I want your first impressions of

ing of a philosopher? I never h

as that. I am only a plain little woman, with no sp

am sure you meet with success, which is

nthrop is a great student, and is already, for so young a man, a very successful author; and he likes dinn

d to find him in manners and appearance something like our school prof

ndered out into the dim, spacious hall and down the long stairway, the heavy, old-fashioned splendors of the house chilled me. How could I occupy myself happi

ciently enjoy. I soon forgot my lonely fancies as I strayed admiringly through the well kept walks, amid beds of old-fashioned sweet smelling flowers, which now-a-days are for the most part relegated to the humble cottages; but farther on I discovered the rarer plants of many climes, some of them old acquaintances, but others utter strangers, only so far as I could remember some of them from my lessons in botany. Still stretching beyond on the hill side I saw the vegetable and fruit gardens. Huge strawberry beds attracted me, the ripe fruit I found tempting; but feeling still a stranger, the old weakness that comes down to us from Mother Eve to reach forth and pluck, was restrained. "What a perfect Eden it is!" I could not help exclaiming, though no ears save the birds, and multitudinous insects existences, were within reach of my

But then your heart might prove too tender to tear y

my heart was s

Only think, mother, Miss Selwyn was prophesying the

e, as we all find to our sorrow. He has not had brothers

ery agreeable companions. We had s

e said; "but I must prove to you that I, at leas

at him closely, and was struc

make yourself very agreeable, I am

ld not conceal her am

yes. I had a suspicion he was laughing at me. Presently he glanced at me, when I found t

atures. I scarce remember to have spoken a dozen consecutive sentences to one in my

of his usual animation. When I was longer with him I discove

vous once. The soberest horse in Belgium frisk

in America," Mrs. Flaxman said. "F

s a world of difference with the own

n moralize on every subject,

k a longer time with you English-speaking people, I shall not be so open to ridicule. S

ou will be generous enoug

you get your p

od many evil-doers get of

," his mother said, with such sweet seriousne