M. H.

“ Father and daughters set off together, walking across the common, now richly carpeted with summer flowers.
"Ruth," said her father, playfully, "it would be more in keeping with your name if instead of violets, you bore a sheaf of corn in your hand."
"Not yet, father," she said, a quiet grave look crossing her face as she spoke. "But one day I do hope to carry a large sheaf and lay it down at the Master's feet, like the 'little soul-gatherer' of whom I read lately. That is my ambition, father, that the 'woman's work' I desire to do."
Prissy glanced at her with tears of joy in her eyes. ”

“ Warner, and am so glad your father has asked me to be godfather to the wee motherless babe; but the real charge, Sissy, will devolve on you. You have, indeed, a great work before you in the care of all these children, for it is to you, far more than to Miss Vernon, they will look to fill their mother's place. And such a mother! You have, indeed, a work to do which even the angels might envy!"
The girl looked up, restraining with an effort the choking sob which the sound of her pet name had evoked. ”

“ Very pretty the young girl looked as she walked on that April day, bent on an errand of kindness to a neighbouring cottage. For, despite the sad memories that filled her heart, Priscilla's face wore a look of peace that had never been there even in her childhood's days. Ever since the October day when, through little Claude's accident, Prissy's eyes had been opened to see her own selfishness and sin, she had been a changed girl.
Not all at once had the victory been gained; again and again self rose up and became conqueror. ”

“ They all clustered round their sister, their faces bright as if no tears had so lately stained them, fresh from the open air, and their youthful spirits rising, as the spirits of the young, thank God, will rise even after days of deep sorrow.
"Prissy!" they said in one breath, "do come out; it is delightful in the garden. And there are violets in the grove by the river-side; do come and gather them." ”

“ Surely you can't think I would neglect Ruth, my darling little sister. Oh, don't wean her love from me; leave me that at least! O father, don't!"
But Dr. Warner was not moved by her entreaties. "I wish to wean no one's love from you, Priscilla," he said; "but I cannot have the child's life perhaps sacrificed to your carelessness. You don't seem to have won the children's love as you ought to have done. I fear you seek your own pleasure before theirs. Your mother never did that, Priscilla; it was always others first and herself last with her. I am disappointed in you, my daughter. ”

“ The time slipped away only too quickly, and on their way home, Archie found he had just a minute or two to spend with Joe Smith, who hailed with pleasure the announcement of a visit from Miss Warner.
"You see, Mr. Archibald," he said, "she is such a kind, patient teacher; and if ever I become a scholar, and of any use in the world, it will all, under God, be owing to her and Mr. Austin. Ay, and more than that I owe to them, for it was they who told me of the love of Jesus, and led me into the kingdom of God. Please tell Miss Warner I will be delighted to see her to-morrow." ”

“ André M'Ivor was, in truth, a son whom any parents might have been thankful to possess—thoughtful and firm, clever and steady, actuated by the love of God, and desirous of living to his glory; yet even on religious subjects reserved and reticent, seldom expressing his feelings except to his sister Gabrielle, but by his earnest Christian life bearing a noble testimony to his Master. He, too, realized that God had given to every man his work, and expected him to do it. And he also sought to do what in him lay to hasten on the coming of God's kingdom. ”

“ Just then, to Miss Vernon's great relief and to Prissy's dismay, Dr. Warner entered the garden and demanded what was the matter.
"Claude amissing? What do you mean?" he said. "Who had charge of him?"
"Priscilla," was the answer.
"What was she doing to allow a child like that to go off by himself?"
"She was studying," replied Miss Vernon.
"Studying? Nonsense! What could she be studying?—Bring the book to me, Priscilla," he continued; then lingering a moment to look at the name, and muttering, "Astronomy? Absurd! What can a girl know or care about that?" ”

“ Nay, Priscilla, I have seen an oculist; M'Ivor went with me to one and heard his opinion. He told me I would soon be entirely blind, and now I am almost so. It has come sooner than even he expected it would. It is hard to bear. My last work on mathematics was almost finished; and now, without the help of some one who fully understands the subject and can carry out my ideas, it must be given up. Austin has not the time to do so; and Lewis, poor Lewis, is perhaps no more. But God's will be done! ”

“ At these words Priscilla could keep silence no longer. "Austin not so clever, father! Why, he is more so than Lewis, and often helps him with the most difficult problems. Oh, it is Austin, and not Lewis, that will be the great man."
Dr. Warner looked up amazed at his daughter's vehemence, but shook his head. "No, no, Priscilla; Austin is not 'fit to hold a candle' to his brother. But what can a girl like you know about mathematical problems? No doubt both boys help each other, but the real helper, I fancy, is Lewis. Girls cannot understand these things." ”

“ At the Grove there is a small home-party now—only the professor and his bonnie Ruth, as he calls her, who has ably filled her sister's place since her departure. Ruth's ambition of being a soul-gatherer is being quietly but surely fulfilled. God is using her hand to gather in one by one precious souls to his garner. She has not Priscilla's wonderful talents, but she is well read and well informed, able to enjoy the conversation of her father and friends on any subject, and take part in it intelligently. ”

“ But Gabrielle's charms were more than "skin deep." She had the promise of being a noble woman—self-forgetful and loving. With all the brightness and light-heartedness of a French woman, she possessed a good portion of Scotch solidity and firmness, and above all a real trust in and love to God and her Saviour Jesus Christ. She also (though in a different way) , like Priscilla Warner, felt she had a work, and a great one, given her to do on earth, and like Priscilla, she was ambitious to do it. ”

“ At these words Prissy broke through all constraint. "Names of the stars, father?" she said. "Why, I have studied astronomy for long. I can answer you any question in that book you like to ask me—indeed I can. Father, I am not a fool; try me and see."
Dr. Warner looked at his daughter in amazement. "You have studied astronomy, Priscilla! No wonder, then, that your home duties were left unfulfilled. You know I strongly object to women bungling over subjects they can make nothing of. You had better give up playing at that sort of thing and attend to your proper lessons and duties." ”

“ The old man listened attentively as she poured out the tale, interrupting her now and then by exclamations of sympathy or disapproval.
"And your father knows nothing of all this, Priscilla? Does he not sit with you in the evenings?"
"My father! Oh no, Mr. Lascelles. He is buried in his books the whole evening. You know he is engaged writing on mathematical subjects just now."
"Ah I true, true. I forget. Still, surely—ah! Well; one must not blame a father to his child. And Lewis? Why, he is the pride of his father's heart. I know your mother did fear he was a boy who would be easily led astray. ”

“ THE Christmas holidays had just commenced, when Archie Warner, followed by Claude and little Ruth, ran into the parlour of the Grove, where they found Priscilla seated at work.
"Hurrah for six weeks' holidays!" said Archie, throwing a bundle of books on the table. "And Austin will be here on Christmas eve, and we must give him a famous welcome, Prissy. And we want to get up a tree this year. You know we used to have one always when mother was alive; and we could have a jolly one this year. ”

“ Ought you not to consult an oculist about it? Perhaps you should rest your eyes a while. Father, can I not help you? Surely, at least, I can assist Archie. Say I may; do say so. Let me at least read to you."
Her father patted the girl kindly, saying. "Nay, nay, Priscilla; I did not mean to alarm you. I daresay my eyes are just wearied; and I am getting old, you know. And, my daughter, as to your reading to me, I fear treatises on mathematics and astronomy would soon weary you. They are rather uninteresting subjects to those who comprehend them not."
Prissy bit her lips. ”

“ Baby and nurse had come out also; and for a while even her loved book was put aside whilst Prissy took her little sister in her arms and carried her up and down. Truly baby Ruth might be called her sister's guardian angel; for the love which had sprung up in her heart to the little one, who, like herself, lacked a mother's love and care, was beautiful to see, and that love was, under God, the means of preventing the girl's heart from turning cold and hard. ”

“ Austin put his arm kindly round his sister's shoulder. "Indeed, Prissy," he said; "you have succeeded in making our home life very different from what it was. Archie and Claude will have no excuse to spend their evenings in bad companionship. Your playing and singing, our various readings and pleasant games, render our evenings at home, as the M'Ivor boys say, 'regular jolly ones;' and I own I am glad you have resumed your studies, for the fault lay not in your devoting time to mental improvement, but in your doing so in a wrong way and from a wrong motive." ”

“ You know, Lewis, it would grieve our father terribly if he knew how you spend your evenings with Smith and Roberts and that set. Do begin this session afresh, and remain at home in the evenings. Is it not mean and wrong to let our father think you are studying hard, when all the while you are really worse than wasting your time?"
"Well," said Lewis, "I know it is not right; but what can one do? It is so horribly dull at home. Prissy pores over a book the whole evening, and never speaks to any one; and Miss Vernon's head is always aching, and she stays in her own room. ”

“ M'Ivor would come also, my father and Prissy said they would be delighted to see them; and, of course, André as well."
Gabrielle clapped her hands with glee. "Oh, that is better and better! You will go? Do say you will, chère maman!"
Mrs. M'Ivor smiled at her daughter's eagerness, but assented to the proposal, unless the evening proved very cold. "For," she said, turning to Archie, "your Christmas is très-froid, très-froid sometimes."
"Ah!" he replied. "But this year, madam, it is going to be fine; every one says we are going to have a bright Christmas." ”

“ Arm in arm the two girls went into the library, surprising the professor as he sat absorbed in thought.
Gabrielle's silvery voice broke the silence. "Dr. Warner," she said, "will you let me take Prissy's place for a while to-day? Vous voyez the fairies have been at work all night covering the trees with silver, and it is so lovely out of doors, and I wish Prissy to see it ere it vanishes; so I have come to read to you—not on mathematical subjects, please. But I am ready for anything else you like; only say I may remain." ”

“ We were so grateful to your brother, Miss M'Ivor, for finding the child. I had intended to call at your house to-day and thank him."
"Ah, André was only too glad, he loves the little ones so much; our boys all cling to André. You see that mamma is so far from strong that André and I have had a great deal to do with the little ones. And it is pleasant to be able to help them, is it not?"
"Yes," said Priscilla; "but boys are difficult to manage, and they are so exacting that if one would study, you cannot be always attending to them."
Gabrielle laughed a sweet silvery laugh. ”

“ She gave no answer, but said abruptly, "And you go to-morrow, Harry, and may not be back for years?"
"Even so," he replied. "Don't forget me, Prissy. And one word ere I say good-bye: look lovingly after the boys. They will sorely miss their mother," and he lowered his voice as he spoke. "Make the evenings at home as cheerful as you can for Lewis."
"Why for Lewis?" she said half-angrily, for he was not her favourite brother, and she fancied that others as well as her father thought more of him than of Austin. ”

“ Now, I trust, I can truly say the talent which he has given me I have laid at, his feet and consecrated to his service. And in being able, in however small a way, to help my father, and Archie, and Joe Smith in their loved study, I am more than satisfied. And I realize every day more and more what Harry Lascelles and you, dear Austin, have done long ago—that the noblest work that man or woman can be engaged in on earth is, by the prayerful performance of daily duties, to seek to extend the kingdom of God."
Blindness was indeed a sore trial to Dr. Warner. His whole life had been spent in study ”

“ Priscilla's talents are by no means hidden in a napkin, and more than one young man of limited means has reason to bless the doctor's kind wife, who willingly devotes a spare hour to helping them in their mathematical studies, and by her thoughtful actions and loving words seeks to turn them from darkness and lead them into the kingdom of God.
There is no fear, her brother Lewis says, that her boys will ever have to complain of the dulness of the evenings in their home, for father and mother alike do all they can to brighten the after-dinner hours for the young ones. ”

“ For Priscilla's idea of spending a pleasant evening was to set the children with some picture-book or solitary game round the table, telling them to make as little noise as possible, as she wished to read.
So when Austin spoke she only replied testily, "Really I think Lewis might learn to spend his evenings rationally like other people. What does he wish to do? Does he need you or me to play with him, as if he were a baby, requiring to be amused? It is too absurd, Austin. You, like every one else, seem bent on spoiling Lewis." ”

“ A woman has not brains for higher things."
At such a speech, child though she was, Prissy would flush up with indignation, and determine that one day she would prove to her father what a woman could do. To become famous, to do some grand work on earth, this was the girl's ambition, this the only secret she had kept from her loving mother. The day would come when she would constrain the father (whose praise she esteemed more than aught on earth, and for whose love she yearned) to own that she was something more than "only a girl." ”

“ I would like Archie and Claude to have a bright home Christmas. Archie is a fine boy, father, and a steady one."
"Yes," said Dr. Warner, "he is;" and he sighed as his thoughts wandered to the son whom in face and figure Archie so strongly resembled. "Dr. Sparling, too, speaks highly of him. He says his talent lies more for languages than for mathematics; he also says his general conduct is so good that he sets an example to the whole school. He has to thank you, Priscilla, for the home influence he has had. You are a comfort to us all, my daughter."
A flush of pleasure mantled Prissy's face. ”