55
DREAMS.
after all. What are looks compared with saving one’s time!”
Mr. Landon, who remembered his chum’s pe- culiarity, and who, by this time, had puzzled out the whole plot, could restrain his mirth no longer, but broke forth into a merry laugh, in which he was heartily joined by Mr. Carlton; while Bella surveyed them both, from the depths of her new bonnet, with a look of feigned astonishment.
“Pardon me,” ssid Mr. Landon, when he could again command his voice, ‘‘but I happen to have some knowledge of Henry’s peculiarities, and I must confess I never saw any one better served in my life.”
“T give in!” exclaimed Mr. Carlton, honestly, ‘*T will say that I have been fairly dealt with.”
“Why surely,” said Bella, ‘‘you are not 80 soon tired of the style of drees, whioh it has been the height of your ambition for years to estab- lish, are you?”
‘Yes, indeed,” replied Henry, “tired enough of it; and if you will promise not to don that attire again, I will pledge myself never again to find fault with your toilet or wardrobe, let them be what they will; provided your own taste guides you in the selection, I shall be satisfied.”
Bella smiled triumphantly, and with mischiev- eus sarcasm inquired if it wes possible that his good sense failed to appreciate the convenience and simplicity of her present attire?
“Do be generous and spare me this once,” replied Henry, ‘‘and, as the children say, ‘I will never do so again.’”
Belia thought his punishment had been car- ried far enough, and saying that she would meet them in the drawing-room, after they had aatis- factorily prosecuted their investigations of the grounds, she left them. :
When they returned to the house, they fou Bella tastefully dressed, and with her hair pomingly arranged, awaiting their arrival. je mischievous part she had so lately played had added a fresh sparkle to her eyes, and a bright solor to her cheeks and lips; and Henry proudly thought, as he met her, that he had never seen any ove half so beautiful. Taking her hend fondly in his, he turned to his companion, and playfaily remarked,
“Mr. Landon, allow me to introduce you to my wife. She has been a long time coming, but this is the genuine Indy at last.”
Mr. Landon shook her hand cordially, and expressed his delight at the privilege of making her acquaintance.
The evening passed pleasantly away, all ap- proach to stiffness having been rendered imposa- sible by the laughable little episode already mentioned, and Mr. Landon reckoned among his pleasantest hours those spent at hia friend’s country-seat. Mr. Carlton was haunted all night, waking or sleeping, by visions of the costume which had first greeted his eyes upon his return home that day. We are happy to say, however, that he survived; but frem that time he was never known to quarrel with ladies’ taste in dress.
DREAMS.
BY
ELEANOR CLAIR.
When angel guests to weary souls may come
In the still hours of sleep—
What words of comfort from the Father’s home
Sent unto those who weep!
Thus in my drenriness and weight of care,
Life’s way with grief hedged up,
In dreams this pleasant fancy came to bear
Sweets for the bitter cup.
When Autumn clouds were dark and winds blew chillI
Over a barren land,
I walked in gloom, beset with firms of ill,
No help on either hand.
On the low graves with richest verdure green,
A thousand blossoms grew,
So fair, so fragrant, save in realms of dream
Met never mortal view.
While the bright sunshine kissed my tears away,
And perfumes filled the air,
Friends came, each hearing bud, or flower, or spray,
Most marvelously fair.
For many a day I kept within my mind
The beauty of that dream,
And with half faith amused myself to find
What might its meaning seem.
Thus moving on, my path at last came near
Where lay the silent dead,
And shuddering I followed, sick with fear,
The hand that thither led.
Even so, mothought, God makes the woes of life,
Its dreary, darkened hours
Even death's bitterness—with sunshine rlfo,
Bright with immortal flowers.
But when I entered, sudden, all was o'er
0f Wintry cold and gloom—
The dreary winds—the bare, brown earth no more—
But Summer‘s light and bloom.
Now hath my heart in sorrow learned to sing.
Where dead its pleasure lies,
The growth of patience, hope, and love shall spring
And faith that never dies.
