"How do you do, Nancy?" said Beulah.

The woman started up, and, extending her hand, said, "That sweet voice can come only from little Beulah Morris. And yet it is softer and gentler than ever. They have not spoiled you."

Little did poor Nancy imagine, that the little Beulah was a tall, graceful girl, almost seventeen years old.

"And who has led you to church during my absence," asked Beulah.

"Your kind brother, Medad. At first I felt awkwardly to be led by such a tall boy, but I got used to it, and liked it in time, for he has a strong arm to lean on, and a strong heart, too, Beulah. Very few boys would have done such a kind

All the other neighbours were visited in turn, and it was pleasant to hear them say, "Why, Beulah Morris has n't grown a bit proud and ceremonious; she is just the same girl, only a great deal more warm-hearted."

Medad, whose intelligence had been increas ing, and who had seen several other places besides Baxter, proposed that the farm-house should be painted white, and a porch added to the front-door. Moreover, his taste was not quite

satisfied till green blinds were added, and a new fence, with a neat gateway. When these improvements were completed, and the garden and front-yard put in nice order, every body said, there was not so fine a looking house in all Baxter.

Azariah and his wife were comfortably established in a pretty cottage not far distant from the farm-house, and soon after Beulah's return they invited the young people of the neighbourhood to come and spend the afternoon, and take tea. Beulah was much pleased to find Azariah's wife a sensible, discerning woman, with much more cultivation of mind than she had expected.

Azariah very naturally inquired, "Well, wife, how do you like our Beulah?"

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Did

"I think I shall love her very much," she replied; one can see at the first glance that she is amiable. Then I like her manners, better, I think, than any young girl's that I ever saw. you ever notice that she never interrupts any body in conversation, not even a domestic? When she is talking with old Cato, she waits as patient as a lamb till he gets through one of his tedious speeches, and seems as much interested

as if he really was talking very much to the purpose.'

"It 's nothing new; she always had just those pretty ways. Have you heard her play on the piano; they say she was asked to play everywhere in Boston," said Azariah, looking quite proudly.

"I have not, excepting some psalm-tunes last Sunday evening,” replied the wife.

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Well, you could n't hear her then, for father and Medad sang Old Hundred, and Mear, and their other old tunes, so loud, that you could n't hardly have heard a bass-drum, if there had been one there," said Azariah.

"I noticed Beulah particularly the other evening when we had company," said Mrs. Azariah Morris. "She sat in a corner where there was tattling and gossiping and scandal going on, and she was perfectly quiet, but I could see she looked a little sad, as if it gave her pain. She never contradicts you, Azariah, and when you make a mistake never corrects you. I thought she would be for instructing us in a great many new ways, but she seems to think we are doing very well, and never makes any comparisons about our house or furniture, and never boasts of having

For my part, I

seen any thing more expensive. should be quite willing to be told any thing from her that would improve our country ways."

"O, I guess we shall jog along, wife, pretty well after the old ways;-but I'm glad you really like our Beulah "

CHAPTER XXV.

AN INTENDED MARRIAGE.

ZEPHINA had in one of her letters mentioned that she was not very well. One evening she had just returned home, lighted her lamp, and seated herself in her lonely room, when she was startled by a loud rap at the door. Alarmed, she opened it with a trembling hand, and there stood Squire Morris.

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" said he;

Finey, my dear child, is it you? 'you are so altered I hardly knew you."

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'My kind Squire Morris!" exclaimed she; 'you have n't altered in the least. Come in, Sir; will you?"

The Squire took a seat, and looked around the

room,

cold,

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- then he seemed troubled with a sudden

or at least he wiped his eyes as he said, 'Finey, you live here all alone. That is n't