Mary Baldwin College - Bluestocking Yearbook (Staunton, VA)

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22 The Ayimiat ot is past. Yes, t ' is the captain of Plytnouth, who is soon over- come with attentions and declares he would rather invade many Indian camps than go again to a wedding uninvited. He salutes the bride, gravely and after the manner of old fashioned gentry in England, something of camp and of court, of town and of country commingled. The good people of Plymouth are anxious to get to their work . so each one goes to his field or his vi ney ard . Alden brings out a snow-white bull upon which Priscilla mounts to ride to her new home, the house which Alden has built with thoughts and dreams of her. As they pass through the forest, her hus- band walking fondly by her .side, all nature seems to greet them . Like a picture it seemed of the primitire pastoral ages. Fresh with the youth of the world and recalling Rebecca and Isaac, Old and yet ever new and simple and beautiful always, Love immortal and young in the endless succession of lovers. Makv Evelyn Davis, Rockbridge Baths, Va, STORIES ABOUT DOGS. , There have been many interesting dogs belonging to va- rious members of our family, but they lived many vears ago, and all that we have had since I can remember have been quite common place. My grandmother once had a very large mastiff whose name was Brick, One summer she undertook to raise some ducks, and Brick, though he knew all about chickens and understood that he must not trouble them, did not know what to make of the soft, waddling new-comers. After the ducks had been out of their pen several days, the - began to be missed one by one, and finally it was discovered that Brick was killing one each day. He restricted himself to this number, and killed one e •erv da - until only three were

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Tilt Maiy ya d ' ivin Scininaf y. 21 for yourself, John ? This stops the flow of his eUxjUtiice, ami he rushes madly out iuto the forest. The story is told to Miles Standish ; the captain is an ry, thinks his friend has betrayed his trust, and when he is called suddenly away by war with the indians, he buckles on his sword and goes out into the wilds of the forest, without even a parting word to John Alden. Then came months of fighting and danger ; danger in which the soldier gloried. He gave hardly a thought to Priscilla ; when he did think of her, it was ouly to say : What I thought was a flower, is only a weed and is worthless. Meanwhile Alden was true to his friend : he often talked with Priscilla, as she sat at her wheel, talked with her as with a sister, but never one word of love did he speak. Once as they sat thus, Alden talked of her industry, compairing her to Bertha, the beautiful spinner, who span as she rode on her palfry : told her that some day mothers would tell their daugh- ters of the good old days of Priscilla, the spinner. She re- proved him for the flattering words, saying he must not be idle, that if girls should be told of Priscilla, that boys should hear from their sires of the good old days of John Alden, .so saying she laughingly put a skein of thread over his hands. As she wound her ball, untangling the thread and scold- ing him for his awkwardness, suddenly the door was burst open, breathless, telling the terrible news that Miles Standish was dead, had been killed by the Indians. Forgetting his grief for his friend and feeling only that he was free, free after long months of waiting, John Alden clasped to his heart the maid for whom alone it beat. The barrier was removed and forever ; he exclaimed fervently: Those whom the Lord hath united, let no man put them asunder Now the wedding day is at hand : the friends and neigh- bors have come together to see the simple wedding of the fair young couple whom every one blesses. When the ceremony is ended, a silence falls upon all, for there, on the threshold, stands a figure like that of Miles Standish. For a moment there is doubt and confusion ; then the figure advances and taking the bridegroom ' s hand asks for forgiveness for all that

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The Mary fialdirin Srininin y. 2T, left. Tlitrii tlic cook (ietfiiiiiiifd lliat she would cure liitu, and h« I liiijij OIK- ot the dead ducks under liis uose, heat hiiu until he was thorou,i;hl - tired of heiuij reniitided of ducks. The three reiuainint; (Uicks were not well cared for b their mother and soon died, though Hrick had no hand in the matter what- ever. After that the old duck made a nest in Brick ' s kennel, laid her eggs and raised a brood there. The new family li ed there until they were weaned, and found in hini a faithful friend and protector. One of my uncles once had a hunting dog named Hector : this dog had long been his master ' s pet but one day as his master started home from a friend ' s house, he gave Hector a small basket to carry. This basket was well covered over, to be sure, but that did not prevent Hector from knowing what was in it. He had hardh ' taken it in his mouth, when, to his dismay, he heard the whine of a puppy. He considered the matter and soon determined that that puppy should never usurp his place in his master ' s affections. So trotting on ahead he soon came to a wood and hid the puppy in a hollow log. On reaching home, m uncle found Hector there looking very meek and humble. He asked him what he had done with the puppy, and Hector tucked his tail under and trott ed off. On following him, his master saw him go straight to the log and get the poor little puppy out. MaKV ICVKI.VN D.wis- FAVORITK HVMNS A D THEIR AUTHORS. Of all modes of worship, hymn singing is perhaps the most universally popular Someone has said that averse may find him who a sermon flies There is something in this wedding of sacred words to music, which, although the intellect is incapable of being touched, may find its way to the heart As we offer our best to God in other particulars, so we should in this. A hymn should be as nearlx ' perfect as possi-