abounding joy and faith of the apostle, and repeated aloud, to and for herself, "For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Things looked differently to Happy now and it is "now" that we live. Life seemed easy to her laid beside that of her Master, even though it should be a life of humiliation and service, and she went to sleep comforted and strengthened.

66

In the morning Miss Greene came. Well, I see you read that letter, Happy, and I guess you know more'n you did about Almiry's idees, don't ye?"

"Yes, I do, Aunt Vinny. Did she tell you what she wanted me to do?"

"Certin, certin: she an' me talked it all over. I'm free to say I didn't altogether and tee-totally agree with her at the fust: but she was a most a master hand for sense, Happy. I come round and giv' in as soon as I chewed on it a spell, and I was a makin' up my mind to come over an' tell her she was in the right on't when I heered she was gone. Well heaven's the better for her, a sight, and earth the wuss."

Happy could not speak for a moment; and Miss

Lavinia wiped her full eyes. "But, Aunt Vinny, what had I better do to find a place?"

“Ask the minister; or- no. I'd ruther ask Mis' Payson. Wherever you be, you'll hev to do with the women-folks of the house; and men don't know no more about what women be to home, in their fam'lies, than they know about what grows in the moon. Mercy to me! I've knowed more'n one man that wan't no more aware o' what his wife was like, and how she acted in her own house, than nothin'. Men are queer creturs: take 'em in a business kind o' view, as it were, so to speak, and they're sharper'n whittled lightin' to see what's a goin' on; but come to get a woman under their eyes and they're blind as old bats. We'll see Mis' Payson right off. As for your things, Happilony, I should git red of the biggest part; send 'em up to the auction store, and sell 'em. What you want to keep, you can set up in my garret. I may as well tell ye now, I've ben and gone and got my will drawed out to leave ye that little house o' mine, when I've got through with't. You'll allers hev a ruff over your head any way; and there's a leetle money too. There ain't none very near to me left, you see, and I'd as lives you'd hev it as the next one. Don't say nothin', child; don't thank me aforehand: it's waste words. Mabbe you'll die fust: who knows? But

here's one more thing - don't you set your mind

on all plain sailin' an' clear sky ahead; there's trials in everybody's life, and there's agoin' to be in yourn; but jest you hark to me a bit, and I'll give ye a mite o' advice. Don't overdo; don't whew into everything as though there wan't no more days in the week: you won't half do your work, and you'll quite kill yourself, if you do. Folks has got some duties to their own bodies. And don't you be put upon more'n is fair; some folks think hired help ain't human creeturs, but the help don't agree with 'em. I ain't afraid you'll talk too much, or do anything that ain't all square; but I be afraid you'll do too much, and them you live with won't think no more of ye than if you do jest what you'd ought to, an’ no more. Well, that's enough. I'll come round agin this afternoon, and we'll go over to Mis' Payson's, if you want to. It's jest as good to have it over with right away, as to wait." And Happy thought it was.

CHAPTER XV.

THE next morning Happy went to Mrs. Payson alone; Miss Lavinia had a headache, and could not be with her, but it was not a very formidable matter to see Mrs. Payson. Happy felt already that she was a friend, for she had been there once or twice since Mrs. Dodd's death, though it happened that the girl was either sleeping, or "had gone to the grave to weep there," like the women of all the ages, before and since Scripture recorded it of the Marys, every time the minister or his wife tried to see her. There was something so kindly and reassuring in Mrs. Payson's voice, her smile, her simple, cordial manner, that Happy felt her heart lightened at once. Mrs. Payson was a woman whom almost everybody liked; and those who did not, were to be pitied, her husband said, for they lost a great deal. She brought Happy into her pleasant parlor, which was in daily use, and, giving her an easy-chair, took up her sewing, which she

had laid down to go to the door, in order to make the interview as little formal as possible.

Happilona was naturally a simple, direct little person; her way was to go at once to the point, and she did this now by asking Mrs. Payson to read her mother's letter. When that lady finished, and put the paper down, her expressive face showed deep feeling.

"My dear," she said, "your mother was an extraordinary woman.”

"Yes, ma'am," was all Happy could answer.

"I think she was right in her advice to you, entirely right; though it is not what I should have expected, or you either probably." She saw from Happy's face that she had judged right in regard to this. "I do not see what else you could do, not being strong. I don't think you'll find it pleasant at first, Happy; you have never been obliged to act under the orders of a stranger, and it will be irksome; your pride will be wounded many a time, and your feelings hurt; but, my dear, have the sense to say to yourself,This is the duty God gives me; I must do it for him.' Your course is very plain; you must earn your living, and this is the only way you can earn it; but you can make that way evil or good, as you choose.

I have seen a servant loved and respected as much as any woman I ever knew; and you can be."