CHAPTER XXXI.

WITH autumn's approach the chapel drew near to completion. Happy had not been yet to see it, for it did not lie just in her way, and she was very busy. Ruth Holden had become engaged during the summer to a young man from Philadelphia, the son of an old friend of her father's, a Mr. Thorne ; and all her sewing that Happy could do was given to her. No sewing could ever be done with more dainty diligence, none ever had more prayers and more affection set in every tiny stitch; she dreaded the idea of parting with Ruth for what would probably be a life-time, but she rejoiced in her prospect for happiness, which seemed to be very great.

Mr. Thorne was a young man of education and character, in good business, having succeeded to his father's private banking-house; professedly a zealous Christian, with unexceptionable manners, the tastes and habits of a thorough gentleman, and he was of a family standing deservedly high for honor and honesty. Happy had seen him once, and her first

E

impression of his face was not quite favorable; there was something weak about the mobile mouth, and restless about the light hazel eye that displeased her instinctive judgment; but she blamed herself on the spot for having even one disparaging thought about a man so dear to Ruth, and so evidently absorbed in and devoted to her own darling; they were to be married at Christmas, and Happy's fingers had to fly busily to complete Ruth's outfit, so that she had never been near the chapel all summer, and it was to be opened and dedicated on Thanksgiving Day, and all the school given a supper in the evening.

She had looked over the plans with Madam Holden, and given a modest opinion as to their merits, but further had nothing to do with it at all, being so fully occupied at home.

When Thanksgiving Day arrived Miss Vinny was determined to go to the dedication services, which took the place of the usual church services on that day; so dressed in her Sunday's best, and leaning heavily on Happy, she left early, in order to have quite enough time to reach there punctually. The way seemed very long to her, for of late she had lost strength; but when they came to the street where it stood, the sight of the neat brick building brought back the keen spark to her old eyes.

66

Stop a minute, Happy; let's take a look at it

a ways off, so's to catch the sense of it; ain't it pretty? There's heaps o' room too, room and to spare. But what's them words on the marble slab above the second set o' windows? I can't see rightly, bein' it's all white."

Happy looked up at the inscription, but for a moment she thought her eyes, too, had failed her; yet another look proved their faithfulness.

"Oh!" she said, half aloud, as if something, neither pain nor pleasure nor astonishment, but moulded of all three, held her breath.

"What is it?" repeated Miss Lavinia, who did not hear the ejaculation distinctly.

66

Why, Aunt Vinny! It doesn't seem as if it could be; but it's there; it certainly is. I a'n't asleep."

"For goodness sake, child! what be you up to? What's there? Can't you read ?"

"I believe so," answered Happy, with a tremulous sort of laugh. "And yet it does seem to me, Aunt Vinny, that it says on that slab,

DODD CHAPEL, 18

and under it,

"SHE HATH DONE WHAT SHE COULD."

"I'm glad on't!" exclaimed the old lady, eagerly. “I've set an' set an' wondered to see you, Happy,

C

workin' like a tiger all these years with them dirty little creturs, and never thinkin' nothin' about it, nor ef 'twas hard or easy, and now I'm glad other folks feel to tell what you've did. I know jest what you'd say if I'd let ye, and I've kinder comforted myself by thinkin' the Lord knew. And He's the most consequence to be sure, but after all, it is pleasant to human natur to have other folks pleased with us, and human natur is common property to all on us. If there be any virtoo, if there be any praise, think on these things.' I expect Mis' Holden's got that tex' by heart."

"But Aunt Vinny, there's so many other people have done just as much and more than I about this school."

"Who begun it though? Who was't got them three youngsters together in your ma's back-room, and kep' it up in Mis' Packard's kitchen such a spell? Somebody's got to put a mustard seed into the ground to begin with, or 'twon't never be a tree, big enough to hold all the fowls o' the air in its branches. It's your child, Happy, if its growed out of knowledge, and it had oughter be called after your name; an' it's just like Mis' Holden to do it; she ain't goin' to take nobody else's doo jest becos she's got money; that ain't her; she's as honest a woman as the Lord above ever made, and I never see an honester thing done than puttin'

your name up there when she had a good 'nough right, as things go, to set her own there. She's one o' the best."

to

say

"That she is!" Happy said warmly; and through the whole service her beaming, blushing face was a study to Madam Holden, who read in it all she tried but could not find words enough to express. Mr. Payson's sermon was from the text engraved on the marble slab. Aware of Happy's sincere modesty, and respecting it, he only alluded to the name of the chapel by explaining simply and without comment that it was given because the beginning of the school was from a small class, gathered, and taught for some time, by Miss Happy Dodd; and then he went on to exhort his hearers on the daily duties of life. First, in as few words and as clearly as possible, he laid before them all the way of eternal life. "Come unto Me,' the Saviour says, 'I am the way.' But you ask, 'how shall we come? Christ is not here to hear us.' My dear friends, there is your mistake. He is. Whoever, here and now, will say in his heart, Lord Jesus save me, and help me to live a new life!' has come to him, and will in no wise be cast out. Repeat that prayer daily, and it will keep leading you up to Him who died for you, died to pay for your sins; died because He loved you with a love you cannot measure, or as yet believe. And