*** ***," she says, and tells her whole name outright.  Ah!--
said I, when I read that first frank declaration,--you are one of
the right sort!--She was.  A winged creature among close-clipped
barn door fowl.  How tired the poor girl was of the dull life about
her,--the old woman's "skeleton hand " at the window opposite,
drawing her curtains,--"Ma'am shooing away the hens,"--the vacuous
country eyes staring at her as only country eyes can stare,--a
routine of mechanical duties, and the soul's half-articulated cry
for sympathy, without an answer! Yes,--pray for her, and for all
such! Faith often cures their longings; but it is so hard to give a
soul to heaven that has not first been trained in the fullest and
sweetest human affections! Too often they fling their hearts away
on unworthy objects.  Too often they pine in a secret discontent,
which spreads its leaden cloud over the morning of their youth.  The
immeasurable distance between one of these delicate natures and the
average youths among whom is like to be her only choice makes one's
heart ache.  How many women are born too finely organized in sense
and soul for the highway they must walk with feet unshod! Life is
adjusted to the wants of the stronger sex.  There are plenty of
torrents to be crossed in its journey; but their stepping-stones are