Love In A Well

Thirty years ago, when my bair was brown and my limbs young and active, I was sent by the firui in whose servioc I was engaged, to collect money, to sorae of the New England villages. The country was new to roe, but l had full direc ;ions givcn to me, and started off for a 'ew months to wake our customers pay :or their silks, calicóes and notions. I had iared pretty well on my errand, and was putting up at a country inn, when one of our oustomers invited me to a gathering of young folks at his house. [ at once accepted the offer. There I met with Mary Lee and lost my heart msiantly. As I was retuvning to the inn, after e&viug the party, I met with an accident that colorcd my wbole future life, gave me its greatest joy and its heaviest sor■ow. Crossing a field in the drkness, I set my foot upou a plauk which tilted, and I feil down, losing consoiousness be'ore I reached the end of a subterranean descent. How long I lay insensible I I cannot teil ; but I awoke in bitter agony, feeling tl.at I was fearfully injured, [ called aud groaned, but the darkness above was unbroken by any frieudly ïleam of light - the heavy silence eheer ed by no sucooring voico. Day dawned, Sndiug me stil! sensible, suffering and alone. As the streaks of light broke above me, I sa' that I had fallen down an old well, half filled with rubbish, and covered with loose boards at the top,-3ue of the boards had given away under the piessure of my foot. This well I [ learned later was Mr. Lee's place, and was beinggradually filled up with any Jirt that would have been otherwise pürted away. ïhe custouiary stone woik around the top had been long ago re moved for the convenience ot backing up he carts. How I had strayed froou the road on tbe large, open field, can or.ly be explained by my ignoranceof the locality, and by my castTe-building, inspired by the swoet face of Mary Lee, Moruing dawned, and I was lying al most frantic in my agony, when I heard a yourg, fresh voice siuging above rue, I called out loudly-. "Help! help'" "Where?" The singing ceased, and the questiou eame in a startled oue. ('Here ! I have fallen down the well." The boards above me were pusbed aside, and the daylight, further advanced tban I had perceived in my darkened position, poured in. "üownhere? Oh! you must be fearfully hurt. . George! John! Come quick!" Hurrying feet catne above me. "Sonie one must go down," said the voice have you a rope ?" "Aye, the old rope is here, but it's not over and above strong. It won't bear a man.'1 "I will trust it. He bas fainted." I wae too much exhausted to answer any of the questions they shouted to me. The re-action of promised relief was too great after such a night as I had passed. Before 1 could realize the purport of the last sentence, I knew, by the darkening of the open mouth of the well that-some was descending. I feit the dress of the brave girl touch my cheek ; I heard her pitying tones ; I knew she raised my head as she stood in tbe twilight beside me ; but I could not speak. Others had hurried to the house aud one for the surgeon. Wine was lowered, and she knelt beside me to revive me by it Two long hours, as I learned aflerwards, passed before the arrangements were completed to hoist ua up, and she had not. left my side. She bathed my face with the water they lowered ; she gave me wine ; she spoke words of cheer and comfort ; ghe aided me, when the basket was at Jast lowered in rising from my painful posture, and almost lifted me into the carriage after resohJDg tbe surf ace of the eartb. .cd wben the loog faitiag fit that followed above grouüd was sucoeeded by days of delirum, she was my faithful nurse. - How I loved her cannot be told. When the truth became known thatmy left arm aud leg were orippled and useless forever, then I tried to smother my love, and learned of her love for mo. - Mary Lee, the pet of the village, the idol of home, the center of many loving hearts, left all to follow he crippled husband to his city home. If by the exercises of my brain I have made work for my hands- if my right arm has earned a luxurious home - if by the love of a lifelime I havo humbly endeavored to make her happy - did she not earn all this, and more, aye, more than I can ever give her ?