e
ever had a better husband! We live on the old homestead--it is one of
the pleasantest places in Preston--the mortgage is all paid off, and we
are as comfortable as any family need be. Mrs. Miller is as fond of me
as if I was her own born daughter, and everybody thinks our little Phebe
is almost too sweet to live--she is the picture of Race; but I think her
curly hair and saucy blue eyes make her the handsomest baby I ever saw.

Widow Burt and Jim have come away from the Hollow; last year Race put up
a new barn, and moved the old one down to the end of the lane--our boys
helped him fix it up for a house, and Mrs. Burt and Jim live in it. They
make baskets yet, and we find them very useful when we want extra help.
Mrs. Burt is stronger than before she was sick; and poor Jim almost
worships Race, and would run errands all day, if we asked him to--he
thinks there is nothing like our baby on the face of the earth; and
simple as he looks, she is always ready to go to him.

Race wouldn't tell me till after we were married, how he came to be
hiding in the bushes on the day of the picnic; he always said I must
_guess_--so you may guess too!

After all, I have reason to bless the day I went up Spring Mountain!

ENDURANCE.

At first did I almost despair,
And thought I _never_ it could bear--
And yet I have it borne till now:
But only never ask me _how!_

--HEINE.

JAPANESE FOREIGN RELATIONS.

[The article we are now about to offer our readers is from the pen
of the well-known and highly-esteemed Dr. MACGOWAN, Honorary Member
of the Archaeological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland,
Corresponding Member of the Societe Imperiale Zoologique
d'Acclimation, Asiatic Society of Bengal, of the Agricultural and
Horticultural Society of India, Ethnological Society of London,
American Oriental Society, &c., &c., who was for more than twenty
years a resident of the far East, of China and Japan. He has
lectured on China and Japan before the most erudite audiences, and
has never failed to give entire satisfaction. His lectures were
delivered in New York under the auspices of the Geographical and
Statistical Society, in compliance with an invitation drawn up by
Chancellor Ferris, and signed by President King of Columbia
College, Hon. Townsend Harris, late U. S. Minister to Japan, Hon.
Ge