h had sought the river's brink, and then
turned back. Perhaps, made pure and strong in a better world, in which
some lingering love and faith had given her the true direction at
last, where even her love for her child had saved her, the mother had
been still taking care of little Nan and guiding her. Perhaps she had
helped to make sure of the blessings her own life had lost, of truth
and whiteness of soul and usefulness; and so had been still bringing
her child in her arms toward the great shelter and home, as she had
toiled in her fright and weakness that dark and miserable night toward
the house on the hill.

And Nan stood on the shore while the warm wind that gently blew her
hair felt almost like a hand, and presently she went closer to the
river, and looked far across it and beyond it to the hills. The eagles
swung to and fro above the water, but she looked beyond them into the
sky. The soft air and the sunshine came close to her; the trees stood
about and seemed to watch her; and suddenly she reached her hands
upward in an ecstasy of life and strength and gladness. "O God," she
said, "I thank thee for my future."

* * * * *

SELECTED STORIES AND SKETCHES

by Sarah Orne Jewett

* * * * *

CONTENTS

STORIES FROM _Strangers and Wayfarers_, Published 1890

A WINTER COURTSHIP (_Atlantic Monthly_, Feb., 1889)

GOING TO SHREWSBURY (_Atlantic Monthly_, July, 1889)

THE WHITE ROSE ROAD (_Atlantic Monthly_, Sept., 1889)

THE TOWN POOR (_Atlantic Monthly_, July, 1890)

STORIES FROM _A Native of Winby and Other Tales_, Published 1893

A NATIVE OF WINBY (_Atlantic Monthly_, May, 1891)

LOOKING BACK ON GIRLHOOD, _Youth's Companion_, January 7, 1892

MORE STORIES FROM _A Native of Winby and Other Tales_, Published 1893

THE PASSING OF SISTER BARSETT (_Cosmopolitan Magazine_, May, 1892)

DECORATION DAY (_Harper's Magazine_, June, 1892)

THE FLIGHT OF BETSEY LANE (_Scribner's Magazine_, Aug. 1893)

THE GRAY MILLS OF FARLEY, _Cosmopolitan Magazine_, June, 1898

* * * * *

_A Winter Courtship_

The passenger and mail transportation between the towns of North Kilby
and Sanscrit Pond was carried on by Mr. Jefferson Briley, whose
two-seated covered wagon was usually much too large