vants to do the work, and that Mrs. Lee and her
daughters had nothing to do but sit in the parlor all day long. When
Semantha came back after her long visit, she brought a great many fine
things that her cousins had given her. She used to come into meeting,
her high-heeled slippers clattering, and her clocked stockings showing
clear down to the peaked toe; she wore a pink crape gown, and over that
a white muslin cape that came just down to the waist in the back, and
crossed over in front, and was pinned to her gown at the corners; it was
bound around with blue lutestring, and her bonnet had a blue bow on it.
It was a Navarino bonnet, and cost an extravagant price, seeing that it
couldn't be done over.

"None of us had ever seen such fine things before; and when Semantha
came in, Elder Crane might as well have sat down, for everybody looked
at Semantha. I thought it was well that her bonnet hid her face; for if
she was like me, it must have been crimson. I am sure I should have died
of mortification to have been so stared at.

"Mother said she feared it was sinful for a deacon's daughter to make
such a display, and wondered if Semantha remembered what the Apostle
Paul says of the ornaments that women ought to wear.

"But in talking of Semantha, I have forgotten Deacon Lee's queer
behavior. He would look at me awhile, and then at Ephraim Allen. It was
so curious, I began to fear that he was deranged. But at last I found
out what it meant.

"One day as I was coming out of meeting, and Ephraim had just said,
'Good morning,' I looked around and there was Deacon Lee close beside
us, watching us with a severe expression in his face. 'Young man,' said
he, and the tone was so awful that I trembled all over,--'young man, I
have noticed for some time past your attempts to attract the attention
of this young woman, who, I am grieved to say,'--turning to me,--'does
not receive this notice as she ought. Instead of assuming an expression
of severe reproof, she blushes from time to time, and casts down her
eyes, and I cannot discover from her face that this ungodly conduct is
displeasing to her.'

"I was so overwhelmed by this rebuke that I could not look up or speak,
and in a minute more I should have cried in good earnest It was
Ephraim's voice that stopped me. 'I am sure I beg Mercy's pardon and
yours, Deacon, if I have done anything improper. I suppose I looked at
her because my eye couldn't find a pleasanter resting-place. Yo