188
Ukciimiocatkd Maxims.
bo shod before the individual is full
grown, mid stands forth a man as Milton
.says,'-' "For contemplation and valor
formed." But I must hear this lecture
even if I have to go alone, for it is not
likely that papa will care to go out again
this evening. I wonder if Howard no,
no, Judge McKee has changed much in
appearance during these ten years ! Now
what were those lines that I was reading
in one of Scott's novels a day or two ago ?
"Youth! thou wonrVt to manhood now,
Darker Up mid darker brow,
Statelier step, inore penivu mluii,
111 thy face und KIt nre seen :"
Is itposiblc that I shall find him changed
so much? Perhaps so."
We will not say positively that the
above were the exact thoughts in Miss
Raymond's mind as she sat for a few mo
ments gazing into the glowing coals.
But we may infer that these were nearly
similar, for soon she arose, cast a sly
glance into a large mirror, smiled and
blushed just a little at what she saw, and
then left the room. Half an hour later,
warmly wrapped in cloak and furs, she
came into the sitting-room again, and
found Mr. Raymond, who had come in
during her absence, reading an evening
paper which he had taken from his pock
et. "Why Nellie," inquired the latter look
ing up from his paper as she came in,
"nre you going out this evening V"
"Yes, papa, I am oil' to the lecture.
Will you not go, too?"
"What lecture?"
"To tho lecture at Librarv Hall."
"Oh yes I the temperonee lecture. I
had almost forgotten it. .ludgo McKoe
has the reputation of being a very line
speaker."
"Then you had belter conic with me
and hear him," said Miss Nellie.
"I should be pleased to do so," replied
Mr. Raymond, "but I think it would
-probably be better for me to stay within
doors Jjr the remainder of the evening."
"Well, then, I suppose you will ilntl
your paper sulllcient company without
me," Nellie alllrmed, vathnr than asked,
as she passed out of the room audjsct out
on her way to Library Hall.
Arriving there she found tho Hall so
crowded that It was with some ditllcully
that she lound a scat. She was a little
late, too, and the speaker had already he.
gun. As she entered the room, he was
saying that he desired to speak especially
to young men ; to such young men as were
gradually almost unconscious)', perhaps
departing from the paths of honor and
virtue, and deteriorating in true and no
hie nnnhood, as they yield to the insidl.
ous charms of the tempter and deceiver,
alcohol. " I know whereof I speak," he
continued, "because 1 have had expert,
ence."
At first he spoke witli great delibera
tion; but as he warmed with his subject,
he became grandly eloquent, bending and
swaying the vast multitude of minds be
fore him, as if they had been but a single
mind. If Howard McKee possessed a no
ble physique and manly bearing at twen.
ty, still more was he a noble and symmet
rical type of manhood at thirty. His
brow was broader and higher, and his
blue eyes, though less brilliant, had more
of the calm and considerate look of man
hood. The lecture lasted about an hour, and
at Us conclusion, Nellie, shunning her
many friends, stole quietly out of the hall
and walked rapidly homeward, as if in
haste to be alone with her own thoughts.
When she reached home, she found that
all had retired except Aunt Jemima, who,
though -ostensibly engaged in reading,
was in reality do.ingly awaiting Miss
Nellie's return. Aunt Jemima was Mr.
Raymond's oldest sister, and since the
death of Mrs. Raymond, about two years
before the time of which wo arc writing,
had been living at her brother's.
'' Well" observed the latter lady as Nel
lie entered the room, "it seems to me that
the lecture wart rather long."
"Yes," replied Nellie, "It was some.