air is connected with the cold air at the bottom of a room. This secures great economy in fuel, and also removes the great evil of furnaceheated rooms; i. e., the head kept in warm air and the feet in cold.

When there are no arrangements for securing ventilation, the only mode of gaining pure air is by windows. Openings for this purpose should be at the top of the windows; and small openings in two windows secure a circulation better than opening in one only.

All ventilation should be so managed that there shall be no perceptible draught. Any room with a fire in an open fire-place secures proper ventilation unless crowded with occupants.

In securing the proper ventilation of a room it is very important that the temperature should be made to conform to the age and health of the inmates. The aged and those in delicate health require a warmer atmosphere than the young and healthy; while those who exercise in the open air can bear a much colder room than those who do not.

There are two classes to be found in this world-those who live to save men from ignorance and sin as the chief end, while personal ease and enjoyment are sought only so far as is consistent with this chief end, and no farther. The other class are living to get all the good things of this life for themselves and their families. Those who live to save men carry their rewards with them into that eternal state where "their works do follow them." But the other class gain nothing but that which perishes in the using.

In which class, O friendly reader, are you num bered? For which end are you building your house, earning your wealth, and training your children? Are you laying such plans that all your means will be spent in self or family indulgence, or are you aiming to make a home that shall be a perennial stream of blessings to all around?

This article is written to attract the thoughtful attention not so much of those of humble or moderate means as of those in affluent circumIn this matter the Christian principle should stances. There is a tide of wealth and prosrule-"We that are strong ought to bear the perity setting in to our country unparalleled in infirmities of the weak, and not to please our- extent and power, and many Christian men selves." A Christian mode of accommodation and women will be drawn into a current of on both sides could be secured by regulating worldliness and self-indulgence from which they the clothing: those who are too warm taking now would shrink with dismay. Let those who off, and those too cold adding clothing. A sim- are planning for future life take thought in ilar style of Christian kindliness should prevail good time. Shall your future homes become in public rooms and traveling conveyances. the abodes of an industry, thrift, and benevoThe delicate and infirm should be seated near-lent economy that shall provide means to bless est the fire, and care be taken to protect from draughts of cold air.

the community all around, by a wise example and an outpouring beneficence? Or shall they In our railroads every person sitting next a be the proud residences of the indolent, the window can by aid of a wisp of a newspaper self-indulgent, the exclusive, and the worldly? raise the window for an inch or so, and thus "Charge them that are rich in this world gain pure air without injury to others near. that they be not high-minded; that they do When car windows are fully open in cold weath-good; that they be rich in good works; ready er, they should be only at the back part of the car, and those who are delicate can retreat to the front part.

In rooms warmed by close stoves there is no way to secure a proper supply of pure air but by such a use of fuel as will allow of windows open at the top an inch or two.

In concluding this article, the aim of which is to lead to a Christian mode of building houses and conducting the family state, the writer will introduce what some may call a short sermon with a text furnished by a prophet thousands of years ago: "They that are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever." Every family is designed to be a small church, in which the young are to be trained to righteousness themselves, and then taught how to "turn many to righteousness;" that thus, in a future life, surrounded by those rescued from ignorance and sin, they may shine as stars for ever and ever.

The planning of a home should have for its aim this great end. Children are to be trained to be workers for the good of others--not to be mere recipients of the toils of surrounding friends.

to distribute; willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life."

"QUEEN'S GOOD WORK.”

AQUEEN without a throne, without a crown,

without a kingdom: only a pale girl of twelve, with wistful eyes, a concealed fire half hidden in their shining depths, like that which burns in the opal's heart. Robed in no violet satin or cloth of gold was our Queen, but in scanty blue homespun, and her short gold-bronze hair was carelessly turned back into a net where it glittered like sunshine against prison-bars.

It was rather a rugged scene on which she looked, though a setting sun was making it glorious with a dome of barbaric pearl and gold, and rose-flushed waves of light or billowy drifts of purple were melting softly away in the west. A few plume-like pines stood up clearly defined against that kindling glow; and nearer spread intractable hills with huge boulders cropping ont here and there, a long yellow road winding about them. But there were damp glens also, reedy

and treacherous, with climbing tangled vines knotted and twisted in strange festoons, and spongy velvet sod with a gleam of water in it. Queen knew every bit of that toil-suggestive scene, so she looked at the sun and revolved a new idea in a dissatisfied state of mind.

passionate outbreaks and heard his drunken carousals too often for that. Indeed the neighbors were apt to change the initial letter of her father's name, "Bevil Ward;" which showed their estimate of the man with more force than elegance.

"Looks like de new Jerusalem, sure enough, Queen was walking slowly on her errand when wid de shiny streets of gold," said Maum Rina, a loud voice was heard at the gate, and with as she came out to the well; "and I wish I was sundry "whoas" and "haws," Scipio stopped a-walkin dere dis blessed minute, Miss Queen." his ox-team and stood there in a strangely unQueen could not help laughing at the idea of decided way. "No account nigger," said Aunt fat old Maum Rina, with her glistening black Rina, evidently in a bad humor with the world, face and spotted turban, and her queer shapeless in spite of her lesson on content, "wot's he figure, waddling over the shifting gold and pur-a-waitin for, now, and dese cakes all a-spilinple billows that made up the shining wav. But the next moment she looked solemn enough as she followed Maum Rina into the kitchen and sat there watching her make the corn-dodgers for tea. At last she heaved a great sigh.

"I wish there was something to do!" "Do! why thar's heaps to do," said Aunt Rina, with a sarcastic sniff, for she was a confirmed grumbler; "I'se sartain sure, I'se allers a-doin, an a-bein, an a-sufferin, as poor Marse George done studied about."

The woman's voice faltered a little, for poor Marse George had fallen before the deadly hail of Northern bullets. "Poor George" whom she had nursed and tended long before the baby with its little air of royalty-therefore nicknamed the "Queen"-had appeared on the stage of life. But the young girl had been reading a book on heroism and self-sacrifice; and one line throbbed in and out of her brain, and set itself to music in her heart. "Do noble things, not dream them all day long."

"If I were really a queen now I might do some great deed," she said, musingly, while the fire burned in her eyes.

"Now don't yer go a heavin of yerself agin Providence, chile," said Aunt Rina, sententiously. "You's Queen o' yerself; an that's more nor some folks, I reckon. An ye've got a white skin; then thar's yer mar. Count up yer blessins, honey. That's the best cure for low sperrits."

"It wouldn't take me long," answered Queen, smiling.

drat his yaller hide!" so she waddled out to the gate, all impatient to hear the news from town, and glad that Queen was not near to note her anxious inquiries as to the whereabouts of "Linkum's army."

Queen looked after her vaguely for a few seconds, and then was turning away, when she heard her name called softly in an awe-struck way by Maum Rina. When she reached the gate she stood still as if transfixed by a bolt of ice. She had never looked on Death before, but surely this white horror with rigid limbs and closed eyes, violet-lidded, and bloodless lips, pressed in patient pain, and folded hands in saint-like prayer, and dark locks, lustreless and damp— surely here was the awful presence and power of Death. But from the great gun-wound in his side the blood was welling slowly forth, and Maum Rina knew that life was there, though it was fast pouring out in that crimson tide.

"We's a-studyin wot to do," said Maum Rina, seriously, "an dar's no time to lose." "Why, take him in the house and let Scipio go for a doctor," said Queen, promptly.

"But-but I suspicions he's a Yank," said Maum Rina in a doubtful way-for she did not let her young mistress know that she was heart and soul with "Linkum's army." 'Sip, what you see on dat ar shiny button?" "I sees a mighty peert-lookin, sassy bird on it, an I reckon it's de eagle, sure nuff," said Sip, seriously.

The wounded man had been robbed of coat, hat, and boots, as was customary, and only one large gilt button was left to tell his nationality.

"It makes no difference," said Queen with a great effort-for she was a patriotic little thing

"Well, I couldn't spend a day on it, sure enough," said Rina, as she laid the smoking brown cakes on the plate; "but dar's heaps o' folks wuss off in dese war times. So run now-partisan without bitterness-" he will die an ax Miss Clara ef she's ready fur tea."

"Miss Clara" was Queen's mother; but she was a whimsical invalid; a depressed, faded, disappointed woman, who spent her days in an easy-chair with a novel, and took no care of the child. Queen had a father, too, though he had not been counted among her blessings, for he was quite the contrary-a passionate, self-willed, dissipated man, who had sold and spent one slave after another till only old Maum Rina and her son Scipio were left. Queen could not shed a single tear when such a father said "good-by," even though she knew he was going into the Southern army, for she had trembled before his

now if we do not help him, and we would have a great sin upon us. Take him into George's room, Maum Rina, and Sip can go for the doctor."

So between them the helpless load was carried up to the room unused since poor George's death-where the shadows hid and had their home, where the sunlight never looked in with friendly eye-and laid upon the high white bed that gleamed like a snow-drift in the chill twilight. Only Aunt Rina stanched the wound as well as she could, and Queen forgot her horror in bathing the broad white brow with cold water.

"What'll yer mar say?" whispered Rina, in an awe-struck voice, pausing in her friendly offices. "Sakes alive! I'm so weak ye could knock me down with a straw. Why couldn't Sip ha took him to the Coles's, or some dratted Union folks, and not done bring him here?"

"Never mind-he's here now," said Queen, not without some heart-quaking-"and I'll make it right with mamma."

"O Lor! I wish I was in de good ship Zion, sailin for de hebbenly shore, I do," said Rina, with a sigh. "Dar's de cakes a-gittin cold, and the tea a-spilin, and not a yerthly han to put to em but mine!"

At this moment the sick man slowly opened wondering dark eyes upon the strange faces around him, and then fumbled about with stiff and nerveless hands, as if searching for something, but he could not speak. Queen looked at him with a quick-springing sympathy and enthusiasm in her heart. Poor fellow! so young and handsome; what if he was an enemy? did not Rina say often that the good Book told us to "love our enemies?"

But at that moment a shrill, querulous voice pierced through the shadowy silence of the

room:

"Queen! Queen!"

Queen started, and felt that it would not be so easy to make it all right with mamma. She hurried the things nervously on a waiter; the cakes cold now; the little white roll, with a morsel of currant-jelly that quivered like a great ruby beside it, and walked up the dark stairs into her mother's room, with such a trembling in her hands that the things rattled in a strange, uncanny way as she went along. A few dull red coals lay on the hearth, for there was always a fire in the invalid's room, and cast a weird light, half glow, half gloom, over the apartment. Queen lit a candle silently and drew up a small round table by her mother's side.

"Is Sip home?"

46

Yes, mamma, an hour ago."

"And why was I not told? Any letters?" "No, mamma; but he brought a-"

"So did my boy!"

"Yes, mother; that was in battle. It was dreadful, but it was different; if we turned him out it would be a kind of murder."

Mrs. Ward hated to be uncomfortable, and this subject was too disagreeable to argue, so she turned petulantly to her supper and said, "Let me never hear of him again, and do as you like." Queen felt a little sense of triumph and power as she went down to the sick room again.

So day after day wore slowly on, and the sick man had gently lapsed away into a land full of grotesque shapes and dream fancies. He toiled over sandy deserts that stretched out before him, glittering like steel-gray silk, where his feet sank more and more, while a burning sirocco drank his life, till at last the treacherous quicksand parted and engulfed him. But he awoke in some fragrant isle of Eden lying in dark purple spheres of sea; he breathed air of balm, and saw the orange with its golden globes hanging over him, and lustrous birds quivering in and out of the tangled thickets like flying gems. Dark girls with Oriental faces and eyes of tropical dusk knelt before him and offered him cool, delicious sherbet in glasses of twisted amber; but before his parched lips could touch the brim some fiend unseen would dash the life-draught to the ground, and it would crawl away in serpent-like streams under the broad leaves. Then he seemed to be floating on one of those streams, on, on to the great ocean-down, down to the cool sea-caves, through coral arches wreathed with slimy, floating sea-weed into the palace of the sea-king, into the sand-strewn caverns still and deep, where the wrecks of the world were strewn. Ah! it was horrible to see the grinning skeletons around, with no power to gather the world's ruined argosies that drifted over them or lay in the yery grasp of the bony hand. The sick man shuddered as the great whales came sailing by, and the sea-monsters coiled about him, till suddenly the spent tide left him cast high up on a frozen beach and he looked down upon a sea of ice. Glaciers and pearly icebergs were on every side faintly rose-flushed in the first ray of the morning sun. Plumy pines sparkled in an icy

"What is it, child? I thought I heard an un- mail, and every bare twig hid itself in diamond usual noise."

"A wounded man-a soldier--"

"What in the world are we to do with him?" said Mrs. Ward, quite roused to animation by annoyance: "I'm sure I can't get proper attendance myself with so few servants-send him to the Raymonds-they'd like to help the cause; besides, they've made money out of the war, and might spend a little."

"Yes, mamma-but he's a Yankee."

An intense expression of bitterness, scorn, and disdain came upon her face and concealed its usual inane expression like a mask.

"Turn him out into the road immediately," she said. "Can I think of my dead boy and save his life!"

foliage. All around him stretched fields of snow curling in foam-waves, with soft hints of light in their white tops, and a bitter, blinding blast sweeping over them. But the pearly sunlight grew golden, then rosy, and tree and shrub flashed out in royal splendor; amber and violet or scarlet rays trembled in every crystal mail like the colors in a prism.

When Meredith Grafton opened his eyes once more, after three weeks' unconsciousness, he saw the dazzling rainbow colors yet; for a peacockfeather brush, with its myriad eyes of gold and green, seemed to return his languid gaze. Then his eye wandered to a bright window framed in green swaying leaves, through which the sunlight softly melted and trembled on the head

"He would die before morning," said Queen, of his demure little nurse. And the peacock solemnly.

brush swayed over him with a measured motion

till every eye seemed regarding him with an

For a few moments the lines brought to the unblinking, round-orbed astonishment. Maum young man a thought of how near he had been Rina held it now, for Queen's arms were aching. to the fearful breakers that would have launched The next moment he lifted one thin and blue- | him into the dread and soundless sea that surges veined hand, as if expecting to find something about all living. He thought with a shudder by precious clasped there, but dropped it nervously on the bed, with a despairing groan.

"Lor's honey, don't now; it's all right," said Maum Rina.

what a frail spar he had clung in those seething chasms of gloom and darkness through which he | had struggled the last three weeks, and what a ruined wreck it was that was now stranded on

"Where is it?" he asked, with sudden ani- the shores of life. And some prayer of thanksmation.

"Here it is, Massa-de mose strengthenin beef-tea-it's mighty little beef dar is now-an I jes done bile him.".

"But where is it?" he asked again, half rising in the bed.

"Sakes alive! he's possessed, I reckon, an been a seein Ole Sam-it! Miss Queen, answer him, honey. I'se loss my breff."

Queen went forward softly, and Meredith Grafton felt a strange trust in that small, friendly face; for he read there great patience and power-he saw that this young girl was full of nerve and fire. He tried to smile a careless smile as he spoke to her:

"A button-only a gilt button."

giving shaped itself in his heart. Then the gay green and gold eyes began to stare at him again -as they moved in slow circles-for Queen held the brush. Meredith looked at her.

"So you have been my nurse ?"

"Yes-I and Rina," answered Queen, with quiet self-possession.

"But but is there no one else in the house?"

"Oh yes; mamma-and Scipio."

"Do you hear of the war here? - do you know what has happened since I have been lying here like a log?" he exclaimed, with fiery impatience.

"I know that father wrote the Yankees were well whipped," said the little girl, with a polite Queen went to get it-the only one left, as it hesitation. "That is all-we never took a newsappeared-while Maum Rina said:

"I reckon it's a charm, Massa?" "Yes-a kind of charm," said Meredith, turning it over in his thin fingers; "but a charm, I fear, that has lost its power. I must go at once. Can I get a horse?"

"Massy on us!" cried Maum Rina; "talk o' goin, an ridin, an ye've bin three long weeks a lyin dar, senseless, takin de slime drafts-or what's de name ob dem efferwessin drinks dat goes fizzin like mad?"

"Three weeks!” said Meredith, sinking back in a white despair. "Too late-too late!"

paper."

"Enough-enough, my dear. Will you give me a word of advice? I have no other helper, you see, and I know I can trust you. I'll depend upon your honor."

"Well, Sir, you can trust me"-with a grave little air.

"You see this button-common and usual to chance observers—but containing within dis patches-priceless three weeks ago-valueless now, I fear. Will you take it and drop it into the hottest place in the kitchen fire, or will you send it to General -," and he whispered the

"No, 'tain't nothin's too late for yer Heb-name. enly Marster; He kin work, an no man kin hender," said Rina, casting out a grain of spiritual comfort, without knowing the special need, and leaving it with him for his soul's refresh-road to the kitchen fire." ment while she went out of the room.

"Ah!" said the young girl, with bated breath "but my father fights upon the other side." "Secesh! so I supposed. Well, it is a short

But Queen mused silently. She was ignorant, of course, of all the sacred or avowed causes of international strife. She had only

Without, the sultry stillness of a July noon, the shrill-voiced birds in the cedar shade that stood up motionless before his window. With-accepted blindly a position on the Southern in, the slow buzz of some droning flies, the side as a sort of hereditary thing; and once steadfast face of his young nurse, and the dis- there she had stood to it valiantly. But now tant sound from the kitchen of a slowly-chant- this stranger, her charge so long, claimed her ed religious tune. Maum Rina flavored all her sympathies. He was her charge, and she must dishes with these "spirituals," as they are called serve him. He was rather surprised when she among the negroes, and evidently gained much answered, quietly: refreshment from the same. It came to the sick man's ears with a simple power and pathos of its own:

"De Lord he is a-callin-callin-callinCallin de hebenly roll;

And I'm a-waitin-waitin-waitin

For to yere Him call my soul:
An we'll nebber taste deff no more.

Oh yes, my brudder, you'se boun to go-
Oh yes, my brudder, you'se boun to go-
Oh yes, my brudder, you'se boun to go
An sail for de hebenly shore."

"I will send your dispatches, Sir."
"By whom?"

"By Scipio-you can trust him, Sir."

'Well, my dear little girl, bring him here. I can not thank you aright; he must go on the Central road. Or stay-I had better see him myself."

Scipio was brought at once, and entered into the plan with wonderful alacrity and many secret chuckles which Queen did not understand at the time. A glow of satisfaction so irradi

ated his dusky face that Maum Rina was quite provoked at him.

"Reckon it's de gumbo soup makes ye grin so like a black cat," she grumbled. "Don't scald yerself wid de hurry of eatin it, for it's de lass, I tell yer. Dar's a levy o' cattle to be riz for de guvment, and I reckon ye'll see de beef a-walkin off lively."

"I'd like ter see de last o' some tings," said Scipio, "mighty well; but it ain't gumbo soup." And he walked out without giving any key to his words, or knowledge of his plans to Maum Rina. Of course Queen had this to do-and she met the storm alone. Mrs. Ward read "The Woman in White" with many thrills and tremors utterly oblivious of what was passing under her roof. And Queen sat in the sick room, where the invalid improved slowly, and listened with rapture to his accounts of his home, his travels-even at last to the battles through which he had passed unscathed till now, wondering to find her sympathy so entirely on the wrong side.

"I say, Miss Queen," said Maum Rina, looking into the room with a scared face one day, "I've foun out sumthin."

"Let us have it," said Meredith Grafton, gayly. "I'm getting so strong I can stand a secret. But I should like a bowl of good chicken broth after it to help me bear up under its weight."

"Well, I guess it 'll take a heap o' chicken broth to bar ye up under this. Massa Bevil's comin home."

"Oh, Maum Rina!" exclaimed Queen, with a sudden frightened cry.

He had formed his own opinion of Bevil Ward by this time, and felt himself in the clutches of Giant Despair. He raised himself in the bed as if to measure his wasted strength, and cast one glance at the fast-creeping shadows. Surely the night was coming down suddenly; or was it a dark cloud that shut out the glory of the day in brief eclipse? So God could shut out the glory of his young life with the great black cloud of Death. He raised his heart to Him with a more fervent prayer now than at the moment when he felt the languid pulse of life throb with renewed impulse through his veins. So do we all utter more earnestly the "God be pitiful!" in some sudden need, than the triumphant "God be praised!"

"Well, my little counselor, what's to be done?"

"I've thought it all out, Sir," said Queen, in a quiet way that did not betray the inward tremor of her heart. "You must get away, and you can't walk-perhaps you'd be able to ride."

Ah, my good horse!" groaned Meredith; "he was a gallant friend. He has gone over to the enemy's side-but not of his own free-will, poor fellow!"

"We have one horse left. Scipio took the other with your dispatch."

"Must I take your only horse ?"

"It's the only way. You must take the path through the woods, Sir, and wear some disguise."

"What a little sage you are!"

"Now I'll go and get the things togethersome provisions, and some quinine. You must

Yes; comin' sure enuff, dis berry night," take that to get strong, you know." said Rina.

"To give me an appetite when I have no

The sun was just then sinking a little, and the thing to eat," said Meredith. shadows were growing long and cool.

"You see my Miss Clara," said Rina, addressing herself to Meredith, "is one of the eyester kind."

"What kind?" asked the young man, in a kind of puzzle.

Queen went softly to her mother's room, and was glad to find her dozing in the twilight. She took down the medicine-chest-which was always rather better furnished than the larder in that house-and helped herself with unsparing hand to the shining white powder almost worth its weight in gold to the blockaded Southrons; then some of George's clothes; then some cornbread and meat, gathered in a great tremble of anxiety; and she was back again to help Meredith with his disguise. The gloom of gathering clouds had drawn a black curtain over the sunset. A wind began to moan in the dark cedars, and a few drops of rain slanted into the There's no getting round that room. Then with Queen's help, after one shudfact," said Meredith, with a smile. dering look at the threatening sky, Meredith Grafton hurried to the stable.

"De eyester kind, dat keeps der mouff mighty shut, and never opens dem on no account, cept for catin. My Miss Clara, she dissembles dem yere shell-fish a heap-she nebber discloses nothin cept when it slips out unbeknownst when she opens her mouff for eatin. You see, Massa, when I takes in her supper, dat's boun to make her open her mouff." "Of course.

Maum Rina stood there already, with the horse saddled, and a small black bottle in her hand.

"So dis berry night it done slip out dat Massa Bevil gwine come home. Dey do say de Federate sojers are as plenty as de Federate bonds round yere jes now, an as wuthless; drink- "De lass drop in de house. But I'se boun in like blazes, an ready to cut any body's troat to gin it to yer," she whispered, explosively. to keep dere han in. It mighty lucky our Doc-"Tank de Lord you'se on prayin groun." tor's Union, or you'd a bin cotched afore dis." "Yes," said the young man, with a smile; And Rina went off groaning, "I wish we was "that good ship Zion you talk about is a grand all in de good ship Zion, a sailing for de heb-vessel for carrying us safe through the blockade enly shore." of earthly troubles, I believe."

"Well," said Meredith, grimly, "the chances look slim for my life."

"Take passage den for glory," said Rina solemnly, as a parting benediction.