t person. Such is the power of contrast, and the effect of a
"new light."

The spell was broken--for when a lover is mortified, ashamed of his
choice, the danger is over.

Fortunately, his honor was no deeper pledged than his heart. Miss
Dawson had not flirted more with him than with two or three others;
and though she would have preferred him, one of the others would do.

* * * * *

"What did Harry say of my party last night?" asked Mrs. Castleton of
her sister.

"He merely said 'it was a great bore, this going out,' and seemed
quite cross, and took his light and walked off to his room
immediately; and, in fact, it seemed such a delicate point with him,
that I did not dare to make any allusion to it this morning."

"Poor fellow! I don't wonder," said Mrs. Castleton, laughing. "How she
did look beside the Claverings and Lesters."

"Like a peony among moss rose-buds," said Emma.

* * * * *

"Laura," said Harry, a few days after, "I am going to New Orleans for
the rest of the winter."

"Are you?" she said, in surprise.

"Yes. My father is anxious about that business of his, and I am going
for him."

"I thought you had declined, and that he was going to send Tom," she
said.

"I've changed my mind," he replied. "In fact it is very dull here, and
as Tom don't want to go, I think I shall like the trip."

"I've no doubt you will find it very pleasant," she said, cheerfully,
amused at his proposing himself the very thing they had all been so
anxious to have him do, and which he had negatived so decidedly some
weeks back.

* * * * *

"Ah, Tom," said Mrs. Castleton, laughing, "that was a bright idea of
yours. There's nothing like a new light for bringing out new colors. I
think that party of mine finished Miss Dawson."

"You need not crow too much, Laura," replied Tom, "for, in all
probability, if you had left Harry alone in the beginning, the party
never would have been required. You women never learn not to thwart
and oppose a man until it is too late. _Then_, you'll move heaven and
earth to undo your own work. If you would only govern that 'unruly
member' in the beginning, you would have required no 'dissolving
views, in the end."

THE VOICE OF THE FIRE.

BY J. BAYARD TAYLOR.

They sat by the hearth-stone, broad and bright,
Whose burning brands threw a cheerful light
On the frosty calm of the winter's night.

Her radiant features wore the gl