s. Hall felt death
approaching, she looked around on the little family she was to leave
motherless behind her; and with moving, heart-rending entreaties,
besought of Lizzie not to leave them.

"Stay with your father, my child," she urged; "James, if he loves you,
will wait for you. Don't marry until the boys are all old enough to be
out of trouble. Think, Lizzie, of the misery a step-mother might cause
with your brother Jack's impetuous temper, and Sam's hopeless,
despairing disposition--each one would be hard for a step-mother to
guide. Be a mother to them, my girl; down on your knees, and to make
your mother's heart easy, promise before God that you will guide them,
and watch over them as long as you are needed. Stay with your father,
and Heaven will bless you, as does your dying mother."

Willingly did the almost heart-broken girl give the required
promise--and James Foster loved her all the better for it. She wept
bitter, heart-aching tears over her dear mother's grave, but turned
steadily to the hard path traced out before her; but she was young and
beloved, and a bright star beamed before her--the star of love--to
gild her toilsome path; and a mother's smile seemed blended with its
bright rays. A year or two rolled around--years of hard labor, which
made Lizzie, who toiled untiringly, as her mother had done, old before
her time. She was noted, however, all over the village for a thrifty,
industrious, excellent girl. James Foster was a pattern for lovers;
every spare moment he gave to her. What few amusements she had time to
enjoy he procured for her; and as the village people said, they went
as steadily together as old married people.

Lizzie's father was a narrow-minded, selfish man, caring very little
for any one's comfort but his own, and at times was exceedingly cross
and testy. Unfortunately, he took great interest in politics, and was
quite an oracle in the village bar-room. He was bigoted and "set" in
his opinions, considering all who differed from him as enemies to
their country, and called them rascals and hypocrites freely. His wife
had been dead about two years, when a presidential election came on.
James Foster, unluckily, had been brought up with different political
opinions from Mr. Hall; but, being very quiet and retiring in his
disposition, he never had rendered himself obnoxious. Of course, Mr.
Hall took great interest in the approaching election. He became very
ambitious of his township giving