n
the keys, and looking up archly in Mr. Gusher's face, "I am only taking
lessons, and can't play or sing so as to interest you."

"Excuse, miz. You want I pay you ze compliment. Well, I shall do zat
when I hear ze music."

The fair girl now tossed her golden curls back over her shoulders, and
began singing one of the most solemn and melancholy of pieces, to her
own accompaniment. Her voice was indeed full of sweetness, and she could
sing with some skill and effect; but she was just at this time more
inclined to play on Mr. Gusher's feelings than to do justice to her
musical talent.

"There's something sweet and touching in this melancholy music, I like
it, Mr. Gusher," she said, pausing and looking up in his face
tantalizingly; "don't you?"

Mr. Gusher shook his head disapprovingly, and shrugged his shoulders.
"No, no, miz; I nevare like ze funeral music. I go to ze funeral of my
friend wiz music like zat."

"I am very sorry to hear you say so, Mr. Gusher. I play it whenever
mother will let me. And I enjoy it so much. Reminds me of a dear young
friend now far away."

"Now, miz, I makes my discovery," returned Mr. Gusher, turning over a
leaf of the music, and looking enquiringly into Mattie's face. "Zat
young friend, so far away, wiz his memory so near ze heart. Well, I
shall think no more of zat. You shall zee I shall make my compliments,
and shall cut out zat one young friend what is so far away. You shall
zing me some grand music, so full of ze love, and ze poetry, so as my
heart shall lift up wiz joy." Here Mr. Gusher flourished his hands and
executed several waltzing steps, as an expression of how his feelings
were excited by music.

Mattie turned suddenly around to witness this peculiar exhibition, when
Tite's letter fell from her bosom to the floor.

"Ze revelation! Ze re-ve-la--what shall I say? If I only speak ze Englis
so good as you, now!" exclaimed Gusher, affecting a loud laugh. And
stooping down quickly, he attempted to seize the missive. Mattie was too
quick for him. Regaining possession of it she restored it carefully to
her bosom, an expression of joy and triumph lighting up her countenance.

Disappointment now took possession of Mr. Gusher's feelings. His manner
indicated what his heart felt. Never before had his expectations and his
ambition been so lowered, or his vanity so exposed. He had expected to
find a beautiful, simple-minded country girl, ready with hand and heart
to become a will