LITERATURE READER. 1. SILAS MARNER'S TREASURE. Silas Marner's determination to keep the "tramp's child" was matter of hardly less surprise and iterated talk in the village than the robbery of his money. That softening of feeling towards him which dated from his misfortune, that merging of suspicion and dislike in a rather contemptuous pity for him as lone and crazy, was now accompanied with a more active sympathy, especially amongst the women. Notable mothers, who knew what it was to keep children "whole and sweet "-lazy mothers, who knew what it was to be interrupted in folding their arms and scratching their elbows by the mischievous. propensities of children just firm on their legs-were equally interested in conjecturing how a lone man would manage with a two-year-old child on his hands, and were equally ready with their suggestions : the notable chiefly telling him what he had better do, and the lazy ones being emphatic in telling him what he would never be able to do. Among the notable mothers, Dolly Winthrop was the one whose neighbourly offices were the most acceptable to Marner, for they were rendered without any show of bustling instruction. Anybody 'ud think the angils in heaven couldn't be prettier," said Dolly, rubbing the golden curls and kissing them. And to think of its being covered wi' them dirty rags; and the poor mother-froze to death! But there's Them as took care of it and brought it to your door, Master Marner. The door was open, and it walked in over the snow, like as if it had been a little starved robin. Didn't you say the door was open ?" Yes," said Silas meditatively "yes; the door was open. The money's gone I don't know where, and this is come from I don't know where." He had not mentioned to any one his unconsciousness of the child's entrance, shrinking from questions which might lead to the fact he himself suspectednamely, that he had been in one of his trances. "Ah!" said Dolly, with soothing gravity, "it's like the night and the morning, and the sleeping and the waking, and the rain and the harvest-one goes and the other comes, and we know nothing how nor where." Unlike the gold which needed nothing, and must be worshipped in close-locked solitude-which was hidden away from the daylight, was deaf to the song of birds, and started to no human tones-Eppie was a creature of endless claims and ever-growing desires, seeking and loving sunshine, and living sounds, and living movements; making trial of everything, with |