In How vs.  Meakin, 115 Mass., 326, the court held that it was not a violation of the law to hire a horse and drive to a neighboring town to attend the funeral of plaintiff’s brother.

But it was held in a later case that plaintiff, who had been to a funeral on the Lord’s day and was returning therefrom by a somewhat circuitous route for the purpose of calling upon a relative, was not entitled to recover for damages sustained by reason of a defect in the highway.  This was the opinion of a divided court as has been the case in several decisions where the question of “necessity or charity” has been a close one.

Such are a few of the interesting cases which have arisen in our Courts involving discussion of the law originally framed in 1636, and which still makes it a criminal offence punishable by a fine of ten dollars to walk or ride upon the Lord’s day, save from necessity or charity, while our cities furnish free concerts and license all sorts of performances in places of public amusement under the guise of “sacred” concerts, upon the day which our fathers thought and meant should be set apart for moral reflection ... on the duties of life ... and for public and private worship of the Maker, Governor, and Judge of the world.

* * * * *

ELIZABETH.

A ROMANCE OF COLONIAL DAYS.

BY FRANCES C. SPARHAWK, Author of “A Lazy Man’s Work.”

CHAPTER VI.

THE STAB IN THE BACK.

A brighter morning for a wedding never dawned.  The house was alive with merry voices and the echo of footsteps hurrying to and fro.  The most fashionable society of the city was to be present at the ceremony which was to take place at noon.  Then would come the festivities, the feast, the dancing, and after that the drive of the newly-married pair to the beautiful house three miles away, that Stephen Archdale had built and furnished for his bride, and that had never yet been a home.

Before the appointed hour the guests began to arrive and to fill the great drawing-room.  There each one on entering walked toward the huge fire-place, in which on an immense bed of coals glowing with a brilliancy that outshone the rich red furniture and hangings of the room lay great logs, which blazed in their fervor of hospitable intent and radiated a small circle of comfort from the heat that did not escape up the chimney.  The rich attire of the guests could bear the bright sunlight that streamed in through the numberless little panes of the windows, and the gay colors that they wore showed off well against the dark wainscotting of the room and its antique tapestries.  The ladies were gorgeous in silks and velvets which were well displayed over enormous hoops.  On their heads, where the well-powdered hair was built up in a tower nearly a foot in height, were flowers or feathers.  Precious stones fastened the folds of rich kerchiefs, sparkled on dainty fingers,