Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-07-15

been boarding the wages of weeks, and which
she was determined to wear on the following
Sabbath
She was almost angry at the visit Of Ned; but
with her usual deception, she pretended to fee
great pleasure. Mortified at his finding her in
dishabille, and chafng at some recent quarrel
with her mother Annie was ready to hear scan
DIAL, for which her greedy ear could be always
easily prepared
After some triling conversation, Ned asked
who that shabbily dressed girl was who lived III
the house.
Annie tossed her head contemptuously as she
replied,
Il want to know if you think I'm acquainted
with all the beggars in this house! She's some
low thing | suppose, for my part I've never ia.
ken the trouble to speak to her | only know
that she had a brother, buried about three weeks
ago. and tbey'r so poor they had to bury him at
the expense of the city
Pm glad she is not one of your acquaintan-
cess crafty said Med, 4 should be very sorry
if she was; tell you what, some folks can look
as demure and saint like, as if they never
could do anything wrong,-but it takes me
to find out such people In my opinion, she's
not a clever girl, and you will see by and by
A surprised why, Ned followed this piece
of scandal, uttered by Annie and her mother,
the latter saying,
well, twas good in you, Ned to tell us, for
Annie might have been drawn into the snare
Well! | never, how some folks will creep in on
respectable people. Now to tell you the truth,
| should have thought she VAS the meekest, in
nocentest girl that ever lived; but then kinder
felt as if there was something dark about her;
well, its a good thing that some folks have dis
arnment'
'And then too chimed in Annie, 'she lives
in such a pokerish hole; if she was clever she'd
care little more for appearances. dare say
her mothers just as bad
The seed had been Sown and it needed but
a short time to bring it to maturity, for the tree
of SANDER, when its roots are spread in the
heart needs no sun to warm it into life, it grows
in darkness, and its only nourishmcnt is the wa
tiers Of bitterness that roll so sIuggishly around
it.
For six weeks had Edna been supplied with
work from the shop of Bradford & Co., and she
had made enough, not only to pay Mrs. Clement
but to buy her a very tidy shawl
She also had her old straw bonnet cleansed
and with plain pink ribbon, it looked very
pretily. How she longed to take seat within
the sanctuary. For five long months she had not
entered church. Now bright summer day:
had come, and with them, a degree of prosper
ty, for which her humble heart thanked hel
heavenly Father.
1t was as beautiful sun as ever looked upon
our fair earth; that which smiled upon the stv
enteenth of May.
The holy Sabbath had dawned and Edna sat
at the window reading aloud from the well
worn Bible to her mother, who, though very f.
BILE, was better than usual The bonnet look
ing good as new, and the shawl laid upon the
old carpet that covered the bed. The room
looked very nearly as we have described it before
with the exception of white floor, and clear
transparent window glass. The old broken era.
die stood in its accustomed corner, for Edna
loved to look at it, and think of the little ange
who no longer needed such resting place,
But now began the bells to peal merry forth
the doors of the church were thrown open, ant
Edna hastily equippmg herself, tripped lightly
across the square, and soon entered with tht
crowd
Modostly requesting back seat the sexton
she followed him into the aisle
There was no back seat empty, so Edna
blushing like a rose, was led up the aisle to one
of the seats at the side of the pulpit.
Hardly daring to look up, she did not know
that the pert Annie Miller was seated beside her
until that young lady very carefully removed he
dress, that it might moi touch EJna's, and crowd
ed away from her, as though afraid of contain
nation.
! Edna looked up, and perceived flashing ey,
and a scorn(ul lip before her. Innocenty sh,
asked of Annie if she had intruded.
I'D thank you not to speak to me MISS wal
I the sharp reply. Il don't wish to be noticed by
such as YOUR or yours
=, Edna was Supplied If a clap of thunder hac
broken on her ear, she could not have beef
> more astonlshed
Nor did she recover from her SURPRISE till the
clear, sweet voices of the choir awakened her tc
onsciousness.
The singing was ended, likewise the prayer
and the ringing, sonorous tones of Father Tay
/ lor, conrasted with the solemn stiffness of thu
listening congregation. Yet the words of Ann
r Miller were impressed upon the mind of Edna
she saw them written upon every countenance
she heard them in every infection of the pastor
voice.
She could not enjoy the preaching, and whel
the last hymn was sung, and the benedictior
pronounced, she hastily unbuttoned the door O
t her pew, and tried with her trembling limbs tt
# gain the aisle, but Annie Miller and two or tire
: gai!y dressed girls pushed by her, and it was no
!. until some others had crowded between them an,
her, that she could leave the pew
AS she drew near the entry, she was agair
h close to Annie Miller.
# She heard her name mentioned, and listene,
i, with breathless attention