Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-09-29

eye, we thought his face also the
face of an angel"--too glorious for
the print OF mortal passion. Espec-
tally, after, in answer to an urgent
call from the people among whom
he was laboring, he had frankly told
them that his purpose was not TO
remain among them, or anywhere
on his native shore that he only
awaited the guidance of Providence
to home in foreign cline. After
this much bewailed disclosure of his
plans, we placed our iavorite preach
er on higher pinnacle of saint ship.
But sister Ellen was to be married
and married to Mr. Neville. And
then, O, sister, you are going away
to India p burst from our lips in a
fresh gush of sobs.
was the first that looked up into
Ellen's troubled face. 1t was hsav-
ing with emotion that rufiied its
calmness, as the tide-waves rufTled
the sea. Her lips were firmly com
pressed, her eyes were fixed on some
distant dream, glassed with two
tears that stood still in their chali-
ces, forbidden to fall. almost
lrembled as | caught her glance.
" Sister Agues-Emily T. she ex-
claimed, in husky whisper, "Hushi
be calm ! Don't break my heart
Do love him less than
The effort was too much the
words died on her lips. We lifted
her TO the bed, frightened into for
getfulness of her own grief. We
soothed her until she, too, wept
freely aud passionately, and in weep
ing, grew strong for the sacrifice to
which she had pledged her heart.
We never spoke another word Of
remonstIance to her tender heart /;
though often, in the months that
fitted by us together, we used to
choke with sobbng. in some speech
that limited of the coming separation,
and hurry from her presence to cry
alone.
Our mother had told us the
tidings with white lips that CULVER
ed tenderly and sadly. No love is
SO uniformly unselfsh as mothers
surely for though she leaned on
Ellen as the strong staff of her de-
clining years, she sorrowed not as
we did, that she was going. She
too was happy in the thought that
her child had found that pearl of
price in a cold and evil world-a
true, noble, loving heart to guide
and protect her.
Father sat silent in the chimney
corner, reading in the family Bible.
He was looking farther than any of
us-to the perils that would environ
his dearest daughter, and the priva-
tions that would come upon her
young life, in that unhealthy, un-
civilized corner of the globe, with
er she was going. Both our parents
had dedicated their children to God !;
aud they would not cast even a
shadow on the path of self-sacrifice
and duty their darling had chose.
To come down to the unromantic
little details of wedding prepare
tions how we stitched and trim
med packed aud prepared-stoned
raIslns with tears in our eyes, and
seasoned the wedding cake with
signs. But there is little use in
thinking over these things. Ellen
was first and foremost in all, as she
had always been in every emergen-
cy, great or small. Nothing could
he made without her Even the
BRIDES cake was taken from the oven
by her own fair hands, because no
One-servanl, sister, or even mother
was willing to run the risk of
burning sister Ellen's brides cake !;
and she knew just how to bake it,
We were not left alone in our la
bors, for Ellen had been loved by
more than the home-roof sheltered.
Old and young, poor and rich, united
IN bringing their gifts, regrets and
blessings, to the chosen companion
OF the pastor they were soon to lose.
There is something in the idea of
missionary life that touches the
sympathy of every heart which
mammon has not too long scared
To see one, with sympathies and
rehnementS like our own, rend the
strong ties that bind TO country and
home, comfort and civilization, for
the good of the lost and degraded
heather, brings too strongly into
relief, by contrast, the selfshness of
most human lives led among the
gaieties aud Injuries of time.
The day, the hour came The
ship was to sail from b. on the en-
suing week and it must take away
an idol.
She stood up in the village church,
that all who loved her and longed
for another sight of her sweet face,
might look upon her, and hear the
simple words that should link hearts
for eternity. We sisters all around
her, but none too near, for our hearts
were overlooking, and we could not
wear the happy faces that should
grace a train of bridesmaids. She
had cheered us through the day
with sunshine from her own heart,
and while we arrayed her in her
simple white muslin, like a lamb
for sacrifice, she had charmed our
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