Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1858-11-17

Tue dpOStlc ISici> III OLO vi VI LIS SuohHS
passages
Miss Williams looked at the old lady l.
half wonderingIy.
Always doing something, Aunt FL
DER said Mrs. Barton. placing her hand
upon the half-knit yarn stocking which
the old lady had put aside as she rose TO
take the hand of Miss Williams. Knit.
ting. 1 suppose, has grown into kind of
habit. The act brings its own reward.
Ii is your pleasant pastime.'
No child, not my pleasant but my
useful employment answered Mrs. El-
der. i can't do much in this world for
other people; still can do little and
am thankful for the privilege; for l don't
believe it is possible for any one to be
happy who is not engaged in some use
full employment. l manage to keep the
children of some half dozen poor fami-
lies in warm stockings for the winter,
and that is something added TO the COM
mon stock of human comfort.
The eyes of Miss Williams were fixed
inten'ly upon the old lady's age marked
features. Wrinkles went curving about
her cheeks, her lips and chin, and wrin
kles planted themselves deeply upon her
fore head. Grey hairs were visible be-
meath her cap border; her calm eyes lay
back in their hollow sockets; the symme-
try of her mouth was gone; and yet it
seemed TO the young girl, as she gazed
at her wondoringly, as if every wrinkle
in that aged face were indeed line of
beauty.
But you must have a surer foundation
for happiness than knitting stockings
said Mrs Barton.
The old lady seemed thoughtful for
moment. She then said, with sweet i'm
pressiveness-
There is only one foundation upon
which we can rest and find happiness,
and that is Gods love in the heart
The great question for US all is, How to
obtain that love? 1t will not come at
our command. We cannot drag it down
from Heaven. We cannot find it, search
we ever so diligently. Gods love is
God given; and he besto VS. if only on
those who first have neighborly love-
This is that higher loves receptacle in
the human heart First, love of the
neighbor then, love Of God, which is
divine love in the soul, the sure founda-
ton for abiding happiness. So you see
Mary, the value of even knitting stock
/ ings to one like me- 1t is useful work,
and that as the old monk said, is wor-
ship
Miss Williams could not withdraw her
eyes from the old lady's face. Its beau
~ and its goodness seemed to fascinate
her. She was a girl of quick feelings
and some enthusiasm. Suddenly rising
from the chair she had taken a few mo
ments before, she came forward and
STOPPING over Mrs. Elder, kissed her, al
most reverently, on the forehead, saying,
as she did So
May l be like you when l grow old
every wrinkle in my face line Of
beauty !
Grow old in goodness, my dear young
friend answered Mrs. Elder, taking her
hand tightly within her own, and speak
ing with emotion for the young girls
sudden speech had stirred her feelings to
an unusual depth old in goodness,
through the discipline of self denial and
the gentle leadings of neighborly love-
1t is the only path that conducts to a
peaceful old age
Thanks for the lesson you have
taught me- said Miss Williams, when
she again ciasped the hand of Mrs. Elder
in parting. I'll try TO grow old. as the
years pass inevitably onwards, in the
better way that you have walked. And
may my last days be like yours. my
best days, and radiant with light shining
down from the better world
Il am skeptic no longer (she was
now in the street with Mrs. Barton j
beauty and age are not Incompatible
But the beauty of age, replied Mrs.
Barton, SIS unlike the beauty of youth
one is natural. the other spiritual and
celestial The one is of the earth
earlhly-the other is of the heaven:
heavenly. An evil soul gradually
mars the face, until every lineament be
comes repulsive; but soul of goodnes:
continually creates the countenact
and covers it with living beauty
Man AND WoMAN.-Mau is the crea-
ture of interest and ambition. His ma
;ure leads him forth into The struggle
! and buslle Of the world. Love is but the
establishment Of his early life, or f,
e song piped in the intervals Of his acts
But woman's whole life is history o
: the affections The heart is her world
il is there her ambition strives for empire
+. i; is there her avarice seeks for bidder
0 treasures She sends forth her sympa
thies on adventure; she embarks he
t whole soul in the traffic of affection; AM
> if shiPwrecked, her case is hopeless-
for it is a bankruptcy Of The heart
3 Irving. r.