Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-01-01
miscellaneous.
"EYEs OPEN .


"Our minister said in his sermon, last eve
ming said Mrs. Beach, the wife Of pros
porous Wholesale dry goods merchant on
Market street, as she busted her mantel of
porcelain and marble on Monday "that he
who wanted to do good must keep constant
lookout for opportunities that God does
not find our work, and bring it ready fitted
and prepared to the hand but spreads the
world before us. ard we are to walk through
it as Christ and the Apostles did with 'oyes
open, looking for the sick and suffering, the
poor and oppressed.
''Now | am certain" continued the lady,
rs she replaced marble Diana in the center
Of the mantel, 81 should like to do some good
every day, one feels so much better when
they go to rest at night; and I'll just keep
my eyes open to day, and see if | come
across any opportunities that under ordinary
circumstances | should let slip"
Half an hour later Mrs. Beach was in the
nursery, with the washor-woman, who had
come for the clothes. II wish Mrs. Simms,"
said she, as she heaped the soiled linen in the
basket, "that you would get Tommys aprons
ready. for me by Wednesday VIC are going
out Of town to remain until Saturday, and |
shall want a good supply on hand for such
careless little scamp as he is
"Well, I'll try ma'am,' said the washer
woman; 1--WE got behind hand a good deal
since Sammy had the whooping cough, but
now he's better, must try to make up for
lost time"
"Has he had the whooping-cough, Poor
little fellow How old is hei" questioned
the lady.
"He was threc last April, nam"
"And Tom is four" mused the lady.
"Look here, Mrs Simms. won't you just open
the lower drawer Of that bureau, and take out
those four green worsted dresses in the cor
ner Toms outgrown them you see, since
last winter, but they are almost as good as
new. Now if you want them for little Sam
my, they'll do nicely, without altering,
think"
"Want them, Mrs. Beach ~ ans swered the
washer-woman with tears starting in her dim
eyes-"I haven't any words to thank you, or
tell what treasure they'll be- Why they'll
keep the little fellow as warm as toast all
winter"
"Well I'll place them on the top of the
clothes said the lady, smiling to herself as
she thought, my eyes have been open once
to-day"
Not long afterwards Mrs. Beach was on her
way to market-for she was a noticeable house
keeper-when she met boy who had lived a
short time in her family the year before, to do
orrands, wait on the door, &c. He was a
bright, good-hearted boy, and had been a
great favorite with the family, and Mrs. Beach
had always felt interested in him but this
morning she was in quite hurry, and would
have passed him with a cordial, but hasty
show are you Joseph, my boys Do come
and SEQ u.s." had it not struck her that Jo-
seph's face did not wear its usual happy ex-
preston. She paused as the memory of the
las nights sermon flashed through her mind,
and asked "Is there any thing the matter
with you Joseph You do not look so hap
py as you used to-"
The boy looked up for moment, with a
half-doubting, half-confding expression, into
the lady's face; the latter triumphed. "Mr.
Anderson moved out of town" he said, push
ing back his worn, but neatly brushed cap
from his hair, $50 I've lost my place then
little Mary's sick, and that makes it very bad
just now
$50 it does answered Mrs. Beach. her
sympathies warmly enlisted. "But never
mind, Joseph | remember, only night before
last, my brother said he would want good
errand-boy in a few days, for his store, and
/ a &,
Now I'll see him to-day, and get the situa-
tion for you, if you like"
The boys whole face frightened up. "Oh
| shall be so glad of it, Mrs. Beach"
"And see here Joseph; I'm going to mar
ket, and perhaps we can find something nice
for little Mary" The lady remembered that
Josephs mother, though a poor seamstress,
was proud woman, aud felt this would be a
delicate way of pressing her gift.
So she found some delicious pears and
grapes and nice chicken, to make some broth
for Mary, who she learned was i'll with fever,
before she proceeded to do her own market
ing. But it was pity that the lady did not
see Joseph as be sprang into the chamber
whore little Mary lay, moaning wearily on
her bed, while her mother sat stitching bust
ly in one corner, and held up the chicken and
the fruit, crying, "Good news I've got all
these nice things for Mary and place at two
dollars a week :"
oh how little Marys hot fingers closed
over the lunches of white grapes, while the
sewing dropped from her mothers fingers, as
the tears ran down her checks.
1t was evening, and Mrs. Beach sat in the
library absorbed in some new book, when she
heard her husbands stepin the hall. Though
the morning had been pleasant the afternoon
was cloudy, and the day had gone down in a
low, sullen, and penetrating rain.
Now Mrs. Beach loved her husband with
the love Of a true wife, but he was not de-
monstrative man, and the first beauty and po-
etry of their married life had settled down
into somewhat bare, every day, matter-of-
fact existence. But her heart was warm to-
night-warm with the good deeds of the day,
and remembering the resolution of the morn
ing, she threw down her book and ran down
stairs.
Henry, dear" said the soft voice of the
wife "has the rain wet you at all Let me
take off your coat for you"
THANK you Mary, don't think am in
any wise injured, but you may help me just
for the pleasure Of it;" and he stood still
while she removed the coat, with all that
softness of touch and movement which be-
longs to a woman. She hung it up, and then
her husband drew her to his heart with all
the old loves tenderness.
And there was music in Mrs. Beach's heart
as she went up stairs-music TO the words,
eyes open, eyes open
III First class in Oriental Philosophy
stand up. Tibbets what is life 2
Life consists of money, hoss and fash