Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1859-02-24

self-forgetfulness, he turned cheerfully into
the way marked out for him, and walked res
olutely it.
"He obtained a situation with a merchant,
who had known his father, where his faith
ftilness and untiring devotion TO his duties,
won the confidence of all who knew him.
During the first years-of her widowhood, his
mother had taught private school for tho
young and it was the boys highest ambi-
ton tie relieve her of this necessity, and give
her the rest her feeble health required. |
cannot tell you all his privations, his willing
sacrifice of every recreation, his continued
self-denial that he might tighten the burdens
of those so dear to him.
"Year after year, success crowned his ct.
forts. In the village where his mother had
passed the years of her childhood and the
first years of her married life, he purchased a
pleasant residence for her, and then, lucra-
tive business being opened to him in the West
he came here.
cat the time of his removal here, aeci-
dent revealed to him the fact that the Wild
ow and invalid daughter of one whose fortune
was, by his fathers advice, risked in that un-
fortunate speculation which had so changed
his own life, were living in extreme poverty.
To him they are indebted for the pleasant
home that now shelters them, and for the del,
icato, thoughtful ministration to their daily
comfort.
"Now, when the commercial world is
clouded, and disasters crowd thick and fast
upon him, as upon others, his anxious thoughts
turn to the mother, and suffering sister, in
| the little village home, whose comforts de
pend upon him, to the other lonely Preside, to
which his constant fitness imparts its only
light, and to his own home, and the young
wife whose happiness is dearer to him than
life. For this Margaret, Ralph Hale gives
his days 10 incessant toll, and willingly sac
riGces the social pleasures he is so emincntly
fitted to enjoy.
II have been in these three homes. With
a love that is almost reverence, his mother
and sister speak his name, and, with full
hearts, thank God for his life that life SC
filled with the beauty of sell-rcnunciaton
The widow and daughter whose hearts he had
made glad, tell of his numberless acts Of
kindness, and his delicate, and unceasing
watchfulness, and daily they ask Gods bless
ing on him whose life is blessing to others
ain his own home. the wife whose love
should bless him, whose gentle ministry should
comfort and strengthen him, turns coldly from
him, because he prefers the happiness o.
others to his own qualification, because the
pressing duties of life claim all his waking
hours leaving him little leisure for the claims
of society, or for high intellectual culture
which few attain whose lives are not wholly
devoted to it."
"Oh, Ralph, | have never known you!
have so cruelty miEjudged you," said thu
weeping wife.
The old man continued -" Some men tall
poetry, some wri it in words, and SOM
write 1t IN their HreS The true heroisn
which poets have sung, the beauty Of self-ab
negation and OF ceaseess devotion TO duty
which have beea their inspiration, Ralpl
Hale has lived. The woman who has wo
the deepest love of such heart should reve
renty and gratefully cherish it as the riches
blessing Of her lfe'
In the twilight of that day, Margaret wa
awaiting her husbands return. Amid tn
bitter self-reproachings that darkened til
hour, cleaned new and holy light. Highe
purposes were aroused within her In tn
future, she would make divinely real in he
life the beautiful ideals which had filled he
heart with unsatisfed longipgs. She, too
would live for others, and first Of all for hi
whom she had so misunderstood.
A hurried step in the entrance hall, the
on the stairs, and the next moment she wa
3 casped in her husbands arms.
: "You have been very ill.," said voic
faltering with emotion, but, thank Coz
you are safe now, my Margaret"
r Oh, yes, ] am safe indeed now" sal
l Margaret's heart.
In that hour, all was made clear betwee
E them. With new resolves for the futur
with a deeper love for each other, and
!. prayer for strength, another page was turnt
8 for them.
;. Years afterwards, Margaret, proud al
; happy wife, wrote, " cannot tell you all
n has been to me-my guide when | was ign
e rant, my strength when l faltered, my be
earthly friend, always. What do l not ov
e you for revealing the mistake which had a
: most wrecked the happiness Of both.