The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1860-01-12
Mrs. Elder smiled as if she were telling

of enjoymehts. and then added
" But. this is only one of the penalties
of aye | knew it must come, and long
ago n.ade up my mind to be patient and
enduring These are some of the light
Affections, lasting but for moment, which,
if borne in Christian meekness, help to
work out for US that far more exceeding
and eternal weight of glory, to which the
apostle refers in one of his sublime passc-
ges."
Miss Williams looked at the old lady
half wonderingly.
Always doing something, Aunt El-
der" said Mrs. Barton, placing her hand
fupon. the half-knit yarn stocking which
the old lady had put aside as she rose to
take the hand of Miss Williams. "Knit-
ting, | suppose, has grown into kind of
habit. The act brings its own reward.
1t is your pleasant pastime."
"No, child, not my pleasant pastime,
but my useful employment" answered
Mrs. Elder. q can't do much in this
world for other people; still | can do q
little, and am thankful for the privilege;
for / don't believe it is possible for any
body to be happy who IS not engaged in
some useful employment. l manage to
keep the children of half dozen poor
families 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 now
| fixed intently upon the old ladys age
marke features Wrinkles went curving
about her cheeks, her lips, and chin, and
wrinkles planted themselves deeply upon
her forehead. Grey hairs were visible be-
meath her cap border; her calm eyes lay
far back in their hollow sockets the sym
metry Of her mouth was gone and yet it
seemed to the young girl, as she gazed at
her wonderingiy, as if Cyery wrinkle in
that aged face were indeed line of beau
Ity!
But you must have surer founda-
ion for happiress than knitting stock
ings," said Mrs Barton.
The old lady seemed thoughtful for a
moment She then said, with sweet i'm
presslveness-
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 COM
mand. We cannot drag it down from
heaven. We cannot find it, search we
ever so diligently. Gods love is God-giv
en- and he bestowI it only upon those
who first have neighborly love. This is
that higher loves receptacle in the hu-
man heart. First, love of tie neighbor !;
then, love of good, which is divine love
in the soul, the sure foundation for abid-
ing happiness. So you see, Mary, the
value of even knitting stockings to one
like me. 1t is useful work, and that, as
the old monk said, is worship"
Miss Williams could not withdraw her
eyes from the old lady's face. It's beau
ty and its goodness seemed to fasclnate
her. She was girl of quick feelings and
some enthusiasm. Suddenly rising from
the chair she had taken few moments
before, she came forward, and STOPPING
over Mrs Elder, kissed her, almost rev.
erently on the forehead, saying, as she
did So
May | be like you when ! grow Old
every wrinkle in my face line Of beau
typ
"Grow old in goodness, my dear young
friend p answered Mrs Elder, taking her
hand tight y within her own, and speak
ing with emotion-for the young girls
sudden speech had stirred her feelings to
an unusual depth-'' Grow old in good
ness, through the discipline of self.denial
and the gentle leadings of neighborly
love. 1t is the only path that conducts
to peaceful old age"
"Thanks for the lesson you have taught
me-" said Miss Williams, when she again
clasped the hand of Mrs Elder in parting.
81 will 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"
am skeptic no longer" (she was
now in the street with Mrs. Barton) /;
beauty and age are not incompatible" +"
But the beauty of age," replied Mrs.
Barton, "is unlike the beauty of youth !;
the one is natural, the other spiritual and
celestial. The one is of the earth-earth
ly; the other is of the heavens-heavenly
An evil soul gradually mars the face, un-
til every lineament becomes repulsive /;
but soul of goodness continually re-
creates thecountenance, and covers it With
living beauty"
What Husbands DO.
On lea0ing home IN the morning
Some husbands kiss their wives and