Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1860-02-09

heart, and kneeling upon the hard floor, with
the child's arms encrcling her neck, and Emma
herself casped fondly to her bosom, she Gained
her troubled soul with that great refuge of the
suffering
Mrs Howard arose from her knees-calmed,
tbs true, but pale as death, and with a heart
too heavy for utterance. Silently she took hor
little Emma by the hand, and led her down to
the kitchen, where the two in silence and sad
ness partook o f the morning meal
Without speaking word, the table was
cleared, and the mornings work all done, and
Mrs Howard took her sewing, and Emma her
knitting, and the two sorrowing ones sat down
by the great bay window to pass, as best they
might, the hours ere the husband and father
should return.
For nearly half an hour not word was
spoken, when, unable longer to restrain her
feelings, Emma burst into tears, and went out
upon the verandah, and down to the summer
house, and SO walked on, visiting one after an
other the various haunts endeared by their as
sociations; and picking up the mementoes
which Leon had left, carried them to her moth
er. The farewell letter which he had written
was read, and little poem, left in their rural
seat among the hemlocks, while it could claim
no literary merit, gave great deal of consola-
tion to Emma, who laid it away carefully in
her little tin trunk, as treasure too precious
to be lost or lightly handled.
Mother" said Emma, after becoming
calm, and sitting for some time in silent thought,
" Mother, is God gOod?"
"Supremely SO, my daughter al,UayS. We
must not, because we are troubled, distrust the
goodness of God. No, my child, in the hour
of affection He is the only solace, the only COM
forter. Were it not for my trust in Him, 1
should sink under the sorrows that compass
me-"
/" But does he love us, mother-you and I?
asked Emma, earnestly.
Too well, Emma o, most tenderly. For
years He has been my only prop. Without
His spirit to console and comfort me, l could
not have borne what it has been my lot to en-
dure for long time. I feel that He loves us,
even u.s. Emma, and that instead of complain
ing, we should trust more confdingly in His
gracious care.'
90, it is 80, mother i know it is so only it
seems SO strange that He Furnishes us SO hard. !
can't understand it; that is all.'
No,
God moves in mysterious way
His wonders to PERFORM
None of us can understand the mysteries of His
dealings. Often when ready to exclaim against
Him, the remembrance of 80 many blessings
which He has conferred, has silenced me at
once. We cannot expect all sunshine. There
always must be some clouds. Perhaps the sun
shiQe will come to us soon-who can tell? We
have had a terrible storm, and who can tell but
it is even now clearing away, and leaving our
horizon all the brighter. Even storms do good
Did you know, my daughter, Ithat the most
terrible thunder storm purifes the air, and al
though 1T appears an awful visitation of wrath,
it is really great blessing?"
"What a thought exclaimed Emma.
so it is a beautiful thought, that though
troubles and trials may gather around us, it is
all for good. We are all His children. He is
our Father. Do you ever think, when you re-
peat the Lords Prayer, what world of beau
ty, what a world of hope, and what world of
love, is in those little words, Our Father? >
Yes, my child, He is our Father. He will never
forsake, nor suffer an evil to beiall u.s."
" But can understand it, mother"
No; nor l, fully. 1t is beyond our COM
prehenson. But you remember when Efie
Willard died, how hard they all thought it was,
and how all wept when she was buried in the
little chulch-yard? -
i" Yes, mother; it wdS so dreadful to bury
her up in the dark ground" said Emma, with
cold shudder; Z" and yet, when Leon went
away, wanted to die too, and be buried witt
her"
yet even that dispensation of Providence
was blessing in disguise. We can not always
trace an effect to its cause, but we may be as
sured that Father will never do positive
evil Mr. Willard and his whole family arr
! now Christians. Yes, Efie's death was bless
ing to them which can never be estimated. -
Mrs. Willard told me, only a week ago, tina
they were all so much happier now; and sic be
, lieved it was all brought about by the death o
) little Eaie. Before, Mr.. Willard was a bat
, man. You know, my daughter, how poor and
: wretched they all used to be, and how neat ant
i 1. IL. IL