Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1861-04-11
THE LOST AND FOnND.
BIT MINNIE s. DAVIS,

hOai phlldhtnIoplc preacher, VINO lelt MS
especial mission to be to the poor and erring.
There were some respectable citizens there,
but many poor and fallen men and women,
who were starving for the bread of life.
The speakers voice was full often of pa-
thos, for it flowed from a heart of love and
pity. He spoke as to brothers and sisters
He told them of their Father in Heaven, and
of their inheritance on high. He dwelt long
upon the infinite value of the human SOUL
and the love of Jesus who died for them
They might curse God, but they could not
change his love; they might hide in haunts of
wickedness, but the blessed Saviour woud
find them The meanest, the vilest in his
hearing, were more precious in the sight of
the Father than all the amounted treasures
OF earth and sky. Oh, would they not turn
from the paths of sin and folly, and love and
obey that God
Some smiled with wondering Joy; some
wept-for, the matchless story, so old yet ever
new, thrilled all hearts.
A wretched, Sustained woman stood at
the door of the vestibule. She felt unworthy
70 enter and sit with the multitude, but she
heard the words Of th4 Cl-:as:--, A:a.~..-~a :,
and all tho hardness and bitterness of her
soul was softened, and blessings fell like
mantle upon her. Long, long ago, she had
heard Of Jesus, but it was among the half for
gotten things OF her childhood. She had trod
the path of sin, and knew its horrors and woe
better than any could tell her-and oh, was
It possible that she could leave it-that she
could find the heaven of purity and peace -
Was she of such value in the sight of Al
mighty God? Would Jesus find and save
her?
She covered her face, while her form shook
with conyulsive sobs. At that moment the
people came crowdng out, and she heard the
kind voice OF the preacher near her She
looked up to see his benign face, then weep
ing more bitterly than before, passed out into
the darkness.
Next mornings sun shone brightly over
the city, bringing day Of peace ard gladness
to many hearts, and one of pain and anguish
to many more. The autumn days were be-
ginning 10 be cool, and cheerful fire spark
led in the CRATE of certain easy string room.
A grey-haired gentleman sat in the fire shine,
with his eyes closed as though he mused.-
And near hIm a mother held pra' ting little
girl. The mother was young, and the child
was beautiful.
"And sure, a'am, there's woman ia the
kitchen as would like to see ye," said Betty,
absfractly opening the door.
"WhO is she, and What does she want -
asked the lady, looking up from the face Of
her child, which she hal d been contemplating
with idoIizing affection.
"Iler name is Nancy Cole, an she's bad
woman, indeed not 6t for the likes OF ye to
spake to-"
Give her something TO eat and send her
away p
But it is the lady she is after seeing, for
work to do"
Then tell her have no work for such as
she" said the lady, with a shade Of annoy
ance in her tone.
"Indade, that's wba | will" exclaimed
Betty, turning away with a satisfied air.
"What does the poor woman want:" asked
the gentleman, looking up quickly.
"She wanted work, father, but have none
for her"
And not even word Of kindness aud en-
coura4ement, Sarah -
But Betty saws she lis a bad woman" said
Mrs. May, deprecatingly.
"SGll she j. our sister, yours and mine
her 1a,sra,Iatinn does ~ n, rnaks har claim the
But dare not trust such persons, and
shrink from having any intercourse with
| them"
Tears sprang 10 thd old mans eyes as he
said, God pity the pbor woman those like
herself will only help drag her down, and the
good will shrink from ler for fear Of contain
| inatiOn 90
| Father, was wrong, SEE il new; | will
| call her back and help her if can" And
| Mrs. Nav placed her child upon the fl or and
! hastily passed from the room but she was
! too late. Nancy had lett the house. mutter-
| ing wrathfully.-
/ Poor Nancy homeless, heart-broken, sin
/ ninu Nancy. Yet in her being were all the
/ elements OF true wonianhoOd-tLe germ OF
/ the future angel.
/ Alas. that such HEAVENLY attributes should
! be 50 pcryarted. so ctushed and dwarted ;
/ but. thanks be to Him who hath set his image
IN the human SOUL they were not, could not
| be utterly destroyed
/ Early in life Nancy Cole had been thrust
/ out into the cold and selfish world. Without
! the guide of principle or the safeguards OF
! home and friends, she easily fell prey to
/ temptation For years she had been the
companion of vile men and women, and OF
/ late she had fallen still lower. so that she had
/ no SPOT. however wretched. 10 call home
? But by acoilent-nay, proyldentiaiiy-she
/ had heard the persuasive words OF the city
missionary, and she awoke to the sense OF
her degradation and misery. She was halt
prenzied that morning, but something IKE
hope glimmered in the darkness Of her soul.
Was it possible, oh, was it possible, as the
GOOD minister had said, that she should lay
down that load of sin and woe, and be al
peace with herself and God
Hudger was gnawing at her vitals, as She
wildly paced the streets, unheeded by the
busy multitude, and she gazed in through the
peaceful homes, and looked upon blessed
tathers and mothers, and innocent children
until the hunger of her heart was more tor
turing than her physical need.
She sought for work to keep her from star
yaiion and sin, but from every door she wa
turned coldly way. When Mrs. Mays ser
want told her with an expression OF contemp
upon hdi honest features, that her mistres
had no work for such as she, her heart har
dened with bitterness and hate.
She stole around the house and looked II
at the window. The old gentleman had lei
the room, but the mother and child were stu
there. The lady sewing with Pensive all
and the child busy with her toys.
Nancy Cole looked upon the peaceful seen
with clenched hands and burning eyes. Sh
noticed everything, even 10 the mInutIe q
the chi!d's dress, the pretty rose-colored frocS
and its white apron with its dainty trimming
She hated it for its beauty, and Its mothe
for her happiness. 49,.
She was no older than the woman sittn
there, so rich in love, 50 secure in virtue am
peace. Yet what gulf divided them On
had everything, the other nothing ana oil az a.
her influence, of all that which makes III
Trecious. the happy woman had not even
word of pity for the wretched one.
The glimmer of hope went out IN storm
OF passion and despair. With uPraised hand
she invoked maledictions upon the moth
er and child, and then resumed her wander
ings in the streets. But she called az no NOR
houses; she had only dreamed oTlsn1 moeA
mo dream-she could never lay her burder
Of misery down, she would never try ou'
gonl3 huo il close to her heart and be miser
able and wicked always =,