The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1865-05-24
MISCELLANY.
Plety For Company.

II is not unusual for people to keep
their best household things-the best bed,
and chair and china-tor their guests
some keep for them their best looks, and
manners, and words; some 90 still far
ther and keep all their picy for them
Not a bit Of it DO they use for themselves
or their families; it is never seen on or
binary occasions, and so is perhaps all
the nicer, and there is all the more of it
for company. Enough Of it there surely
is, if not Il surfcit. The visitor is treated
to it with a liborality like that of the
Western housewife, who, on being told
by her minister that she might put less
molasses III his tea, insisted tnat if she
made it all molasses it wouldn't be too
good for him.
1t was Mrs. Simpkins' parlor, nice,
religious-looking parlor, very. a mon
strous great Bible, bound in fine morocco
and gold, with a purple ribbon book-marll
a yard long, dangling white crucilixes,
lay alone in seeming sacredness on the
marble centre-table. Three certificates
Of litt-membership in religious societies
hung in heavy gilt frames upon the walls
No idle ornaments or vain curiosities on
the what-not, but Divine songs and sacred
hymns, Baxter's saints Rest, Taylor's
Holy Living and Dying, lIowe's Blessed
ness of the Righteous-books Of exalted
piety, that bear their readers like angel
wings to the very gates Of the beautiful
city. Beside thea. were choice piles OF
magazines, labelled, Guide to lIoli-
ness"
The air of the place was still and sol
emn, almost holy. Dea. Wilson felt that
it was, while he waited there for Mrs.
SimpAins He took up number of the
''Gnide to Holiness" and opened it.
"Perlect love-" Heaven Below "Liv-
ing below our Privilege" he read in the
table Of contents.
''What a godly woman sister Simpkins
is - he said to himself, and laid the mag
azino in place, feeling himself so far from
holiness that the very titles Of the articles
were di-cowaging to him.
''lm glad there are some rood people
be aiaod, looking around tn, room. at
.hc ''pal!or Bible and the iitt-mcm5,r
ships. "Ic>, sister Simpbin- i, very
devoted woman"
Mrs. ;1iupkins entered with sweet and
placid counlenance, and grave, subducl
manner, like one .ju~t leaving chapel ser
vice or closet meditation, and in low.
chastcneG tones welcomed the deacon.
and assured him of her high estimate of
the privilege OF Christian communion, OF
the strength she derived from Christian
association, the comfort from Christian
sympathy,
The deacon had barely time to make
suitable response, when she inquired:
And what is the state OF Zion, dea-
con! What say the walchmcn OH her
walls ?"
The question was general, and the
deacon was safe in the answer 'Fcw
20 III at her gates"
"Anl why! Why is it," exclaimed
Mrs. Simpkins with an air Of touching
soicitude. "Why must we wait 50 long
to see the Spirit Of God poured ont p
Surely the fault Is il ourselves. The
church is living far below her duty and
her privilege. Too many of Us arc not
yet sahctllied, one with the Lord. Too
many of us still cling to the world, still
have appetite for the Gesh-pots of Egypt.
We have come out from the world and
we must not look back"
60" groaned the good deacon, 81 feel
sometimes that am the Achan in the
camp Of Israel, the Jonah that hinders
the ship"
''Do you ever read the Guide to IIo-
illness 2" asked Mrs. Simpkins, when she
had fully delivered her opinions on the
condition and duty of the church,
The deacon confessed that he had not.
''lt Is an excellent work, deacon" said |
Mrs. Simpkins, with slightly increased
warmth Of manner. 81 can recommend |
it with entire confidence. / have taken
it three years, and find it very spiritual. |
Perhaps you would like to read it
Take this last number If you would"
"Ihank you, sister, not to-day. Some
other time, perhaps"
''rhe work strenuously urges the doc.
trine of entire sanctiiicalion that il is
the privilege of all Christians. What do
you think of it deacon?" questioned Mrs.
Simpkins.
80, | don't know" sighed the good
man. ''Ihe command is, BE ye holy as
l am holy but, o dear sometimes |
ana afraid that l haven't even been justi-