The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1866-02-21

ever in her life she had done one really
unselfsh act-whetheD if the great har-
vest day were come, she would have one
sheaf to show TO the Master. She had
given of her abundance. now and then, of
course, when charitable subscriptions had
| been presented to her; but she had
thought it q bore and burden, not Il
privilege. OF her own accord what good
had she done-what man, woman, or
child was there to rise up and call her
blessed
''lIere we are, ma'am," said the child,
breaking the silence.
, 1t was a two-story, wooden house be-
fore which they had stopped. They
went up stairs, and the little girl opened
door.
"NIother," she said, ga lady has come
! home with me TO see you--a kind lady,
who has given me my breakfast, and
brought you yours"
Mrs. Lane stood moment on the
| threshold of the room, and took in such a
picture as in her young, happy life she
had never seen before. The apartment
was almost bare of furniture-no CARPET
was on the floor-there was only the bed,
three chairs and table. But everything
was as neat as hands could make it; and
against the wall, at the foot of the bed,
hung framed photograph--the portrait
of Il man with kind, honest eyes, the fea-
lures Of which the child Ellen's were
almost copy.
81 have come" Mrs. Lane said with
the sweet grace which had made her a
welcome guest in far different scenes, "to
see ii | could do something for your COM
fort; but, first, you must have some toast
and tea, )" and giving her little guide some
money, she sent her out to procure fuel,
and sat down herself, in the meantime,
beside the bed where the sick woman lay.
with her baby asleep upon her arm. The
wan, pale face upon the pillows was not
beautluI-Annie Lane could not be sem
tlmenta or romantic about this woman
could by no means ide ,lize her into he
rome. Yet there was something good
and true in her expression, and when she
turned 10 place the baby more comfortably
light and glow of mother-love illumined
her features till they were better than
pretty. Mrs. Lane was not long in learn
ing her history.
She had been used all her days 10 self
dependence. Before she was married she
had worked on sewing machine in a
shop and she understood that business
thoroughly. But when James Stanton
married her she had piyen it up. He was
GOOD mechanic. a carpenter. and his
wares kent them comfortablv. They had
not laid up much. however. for dnrinc
tbe elevcn vears If tbo;r ,,o,,,,,,o tbroo
children besides the two she had left now,
had come and gone-poor. feeble little
things, that cost great deal for doctors
and medicine. Then. iust before this last
baby came, Il scafioldng had given way
where her husband was at work-he had
fallen from the fourth story of house,
and had been brought home to her dead.
She had sold almost all her furniture, and
got along by that means until she was
able to be about, and then she had lett
baby with Ellen, and gone out to days
work of washing and cleaning 1t was
labor for which she was not strong
enough, bnt 1t was the only occupation
she could get, and after awhile she had
taken Il severe cold, and had grown Sc
i'll that she could not 20 ont at all. They
mad eaten up everything they had and
TINS morning Tor the first time, she had
sent Ellen out to try TO get something
somewhere, to keep them alive until she
coHId work again. "And 1t must have
oeeh tph, maam that sent her 20 you,
she concluded.
Mis-, Lane, helpless, pretty little thing,
scarcely knew what to say. Her hear
beat with tumultuous throbs of pity-her
eyes were full Of tears; in all her sunny
life she had never before been brought il
contact with actual, eaunt misery anC
destltution At last thought occurred
to her and she uttered it eagerly
''lf you only had IA sewing ma,hine
now, you could take work home when yo,
get better, couldn't YOU. and support your
self and children so very nicely !"
"Yes, ma'am, could. but YOU know
that's an impossible II. | can never pe
one, I'll be only too thankful if | car
get well enough to 90 out again bv tb,
| doy Ic 1,,,, L., L, :,