The Portland daily press., 1866-01-08
A DARK MI 3HT:

~" anu eii0ii, do IL Sue were knitting, though
the work had dropped into her lap.
''The truth is, child" she said at LENGTH
land you may as well know it first as last, -
your mother cannot get over this. She is sink
ing as sure as need be-" A.
My heart gave one jump, but forced it to
be still and answered quietly, "Why don't
see any reason, aunt Hetty, that you should
say SO. The doctor doesn't say it decidedly"
Il don't care what he says; l know what he
thinks, and know what thinkp
Aunt Hetty," said 1, stopping as 1 was
folding the table cloth, 1--WE don't know. any
OF rs, and there isn't much use in borrowing
trouble"
eth come fast enough to be sure, the Lord
knowsp - 20 o. t-SfEI " =
took my sewing and went up stairs; but
mother was asleep, SO came down again and
seated myself by the window. A new and
heavy load was pressing ON my heart, but /
dete mined to keep it as far away as possible
l looked out Of the window; the view was
drearier, il possible, than that within. Dull,
le1den clouds, overhung the brown fields.
Inc woods might, in the sunshine, have look
ed CHEEKY in their autumn dress but to-day
they only told of decay, and coming winter
The wind howled and whistled now and then
around the house, rafting the shutters and
making me involuntariy draw my shawl clos
er. -
'Childp aunt Hetty began again, She ALWAYS
called me child, and would, if had been fifty,)
ITS more than can tell what you're going
to do when she's gone. Dear knows it will be
hard for you" p ~ aksF fal
II can tell enc thing shall not do" I an
sWered,. speaking to myself more than to her,
Il shall not borrow trouble, whatever NAV
come" IND r. = = >
wait till you know what Is to come" q
Il VIII wait, aunt Hetty, and when see
the end, as can't yet, 1 shall know whether it,s
best to worryp I tried to speak cheerfully
but her tone depressed me.
$50 L used TO say, but Pve learned there's a
great deal OF trouble coming for everybody, in
this world"
"Idare say shall learn that yetv said l.
my lips quivering IN spite of myself. and /
havnt had SO sunny time thus far that I
don't know little about it already too"
well, dear knows what'll be the end! I
only hope it won't be too hard with us ALL"
VI went to my aunt Hetty and laid nv
hand upon her shoulder. 'sAunt," said /.
I'VE are weak enough any of us, and am not
sure but there is a new Trial coming, as YOU
say; but we must not discourage each other.
we need to be strong as we can; and one
thing is settled, we must not borrow trouble I
God will not try us more than we can bear"
Amt Hetty said little more, and we sat in
silence by the fire, until the twilight began to
draw on and L knew that my mother would
be awake. was strangely calm as sat and
talked with her about the future, or moved
about the room attending to her wants. Late
in tie evening, as l kissed her before leaving
for few hours lest, she said family, "what.
ever else you DO, dear Jane, be patient and
don't look too far aheadp
How MANY times afterwards I thcurbt of
those words! 1t was well had them TO re-
member, or my own resolution might have
been shaken to its fall
Ii was only five weeks after that she died.
and as aunt Hetty went to live with a half
brother in distant part of the State. was
left entirely alone, for had much to do and
much to think Of The world was before me.
must work, for our funds had long been run
ming low. l must leave the old house, and
my mothers grave, the only places in the
world that seemed to have any claim unon
me. II can do it," said to myself. "there is
nothlng now cannot do, except to borrow
trouble !Es found place in a neiebborino
town, where could do little more than board
and clothe myself by teaching and sewing.
spent the last night at the old place. When
my fIre In the desolate kitchen burned low. /
took up the light and went up the echoing
stairs, through the long low entry to my moth
er's chamber. The cold moonbeams fell upon
It's bare floor, and almost mockingly lighted I'm
the empty room. recalled the scenes of that
r0om--the slow decline, the hopes, the fears
the last words, the last kiss, the last look. the
hush or death, and now the emptinessI T
knelt and prayed God in mercy helm me never
to murmur. however Thine hand NAV press
Then went out.
found my new home in many RESPECTS A.
pleasant one liked the family, and believe
they liked me. Circumstances however. COM
blned to decide them against continuing a
for fhnsr, 2l.s
first year, and was adrift! Friends I had
none to whom l would or could apply. It was
time Of darkness sought in vain for en-
ployment-tor work of any kind-only mere
niche where might stand; only footing
where might wait. In vain. NV motto /
still kept: Never borrow trouble and added
OF tired to add-neyer despair! Still no place
Lord keep me patient in this trialw plead
ed. My money diminished slowlv-soon Il
was gone, no opening yet! "Now there is no
help but in Thee" cried. turned NV foot
steps toward the old home. 1t CHANGED to
be untenanted for a few days. "Here at least
can wait,"I said. 1t was almost evening
when reached it, worn and exhausted, with
out iood or the wherewith to purchase. aWhen
morning comes,' thought, 81 will 90 to the
neighbors. 1t cannot be the Lords will that
Ishould starve SO long as they have bread.v
sought my mothers room. Once there.
and memories thronged over me in one wild
rush, ana gave myself up not attempting to
restrain them. l could not weep: it seemed IN
me my days Of weeping were past that stool
on new and strange ground; but that still
though scarcely by my own will, nv hand wos
in the mightier Hand that had SO long led mo
/ remember feeling drowsy, and then came .
long, long blank. Time, aud place. and moo
pie we're confused. Day after day I Law in .
delicious stupor-only conscious that I was
resting after long toll. Truly it was a bless.
ed rest, for when L awoke at last and turned
my head feeDiy toward the window, through
witch could see the red light streaming IN
the east, 1 was refreshed. The night it seem
ed to me was past, and was ready for the
day. l had found kind friends, or rather Kind
friends had found me, wild with fever on the
morning following that night of desolation.
and tenderly as my own mother could, had
they nursed me back to life. Their kindness
was not RENTED when was able once more
TO go ABOUT; but through their exertions
was PROVIDED with pleasant situation, where
,, reatie Sa IN your grandfather provided a
There have been sorrows s;noo tban. tho
Lord knew should be tempted To forget cleo
but He has led me very gently. Tbaf 90 =;
deed the night of my life. God tried roa ~
most as much as could endure. bnt ~
more; as He never does. 1t was ali of M GS
grace that was enabled to hold on to NV AZ. |
termination not to despair, however dark Il
might be. 80 :, ~
Grandmother" said little Ruth, "is all that
true?" ~ --N
"Yes, DEAR" said Grandmother, sour Father
wanted to make me grateful for the pleasant
land ofCanaan, so he led me through the will
derness first"
but didn't he know how badly you would
feel, grandmother"
es, Ruth, and SO did papa know how Bit
terly that medicine would taste the other dav
but he wanted you to take it."
Ana 1t made me well, grandma, you
80 Gods medicine, if we take it rightly.
will make us well, little Ruth,o said grand,
mother. 0'''' e,'''
.-4 -. g.. IY ..ia' -1 H<E3
''. t----- 81 t5t-tal