Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-09-09
Bertha's Garden.

What shall | do2 What can | do
Over and over again the question sprang
in whispers, full of suppressed pain, to Ber-
iha's lips.
." | suppose might get work in the facto-
ry again but what would Karl do while
was gone 2 and if fell sick too, that would
be worst Of ALL What can | ~ and then
the impulse of prayer, the one unerring in
stinct that comes to every Christian heart in
trial, came to Bertha's With sick, de-
spairing heart she knelt down, praying for
guidance, for help, as simply and trustingly
as a child would ask iavorat gentle parents
hand. Where or how help would come Ber-
tina could not divine, but she went down from
her little chamber comforted and hopeful
again.
The prospect below was not cheering hari
was seated by the window OF the little sitting
rooni, wila Birdie in his lap, and as his lips
pressed hffhtsic daughters sunny ourls Ber-'
tina saw great shining tears fall upon the
childs head. 1t is pitifui sight when
man sheds tears, and cold chill struck the
wife's heart as she saw this baptism of sor-
row on her Brides head but she came in
with brave smile, saying:
-" Has Birdie brought papa his posy yet ?"
The child slipped from her fathers arms,
and stood upon the floor, beautiful as a pic
ture in her fresh childish grace
IL will 90 now, mamma"
4" And you will not open the gate?'
4" No, will find only mammals flowers"
Karl"-the tender, loving voice said
when the child was gone, and Bertha's arms
drew down her husbands head to rest upon
her own bosom" Karl you must not de-
spar God will provide
81 know, Bertha, know. But oh, to see
you growing so pale and thin, and the child
needing clothes; to know that only few dol
lars are between us and beggary, and | Grip
Piled for life ~
." 1t is very hard to bear" said Bertha,
brayely suppressing the tremulous quiver in
her own voice but the darkest hour comes
just before day. have prayed to-day for
guidance, and the prayer will be answered"
He only sighed.
There is the factory, you know she said,
after pause.
" 1t would be suicide, he answered "What
were you when you left the factory 2"
A smile of infinite love crossed her face.
" was a wretched, suffering invalid dis
charged as too feeble to do the required work,
without one dollar to call my own, broken
down by foul air, hard labor, and lonely home
hours. When life seemed too weary bur
den to be borne, and lay almost dying, con-
scious that my next week would see me the
inmate of an almshouse, praying that death
would come first, there came from over the
seas, from my German home, my lover, who
had sworn to be true 20 me till death, He
came with small legacy that had fallen to
him after | left the iatherland and he took
me to his faithful heart, brought me to this
little cottage adorned by his love, and nursed
me back to life again. Eleven months ago
when we had been married five years, and
could recall no word from his lips but spoke
love and tenderness, there came, in the night
great fire in the city. When my Knr
heard the alarm he ran the two miles that
separate us from the little store that was all
we owned to keep the wolf from the door, and
saw that the fire was fast fastening to deyoul
his all. He tried to save something of value
and-and-"
"And falling roof crippled me for life,
said Karl sadly.
. But God was good There was small
sum laid by for the time of trouble, and the
physician would take no pay for his long at.
tendance. The little house was left, and q
Karl some way will be opened now, ! know
it feel it,"
"The reserved sum is all gone, Bertha"
True !"
Birdie is suffering for clothes"