Vermont daily transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1868-1870, 1868-11-23
Mary Stars White Robes.
by NELL CLIFFORD
CDnc'nded,


at is great trial to you, my dear !;
but what is the particular instance this
time ?"
And then Mary related the whole
story as well as she could.
II shan't go, oicou,se, mamm' but
think if Bessie didn't want me, she
might have taken n kinder wa 10 tell
me so.n
"To be sue she might" replied Mrs.
Starr.
"After all, Mary, think you better
go to the party" said het mo'hel, the
next day. Mrs. Harcourt has been
here and urged me to let you attend,
saying that she had special reason. de
string you to be presents and ! promised
you should 90. Not on Be-sle'~ invita-
but for Ms. Harcour's sake.
'But mamml, the girls are goih TO
wear white Dire SEES and have none
"Your pink bingham will answer
nicely and besides, my daughter, you
NAV have a whittier robe than any of
them will wear. and more beautiful orna-
ments.'
''What do you mean, mamma?
IL mean clothed with goodness,
raiment white as snow and your adorn-
ing, the ornaments of a meek and quiet
spirit. By-and-by, you shall 20 into
the Kings Feast, called of God, u crown
of stars on your brow
Mary's eyes dilated with interest
and pleasure. She drew ac;,rcr her
mother.
as il true a. cam he, mamma -
Eyes, DEAR
"Clothed with goodness, mamma
make il palmer
at means, do all the good You posi-
bly, can; be gentle, meek and loving
Jpn try mamma
In the meantime | have thought how
you may have dress like the rest, for
the occasion. Our ncighbor, Mr.. James
Merton, wants to engage som one to
gather strawberries, and offers five cents
Il quart for doing it You can pick
enough before and after school hours
with what | am able to help, to get one
can't afford to buy one outright, you
know.
Accordingly. little Mary was up with
the sun, ana might be seen hcaping bas-
kets with the luscious iruit in Mr. Ms.
garden. Her mo- hers talk with her in
regard to the white rove and starry crown
took strong hold of her imagination, ana
she would say over to herself, all the
gpod l possibly can After this, when
tempted to fly into Il passion, : It. would
whisper, 6 Gentle an loving | must be
if Would wear the white robe.
Pondering these things in her heart,
in a childwise, innocent fashion. ii came
TO her that her mother needed Il bonnet
far more than she herself needed dress,
her dear, hard working mother, who so
often denied herself tor her. she II
the tn ought away, because she had set
her heart upon being dressed nicely,
like her schoolmates but it pOuld re-
turn. The bad spirit in her sad, Ma
nv, you'll look so nice, | wouldn't give
it up, if we've you!o and the 90 vi an
gel replied, "Ah, Mary, Mtry, tina.
better robe won't look so white! Bet
ter give it up ard buya bonnet for you
mother"
The good angel got the victory at
last and the stars in her crow ha an
added brightness, and the robe CLEANED
more purely white.
When Mr.. Mer on paid her 50 for her
labor, he smiled and said:
"And this goes for the white Il "cs. in
which to attend my niece .}essie's fam
Gus party-so your mother hintod ell p
at was to have gone for that, sir, but
have changed my mind"
Sc hanged your mind Why"'
"Mother needs n bonnet more, and /
mean to get her one"
but DOME you want the dress ?'
ooh yes, sir, very much but it isn't
right for me to have it,, tears in hel
eyes. Il love my mother, ana | love to
do right"
There was an unusual moisture in Mr..
MertOn's eyes when he said
"Well, little girl, ] am going up to the
stores, and you shall go with me, and
I'll help YOU pick out the bonnet, and
see that you don't get cheated. | dome
think three dollars will get a real nice
one, but I'll trust You for rs much more.
like to see Little girls think about their
mothers needs"
We assure our little readers that Mary
went home in small furry OF triumph
and delight, carrying Il new band
box, which contained the pleasant sur
prise.
"Mot her, / have brought yeu Il pres
ent-guess what it is - holding the box
behind her, her whole face shining with
pleased excitement.
"a basker of berries: ~
mo, something nicer"
'Well, I'm sure | can't guess straight.
What is it ~
"Look, mammal" showing The bon
net in question. " 1t is yours, bought
it with my own money"
"Youl own money! How did you
come by so much ~
"Mr. Merton let me have it,
''But thought that was to buy you II
dress?'
"You need this more; besides, ii is
better to wear the other robe you told of,
isn't it mamma?
Mrs. Starr drew Mary to her bosom,
unable to speak, for TIE moment.
SIT is the best and most beautiful that
can be worn, darling. God bless you
for this act of self-denial ~
And Mary smiled brightly, and tigh-
tened the clasp of her arms about her
mothers neck