Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-06-03

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think we both felt as if our hearts wer,
freighted with lead, instead of the livel,
currents that were wont to ebb back anC
forth.
Patty had just said, Never mind
Elizabeth, it's always darkest just befor,
day." when the door-bell chirped after {
comical fashion it had of its own, and Ma
rian let inthe sweetest girl in all the town
Alice Starbright
The face carried out the name Surely
no star ever cleaned more sweetly upor
any wanderer, leading him toward rest anC
comfort, than did this of Allies, alway:
smiling, always tender, bright Ay, ever
now, though she wore garments of deer
mourning. She had lost her father only q
month ago, yet for all that the shadow ot
her grief was suffered to rest upon no 9th
er heart-the cross had been sent to hel
alone, and she bore it with gentle bravery
most beautiful to see.
Patty kissed the lovely girl-face first on
one cheek, then on the other, then gave
way to me with that light flush on hel
cheek, and that intent look in her eyes that
Allies coming always brought to her coun.
tenance. Allies father had once upon a
time been my sister Patty's lover and with
her to love once was to love always.
"S So you're going to have the Dorcas
Meeting here?" was Allies first greeting.
Yes" we answered. striving to look
cheerful with all our might.
-" heard of it last week, continued AL
lie, laughing
OF course" grumbled [ :; 8" everything
of that kind travels fast-bad news espec-
ially"
Allie laughed again. 1t wasn't like her
to be unsylnpathetic, but she seemed de-
lighted with that soft, sweet delight she
always showed when she was going to make
somebody happy.
Lets see. It's to meet tomorrow after
noon. Cake all made ?"
Yes, indeed" said Patty, with thai
bright, tender glow on her face she always
wore for Allie.
Then she must need brings plate o
cakes for Allie to taste, crisp, homemade
biscuits, such as only Patty could make
crumpets, delicate brown, melting in one:
mouth and frosted sponge-cake.
These are fit for queen, said Allie
tasting, with gusto.
Yes, cogitated Patty, " the cake viii
answer, if the rest only matched"
I've got favor to ask, said Allie
growing grave all at once. " You're not
either of you used to Dorcas Meetings
Now l know just the naodus operandl
Aunt Mary is i'll and wants to see you bott
ever so much Now you 90 there in tht
morning, and don't get back here until th'
afternoon, just about dusk, say; the peo
pie do not come before then, and if [ don
have everything in beautiful order my
names not Alice Starbright -
At first we declared this to be impossi.
bic: bat Allie coaxed, and then PATTI
gave in. | followed suit, for began Il
see there was something in it all. Wher
she had attained her object Allie ran away
but | noticed before she went that sh'
nestled close up to Patty, and kissed he
many, many times.
The next morning found US on our wa,
to Aunt .Marv's. Patty, who was neve
more at home than when she was gong L
a sick-room, carried a little brown baske
on her arm. How many pilgrlmages tha
little brown basket made in the course o
the year. and what comfort it always hell
for invalids
The day slipped away, Patty as busy a
a bee, setting things TO rights, and MAXIM
Aunt Mary comfortable in every direction
until the shadows began to fall and gro'
deeper. Then we trudged home again, i
a queer mood both Of us.
What a sweet face it was that met us q
the door, that led US in, and to such
transformation Wonder of wonders
what did it all mean? In the old-fash
ioned CRATES, leaping, dancing fires crack
ed and sparkled, and before them glove
crimson rugs of softest velvet. In th
windows swung moss baskets of trailin
creepers and bright-hued blossoms. o
the oaken side-board cleaned, most wor
derful of all, our mothers silver
Patty knew it at once. She ran to i
she kissed each separate piece, and gave
a little hug of delight Then | knew ho'
much it had cost her to part with it, ho
proud and pure the honor that would let l
stain be left upon our fathers memory.
Allie drew us to the fire, and one han
in each of ours, said
Dear friends, you will not refuse n
the comfort of pleasing you? How de;
YOU both are | cannot tell; how dear OF
of YOU must ever be TO me, | can on
} show in deeds. Before my father died
told me the story. How dear Patty h;
been to him; how she was to have be-
nv mother. | think he loved her q
through these years. He told me. to
that he had bought. the silver, but dare
not offer it in his lifetime he knew Pat
, too well for that; when he was dead al
gone, she would take it from his daughte
and keep it for the fathers sake
: By this time Allie and [ were both or
ing. Patty shed no tears, but smiled sol
ly, sweetly, brightly, as the angels ma
then held out her arms 10 Allie Sta
: bright Allie nestled in them. She h;
lost her mother years ago, and now tn
her father lad gone, there was no roo
r for empty gossip. Patty could be h
mother in very deed and truth
Perhaps you may ask why Patty al
r Joseph Starbright, Allies father, had ne
l er got married [ cannot tell you;
S seems to me that hearts that are deare
!, in this world are forever held apart. 6,
S help us all, how we drift away from tho
: we prize the fondest! Hush there is
r loss even here. Remember, we are on
0 children, the best of us, and what we wou
> soil or mar God puts out of reach for t
: present. Trustful hearts, we shall have
G all back again by and by.
The meeting came and enjoyed its
# wonderfully, and stayed later than it h
d ever stayed at anybody's before. The tir
e warmed the sitting-rooms, the young pc
pie played their old-fashioned games WI
d the best grace imaginable. and the drea