Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1868-03-19
Ennm the Chnr.h Lnnrn,l
THE TEST.

4 father was one day seated with hi,
three daughters, when the conversation
turned on on their love for him. each be.
ing larger in asserting her affection, and
insisting that he was deardr 10 herself
than to her sisters. The father listened
silently for while, then said, Il have
UvrT rTTTuKTrT7 MY TITrT-TTTCTz, II TUvrTTE
your professions of love to trial. D.
you agree to II
Professa, Promesasa and Fulhllia, these
We're their names--at once aS>entcd. Do
so, dear father" they said Il am sure
we will not fail in proving the truth OF
our love" Very well my children" he
rejoined, there is piece of ground in
our garden which wish TO have careful
ly weeded without injuring the young
plants, that have sprouted there | hav,
divided it into three beds and will assign
one 10 each of you. Tomorrow | leave
home for day, setting out early in the
morning, before You shall have awokc
from your nights sleep. ! am very de-
sirious that this work be finished Lcfore
my return. Let Us now 20 out and look
at the spot, and | will give YOU directions
for the proper performance Of the task
They accompanied thclIr father 10 thv
garden, where he pointed out precisely
what was to be donc-which wcrc the
plants to remain, and which the weeds To-
be remoyed-again expressing his desire
that the work should BE- done III readiness
for his return. Nov" he added. "let
me see if you love me enough to meet my
wishes"
His daughters quickly agreed. 10 his
proposal: That will be- an easy task.
father; We shall not disappoiut YOU"
The next morning after their father
had left them they bethought themselves
OF the appointed task, and went to the
garden to commence it. They worked
diligently for while, but finding their
labor less easy than they had at first i'm
agined, began to relax their efforts Pro-
fessa complained that the suns RAYS were
so hot ON her head, and Promessa that the
wind blew, and both agreed that it was
very tiresomc. They were surprised TO
find So many weeds among the plants.
and so firmly rooted. They were weary
of the work, and began to reflect that
there Were other ways in which they
might more easily eyincc their love
My children" said their father, as
they were all at the breakfast table on the
morning after his return, Il suppose
shall find the weeds all removed from the
garden bed, according to our agreement,
and the spot in fine order; but where did
these flowers on my table come from :"
Father replied PromeSsa, Il will con.
fess the truth. | am sorry that my por-
ton in the garden is not yet finished.
commenced early, but getting tired of
STOPPING over the bed, and finding the
work rather difficult, thought to refresh
myself by ramble in the woods. and
knowing your love OF flowers, considered
that | might give you letter proof of
my affection by gathering for you a
charming bouquet. ! spent several hours
in rambling through the woods, search
ing for the finest flowers, and brought
hack those which arranged in the vase
an the t4hlleare they ittttt lletlte lttttt t
when that was done it was too late, and |
was too fatigued to finish the garden plot,
and left it for another day. The fathers
countenance did not express the satisfac-
ton that Promessa had hoped he did not
speak reprovingly, but said nothing, mere
ly nodding ascent with regard to the beau
ty of the flowers.
Professa then made her statement Il. (
too, father, commenced my work in com
pany with my sisters, but soon the thought !
occurred to me that would like to do
something else which might give you still .
more pleasure The more | thought of
it the more tiresome the work became
new weeds seemed to spring up as fast as
l could pull out the others. This was my
plan. One Of my schoolmates has been
an elegant necktie for
her father, and / determined that you
should have one as beautiful. | knew
that it would require nearly the whole
day to accomplish the work, but thought
it would be pleasant surprise to you,
and would finish my task in the garden
some other day Therefore | left it, and
Just succeeded in finishing this before sun
set. See, is it not exquisite Z" and she
help up the tastefully ornamented strip
Of silk for her fathers admiration.
at is very beautiful my child he said,
at he glanced at it, but his countenance
was sad, and turning to Fulflia, he in
luired, "And what have you done for me,
my daughter?
Father" replied fulflia, Il found the
work in the garden more difficult than /
had anticipated, but recollecting your ex-
,raee daaira that II sbnDld he dome bv tho