Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1868-07-28

L uCIO Ndo d iOlUlHCCo ooOoo hNl SceA
riage that vexed her all the more be-
cause it was so natural to Patience in
those days. She did nos like the look
in Patience's eyes either, as they wan
dered about the simple low-ceiled
meeting house, taking in the hard, bare
walls, the cold, white woodwork, the
uncarpeted floor, the meek women and
grave men; the look was full of un-
distinguished disparagement. Then
Patience seated was no better. She
fdgeted in her place, she pulled nerv-
ously at her gloves, and tapped impa-
tiently with her shoeS-and was, to
use her aunt's figure, as uneasy as a
fish out of water.
1t was correct figure. A fish out
of water-that was Patience Wilson
sitting in the little meeting house with
her thoughts away off to the little
Gothic church of st. Johns, where
another band of worshipers assembled.
She had never been there but twice,
but she knew it all by heart, as artists
know a picture not often seen but
STUDIED carefully. She was picturing
to herself now the altar with its pur-
pie hangingS, and the ddintily frescoed
walls, the huted pillars, the windows
of red and green and blue and gold,
the carpeted aisle8 and cushioned
pews. At length the nervous move
ments ceased, AM Patience Wilson
sat calm and thoughtful. She had
forgotten where she was, and in i'm
agination the mellow light from the
stained windows fell upon her, and
she was a wOrshiper at st. johns
The organ pealed forth its glorious
notes of harmony and Patience Will
son, as twice before bowed her head
with its burden of praise, and wept
to hear the loud aScription-GLori
ITbi Domino? She was not forgetful
Of him who sat before the organ, and
woke the Slumbering music from its
pipes and keys. John Duane, or
ganist, was the speciality at St. Johns
in whom Rebecca Wilson had said
shrewdly that Patience believed
There was another at St. Johns whom
she did not forget-Katie Hunter,
with the rosebud sprinkled dress, the
lace and gold garnets, the bright rib
bons and scarlet flowers. Katie Hun
ter sang alto to John Duane's playing,
and Patience Wilson did not like her.
Suddenly Patience Wilson came out
of her reverie with a guilty start.
"A brand plucked from the burn
ing were the words that fell on her
ears from lips that had cooed lovingly
over her in her infancy, and blessed
hf9eav93 hsF al 9Sr S S EEGGyb2dS Ssdh SteRsd
preaching, and she was one of the few
faithful ones in her Society; woman
who il her Madonna face wore the or
nament of a meek and quiet spirit-a
woman who chung tenaciouSly to the
faith delivered to her fathers, and was
in all things pillar and ornament to
her sect.
"a brand plucked from the burn
ing! You guessed from the lervor
Of the woman's manner, and from an
insight into character that is derived
alone from experience, that this wo-
man was speaking from experimental
knowledge. You guessed intuitively
that the woman calm had come after
a great storm, that the spiritual height
on which she stood had been attained
after temporal rough places You CUES
Sed almost that this woman had been
herself brand plucked from the burn
inc.
The spiritualizeu ace often sought
her daughter and then you saw how
much alik1 Y we're. 1ou can easi-
ly fancy tu4. the Madonna face had
looked like Patience Wilson's once.
Would Patience Wilson's ever attain
the holy calm of the other? Phebe
Morgan had hope. She remembered
when Jane, her younger sister, had
been a great trial to her, when her
heart was all unsettled and there was
rebellion in her life. Contrasting that
time with this when The woman spoke
to the ediicatiOn Of all, she hoped for
Patience. Indeed, with their expert
ence, could they not save Patience
from the rocks On which her mother 5
happiness mad welI-nigh wrecked p
They must make the effort at all
events. UnconSciouSly her eyes wan
dered over to the mems side, where
sat Eli Gardner, brown-faced, hard
handed. honest, aud a Friend. He
was listening to Jane Wilson, but his
eyes wandered ever and anon to Jane
Wilson's daughter, and on him Phebe
Morgan relied for assistance. Eli
Gardeners mother, too, must play her
part.
"Dorcas, | want thee to GO home
with me to dinner" said Phebe Nor
gan to the severely plain woman who
stood at Eli GardnerS side when the
Misunderstanding had dismissed the meet
ing. -
The woman looked doubtfuly at Eli
Gardner.
"To be sure thee will go" said that
young man, heartily. 81 will drive
down for thee this afternoon; and now
want thee, friend Morgan, and all
of these young people to bundle in my
carry.all, and [ will take them home.
Come, girls !" ara4
Patience Wilson drew back as she
said, Thank thee, but L had sooner
walk. - o3ale gf @
~Nonsense" exclaimed Eli Gard
ner. "Save thy strength until thee