Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-05-05

family accepted the inevitable, and tried to
bear it cheer.ully, helping one another by the
increased affection which comes to bind house
holds tendcrly together in times Of trouble.
They put away their grief, and each did their
part toward making that last year a happy
one.
The picasantcst room in the house vas set
apart for Beth AID In it was gathered eyer
thing that She most loycd-howers, pictures.
her piano, the little workable, and the be-.
loved pussies Fathers best book. found
their way there, mothers easy chair, JOS
desk Amy's lovelicst sketches and every
day Meg brought her babies on loving ril-
grimage to make sunshine for Aunty Beth.
John quietly set apart little sum, that he
might enjoy the pleasure of keeping the inya-
lid supplied with the fruit she loved and
longed for; old Hannah never wearied Of
connecting dainty dishes to tempt capricious
appetite, dropping tears as she worked and,
from across the sea, came little gifts and
cheerful letters, seeming to bring breaths Of
warmth and fragrance from lands that know
no winter.
Here, cherished like a household saint in
its shrine, sat Beth, tranquil and busy as
ever for nothing could change the sweet,
uusefsh nature and even while preparing to
leave life She tried to make it happier for
those who should remain behind. The feeble
fingers were never idle, and one of her pleas
ures was to make little things for the school
children daily passing to and fro. To drop .
pair Of miitens from her window for q pair Of
purple hands, neede-book for some small
mother Of many dolls, pcn-wipers for young
penmen toiliug through forests Of pot-hooks,
scrspbooks for picture-loving eyes, and all
manner Of pleasant devices till the reluctant
climbers up the ladder Of learning found their
way strown with flowers, as it were, and came
to regard the gentle giyer as a sort of fairy
god-mother, who sat above there, and show
cred down gifts miracuously suited to their
tastes and needs. If Beth had wanted any
reward she found it in the bright little faces
always turned up to her window, with mods aud
smiles, and the drol little letters which came
to her, full of bots aud gratitude.
The first few months were very happy ones,
and Beth often used to look round, and say,
" How beautiful this is" as they all sat to-
gether in her sunny room, the babies kicking
and Growing on the floor, mother and sisters
working near, and father reading in his pleas
ant voice, from the wise old book which
seemed rich in good and comfortable words,
applicable now as when written centuries ago
IA little chapel, where paternal priest
taught his flock the hard lessons all must
learn, trying to show them that horo can
comfort love, and faith make resignation pos
sible. Simple sermons, that went straight to
the souls of those who listened for the fa-
theirs heart was in the minister's religion,
aud the frequent falter in the voice gave a
double eloqueuce to the words he spoke or
read.
1t was well for all that this peaceful time
was given them as preparation for the sad
hours to come for, by and by, Beth said the
needle was so heavy" and put it down for
ever talking wearied her, faces troubled
her, plain claimed her for its own, and her
tranquil spirit was sorrowfully perturbed by
the ills that yexed her feeble flesh. All me !
such heavy days, such long long nights, such
aching hearts and imploring prayers, when
those who loved her best were forced to see
the thin hands stretched out to them beseech-
ingly to hear the bitter cry, Help me- help
me !" and to feel that there was no help. 4
sad eclipse Of the serene soul, a sharp strug.
gle of the young life with death but both
were merciiully brief, and then, the natural
rebellion over, the old peace returned more
beautiful than ever. With the wreck of her
froi body, Beth's soul grew strong and,
though she said little, those about her felt
that She was ready, saw that the first pilgrim
called was likewise the fttest, and waited
with her on the shore, trying to see the shin
ing ones coming to receive her when she
crossed the river.
10 never left her for an hour since Beth
had said, " | feel stronger when you are here. "
She slept on a couch in the room, waking often
to renew the fire, to feed, lift, or wait upon
the patient creature who seldom asked for
anything and " tried not to be a trouble" "
All day she haunted the room, jealous of any
other nurse, and prouder of being chosen then
than of any other homer her life ever brought
her. Precious and helpful hours to Jo for
now her heart received the teaching that it
needed lessons in patience were so sweetly
taught her that she could not fail to learn
them charity for all, the lovely spirit that
can forgive and truly forget unkindness, the
loyalty to duty that makes the hardest easy,
and the sincere faith that fears nothing, but
trusts undoubtingly.
Often when she woke, 10 found Beth read
ing ~ her wel-worn little book, heard her
singing softly, to beguile the slocplcss night,
or saw her lean her face upon her hands while
slow tears dropped through the transparent
fingers and Jo would lie watching her, with
thouOhts tnO deem for tpars ieelinO that Beth
in her simple, unselish way, was trying to
wean herself from the dear old life aud to
ft herself for the life to come, bylacred words
Of comfort, quiet prayers, and the music she
loved so well.
Seeing this did more for 10 than the wsest
sermons, the saintliest hymns the most fer
vent prayers that any voice could utter for,
with eyes clear by many tears, and a heart