Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-02-03
Giving and Receiving.

Harry sat by the Gre, his feet extended
towards the CRATE, his chin resting on his
bosom, and his thumbs revolving one about
the other, as his manner was when new
purposes were taking life, form and posi-
ton in his brain. I'd limited at new
velvet cloak that morning, as I was pour
ing his third cup of coffee, saying it
would be nice New Years gift-that
Mrs. Brown and Cousin Susie had just
purchased theirs, and that needed one so
much.
"Quite likely he's thinking of that now"
I soliloquized. A feeling of pleasure
came over me, and my needle and thread
few more swiftly ever the little merino
sleeve was making. There would be
various articles could dispense with now,
the cloak would be so comfortable
would save so much thought and bother.
Joe's wife would half envy me. Out OF
the abundance Of the heart I spoke:
"You're thinking of my New Years
gift, / expect"
"Oh, don't refer to thst," he said, in a
half-playful, half-serious way, adding, by
way of caution to my hopes, "You for
get how much higher rents are"
"Father said to me yesterday he'd pay
the store rent if your profits were not so
large as they had BEEN"
"That's kind in him, but we must be
Independent"
A little silence followed, and then Harry
added
"You'd better get poor Mrs. Waite
something for New Years; she's been sick
so long; and the widow Green ought to
be remembered-she is very worthy; and
that old gentleman on South street, too
he is the most cheerful, thankful man in
aff1iction 1 ever saw"
I felt too selfish just then to reply.
Perhaps that was why he added with en-
phasis, at is more blessed to give than to
receive"
And quite likely my tones were little
ungracious as / replied
I'D be satisfied with the receivers
blessing for once"
"Hetty," said he, 'let's invite Aunt
Susan to spend New Years with u.s."
looked up in wonder. "Whst next ?"
thought I, for she hadn't darkened our
door in five years, nor we hers.
Then Harry commenced, Jas he OCCASION
ally would, to moralize, or sermonize,-
sometimes / called it one and sometimes
the other.
Chow poor, meager and dwarfed are all
OFF lives, when we have patterns of such
wondrous beauty to weave into them,-I
patterns that are worn in Heaven, devices
that glitter upon the garments of martyrs,
saints and angels Christ stands at the
path of obedience and says, "This is the
way, walk We in it." Follow me" is his
command, and we follow our own fancy.
cannot see on what ground We are
hoping for forgiveness, when so little OF
the gospel spirit prevades US"
There was something in his tone and
manner that reminded me of the legends
of saints, of Christians from whose death
beds we bring away thought to last
lifetime. 1t seemed as though the Divine
eye and the Divine voice had said to him,
-"Come and learn of me-
snow he continued, ''let US bring our
diseased, both of heart and brain, up to
the healing Bethesda, that they may be
made whole,-that oar lives may go out
into the young year fresher, purer, and
more Christ-like. Gods paths are strewn
with difficulties sometimes, but if we
tread on and overcome, we show that we
are His, and thus, adding year to year,
our lives will be crowned with that COM
pleteness that Autumn gives to the earth.
| can look onward with hope, but back
ward only with fear"
l brushed the mist from my eyes, thipk-
ing if Harry had cause for fear, how
ought l to tremble and be afraid.
"sLove one another as [ have loved
you'" Think of it, Hetty,-your moth
er's own sister separated from us by trlfies
that have grown to mountain size-trihes
that have Infused our hearts with the poi
son of hatred and yet we bow to the
same God, hope in the same Saviour, and
are expecting to walk together in the same
golden streets of Paradise How is it p
"We shall all be changed" | said, con-
fusedly. ....... ~.
Eyes, | think we shall need to be 4; bat
the change must begin here; our thoughts
and purposes must produce fruit"
ats just the theory, Harry, but Aunt
Susan seems 50 perfectly unforgiving, so
selfish, aud withal so seif-important /
wouldn't treat a dog az she has treated
me and where will be my selfrespect,
to go crying back for her favor, and where
the good, when | dislike her so thorough
ly ~
because she is a poor example, you
choose to initiate her; because she has
done so and so you do likewise. | would
advise you to stand on higher ground, to
look upward for your patterns, and Christ
will bless you for it."
Memory led me into the past.
81 remember when we were children,
I said, show, delighted Jenny aud | would
be if mother told us we might <" To Au"t
Susans and spend the day, and how hap
py we would be over the little pies and
cakes she would bake Ia, the story books
she would find in the old garnet, and the
swing she would coax uncle to make for
US. Then she had an old Grape dress that
was my great-grandmother's and some
times she would slip it on slyly and make
us visit, while we would huddle away
in corner, half afraid, though under
standing well who it was. But those
days have passed. Jenny is with the an
gels, ard IL am hoping to be there some
time, too"
"Well, shall Aunt Susan and family be
among our guests on Thursday y asked
Harry.
TIE which / hastily responded
eyes,"
thoughts of forgiveness, of mercy, charity
ana love- AunL OusHfl was among the
group of relatives that gathered around
our table.
"Hetty,' she said, as she was putting
| on her things to go, and there were tears
| in her eyes, ''this is Christ-like. I feel
| ashamed. I should have been teacher !;
but is you"
at is Harry" said !; 'he is my guide.
| He points out, and follow, sometimes.
have found Aunt Susan, and am richly
repaid"
She kissed me for the first time since
Jenny's funeral.
As the last carriage drove away, Mrs.
| Waite sent for me to come in, that she
might express her Joy and gratitude for
the gifts had sent her. The widow
Green and the old gentleman on South
street were none the less glad.
| It was almost ten,-nearly time for
prayers. Harry went into the closet, in
his quiet way, and coming ont handed
me parcel. | opened it, and there was