Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-01-25
A Basket Of Blackberries.

ing, jane" asked pae.faced boy, ia whn-
ing tones can't you come and read to me
a bit ?"
We are all going blackberrying after
school, Dick, and have this long seam to
finish Mother has promised to wash with
Mrs. Stevens, aud she says she will look in
upon you now and then, just to see you've
got all you want; 50 don't make such long
face, there's dear" and she smoothed his
pillow, and brought him his carying-tools.
Tears came into the poor boys eyes as he
thought of the many merry blackberryings he
had known before his illness but his sister
kissed them away, and said good-naturcdly,
" Well, Dick, if you mind so very much, per-
haps III stay at home and look after you"
+" No, no nonsense he said fretfully
turning his face away from her, and hiding it
in the bedclothes to stiffle the sobs that would
make themselves heard in spite Of all his
efforts.
Dick, dear, don't take on so III stay
here. Indeed | will; only don't turn away
and speak SO snappish.'
| did not speak snappi.h," was the only
answer and not another word could all her
coaxing get out Of him.
With heavy heart Jane turned to her
work again she was trying to make up her
mind to what, for her, was great piece of
self-denial giving up the blackberrying.
" I'm so happy here" she said to herself
with mother and Dick. a1d | SO seldom
give up any thing like for Jesus sake or
try to please him yes-l will stay at home. "
But the sunbeams came dancing in at the
window, and brought with them thoughts of
the fine, juicy fruit, the long hooked sticks,
and the voices Of the merry party, till Jane
very nearly wavered 10 her resolution still
she knew it was right one, and then again
those very sunbeams seemed to whisper, " He
came not TO do his own will nor did we, nor
did you, Jane. Bear up and do his will, not
your own it is the only way to be happy
and good"
SO the afternoon came, and with it the
voices Of her schoofellows, calling to her to
be quick, or the finest blackberries would all
be gone.
I'm not coming she said " Dick wants
me-"
mot coming, Jane? it won't be half fun
without you" cried several voices "your
mother will look after Dick" But Jane did
not hear she had turned away from the
door, and was sitting by her brothers side.
"And so you have MT gone after all, Jane,
and only because | was so cross this morning
am sorry" began Dick, whose ill-humor
had quite melted away; aud as she threw
her arms round his neck and kissed him. he
went on, "you don't know how horrid it is to
be left here with you all away if were to
die, Jane, all alone here in the dark Oh, |
couldn't bear it
"Dick, you mustn't think of such things,
she said, creeping closer; besides, if you
did, you know Jesus and the angels would
take care Of sou much better than we could
q" But I'm so wicked and selfish Jane
will you get the book the squire's lady sent
me, and read bit?"
The book was so amusing that Jane soor
forgot the blackberries in her wonder at what
was coming next, till she was startled by a
voice behind her crying out, Hi, Jane, you
never saw such beauties. Look here
have brought basketful for you aud Dick 81
"Oh, Tom, how good of you to bring them
Thank you; Oh thank you; they are beau,
ties said Jane, all in breath.
bAOh hhScie nNiS uilShuJ utcp III tut
basket, and every black kberry he drew out
seemed finer than the last
" Now we three may sit here and eat and
talk, mayn't we ?" asked Tom, perching him
self on an end of the table straight in front
of Dicks bed and, between mouthfuls o.
black he began describing how little
Sally Stevens had tumbled into ditch and
how Jack Saunders had pulled her out and
carried her home pick-a-back, with frocs
all over dark brown mud and how Mrs
Stevens opened her eyes and said, 4" La, Sal
ly what mess you have been aud made o
yourself !" and how they had eaten and pick
ed, and picked aud eaten, till fingers anC
mouths oil grew black, and no one could tel
which were the blackest /; and how Jane.
Carter had hooked down the finest nuts eyei
seen in Fern Hollow and SO they chatteC
on till Dicks mother came home, and theI
Tom ran of TO find some more black berre:
before it was too dark.
And so it was that Jane took her first
step along the narrow road of selt.denyinJ
love which her Savior had trodden befor,
ner and many time in her after-lifc sh,
has looked back to that act, so very small il
itself, but still large enough to teach her tn
great truth, A" He came not to do his owl
will" Nor did we, but the will of Him tha
sent us.