Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-07-12

rather to make her eager to round every
day to " full completeness" that should
leave nothing to regret.
She had that fine sensibility that can
exist only in a nature free from selfish pre-
occupation, sensibility that was quick to
detect every shadow and heartaehe IN
those about her. and that knew how to
administer to it with a touch so tender
that the pain was almost cured by being
shared. She knew it if any one had a
! headache or had missed meal, and had
knack of sending the cup of tea and slice
of toast just when it was most needed.
/ And did all this lead to 10 love-mak-
|ing2 Were no romances more tender
than those of friendship woven into the
web of this daily intercourse of young
manhood and womanhOod?
| fancy that the feeling woman IN
spires is apt to he il a great measure the
reflection of her own that if she stirs the
senses it is because she is sensuous; II she
is the heroine of romance, 1t is because
she has already been dreaming of its hero.
Robin never talked Of herself, or of the
affection which she inspired-and certainly
she was beloved by the whole household
but do not believe she ever had occasion
to say to any one Of those young men, " l
shall never marry" though they regarded
her with a devotion so tender and chlval-
rous that all womanhood was exalted to a
better definition for their having known
her. and they could not fail OF being better
sons. brothers and husbands for that mem
ory Every member Of the faculty recog-
nlzed her influence and honored it as a
power for good, and | believe that it was
largely owing to that influence that | was
the next year requested to try the expert
ment of making up my family of an equal
number of boys and girls.
Robbie disappeared from among US =
went home to an invalidism more and more
confirmed, which at length shut her in from
all the world save only few tender and
devoted friends But it did not extin-
guish the beautiful and unselfsh spirit,
that gowed all the more brightly as the
slight form wasted, and the beautiful eyes
grew more and more luminous.
4 year ago last fall she came to me for
a last visit, and spent the winter. If
ever woman was the embodied spirit of
home, Robbie was that woman With her
everything was for use, and to everything
7 she touched she lent something of her own
grace. Such a comfortable disposition as
She could make of chairs and footstools,
such knack as she had Of making few
/ plants in pots do duty for whole conser-
vatory, and getting a whole Christmas out
I Of few sprays of evergreen.
/ IT little " Brown eyes" was missing at
bed time, she was sure to be found IN
Robbies room; If an exquisite poem or a
choice sentiment was met in the day 5
reading, it must be shared with Robbie !;
everything that was best and sweetest in
I the home life gravitated to her. Robbie 5
room was the centre of the home, the rest
was circumference And it is hers still !;
I she cousecrated it to tender and touching
memories of patience and resignation; she
I filed it with her presence, and made it ey-
er after the shrine Of our loving remember
ance. the Mecca Of our best aspirations.
And has this life done nothing for hui
manity3 Is the world no better, that
such as she has lived and died Is Rob
bic's life "A failure, because she went all
her days attended by the angels Of sorrow
and sef-sacrifice ? Because She could
never know the romance OF love. or enjoy
the sweet satisfactions Of wifehood and
maternity There Is nothing that fills
my heart with a deeper gratitude than the
conviction that no true life can be a tail
ure, either TO It's possessor or to the
world; it is rich in fruition, rhythmical
with digincst harmonics