Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-02-01

John would not want the additional expense
Of hiring a nurse; if baby stayed she would
have to take care Of it herself This would
debar her from so many pleasures she had
hitherto enjoyed But is it right to live only
for ourselves7 Did not the Master command
US to work in His vineyard and if she sent
baby away, would He not say to her In as
much as ye did il not to one Of the least Of
these ye did it not to Me2"
Mr.. Morton came home earlier than tsual
that night. lie found baby still there. He
did not seem much surprised he too had
been pondcring all day whether it was right
to send baby away. At all events they would
not send it away that night, and when morn
ing came the decision had been made Baby
was to stay They named her Faith because
they trusted the Father that He had sent her
there for good, and not for evil.
For days the neighbors iu the block could
hear the ceaseless music Of Mrs Morton's
sewing machine, and if they had looked in
they would have seen numerous garments Of
soft muslin and warm flannel under process Of
completion into sundry little garments. Some
Of the ladies' said Mrs. Morton did not know
what a piece Of work she had undertaken
/
self at home so much taking care Of some
body elsos baby, whom nobody knew any
thing about.
Baby did bring a great deal Of care with
it, more than Mr.. and Mrs, Morton had any
idea Of, but they never said or felt that they
regretted the step they had taken. There
were so many stitches to take for baby that
Mrs. Morton had to take great many less
for herself, and garments that used to be
trimmed and embcished, had to 90 almost
| plain, but what matter. There are no ruiilcs
and puiis on the white robes up there
Christs robe was without even a seam. There
we're many wakeful nights aud wearisome
days, but God sent so much love with the
/ little one, and so much additional strength,
that what others called burden was
blessing to them. 1t led them hcavenward,
for it made them less selfish, less world
ly, and they had the happiness in their hearts
which comes Of working for the Master.
When the little voice first uttered Papa
Mr.. Mourton thought that baby was very for
ward, and Mrs Allison smiled over the little
rcd and white stocking she was knitting, when
he asked if babies as general thing were so
cunning and pretty.
> and childhood passed away. Those that knew
of the circumstances Of her early babyhood
had forgotten it, and those who had never
/, heard Of it, supposed that she was Mr. Nor
toms own child She had been the child of
3 prayer and religious training, and when girl
hood came she was a devoted Christian.
Beautiful in person and heart, she was beloved
; by all the wide circle of friends who gathered
around her, and not only by them, but by the
, many whom she sought out from the poor,
and befriended The wedding-day came, and
{ Faith clad in her bridal robes, was more
beautiful and loving in her fathers and moth
theirs eyes than ever before After the bri-
dal party had passed into the church, u wo-
: man, clad in rusty black, followed on and
stood in the aisle Those who saw her weep,
n wondered why she wept. What had she to
do with the bridal party? When the guests
had left Mr.. Morton's house. and the bride
u and groom had gone to their own home, the
a door.bel rang, and this woman was ushered
into the presence of the lonely father and
. mother.
Now that she is gone, can tell you all, u
n she said. THAT was my child. left it on
. your doorstep that cold morning long ago.
WIS WiiON Win clA NOihSu
. hard from morning until night, and far into
8 the night oitentimes, to get them food ant
clothes Sickness was coming upon me, and
,n that day we were to be carried to the poor
Is house That baby was my pet. She seemed
g, some way better than the rest. What should
~ do with it? Something whispered to carry
b it to you. Nobody but God knows what il
or cost me to give it up. | got up before day
ID break, and while the children were asleep
and wrapping my darling up in the onl
ne warm garment had left, took it and laid
II, on your stoop watched until saw it take
oil in; then felt you would keep it. God onl
p knows what you kept that child from; bu
you will have your reward when you G
DC home to your Fathers house. | have otte
Iu' been here to look upon my child, but sha
'u' never come again. | shall never make ny
self known to her.
le' The woman in black was gone, aud the rei
III of the story forever remained a mystery.
AZ As old age crept on, the two hearts thi
"a an had sheltered the homeless child so long b
nc gan to feel their Loneliness more keenly. A
l ter few years they went to their daughter
." home, and when they went to their reward,
T. was from the loving arms Of Faith, who
rs husband and little children wept for theI
yer :" And the King shall answer and say un
llnn' u them, verify say unto you, inasmuch as
l"- have done it unto one Of the least Of these,
have dcne it unto Me"-The Evangelist.