Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-10-04

master, and for faith to trust his word. And
all the time the angel whispered softly " Let
not the sun 60 down on your WRATH And
though Mandy answered, I'll hate to give in,"
she made up her mind to do so.
She did not stop to talk as was her wont,
after service, but hurried home as fast as her
feet would take her. On the little doorstep
sat Ruth, doleful enough, while low whine
from the neighborhood Of the hop.yine told
OF old Bones tied and protesting, remember
ing the door.mat where he was wont to sleep
Ruth drew aside her gown as Mandy drew
near that it might not call forth another re-
buke.
twas very hard for Mandy to say she had
been wrong very hard, and 90 she sat down
moment or two before the struggle was
ended
Ruth :"
We'll! !" the voice was low aud sorrowiuI
Ruthie, didn't mean to be 80 ugly,
don't know what made me"
30 Mandy Both the thin hands went
straight out and took the red old face, bon.
net aud ALL and drew it on her shoulder.
"And was tryin to you didn't think,
said Ruth softly
"'Pears the old Nick makes me act so
but there's only US two now, an we oughtn't
to bear a grudge, ought we, Ruthie 2'
Then sitting in the moonlight they prom
ised each to be more patient with the other
Something might happen to you or me,
Mandy to separate us, said Ruth tenderly.
Mandy was thorough in her repentance,
for she said ." guess I'll 60 and unite
poor old Bones aud bring him back, and lost
no time in going to his release.
Just then the gate swung open, tall fig
ure in a travellers suit Of gray threaded his
way through the liacs and syringas like one
who knew his ground till he Rocked at the
company "front door" Fitting through the
house Ruth opened it, aud stood like one in a
dream, as the stranger said
HAS Mandy gone to meeting, to-night2'
And then the good, honest laugh Of Edwin
Carter's boyhood rung as it used to do SO long
ago, as he took the slender hands 10 both his
own. Shall we forgive and forget, Rutbie ?"
1t was all settled before Mandy came back
with Bones"
She stood speechless, for she recognized the
stranger Of the prayer.meeting, when Ruth
said, MANDY, this is Edwin Carter"
"It's all right now, Miss Mandy, shake
hands, I'm the happiest man alive" said the
CHEEKY voice.
1t was a little trying to Mandys new res.
outions but she listened to the story Of hi:
wandering and return aud said no word oil
unkindness to the middle-aged lovers bui
she did say, "Humph :" as she left them, anc
found new comfort in the old hounds trust in
her word, for she had told him, "sbe wasn1
goin to broomstck him any more, and h,
believed it.
There will be a quiet wedding in the cot
tage after all, and Mandy is outdoing hersel
in the variety and magnitude of the cake
for the occasion. She will not stop to thinl
how soon she will be left alone, for Ruth i
going out West to live.
Aud in the long lonely days to come, sh
will remember gladly that some good angC
saved her from sorrow, for little Ruth
desperate and determined, had really intend
ed TO take her at her word and 90 out /
service, and so hide herself from her sister
ungentle words. She had come back to tn
house only for few trifes. Mandy, now
will have no one to oppose her strong viii
but as she eats her joll" and "turnips a
alone will be glad TO remember that once
at least, she "did give in," and listened t
, the prompting of the angel at her elbow.
For they do stand beside US, these mini
Q tering ones, not alone for the hour of dea:l
of great temptation or despair, but just a
, truly when fretting cares pluck at our sleeve
and send up bitter words to weary lips Oh
} let US heed them better, these voiceless frienC
of ours