Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-10-25
John Stedman,s Loss and Gain.

and farm-wagon stood at the Cute and the
bright milk cans CLEANED with the first red
beams Of the sun. Mary had come out to see
him of, and as the hard working young couple
looked back at the neat, white cottage and
ample barn with its surroundings they felt a
thrill Of pleasure inthe thought that the little
farm was the result Of their own patient toll
4 mine Of wealth had this buxom young
woman been to her husbaud-sirong industri-
Gus, capable and frugal So they were now
fairly out Of debt, aud the future seemed to
open before them with cloudiess skies.
How sweet the air is,' said John, and
how the birds sing. 1t does seem now, Mary,
that we might rest a little and enjoy life"
Mary's little brown hand stole over his lips
and a sad look came into her thoughtful eyes
&" Who gave US strength to labor, and sent the
early and latter rain and gave US the obund-
ant haryests2 Darling, it would be my great
est rest and joy toknow that you loved Him "
Well, little one, there will be time enough
to talk about that when come back | must
60 now good bye
He looked back, as the horse started, and
saw those wistful loving eyes following him,
misty with weight of tears
Poor little girl | hopo I didn't hurt
her feelings" thought he, as he turned at the
top of the hill and kissed his hand to the trim
figure at the gate. She has queer notions
about Providence Women are naturally su-
perstitious | really believe she thinks God
gave US this comfortable home in answer to
her prayers. Easy way to get property that
save a good many hard knocks But then
she is just the best little creature that ever
breathed. Her religion don't hurt her for
any Of her work, at home or abroad. And it
does beat all how she bears trouble There
was that baby Of ours, a splendid boy, her
life seemed to be bound up in him, and when
he died, | almost expected it would kill her
too but she just seemed to give him up to
God without a murmur | own it irets and
chaies me to this day. Why God should
take that noble child from comfortable home
and the best mother that ever lived and
spare that drunken Tins poor, deiormet
baby just the same age, and to all appearance
just as sick with the same disease, is more
than can understand. 1t is a hard blow
for me- but suppose it's wrong to complain
as long as Marys left Life wouldn't be
worth having without her. And then, in
thought, he went back to their early days oi
friendship, and every little scene Of theil
united lives came up to him, and made hin
feel her uuselAsh love so much that his day
Of businesss looked long, and the night far Of
when he could return to his pleasant home
and tell her his thoughts
The long day passed at length, and he wa
returning. Again busy thought resumed it
sway, and this time it was anticipation. II,
saw his Mary sitting in her cosy paror, sweet
with the fragrance of flowers, reading Thoma!
a Kempis. He followed her in her Journeys
to the kitchen to see that his supper was kep
hot watched her gather the fowls for theil
evening meal saw the kittens purrlng arounc
her, and old Jowler's almost human look o.
love as he took his portion from her hand
" Everybody and everything loves her,
thought this principal lover Of ten years
standing and for once this partial estimate
was entirely correct. Yes, [ am a happy
man, that's fact Home is in sight now. -
How fair it looks in the sunset. Is she at
the door The vines shade the front door
but she will be at the gate wonder if the
day has seemed as long to her as it has tC
me. There is somebody coming up the hill
Neighbor Poor and on foot hope nothing
is amiss.
One glance at the mans face, and all tn,
blood recedes from his own, and his hoars,
voice can only whisper, "What is it2" On,
moment ofa kind attempt at softening the blow
and his worst fears are realized His Mary
fell in fainting fit while about her work
and could not be revived. Oh it is so sud.
den to come in the midst Of his joy-this ter,
rible anguish She is not dead, it is only
sleep His Mary, so full of life this morn
ing. Gone Whittier And he left tC
grope his way in utter darkness and despair
alone She always said Hei God of mer.
cy. Is this merey} Ten years of JOY and
happiness, only ten For the rest, pain and
misery unutterabe. He entered the room
where the loved form lay beautiful in hel
last sic pa stricken man, bowed as with
the weight Of years-and gazed upon the
peaceful face. There was no trace Of earthly
pain. She was enjoying heavenly resti tha
he could not doubt, She had gone to One
she loved better than she had ever loved him
The latter thought was exquisite pain Goo
had only taken His own, but what horrbl,
void was left for him. Yet all these year
he had enjoyed her love, and had never one,
thanked the Giver He recalled his vain
glorious boasting and saw those tender, tear
ful eyes again fixed on his in wistful yearn
ing. Nevermore this side the grave woult
they beam on him again. He must follow. H
must find the place where she had gone. III
must see see her again, and yet how coul,
he2
"Those holy gatos forever bar
Pollution sin and shame.'
She had lived close to God, had consulte,
Him in the least event of her life. Was i
superstition No. Now that death hai
claimed the best halfof his own soul, he, VIII
had doubted almost the existence Of God
coald doubt no longer But lie now appeare'
dreadful Sovereign. He felt that He wa
crushing his very heart. Terrible darknes
settled down upon him. His poor torturet
soul questioned the right of God to make hin
so susceptible Of pleasure and pain, and ther
by taking away his idol to turn his life int
the very gall Of bitterness.
He rebelled fiercely. Weeks, months wor,
on the flowers sprung up and blossomed ol
the grave, and still his Mary's wistihl eyes
as he had seen them last, kept inviting him t.
haven of rest. At last, tired Of the war.
fare, he laid down the weapons of his rebel
lion. 80 God" he cried, " give up. Thol
hast right to me, body and soul. am vilC
and full of sin, but cannot make myself bet
ter Take me just as ! am !" Did eve
prayer like that 60 up from mortal heart il
the name of Christ, and not prevail Peace
settled down into the heart of the stricken
one--such peace as Christ only can give, and
having lost worldly JOY, he became most un
selfsh laborer in the vineyard of the Master
and often thanked God in the depths of hi
heart that He had removed finite good, tina
He might confer infinite happiness --Coagre
gationaiist.
Those who have not suffered know no