Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-01-11

But COON noo," he said, shade of feeling |
creeping into his hard face, +" Will nae De
hard on thee. If it cooms to matter OF
few shillins, doon't care. John Battus Is
no mean man wi the lasses. But tell thee
lass, thee had better send the lther lass TO
the poorhouse. l doon't mind lendln. thee
a shillin' or two. The ither lass will soon
be boxed up in the church-yard. But 70
think Of marryin' thee and the ither lass 10
keep Nay, nay, am ma SIGH 1901 as tna''
tell thee plain "
(" L loved you once, John, as only poor
girl can love a SHINING man. love yet,
Another pause. " But, but | am not well.
have not, fear, long to stay here. know
not the future. My hope is in Christ. 1t,
if,' she added, seeing the mailer about 10
descend the stairs, ''if my prayers reach the
throne of God, pray that Tie will give me
grace to continue in the path OF duty, rough
as it is" They parted.
And now commenced the fearful struggle
in Annie's mind between her love for John,
her duty to her sister, and want and disease.
Mary grew more frail and petulant. For
whole winter, when the great city was alive
with song and revelry, did this devoted girl
maintain this unequal fight. The writer OIL
ten looked up at her window with profound
admiration, as he watched the shadow OF her
| flying arm, weaving her life into bread And
! | knew too that death was weaving out oil
the cold, and hunger, and labor, shroud Tor
the fair girl.
One bitter winter morning found Annie
asleep over her unfinished work and behind
the curtain there was another, Mary, asleep
the sleep, oh, the quiet sleep which has no
dreams
The Hailer, hearing of Mary's death, re-
peated his visits to Annie. lie was, 50 he
said ma man to lie to lass" lie could
get, SO he said, . a noice fat girl from the
Staffordshire potteries, with nigh upon TWEEN
ty pounds in goOld. . Now, said he,
- that the ither lass is out of the way, will
20 to the parson and have it all roIght and
toight in a ii1y' Faithful John
= | am said Annie, " the bride OF the
grave, but love you yet, John.
When Mary was carried out, Annie sue
cumbed to disease and lay down in the now
vacant bed to rise no more.
At this time, the writer visited her. lie
had long admired her courage and pitied her.
| approached her bed timidly. She extended
her thin, white hand.
Miss ANNIE" said | awkwardly, . do
you-have you no fear-I mean-ahem =
For moment her dull eyes lighted up
with beautiful light
- Do you, )" said she, 1" see that blue sky?
pointing to blue streak through the win
dow.
| nodded assent.
a have been looking at that blue sky,
and it reminds me Of the sweet home IN old
England l have nothing to fear. l have
finished my mission. | am going home, all
is peace.
"Yes," responded, your life IS pure
You have lived a righteous"
9 Christ, she quietly said, . Is my right
eousness.
She closed her eyes moment, and then
raising the lids she added :
=. am not afraid that God will desert me
He never deserted any one who trusted him
| trust in the God Of Esther and Ruth and
Rachel he is my God.
l looked long in her face. had known
her when she looked the picture of high
health; but ! never saw her so beautiful az
now. Her face was lit up with the glory OF
the . upper sky" felt happy and sad al
once as 1 looked upon her. After seeming
struggle she moved her head uneaslly, and
while a red spot burned in her face, SAID:
- NV ancestors had decent burial. / should
feel bad if | thought that | should-shoulc
not have Christian burial. The love OF the
pure and the beautiful surviving, even in
death, pitied her
Did she want for anything ? No Some
ladies buried her decenuy.
Pleasant, and sweet, and sad is the mem
DRY of the English girl.
May my end be like hers
Instructed charity is pregnant with evI
discriminating charity, how good 1t Is -
Record Of Cbrisfi1H Work.