Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-06-27
LOOKING on THE BRIGHT SIDE.

Knock, knock, knock, three times, and
sharp too, upon the deal door which open
ed from the shady porch.
"I'm coming in just one minnie" The
voice that called out was pleasant and
musical, and it made Aleck Gays heart
beat as no other could.
There was a little scramble within, and
the noise of whimpering child; then the
door opened, and Mrs. Hetty Henderson
stood holding the knob. She was snug
and tidy, round and plump, though little
under size. Her hair was rich auburn,
of that smooth and tractable kind which
never gets out of order Her face was
deliciously fair and rosy, or would have
been but for q trace Of WEAKNESS about
tine temples, and her eyes, of warm
hazel, would have brimmed over with
smiles had not the white lids dropped a
little from want of sleep. As she stood
there, so unconscously good and lovely,
Aleck gave her a look of alteration.
ooh, it's you. Aleck !" she said simply.
eyes, lIetty. ! was going past on my
way to Buxton, and I thought Pd let my
horse bait long enough to inquire how you
all are, and what has happened last; for
you know, Hetty, something is always
happening to you"
Mrs. Henderson let 60 the door and
gave laugh that sounded like the gurgle
of brook or the MARBLE of bobolink, or
whatever is sweetest, only there was an
under-tone of pathos in it, like half sob,
that went straight to Alexis heart.
'Well, it beats ALL" said she. "Im
getting my name up: but something has
happened, sure enough, this time. You
know was saying, ju,t after that insur-
ance company failed and refused to pay
the money on poor Wiliie's life, the next
thing to come along would be sickness. 1t
was about time one Of the children got
down with something, and sure enough
last Wednesday Ben was taken with the
measles He is as cross as two sticks, and
was up all last night giving him drink,
and every hour expect Hattie and Jane
will come down, and my employer over in
Buxton is hurrying me about those vests ;
but I've been wonderfully helped through
it all;n and the blithe laugh came again.
so gay and glad it almost brought the
tears into Alexis eyes.
"What woman you are for looking on
the bright side!" said he. GA body
would think, to hear you talk, every time
a trouble comes along that you had fallen
heir to a first-class fortune"
" should be pretty rich if that was
o." responded Mrs. Henderson; " for
something or other is always happening,
I'm one of the sort the Bible speaks Of
prone to trouble as the sparks are to fly
upward. And yet | ought not to say that
either, for | am wonderfully helped along"
"There's more practical religion in your
little finger" said Aleck, admiringly,
ethan in the rest of the folks put together.
But | guess I'll slip in and take chair,
Hetty. It's as cheap sitting as standing
any time"
The visitor walked into Mrs. Hender-
sons small sitting-room.
Overhead her little girls were playing
at old folks ea-party with broken dishes,
and were having a very prim, formal,
grown-up sort of time. The door was
open into the bedroom where the sick boy
lay, and he now raised half.disconsolate
moan for his mother to come and cool the
hot pillows, and give him drink of the
slippery-elm tea which stood on the little
stand by his side.
The little sitting-room was quite home
ly, but some of the charm of Iletty's per.
sonality seemed to cling about it.
"Confound it, Hetty ~ he broke forth
as Mrs. Henderson stepped from the bed
room, &C don't know how I'm going tc
stand it to have you work as you do. YOU
understand how it has been with me evel
since we were children together.
wouldn't speak until year after poor
WHIPS death"
Hetty turned and gave him a pleading
look.
Forgive me-" said he, penitent to thu
very toes of his big boots. "rm an awk
ward, clumsy fellow, Hetty, and it's jus
like me to tread on flower when woul(
give my right hand to save it. But yoI
know how | have always felt since W,
went to school together and ate out of thu
same luncheon basket, and gathered
nuts and wild cherries for you in summer
and dragged you up hill on my sled Il
winter. There came time, Hetty, whel
you told me you could not love me, and
never blamed you for taking Will. H
was worthier, far worthier, than |.
tried hard not to envy him, even when j
was the worst with me, and | don't sa.
but what did enjoy life some. I'm n
hypocrite, Hetty," he went on, humbly
" and a wrong word will slip out now an
then when | am angry. am sorry for il
Hetty. | wish was better man, and
know you could make me one. | don
make professions. The pharisees call IN
hard names, for mans reputation
blasted in this community if he uses
checkrein and occasionally takes q glas
of hard cider If / don't make any pre-
tense to piety, Pm straighter in my busi
ness dealings than some round here tina
do.n
Hetty did not like this kind of talk, an
her face showed it, The softness depart
ed, and look of decision and characte
came in its stead.
!eYou can't clear your own skirts, sal
she, with alittle asperity, "by THROWN
blame on professors of religion. If you d
see a mote in your neighbours eye, tina
isn't going to pluck the beam out of you
own eye"
"a fpct, sow ha had unsat his own dish