Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1872-07-26
A Detect of Vision.
BY MISS CHARLoTrE NJ. PAcKA

my duty to call upon all the worthy wo-
men in the parish Dear Mrs. Vandeck-
er, people are not constituted like your
self mean most people. dare say
am faulty enough, to begin with"
Pretty Mrs. Blake looked appealingly
at her visitor, and then not finding the
precise shade of sympathetic expression
she anticipated, lifted her eyes to the
vines wandering over golden wall.
"We must judge of our own duties"
was the quiet response. "Mrs. French
is stranger, and such a near neighbor,
| thought it would be easy for you to no.
tice her. The society is large, and of
course there are natural limits to socia-
bility."
"True, one must make dead stop
somewhere" responded Mrs. Blake, and
as she glanced up and down the modern
street, with its handsome monotony of
brick houses, she wondered why Mrs.
Vandecker could not perceive that the
cessation of brick and marble was the
natural boundary. Because her back
parlor windows looked out upon an old
wooden tenement, must she be expected
to cultivate the occupants?
81 did not come here with the idea Of
preaching you sermonI Pray excuse
me if have said too much, but this mat
ter of Christian intercourse has weighed
on my mind of late" Mrs. Vandecker
observed, rising, noticing as she did so
furniture van before the door opposite.
"a new family moving in? Do you
know anything about them? p she in
quired.
"Yes, indeed |" was replied with much
animation. Mrs. General Deerfeld's
sister, Just married to Harry West. |
expect to find her delightful acquaint-
ance. Her wedding made great sem
sensation !"
There was slight arching of Mrs.
Vandecker's eyebrows at this naive con-
fession after what had preceded, but she
did not comment except to wish Mrs.
Blake much joy of the acquisition, and
good day.
Mrs. Blake was an ambitious Christian
who gave tithes of mint; anise and cum
min, and meant to 60 toheaven in aristo-
cratic company. She was Christian,
too, but her piety was overlaid with a
stratum of worldliness, through which
one must break to reach the real soil. It
was her intention to be very kind to peo-
pie out of "her set" to talk to them at
sewing circles and prayer meetings, and
send them Jellies if they fell sick but
calling and visiting-2 All, the defect of
vision manifested itself herel
The rich lace curtains falling over her
windows did not exclude the sight of
that ugly house, and the modest family
going in and out. Only last Sunday at
communion, Mrs. French had occupied
seat adjacent to Mrs. Blake's. "One
Ford, one faith, and by and by one
home" WE'LL" sighed uneasy Mrs.
Blake, there will be no queer bonnets,
dyed, skimped dresses, or cotton gloves
to contend with there. Distinctions
must exist here, and they are proper and
beautiful p
1t did occur to her mind that she might
reach friendly hand to the stranger,
and utter a friendly word for the Lords
sake, but she caught sight of Madame
Lee adjusting her fur cloak, and has
tened to meet her.
Time went on, and Mrs. Harry West
proved a congenial companion, introduce
ing Mrs. Blake to wider sphere and
choicer atmosphere in which nearly all
thought and saw alike. 1t was wonder
full now clearly the path of duty was
marked out when it ran parallel with
the approved lines, and of how many
sacrifices of time, and inclination, and
money Mrs. Blake found herself capa-
Bile. Still the yellow brown house, like
a very Mordecai, sat at the back gate,
and looked with paper-curtained win
dows at its stately neighbor; while poor
Mrs. French. who had moved from a
lively village where she was much loved
and esteemed, sighed over her lonely es-
tate in the bustling city.
can't see my way" Mrs. Blake
apologized to herself. Seeing her way
down to Mrs. French, would be permit
ting that person to see the way up to her,
and until one has seriously weighed the
matter, one does not realize the difference
between "person" and lady
There came day when this nice dis
tinction was forgotten. A malignant epi-
demic ragged in that fine, cleanly quarter
of the town, driving men and women in
terror before its baneful breath. Only
Mrs. French dared offer her services as
nurse to Mrs. Blake, when that individ-
ual was stricken in an unlooked-for hour,
but neither introduction nor apology is
requisite when one goes to meet such