Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-09-13
BRATTLEBORO, VT, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 49, 1872.

tOSctner win the yarn-not the brightest
or most hopeful of thoughts, and the
young face grew weary and dlspiried.
IL any one is in the mood for being a
martyr, stake and fagots are never want
ing. Lucia found them in abundance.
Nothing new had come into or gone out
from her life; IL was only one of those days
whose peculiar atmosphere makes every
little roughness and unevenness of the
road stand forth in magnified proportions.
III only had some lining for these
sleeves, now, / could finish this" said
Aunt samantha, as the evening shadows
began TO gather in the little room. "You
couldn't go down to the store and get some
tnlng as well as not, could you, Lucia2
ia Ike proper well TO get this done to-
night"
Lucia assented rather listlessly. A walk
to the village did not promise to be very
inspiriting; but she did not care about be-
ing inspirited, and the light was growing
too dim for sewing.
A gray fog was settling down upon the
river, and folding itself about the little
pace. The sky above was dun, and the
ienilesS traes -loalSnd- -eeld and stiff. Lucia
abandoned the usual plth for the railroad
that wound around by the river, where she
could hear the low murmur of the water,
and see dimly, through the yelling mist,
the lights on the other shore. 1t was qui-
eter walk she liked il always, and to-
night the stiffness and grayness suited her.
She watched, with a kind of fascination the
trnNa la sI,.I 81. r..
out of sight, and fancied a resemblance to
the life-path marked out for her travelling.
In upon her musings broke roaring,
rumbling sound. She had been slow to
hear II, and when she turned, the great,
fiery eye of an approaching engine was
blazing full upon her. She quickened her
pace for few rods, to reach a more con-
yenient place for leaving the road, and was
turning aside, when she caught sight of a
dark form lying full upon the track, yard
or two in advance of he.. A second glance
made her heart beat fast with terror. She
sprang forward and reached the PROSTATE
fgure-a man, not dead, but utterly in
sensible from intoxication. She tried to
arouse him, but touch and voice were alike
unavailing. She thought wildly of some
way by which TO stop the approaching
train; but II was too late for that of help,
but there was none. Then exertng her
ut most strength-intensitied by despera-
tion-she succeeded at last in drawing the
wretched, unconscious creature just out of
his position of peril, and sank down her
sell upon the bank, as the train went rush
ing by with lis merrily flying sparks, and
it long row of brightly-lighted windows,
revealing the comfortable passengers with
in.
Not until the red lights had entirely fad
ed in the distance, did she leave her seat;
then pausing for moment to look upon
the one she had rescued, she went slowly
on her way. She had recognized the stu
pid bloated face even in the half light, and
knew that il was one for which home in
she village waited that night-sorc troubled
when it came, fearfully anxious when it
did not. Not valuable life, whether saved
or lost, would have been the comment of
rIe ueighborhood. 1t was the remark made
in the village store by those who went out
to look after the man upon Lucia's inlor-
great, still sky, where the first stars were
beginning 10 come out, shuddered at
thought Of what might have been the souls
awakening.
Life grows so wide, so deep, so solemn,
when one stands for moment at the open
door that shows ii stretching far away into
the Beyond. The current of thought in the
;rli. haI oh gel,, l. 4
homeward. The little vexations that had
just now sec med great enough to cloud all
the sky, sank into their proper insignifi-
cance. Mrs. Doon's vapidity, Molly's care
lessness, worn-out shoes and old cloaEs-
were these the chains to bind "a spirit know
ing the "power of an endless life?"
There can be no sorrow like that which
sin brings. She realized it glancing up at
the light from the home windows, and
of the mothers sweet face, Aunt
Samantha's good and kindly one, and the
careless merriment of the children who
would welcome her; remembering regret
fully, too, the hours that had passed in
gloomy silence, when they might have
been filled full with the dear home warmth
and cheer
And so she went in TO be brave, patient
and faithful always aiterward? No; but
to remember for little while, to stumble,
grope, and rise again. A clear eye for per-
spective is not taught in one lesson, either
in drawing or in life. Yet the lessons are
not useless; and the picture shall stand
forth fair and true at last-the dusty, unev-
en- road holding its appropriate place, and
high green hills, aiar oil. Christian Union.