Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-05-29
What Kate Found to DO.

What Kate Found TO DO.
oWell, now, Kate" said Aunt Mary, cit
is your birthday, isn't it2' Shouldn't have
thought of it, if hadn't heard Jane just
now wishing you happy new year Egh-
teen, isn't it2"
"No, I'm nineteen to-day"
Dear me, how fast you are growing up
Kate, do get me my work basket" And that
was the sum Of Kate's conversation with
Aunt Mary respecting her nineteenth birth
day.
There arc not many girls who are very set
tied and very happy at nineteen. They laugh
aud talk, 20 to parties, read some books,
make calls, alter their dresses, aud do thou.
sand such things that are necessary; but by
this time they have done them all a good
while. And the thought will not be crushed,
" Is this the whole of life ?" Now such
thought as this was the actual knot in all the
tangled mass Of thoughts thathad filed Kate's
mind through the dull 9th day Of December
her birthday In other days-only few
short years ago-a wreath Of red berries
round a little cake, and special kiss all
round had quite satisfied herr but even at
nineteen there are fewer lips to give the birth
day kiss Besides, life had actually come
now That wonderful future she used to
dream about was right here. She was al
ready in it, and the thought indeed the ques-
tion, would come up, What am | doiDgP
| don't see but am busy all the time, but it
isn't living When get through | shall
have nothing to show There's Annie viii.
son. She can draw and paint, aud under
stands music. see how she can fil her life
up, well enough And there's Carrie French
who is going next month to teach school
but as for me- | can't see my way out"
Poor Kate Something definite was what
she wanted Of vague energy and eager
ness she had enough She didn't need so
much to be taught, " Whatsoever thy hand
fndeih to do, do it with thy might" as hoi0
to find something to do. 1t is true of half
the young Christian girls who want to serve
and live to real purpose, bat don't know where
to begin. When they come down from ab
stract thinking to the regular, hopeless Mon
day, and Tuesday, and Wednesday, it is as if
they had come in contact with blank stone
wall.
/ Kate's home was pleasant one. Her
father was stirring man Of business-here
and there and everywhere. The only brother
who was left, was in store in the village
a kind, cood-natured sort Of man, who moved
on in certain even way, loved Kate, and
told her so sometimes, but knew as much of
her inner life as the Queen Of England At
home every day were her mother, this un-
married aunt, aud one servant. Her mother
was thoroughly practical woman, busy with
! l.,r al har rIan and etr.
Gus than her sister, who hustled about all day
long in sort of disconnected way. Between
Kate's secret thoughts and this home circle,
there was Il most impossible gulf They
could help her less than she could help her.
self; only this night the burden seemed too
heavy, for her TO bear There was no use in
going away to cry over it. She had tried
that before She was in no mood for read
ing so she took her unfinished dress, put the
shade on the lamp, and sat down to sew on
the braid.
Tiukle, tnkle,' went the door-bell
" Dear me-" she said to herself " | cannot
talk tonight but she went to the door.
90 Mrs. Jackson, good evening And
this good lady had hearty kiss and welcome
Something in her quiet eyes met Kates mood,
She united the strings of her friends white
hood and sat down close by her with very
wistful look Now they were alone, if Mrs.
Jackson would only talk to her, and help her
little. However, it was only by intuition
one could have told her thought. She never
knew how to speak first.
Do you know, Kate said Mrs. Jackson,
when they talked little about commonplace
things, | often wonder if you are quite CON
tented ?"
Kate looked up quickly, and read some
thing in the thoughtful face that opened her
heart. She hadn't much to say, for her
trouble was rather intangble-a blank, a
sense Of life slipping away with no real thing
done"
81 new," said she, " for John, and dust
the rooms every morning but most Of the
things mother would rather do herself; then
auntie takes good deal Of care, so don't
seem to be rery necessary. The weeks 60 on,
and don't see what it all amounts to.
You finished school last summer didn't
YOU Kate2"
; Yes, father thought | had been long
enough besides, my head troubled me so
r much when was studying, it was of no use
for me to try to 60 on. Oh dear Some
times | wish | were SO poor should have to
, support myself | believe should be hap
pier"
= Mrs. Jackson was silent minute, ponder
! ing, while she drew Kate to her with ca
G ressing motion. understand" said she
G I've lived through it ALL | think the great
, thing for you now is, to know just what you
! ought to do. You want to find the right path
Il L Il. Ia. l,.u 10 atr
f. stances, and trying to force your dreams
{ against Providence. Suppose we think thing
G over, aud see little"
0 Well," said Kate, 81 have wanted to 60
. with Carrie French, to teach school. bell
eve | know enough for that. But, you see
! can't stir a step. I'm the only daughter
! and they think I'm not strong, 80 | never
4 could persuade father and mother that it is
. ANYTHING but nonsense. Taere's no use think
e ing any more Of that. If lived in a large
I town thcre'd be plenty to do for poor people
I but you know how il is here. There it is
$ | seem to be so shut up" Aud her lips
auivered little as she went round the old
8 hopeless circle again.
,, =" But Kate, dear, God means to have you
a do something that calls out all your powers
e If he shuts you up here in the village, the
o work is here. know what you want to say
! You have lived here SO long, with everything
9 going on in regular way, you can't break
r through You don't know how to get any.
t thing to begin with. 1t is like putting oui
d your hand to take an apple in a drcam--jusi
y as you put it out you wake up" Kate looked
q up with smile, and eyes brimming over
I This was just the trouble.
g Mrs. Jackson was silent another minute OF
n two She knew Kate didn't need to be d
i rected into seeing home duties better just now
It She was already good daughter and sister
a The finer shades Of help aud home service
9 she would fad by degrees If she could one,
;, start in the right direction. To go out wa
+ the best thing for her first. The silence wa
: broken rather abruptly.