Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-07-24
Nancy White.

Nancy White was ouly washer.woman,
yet she sat near the splendid cofhn where lay
in sweet rcposc, together, young mother aud
newborn babe.
Most lovely was the face which death had
altered so little. The stately parors draped
in black the beautiful things she had so de-
lighted in, CLEANS Of marble glimpses Of rare
color aud exquisite drapery lent a strange
and solemn brightness to the scene
Long and earnestly Nancy White looked
on the two pure faces. Her lips trembed !;
her eyes glisiened, but a smile fought with the
tears.
Ancr all, God knew best lie hasn't
parted them she said softly.
Nancy White was known all over town for
an honest, blunt, aud kindly creature She
told homely truths over the washtub that
many a lady would never have borne from an
ordinary acquaintance.
I She, too, stood at the grave in her scant
brown gown aud the sombre plaid ribbon over
her bonnet. Her heart bled for the suffering
husband, aud when she saw him standing
there, white aud rigid as the marble shafts ou
either side, she whispered
Poor body there's a cloud between him
and the Master"
This thought haunted her, and the next day
old Nancy toiled up the steep hill again,
toward the rich mans house.
Tell him a poor, mean body has come to
give him comfort" she said tell him have
brought a message from the Lord Of Glory.
| Presently Nancy was ushered Into a dark
room, where sat the mourner. Nancy had
often comiorted his pretty wife before her
trial--he knew that aud so while all his in-
tmate friends might have been refused au-
dieuce, the poor homely, blunt creature was
admitted.
1t was the room where the beautiful young
wife had been wont to sit, and he had gath
cred few precious memcntoes Of her busy,
happy presence, and sat there with bowed
head aud sobbng breath. Nancy came qui-
city in and stood beside him, her faded lock- :
combed back from her hollow checks, her
scanned face lighted with unearthly radiance
as she exclaimed in a sweet, solemn voice
The Lord comfort ye! !"
Nancy, am in utter despair" was the
choked response.
Nancy looked at him ptifully, her heavy
hands working one over the other, and at last
she said, as if soliIoquiziug
My man was drowned in the river. lie
was good husband to me, aud he went out
full Of health aud strength aud was brought
home to me, that loved him so, dead. Within
the month my two children died, and was
left alone with a blind mother 10 support.
have seen afilction in every shape. have
seen poverty aud sickness, hut found God
word true through it all. hugeed it to my
heart aud it grew dearer than husband aud
BARNS even, aud so it will to you, poor man
If you will look to the Master"
/" It's dark. Nancy, all dark, have buried
my happiness"
:. Blessed are they that mourn, for they
shall be comforted," =" said Nancy softly
lie looked up at her. There she stood
rugged, homely aud humble and it seemed tc
strike him all at once that her visit was en-
trely uDseldsh, so that his heart warmed
toward her.
That's promise, sir, she added.
"Yes, Nancy-,hats promise" he qui
etly responded.
"From One who never broke His word
sir. He has taken the two sweet angels I,
Himself, to save your soul, sir. You wer'
rich, aud easy, and prosperous, and, maybe
forgetting Him"
" Nancy, would give all the world if
could feel a Christian comfort" he said sadly
And that's brave speech, sir, to Civ
. what isn't your own-a pretty gift, l'm think
ing, the Lord would think it, Would
thank you if you said Nancy, I'll give yo'
the house over yonder when know it he
longs to Captain Nash No, no give Go
what belongs to you your own poor, broker
sinful heart, and He'll make il clean, see
He don't. He'll comfort you so that you
say in all her dear life you never had sue
j. comfort Oh, my dear man, mourn befor
God with this sorrow. and you'll bless the da
my Master ever sent His poor old servant I
say word to you Of Him."
% The truth struck home. Then was hi
+ mourning mingled with contrition. Th
sweet promise was veri6ed--at the grave {
his wife, or surrounded by remembrances {
her, in the room where she died
:, " Blessed are they that mourn, for the
shall be comforted."
- As for Nancy, she watched him on Sunday
from her seat in the corner, or sometimes sh
met him in the ehurch-door, and it was u
the reward she needed to hear him say;
"God bless you, Nancy, am trying
E get on"