Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-07-03
Miss Ruth's Inheritance.

Did ever tell you about my dark day p
said the little dressmaker looking up in my
face, with the sunny smile that always made
her plain, homely features beautiful to me.
Yours, Miss Ruth Why | did not
know you ever had any You arc SO cheer.
iul aud bright, so ike a song sparrow, | can
hardly think Of you being sad. How was it7"
You see, she said smoothing the pattern
on her cupboard, and cutting Jessies sleeves
out as she talked, we people who live 90
the Give Us this day our daily bread are
not generally sure Of the bread for q long
spell ahead. Though | used to try my best
to save and gather, aBd get something in the
bank, never feeling easy in my mind as to
what we'd do if should be sick, or run over
at a street crossing, or lose my eyes yet,
when the rent was paid, aud the clothes
| bought, and the fuel 10, we didn't seem to
have much Of a margin. But winter before
/ last, we had been better of than usual and
on the last day Of December ! had twenty
| five dollars clear begin a bank account,
the FIRST deposit | had made since father died
What little we had saved before went for his
sickness and to bury him. Bright and early
the day after New Years | started down
t0Sn with my money, end there was not q
happier woman inaIl New York than l. The
cais were crowded, and bad to stand all the
way but little / minded that, my dear. The
uest-egg | had 10 my pocket made NY heart
beat quicker, aud every few minutes, | would
put my hand in to feel if 1t was safe. |
stopped the car at the door Of the bauk and
went in, and, not to make long story Of il
the money was gone"
Gone ?"
Yes, utterly lost. Between the last cor.
ner aud the place where | stopped, my purse
had been stolen, and pickpocket was in pos
session Of my earnings | spoke to a police
man, but he couldn't comfort me much, and
so went home, walking all the way, forty
blocks because hadn't a cent left, and if
[ had | would have felt too poor to spend
1t then. on a ride.
Mother bade me not fret about it, nor
think Of the dress had turned, nor of the
old rusty bonnet she had worn four winters,
nor Of all the things | could have made that
money do. Lost dollars look so large my
dear! 1t might be worse, Ruth said moth.
er with her patient voice. aud her knitting
needles shining in the sun as they went to
aud fro. | couldn't look at the needles, nor
answer her for | thought things couldn't be
worsen
don't wouder, Miss Ruth, said Jessie.
coming to try on her sleeve " | should have
given right up then aud there"
The Lord doth not afiiet willingly, little
Jessie" said Miss Ruth, but forgot that,
aud oh how | murmured-I had more rea-
son afterward. Work grew slack one fam
lily went away to stay until spring, another
needed no more sewing at present, aud in the
midst Of the dull time, poor mother was taken
down with rheumatic fever, | did what |
could, waiting on ber and laying awake
nights cOntriyng and planning, and selling of
little things we could spare, sewing now and
thea, but funds we're falling. Ii was all
could do to keep out Of debt, though lived
on mush and molasSes, and made drawing
Of tea last over three times. Then the doe
tor said one day that mother must have nour-
fishing food-fare beef-steak, aud broiled
chicken and things to tempt her appetite
heard him calmly, and never said a word, but
my heart was like lead Where was to get
them
"Well, the day passed by--cold and stormy,
and lamenting, but it suited me | felt the
way the wind did as it walled down the chin.
uey. At seven O'Clock, the church bells be.
gan to ring. and they sounded faint and far
away they always do when there is a north
east storm. Yet for all that there was a cali
in them, and they seemed to be saying "Come,
Ruth, come"
tiptoed over to mother; she was fast
asleep, thing that hadn't happened for
couldn't tell how long at that hour Of the
evening. put on my shawl aud my bonnet,
Tor the b,4ls were saying Come, faster than
ever, and asked my ueighbor to 90 in to moth
er II she heard her speak and through the
sleet and the wind, aud the cold that cut like
kuiie, | rushed away to prayer meeting
When got there | saw that my pastor wasn't
there, aud in bis place a young man just out
Of college, and what could he have to say to
help me, | thought. But ah my dear, you
know what the hymn says
From every stormy wind that blows
From every swelling tide Of woes,
There Is taiui, sure retreat,
It's found beneath the Mercy Seat
." As | sat there, | began to feel rested.
Peace came TO me. The prayers took hold of
ne, and lifted me into different atmosphere.
And up rose the dear youth whom the Lord
had sent there that night, with message for
poor, faiut, discouraged Ruth Grant, and gave
out his text. What was it2 Why just this,
All things are yours and ye are Christ's, and
Christ is Gods
As he read the dear Bible words that I'd
known and forgotten, light came to me, and
| saw my Inheritance. A poor sewing girl,
without penny in my pocket, and mother
dying for food could not give her, yet rich
er than the richest for was Chrsts, and all
was mine. got hold of my title deed that
moment, and I've never lost it since.
81 went home, and said my prayers, and
slept. And in the morning early knock
came to the door, and there stood dear lady
who had sat by me the night before in church.
Miss Ruth, said she, i've got some oranges
aud jelly for your mother, and here, she
whispered, is a loan !; you can pay when
times are better, just as you are able, little
at time And, leaving two ten dollar bills
in my hand, she was away before | could
thank her.
But here is Jessie's dress done. What
shall do next2"
"Just tell me one thing, Miss Ruth. Have
you never had any dark days since 2"
Trying days and firing days, and sick
days, darling, but no dark ones for | have
kept hold of my Fathers hand tight, and he'll
bring me to the kingdom, that's sure. And
LII not want by the way while | have faith
in Mrs. N. E. Saagster, in hdrocate
and Guardian
What an awful thing it is to die rich !
Imagine the Master auditing the account Of a
servant who has left behind half million
If that poor wretch who had but one talent
was cast into outer darkness because he laid