Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-09-18
Queen Hilda.

Hlda was the only child Of her parents
and they had great wealth. While She was
yet an infant an Astrologer cast her horo-
scope and won from the stars the secret Of
her future.
Standing by her cradle he said, "0f a
truth, little one, no common destiny is thine.
From thy abundance shall many be made
rich yea a kingdom awaits thee and crown
Of transcendent beauty but to possess thy
kingdom thou must conquer it, and to wear
the crown, win il.
Then without word more the Astrologer
departed, and the little one laughed aud
crowed as merrily as if in all the world were
no such things to be sighed for as kingdoms
and crowns. But the parents treasured the
words Of the Astrologer and counted the
years that must pass ere his wonderful pre-
dctions could be realized, and wished that
they were already gone But time did not
hurry for their wishing. The yearscame and
went just as usual Little Hilda lived
through all the phases Of babyhood, and child
hood, each more beautiful than the last, and
became a fair maiden, the light of the house
hold, the JOY of all hearts Peace was writ
ten upon her brow truth and love looked out
Of her eyes in her tongue was the law of
Kindness and at her coming contention ceased.
Through her sympathies she felt the Joy and
the sorrow of all living things, and the cares
Of others became hers. Love made skillful
her fingers and furnished her feet with wings.
She seemed never weary, for she breathed in
love as others breathe in air, and she was al
ways happy because there was always so
much to be done.
"0ur daughter is almost woman" said
the father, " she must soon 10 forth in search
of her kingdom" But just then wealth took
to itself wings and few away, aud all the cir
cumstances Of her life were changed. The
strong man was stricken with disease and the
heart Of the mother failed and waxed heavy
within her but the heart of Hilda never
failed nor did her hands grow weary. She
learned the secrets of the sick room all the
arts of tender minstraton to endure weari-
ness without complaint, to yield her own
wishes to those Of another, to speak cheerfully
when her heart was heavy, to keep back the
tears that were ready to fall, and to meet the
wistful eyes that sought hers with smile of
encouragement.
So the years went by, years Of toll and
weariness and patient self-sacrlhce. The
father fingered on his sick-bed, and now an
other great sorrow came, for the mother was
stricken with blindness. Poverty sharp and
pinching came into the home, and sat down
by the freside. But Hilda lifted up her soul
to God and said, though he slay me, yet
will trust him" and her heart neither failed
nor did her hands cease work.
At length the father died, and was laid
away in the church-yard and Hida had the
care of but one helpless parent instead of
two So she gathered about her the little chill
dreu of the neighborhood, and Seating the
blind mother in their midst, she taught them
in such cheerful aud happy wise that the poor
widow forgot her blindness and all the sor-
rows of her lot, and seemed to herself once
more child. Listening to Hilda's speech she
journeyed from land to land, made the ac-
quaiutance Of famous men and women, and
entered unchalenged the presence-chamber of
kings and queens, Poverty was driven away
from the freside comfort, refinement and
beauty were installed in the home, and Hildas
eyes shone through happy tears as she kissed
her mothers brow, to which the old look Of
peace and contentment had returned.
Still the years went by and the blind moth
or was laid beside the father in the church
yard. Hildas brown hair showed threads of
silver, and she seemed to have forgotten all
about the kingdom which the Astrologer had
promised her. She lived quite alone in her
little cottage, and if the dreams of husband
aud children that come to most women had
in her younger days come to her, they had
been put aside from the busy life that had in
it no place for them. But she was not there
fore lonely or unhappy.
Hilda, an old woman, lay dead in the house
where she had spent so many busy years,
wept over and lamented by all who had known
her. She had conquered no kingdom, save
little space in which to live and work had
won no crown but her silver hair.
Was it so indeed ? Did the long self.deny-
ing life amount to no more than this 7 So it
might seem to the worldly minded, but not so
to God and the angels In losing her life she
had found it. In surrendering self, she had
conquered the joys of Heaven by giving
from her abundant sympathy. she had found
her own life enriched, filed with beauty and
fragrance like the garden of God. How many
sorrowing had she comforted, how many in
firm of purpose had she strengthened, how
many erring had she reclaimed Had she
not conquered self, subdued worldly ambition,
vanquished personal aims2 Was she not
crowned with tender memories, grateful bene.
dictions, the peace of God Truly she had
conquered her kingdom, won her crowd
Celia BErieigh, in Christian Union.