The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-06-24

My dear, she is lady, said the vicar
aud then sat down and looked at us, and
we looked at him.
For a few moments we were astonshed
to speak.
"A lady what shall we do with her 2
grasped Mrs. Ambrose presently, as all
the social complications of the position
rose before her.
That's the bother Of it; forsce all
sorts of difficulties, sighed the vicar
but it cant be helped, and,' he added,
Frightening, perhaps other people won't
find it out if we don't tell them
How is she dressed - | asked eager
ly.
'All in black looking small and straight
somehow.
Is she pretty?'
No.
Then they acont find her out said
emphatically. If woman isn't pretty
and well dressed, and does not call her.
self lady, she will only be found out by
her own class
How can you know p said the vicar,
looking at me.
Never mind howl do know and if
we and Mrs. Henry are wise enough to
keep our own counsel and our own places,
it will be all right.
But won't she expect to be treated as
a lady-asked to dinner and all that /?
asked Mrs. Ambrose doubtfully.
Il think not, said the vicar ; and if
she does we cant help it. If she is
lady, she will recognize her position and
accept it,
could not tell how old she was. She
might have been thirty she might have
been fve-and-forty. used to watch her
for half hours at time to try and settle
the question to my own satisfaction. but
was always puzzled.
But she showed her authority at the
first sign Of disobodience There was no
threatening, no talking about how she
would punish them if they were naughty,
but the punishment came swiftly on the
commission Of the offence, and in less than
a month she had established such disci-
plne as had never been dreamed Of un-
der the old rule
And she taught them so wonderfully.
| used to listen in amazement while she
gave the lessons, and the children began
to improve rapidly.
We used TO wvudor, Mrs. Ambrose and
|, what Mrs. Henry did in the evenings.
Her dress was so simple that needlework
for herself could not occupy her time
yet she was seldom out of doors even in
the sweet summer evenings, until it was
almost dark, and then she used to walk
up and down the little garden that divid.
ed her house from the school for an hour
at time, more for the sake Of exercise
than enjoyment, it would seem by the
rapid steady pace at which she moved.
One night when was coming home late,
stopped and spoke to her.
You walk late, Mrs, Henry but per.
haps it is the pleasantcst time during the
hot weather.
1T is the cheapest, Mrs. Action. II
saves an hour of daylight to come out
now. instead of earlier
1t struck me all Of a heap, as the peo.
pie say, to hear this woman, who was
earning seventy pounds per annum, and
appeared to have no one but herself tc
care for, talk of saving daylight as il
the cost Of a candle were something to bc
avoided. l felt very sorry for her. | dom
know why 1t came over me all at once, al
it did, that her life was hard one. Bu
! put my wrinkled old hand on the littl,
firm white fingers which rested on tn,
,, gate, and said-'My dear you must no
. work too hard
l was frightened when l had done it
She was so selfpossessed and reserved
that l thought she would be angry but
. instead of that, tho steady little finger
,. began to tromble and twine themselve
y round mine with clinging grasp, an
then found she was crying. l didn'
: say word more to her. When people ar
as old as l am, and have gone through
!, - great deal Of trouble, they know wha
poor weak things words are, and how off
, en- they do more harm than good So
= held her hand without speaking,and pres
. emily she stopped crying.
Sometimes l feel so lonely she viii.
pered, 'and you are so kind; please fol
get it, Mrs. Action
:. Yes for l quite understand he
, But is not your life too hard? Can
+ you let an old woman help you, m
i dear?'
a. She took my hand and kissed it.
N
= y help me but it will be easier by and o.
!, Goodnight
~ ~ And then she slipped away, as ifafra
= = Of saying more, and | went homo al
ID thought my thoughts in silence.
"a St, Bridget's was all alive, for Il
~ ~ bishop was coming to hold visitation
!. the town. No bishop had ever con
i there before within the memory Of maj
u 7 for the last one had been old and i'll
~ years before his death, and the shepher
II of those days had not thought it peedf
to 20 about among their aocks so mu
of as is considered right at the present tin
NJ and sheep living in remote towns had
make long journeys when they attend
Episcopal gatherings.
7, But that was all to be changed und
T. the new reign; for our bishop was I
70 only great scholar and great divil
o3 but strong man also, who would 60 il
70 every corner Of his diocese, and see W
he his own eyes how matters were going (
,lv He had only filled the throne for t
ect years, and this was his primary visitat
ara aud it was to be held in twelve towns
stead of two.
oor St. Bridget's was one among the twel
on and Mrs. Ambrose had been think
Irs about her luncheon for weeks. when it
70 Cured to the vicar that the bishop mi
ind it convenient to sleep at St. Bridg'