Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-08-13

the child got knife Oft the table. and
when his father tried to make him give il
up screamed and ran away with il. Johr
caught him, took away the knife, and struck
his handstwice. Ithurt me to see the child.
Up culver, and said, A moment ago you
could not londe Johnny enough, and now
you strike him..
"' Yes, | strike him Just as fopdle him
because i love him. Isn't it my duty IA
make an obcdicnt boy Of him2
" The words went right through me-
Was it because God loved me that he let
me get the fall2 Should ever have thought
oi him il had kept strong and we'll ? Aud
then opened my Bible and came to the
text We love him because he first loved
US, aud it seemed as if Gods Holy Spirit
took pity on my ignorance and set me to
reading all the verses that taught that be
loved US, not because he saw anything good
IN US, but because loving is Just his way.
The very heart in me leapcd up for joy.
aud | began to love him that minute. ]
saw as plain as day, that though ia grown
so slckly aud cross-grainod aud tiresome
that nobody in the world could bear me- he
was sorry that was sick, aud sorry that |
had grown to be fretful and pecvish and
disagreeable IL atouished me so, and
was so taken up with it, that ! never knew
whom John went away. To think that God
could love me couldn't make it out.
The next time John came, he stood by the
side Of the bed and says to me, How are
you to-day, Sarah? As bad as ever -
meaning my pain.
"Yes, as bad as ever says |, but I've
got acquainted with God since you were
here, and if I'm bad he's good can't
tell you how good
John looked at the old woman, then,
who takes care Of me, and put his fore.
finger up to his forehead, as much as to say,
There's something wrong with her mind
"'You think I'm having a hard time,
Johu,' says |, but l'm having the best time
in the world I've got everything want.
"'Dou't you want to be well p says he.
No, | want everything Just as it is.
"John is a great, strong man, as tall and
straight as poplar tree, and never saw
him cry but once before; but now the
tears began to run down his cheeks.
"Well, it went on so that never had a
lonesome moment. When | wasn't read-
ing my Bible or speaking to God, he was
'peaking to me, saying such kind and low
ing things! don't think be could seem
SO tender to people who are well and
strong.
II used to lie awake thinking how poor
was, and what a hard bed this was to lie
on so many years, and to wish | could
have little change in my food, or some
one come in to talk to me and cheer me up
a little. But now can't think Of any
thing | want II | could have all the
money in the world, and everything money
could buy, and ever so many friends, and
be young and well aud strong again, but
have to give up what I've learned in this
sick room, | would not give up an atom Of
il. We read in the Bible about Jesus 90.
ing round among poor people and sick peo-
Pile and dying people, and how sorry he
was for them, and what he did for them.
Well he hasn't changed a bit since then.
He comes here into this poor little room
and sits down here by the bed, and makes
me so happy that I'm ashamed And I'm
going to thank him just as long as live
that he never gave me many of the things
people call good, and even took away what
he did give, because now I've got nothing
but him, and he is enough"
Isn't this all delusion?"
Well, suppose it is; what harm has it
done me? 1t has made palace out of this
bowel, and happy woman out of miser-
able one. But it isn't delusion. It's all
iu the Bible, every word of it, aud more
too. You just take it and sit down and
read the promises, and then push everything
out of the way you love better than you
love God, and take him at his word, and
you'll see what he is, and that haven't
said half enough. Oh how thank him
that he took away the use of my young
limbs, and laid me on this bed of pain that
he took away John that he took away
had
And now | know what the Bible means
when it says, As having nothing, and yet
possessing all things =