Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-10-22
As it Should Have Been.

As it Should Have Been.
To stumble on ones guardian angel
making up ones personal account for the
day is rare, L know nevertheless, it hap
pened to Mrs. Larche. Twilight: every
one else away the room so silent that
the ticking of the clock was almost i'm.
pertinent; and then a golden flash past
Mrs. Larche, half asleep in her easy
chair.
In an instant she comprehended it by
that marvellous instinct that we possess in
dreams and visions; and there fitted
through her mind various items fifoy
dollars given to the Orphans Home !;
tickets gwen out for mothers meeting
a moral lecture over their coffee to her
husband, who troubled her by his irrelig
ION. But the angel commenced with aD
item headed, "A Visit to old Miss
Moss"
Miss Moss,' wrote the angel, "is
sixty. wrinS led, and yellow as if she had
been dyed; wears a black shawl and
limp black skirt; gives herself strange
bobs and twtches, 50 that people are in-
clined to twitter at her even when she ad :
vances to the communicable in the
church of which Mrs. Larche is member,
and kneels beside that lady. But that is
because they see only the she'll. The real
NJ lss Moss within is as fresh as spring !;
an enchanted princess, bound by ugliness
and poverty, and unable for her chains to
get out to the beauty and sympathy Of the
outside world A brook and a hill, with a
blue haze over both, hung up In some win
dow, or scrap OF Beethoven, brings
tears to her eyes. She dotes on books ;
for in them she is young and lovely aud
noble and great, and has troops of friends !;
and the Persian encnantress herself never
loved flowers better. But no one sends
her books, flowers or concert tickets
Old Miss Moss the idea would be ride
ulous. And she is too poor to buy; and
sometimes her soul beats hard against its
prison bars. The enchanted princess re-
bels against her fate-as she did this
afternoon.
"The sun beat down hard in her dry
little room. She was tired to the very
death of looking at the sample over the
mantle, the daguerreotypes and tea-cups
beneath, the tat footstool, and striped
table-cover, and, without, the rays futter-
ing on the roof, and the tangled kite fast
in one of the chimneys Tue bit of sky
she could see was as blue as the sapphire
pavement the Hebrew elders saw. The
vagrant wind brought scent of lilacs and
Icba L. 81, ~
out the grass was already like velvet, and
the trees In full leaf. People everywhere
were walking, chatting, buying, painting
looking atpictures, singing, writing, drlv-
ing-ln one word, living and, | ain shut
out from it ALL she said. The whole
world of art and beauty and thought is
closed against me. l am denied even a
peep through its gates. Denied am not
even remembered. The whole word ha:
forgotten me. Saall have any OF these
delights in heaven, wonder, or will my
brothers and sisters in Christ monopolize
them as here?
Bitter and unwholesome thoughts these
and bitter were the tears that trick led
down Miss Moss withered cheeks. AnC
just then that Mrs. Larche should erivt
up she could hardly believe her eyes
bat there was the lady-that she should
come for her that she should bring her q
tuschia and lapful Of new books! thai
she should take her out for her share il
the spring and sunshine and liacs! take
her to drive remember her, and not Il
the flannel and soup way, but as siste
in Cnrist. with wants and longings like he
own! Miss Moss poor heart went out t.
God in a gush of thanksgiving and fait
and delight and for Mrs. Larche, sh
will find her reward with HIM who re
members even the cup of cold water give
for His sake. That was true angel
visit"
Mrs. Larche's cheeks were crimson
" But-but," she said, g never did any
thing of the sort. l never thought of il
| drove out alone, and-yes, L re,nembe
past the old house where Mss Mos
lives and [ do believe, now [ think OF il
[ saw her face at the window looking afte
me-"
Without reply, the angel proceeded t
) The second item.
Mary Stubs, 0tatis, nineteen, is
what may be called a transition state
and transition states, in governments {
: individuals, are apt to be marked by dis
agreeables. Mary Stubbs is not aldogett
: er pleasant person. She is ignorant an
8 ambitious, with vague longings for some
$ thing strong, bold, grand and not ever
& day Her ideas OF what is great al
e about as intelligent as that barbarian
j Christianity who cruci6ed his follcwe
J. because the En .lish Scriptures recommen
It ed that form of punishment. She wears
e riding-hat, short hair and skirts, flourish
II stroag-mlnded notions, and proposes
course tor herself of mathematics al
political economy-the short hair, ridil
hat aud political economy being to
what much jeSelry and wonderful nee
y ties are to some very young men. Und
d that is cleverness, pr,no,pIe and ine ira
:. that only want development. That NJ