Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-10-28
Rena Reynolds.

Rena Reynolds drew aside the curtain
nd looked forth. II had been a stormy
hight and day-break promised nothing bet
er The rain-drops battered montonously
ipon the roof and fell with sorrowful ca
ience form the caves, and the wind walled
around the house-tops She
stood silently for a moment, looking out into
he dawn, thinking Of the long. wet streets
That stretched between her and her place of
work; the streets which she must traverse
without oyershoes or umbrella for she was
only poor sewing girl, and now that the times
were no hard if she could keep a shelter for
her head and food enough, though of the
poorest quality, 10 eat, it was all that She
could expect
This window was Benas inspiration
only beautiful thing in a smoky, dugy room
and worth climbing the long flights of
rickety stairs too see Tor through its dark
and narrow easement one saw at sunrise the
wondrous glory flooding the earth, touching
the towers and steeples with mystic radiance,
aud finging across the azure sky ladder of
gold for angels feet to tread and ON a calm,
still day You might see far off the waters of |
the bay glittering like some wondrous jewel /
in its dusky setting Of masts.
But this morning there was no inspiration |
=
ing in the darkened sky and letting the |
curtain fall, with sigh she turned to her
scanty breakfast That disposed OF, never |
Of late a heavy task, She donned hat and |
shawl and soon was on her way through the |
wet and slippery streets. Rough men iostled |
her a. she hurried along. More than once
was the bundle she carried Knocked from her
hands 10y the passers-by in their haste, and
sadder than ever before the tears rose in her
eyes and nearly blinded her.
Wet and weary she at last reached her
destinations to receive madame's reprimand
for her hardness, and without having an OPP
portunity to rest or dry her damp feet was
conducted to the sewing ROOM a small, cheer
less apartment douhly chill and dreary this
weary day. Hour after hour passed by and
stll She sat with flushed cheeks and throb-
bling brow stitching away at the piles Of silk
and muslin which her utmost efforts seemed
unable to diminish and all the while
fierce, desperate battle was raging in her
soul Must it always be like this Must
the existence God gave rs n blessing be only
a curse Far back in the past lay happy
childhood of which in these days Of tempta-
ton and trial she hardly dared think. Nearer
at hand were the days of her loneliness and
friendlessness-the days in which she had
fought with all her small strength the fends
of poverty and temptation which beset her
on every hand. Should she give up theuse-
less batte?-take the JOY the tempter offered,
and be happy again
Not far away stood beautiful mansion
waiting 10 receive her as its mistress. Wealth
and easy luxury and rest We're at her com
mand What matter that in the eyes of the
law another claimed the hand of the man
Il.
the world should point with scornful finger
at the wreck of her girlhood's purity and
truth Better scorn and contempt, better
sin and shame, than the weary, hopeless lot
to which fate had consigned her. The strug-
gle was ended aud the tempter had wont
For the remainder of the day Rena worked
| like one in dream, hardly conscious that
| the storm had died away and the glad sun
/ light swept across the world. She folded up
| the last garment with sigh of relief. For
/ her there would be no more lonely days of
| toll The anger of her mistress the inso-
/ lence of the servants, would wound her never
more and the echo of an old-time song rose
| softly to her lips as She hurried down the
steps into the glad sunset. Its splendor
rolled through the crowded streets, waking
III every heart the memoryof the hottest and
best its life had known; and rough, rude
men, softened 10y its magic touch, paused
reverently and stepped aside to make room
for Young girl who, with both hands filled
with flowers and basket Of fragrant bios
SONS ON her arm came down the street
Clara had borne peace and joy to many
hearts this afternoon, and the light still lin
gered on her face as she threaded her way
through the crowd. Sick room and hospi-
tai had felt the JOY OF her presence, aud yet
her store of gifts was not exhausted the
gifts which q generous and benevolent peo-
pie had placed in her hands for the benefit
of the city's poor and helpless. As she
passed along, Rena met her face to face, and
as her eyes fell on the fragrant blossoms
sudden shock passed over her Was it the
hunted look in Rena's frightened eyes or
did some angels voice speak to Clara Bar
tons heart OF the peril which beset this girls
soul She did not know what impulse
moved her but taking from the basket a
cluster of pond lilies, snowy and pure, she
placed them in the girls trembling hand
and faint and GREATNESS Rena stood silent
in the presence of the picture these flowers
evoked from the past,
A softly-flowing river, on whose bosom
child, Graded in fathers loving arms
rocked TO and fro IN n tiny skiif, while
around the white pond lilies raised their fra
grant heads, swaying lightly at the will Of
/ the waves. Far OIL the sunset fell ON puT-
pie mountains that rose TO meet the purple
sky. Green fields stretched far on either
hand, and through the hush Of twilight came
the solemn voice Of distant bell. And as
the child clasped the sentent blossoms in
her tiny fingers the father drew her closer
and whispered softly, Oh, Father in the
evil days to come keep my little one un-
spotted from the world and may the bios
SONS she clasps be an emblem of her own
souls purityw
The spell was broken by Clara Barton's
gentle voice saying, " You are i'll. Let me
help you" Then all grew dark around her,
and She became unconscious,
Hours afterward Rena opened her eyes in
a strange apartment. Lamps burned dimly
in sheltered hooks and the rich fragrance OF
flowers filled the air. As she strove to rise
Clara Barton was at her side and prevented
her. " Lie still, she said, land rest You
are still weak. If YOU wish TO see your
friends | will send for them"
Rena shuddered. -" Friends" she echoed
drearily % have not known the meaning of
the word since they placed my father within
the grave with the lilies resting upon his
bosom. | have no friends"
81 too am fatheressw said Clara Bar
ton, clasping Rena's hand within her own.
"With his latest breath my father babe me
carry on the work he had begun, the work
of caring for the poor and afflicted. Ii you
have no friends claimyou rs my own. Let
me be the friend YOU need and you shall aid
me in my work"
The offer was gratefully accepted, and
Rena Reynolds was saved. Clara Barton's
home became her own, and her friend found
in her faithful helper. The bitterness Of
her past life had taught her what II is 10 he
helpless and friendless In a great city and
She bent all her energies toward relieving
those who were similarly situated. Aiding
the needy, guiding the helpless, cheering the
sick and afflicted, succoring the tempted
and tried, who shall say that the days of hero
ism have passed away while women such as
these walk the earth and labor for the sons
and daughters Of men Long may they
? live and may the good work they have be.
. gun flourish and extend till every town and
city may reverence and initiate the good