Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-04-02
THE VICTORY.


George Harkuess, there was no happier
couple in the world 50 thought the sweet,
joyful bride, and 80 thought the proud
bridegroom, as in the triumph of perfect
health and worldly success, tempered by
real Christian conservation, he carried his
darling wife 10 his elegant home. "T never
thought l could be so happy" they said to
each other, over and over, slrolling through
their beautiful grounds, or walking up
aud down the ample rooms of their new
home; ~ never thought 1t was possible
for anybody to be so happy
Mrs. Harkness had a cousin, an old
maid they called her, though she was only
twenty-eight. She had lost her love when
she was young, buoyant, enthusiastic
girl, and strong in soul, she had stepped
from the earthly love to the heavenly.
Cousin Clara was theres fter, available for
everybody in need. In the large circle of
her friends and relatives she was constant
ly busy, helping, guiding, soothing, teach
ing. If there was a family quarrel, or a
family loss, or long painful sickness,
Clara was the one first thought of, first
sent for. In joy she was desired, az well
as in grief, for her quick, spiritual sympa-
thy reflected the happiness of those around
her, and made it seem doubly blessed.
So II happened, that when Ellen Hark-
ness was established in her new home, she
very soon sent for cousin Clara to spend
few weeks with her and hel p her appreciate
her good fortune.
"NOu are a puzzle TO me, Clara" she
said one day; "if l should lose George l
could not live; know l could not; live
in him; from the time he leaves me in the
morning, Till he comes at night, wait for
him; 1 have no separate life; how did
you live after Henry died -
HE is not dead" said Clara, in a tone
so assured and earnest that Mrs. Hardness
started with surprise.
but he is what We call dead lie died
and was buried"
"His body, you mean"
"Of course; you saw him no more you
have lived alone since then"
"No, Ellen have never been one mo-
ment alone. You asked me how | lived |;
| will tell you; / did not rebel, but be-
lleved that God loved my darling, and
could take care of him In one place as well
as another. There was great aud awful
fear and dread, while l anticipated the
| separation but when the soul of my love
was free, God enabled me TO feel that He
had only taken his child into another
room. l seemed TO hear my darling say
''Wait patiently till you can come all
| worlds belong TO our Father, and His love
aud care extend over all In Christ our
souls can meet ; and while we serve Hin,
in one place, you In another, we shall
never be separated"
In that moment OF heavenly COM
munion, l dedicated my life to feeding
Christs lambs; all the needy, the errlng,
the straying, the sorrowing; and In pro-
! portion as l have kept near Christ, | have
felt the spiritual presence of my love-"
Was ita Providence, this conversation {?
In less than week thereafter Ellen Hark-
ness was a widow. Absence on business
"a railroad Academia telegram-the hor-
rible homecoming of the soulless body
the burial, the desolation-that was the
story, so common 10 the great public, so
terrible TO the stricken.
merciful illness kept Ellen from re-
alizing all at once her loss, and In that NJ
ness Clara was ministering angel indeed.
The sick-room was very heaven of con-
ISOLATION and the invalid missed no tender
ness, no care, that love could give. At
last she slowly rallied, aud was able by
and by to be lifted from her bed TO the cos Y
chair, in the cosy little sitting room adjoin-
ing her chamber. As she made this first
movement towards the life awaiting her,
the past threatened to overwhelm her with
its lost joys, and the future held up before
her an endless procession of empty, mis-.
erable days. go, cannot liver she ex-
claimed; Why did not die and go TO you,
my darling: o, the dreadful, dreadful
future y
Clara's Tears were freely mingled with
those of her despairing friend; and she
spared not sweet caresses and that loving
human contact which so comforts the sor-
rowing. After Ellen had grown calm, she
opened the Bible and read portions of the
fifteenth chapter of First Corinthians. As
she read that triumph letter of the apostle
Ellen's attention was irresIstibly attracted
and look of pathetic yearnlng stole ovel
her pale face.
What is written there you have fell
yourself" she said presently, lnterrupting
her cousins sweet voice.
"Yes darling" said Clara, looking NJ
with a bright smile; l can say from 6
happy heart: Thanks be to God whC
giveth US the victory through our LORD
Jesus Christ"
And you feel as you might II Henry
was only IN some foreign country, and
would send for you by and by7"
"Far happier than that; in that case
might hear any moment of sickness or ac
cldent; or he might be tempted to dc
wrong. Now am satisfied of his perfec
safety, OF his constant JOY"
And you feel that he loves you still ant
waits for your
"Would his soul love me less because Il
has moy ed out of the body into a splrltua
habitationH That Is not possible. But yor
must remember, dear, that the victory IL
given through our Lord Jesus Christ. II
be In Christ involves giving up all that ht
does not approve. AS we give up anC
triumph over that which opposes the splr
itual through the help Of divine love, em
bodied In Christ, We enter a spirltua
sphere where death has no sting, and the
grave no victory. In that sphere of love
we meet our beloved, and there we are for.
ever satisfied
Little by little, through many trials and
much stumbling over the rough way