The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1875-06-03
A Bit of Experience.

A Bit Of Experience.
"HEAvEN is not reached by single bound,
| But we build the ladder by which we rise
From the lowly earth TO the ysulted skies,
And we mount TO his summit round by
round"
| Jane Bently Sreamily repeated these
lines as she sat gazing dejectedly out of
| the window one fair May morning. Right
before her was the old apple orchard, its
brawny, gnarled trunks bearing aloft
with proud dignity huge bouquets of
bloom; all their branches seeming tu
shake with joyous laughter at the prom
ise of the coming season. Away to the
left stretched fertile fields, from their
| broad acres OF rich, upturned soil sending
a rare fragrance to mingle with the breath
of the apple blossoms. AT the right, and
| beyond the road, a sparkling river darted
in and out between its verdant banks, as
if in coy bashfulness it were seeking To
hide itself from the too ardent gaze of
the sunbeams. Tall trees leaned loving
ly toward it, and stretched their arms
across, tenderly shielding the beautiful
| thing which had been their comfort and
strength so long, while the graceful will
| lows, fully enamored, stopped and kissed
its face as it ran swiftly by. A sweet
harmony of bird-voices filed the air as
| they fitted hither and thi!her, compar-
ing notes and planning for the summers
| work.
But naught of this seemed to reach the
| senses of her who sat thus at the win
dow. For her heart was filled with u
| vague unrest, which dimmed her eyes To
| beauty and closed her ears to melody.
"Oh," she murmured, if there was
| nnlu ! J,, hpt
| time. Here l must drudge on day after
| day, and year after year If | could only
carry the Gospel TO the heather, or even
write something which should lead some
souls to Jesus. But no; the cooking and
washing dishes, the mending and max
ing, the washing and ironing must 60 on,
though souls perish. The ladder of my
| DulluluS WIZ nut Iodun rei tvu~,d
| heaven"
And she turned with a sigh to the work
| in hand, which was childs apron. Soon
tmid knock called her to the door
please, Mrs. Bently, will you let
mother have few potatoes"
| Certainly, my dear" she answered.
and quickly filled the basket adding an
other, which contained dozen eggs and
pot of butter, and gave them into the
hand of poorly clad boy, who waited on
| the steps.
"Oh, ma'am, not SO many! but mother
will pay as soon as she can"
Tell her size is welcome" was kindly
| spoken, and then she went back to her
work with another sigh. However, it
was soon finished, the fire started in the
kitchen and the dinner prepared for the
men and boys IN the field and the chill
dren at school, who brought fine appe-
tites TO dispose of it, but who were
checked in their healthy mirth and made
glad to hasten out of the shadow of her
| gloomy face She was a vigorous, active
woman, and when night came had ac-
comnlished every task that was hers to
do. Yet she lay awake long time
mourning that she "could do nothing for
Christ"
At last sleep came, and in her sleep a
dream. She saw before her ladder and
one trying to climb; but it seemed as
often as she took one step upward she
stepped one downward She drew near
er To observe more closely. Ahl-she
rubbed her eyes in amazement. TIE
climber was herself; but the ladder was
what puzzled her. Such curious rounds.
Why, here was pair of mittens she had
found time to make for poor, half-wltted
Jake. The good dinner she had given
crippled beggar, and even the potatoes,
| EEBk anu DutltT bjC Dtti AhdN Ad1 PNhb
the widow Jones; while those which
furnished the most secure footing shone
brightly and were labeled DAILY Du-
ties"
Beside there were many rounds which
led downward, and weIe marked " Re
piring," "Discontent," Murmurlng
against God" AS she looked at these
she could not restrain her tears, because
they were SO numerous and the feet OF
the climber SO often pressed theLl. just
then hand touched her shoulder, and
turning she saw an angel pointing 10
where her children lay sleeping. Their
souls lay open to her gaze, and she saw,
OH with what sorro~, rlcn outgrowlhs
reDressed, holy impulses warped ana
distorted, for lack Of the sunshine which
should have s5one warm from Chrls-
tian mothers face. The angel gazed
pityingly upon them and began repeat
ing: Heaven is not reached by single
bound But we build"
"What, talking poetry in your Sleep"
said her husband, giving her niue
shake.
"AmI II Was dreaming? oh, John,
! believe | have been wicked woman
, all these years"
wicked, why, you are the best wife
| in all the country. What puts such
thought in your head? | tell you, dear,
you will have shining crown waiting
at the top OF that long ladder you are
building"
"But / shall not reach the toptill
have learned to do happily what God
gives me to do and be content, whether
it be darning stockings OF going on
/, mission"
"Going on mission?' he" echoed;
; "are you awake?"
! 81 think | am now" she answered,
"but perhaps | have been dreaming;
, He thought she had but she thanked
, God for the, dream, and riser woman
{ looked out of the window next morning.
l-Chtcd9o Standard.