Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-06-16

he saw Il pretty, modest, little creature. on
ly distinguished, apparently. from other
pretty and modest girls known to him, by
the greater sensitiyeness and depth Of her
spiritual nature.
Surely" he began, Il was never rash
enough or uni Just enough even to hint that
there was any calling which necessarily
destroys all OF those that follow It, l spoke
of the state in gencral-of its tendencies
and its dangers, l suppose the theatri-
cal life is generally u bad life
suppose So" said poor George very
humbly and sadly. "You ought to know,
sir"
Now this was 4 suggestion which pierced
the preachers manly and noble conscience
somewhat kecnly. For, after all, what did
he know about the matter? Not only did
he know nothing himself about the stage,
but he did not know anybody who had any
greater knowledge on the subject.
"Well." he replied rather quickly, "of
course don't know practically much of
the inner life of the stage, or anything of
it, in fact. But am convinced that it is
in general an unnatural and unhappy life,
and that it is especially unsuitable for
Young women. should be sorry, indeed,
to say any more than that. am not APP
pointed to judge any class of my fellow
Chr stians.'
Then he sat down and entered into n
quiet. friendly conversation with Geor
gina. He made her feel quite at ease with
him She soon told him. wondering not a
little ut her own holiness in the awful
presence of the great preacher, the simple
story of her life, her fathers career. her
mothers widowhood, their poverty. their
struggles, and her earnings. Mr.. Shelton
was greatly interested in her story. and
| isked her To come AGAIN and see his sister,
and promised that his sister and himself
would 90 to see Mrs. Wilson.
You would not be unwilling,' he ask
| ed, " To leave the stage and take to some
| better-;,t least TO some other Way of liv-
| ing-if Il suitable occupation could be found
for YOU"
Il would do ANYTHING. eir. not to be
wicked, and not to loose my soul, if only
could keep nv mother and myself and
plv the rent used to ike the stage very
much until yesterday. Now | am afraid
of it-verv much afraid; never knew how
dreadful it was until Yesterday Ant
tears came again into her eyes, which hac
been frightening under the kindly anc
consoling III nner and words of the great
| trut'-iearttu pfcaciler
Very singular was the difference between
the operation going on in the two mind:
under the influence each of the other. The
tctress had begun to feel for the first time
how very bad her profession was; tho
preacher was beginning to think for the
first time that that profession could not be
so Very bad after all.
His sister and he inquired into the whole
story Of Georgina life, and found that SHE
had told it truly. Then he sat about find
ing some employment for her which woul'
enable her to give up the stage. But n
found that no occupation of the ordinary
kind which was open to Georgina woul'
bring her anything like the sum she conl'
earn on the stage. He was greatly embar
ras,ed and even distressed. As for Geor
gina herself, She had been seized with ;
genuine fervor of desire to get rid Of th
theatrical life and enter new and pur
, career Joseph Shelton had never sup
posed that his denunciation of the drama
could have persuaded such and so sudGeI
IN effect on such mind. Indeed. he ha
rather TO check them than to stimulate tn
ardor Of this Young convert. lie had
bid her be pat;ent, TO assure her that sll
/ might without peri to her soul consent
: play Little Pickle Il few weeks or month
o longer, until some means of living coul
, be found for har. SO Mr.. Shelton foun
n himself bur,lened with the following prl
;. picking problem: Given Il Young woma
t who i nothing of 4 seam~tress. who doe
Y not know music or drawing or French 70
: for that matter. very much Ehghsh) an
Il who has out of her own earnings to SUI
+ port her mother and hrrSelf-by VIII;
4 means can anv way of making Il decen
+ re,pcctable living be brought within he
= reach?
Georcie Wilson attended every servlc
9 at Mr.. ShrltOn's church. The theatre b
= came hateful to her; she went through h'
/ paris in a mechanical fashion: she beg;
q to GROW unpopular with the audiences, Ar
To incur the rebukcs of the manager: 81
y stunned her former companions, ani w
j., sneercd at by them; and the neWsp1p
Icri1ics. who had hardly ever taken Il
trouble to notice her while She was succ>
i full. bcran to sav harsh things of her no
IS that She was failing. Life was hecomir
verv cold and sad with this poor little gl
and her only consolation was in altendlr
it the services in Mr.. Sheltons s chapel, AZ
hearing the great dissenting orator preac
" She pined all the week through for t
20 Sunday to come, and when the Sunday W
f nearly over she >hudlereI at the prospe
At of the coming week. Her mother not!c
+ tie change in her N amer and her arpe'
,ncr. and was alarmed by it. and secret
.irhel over it. Indeed. Georgia was gre;
st " sadly changed. Her face was aIwl
II pale. her figure grew thin, her eyes We
% only too brirht and restless. her relish
n food was gone, her enjoyment of her pr
fe,sion had changed into Il detestatlon
n il In truth, the poor little pantoml
IN actress had fallen wildly, incurahly. hol
= lesSlv in love with the dissenting pui
k orator. Her love was alteration 1t &C
i sumed her. United with 4 sense. grow
N stronger every day. of her own utter u
" worthine>s, it was eating up her he;'
IN Meanwhile her mo- her grew SICK VI
:. death. The need Of helping her and e;,l
nj ing money to buy her comforts gave Il SUI
Y. ulu, to Gtorgie's professional power, Il
l. revived her interest in the theatre ;
said to herself . Il cannot be wrong TO
At This now for the sake of my mother.
4, >h,, i, taken from me when she IS tax
" from mel will never agaln appear
rs the stage Or enter L theatef
She therefore played SO splritedly a
e. well that !; long engagement on nuch D
= ter terms was offered 10 her, and she ret
ly ed it.
"a The Shclton's were unremlttng IN IN
ch attention to poor Mrs. Wilson. Miss Sh
IN ton came every day; Mr.. Shelton son
Ie times came, but of course his time
lr, much occupied. aud Mrs. Wilson was
h. even one of his congregation. One day
ed tall, handsome, lady-llke young, won
came with Miss Shelton, and was KIND a
av friendly in her manner, showing an
ii most affectionate interest IN GeorGlna q
p her mother. \,
N. When they were about leaving, NJ
a. Shelton took George aside and asked,
a. How do YOU like Miss Willis?
u "Oh. like her very much: Wha'
GU sweet, winning expression she has!
sure she is very good ,,
,is Yes, she is indeed. have sometl
nd to tell you about her which You will be 2
ct to hear. My brother and she have l'
nd been attached to each other, and they
he to be married in May
full George stammered out something ao
honinr they would be happy-knOW