St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1876-06-30

And were you able to support them
all by vending apples ?" asked the gen
tleman
mo, sir" she answered Il tried to :
but | couldn't. My darter was sick,
ana couldn't do nothing, and we soon
got INTO debt twenty dollars. Then. as
II to make bad worse, was taken down
with the rheumatics. was down with
them fortnight and when got up
couldn't get round like | could afore :
so, not KNOWN what to do, | went with
my basket on to ii bench, nigh the Frog
Pond. Folks came to me amazin' that
day, and at night | had two dollars
clean profit. Then SAW the Lords
hand He knowed | couldn't make IA
livIn' going round, 50 He gave me the
rheumatics, to show me it was best to
open a stand on the Common"
And since then have you made both
ends meet ?"
Yes, sir since then I've been pros
pered wonderful. I've paid off the
';cht, and now when | want to can lay
i'll Il stock of ten dollars. and that. yorl
know, brings apples cheaper"
But have you no fear for winter ?"
NO, sir. It's two months off can
make thirty dollars aforc it comes. and
that. with what sewing and washing
can de, will take us round to warm"
And how old are YOU ?" asked the
gentleman, looking at her furrowcd face
and white hairs, which seemed to say IL
century"
"SeVcnty next Christmas. But We
wouldn't think it to look at me. | feel
| almost us pert as when | was thirty"
And ;It Your age, and in such pov-
rrty. can You always look hopefully at
the future -
"les. sir. The Lord is my Shcp-
herd, shall not want. He makcth me
to lie down in green pastures He
leadcth me beside still watcrs'"
The stranger looked at her with rev
rrcnt wonder. He had heard those
words before, but NOW they had t" him
Il new sound and Il new meaning All
at once it dawned upon him that THE
poor are blessed" hccause of their faith :
which. of itself. is the "kingdom of
heaven" Drawing Il roll of bank notes
from his pocket. he handed one of them
to the old Woman. She took it, held it
up curiously To the candle. and then
said. with Il smile that made her ugly
features absolutely handsome:
Its moIe money than ever SAW at
once atnrc: 'twould take us clean
through the winter. le is good gen
tlrman, and | thank lr: but we eau
got along. and while we can. don't
like t" take money from nnh"dy."
This she said in Il gentle WY. as if
she feared To wound his feelings. He
made no reply. but putting the note
back III his pocket, rose and hadc her
good evening" When he reached the
door. he TUNED. and say ling, Il forgot
the children. took both of them up in
his arms and kissed them. Then he
went down the long stairs. and walked
slowly homrward. He had groped in
the dark for thirty Years. and this old
woman had given him his first living
revelation.
After that he kept his eye upon her.
Every morning and evening lie passed
her stand on the Common, and never
went bN without saving cheerful
word. "r pauSing to ask after her sick
daughter and children.
"Thc children is we'll. thank you. sir.
and Eliza is a> we'll a> could hc rN-
pcctcd.' WAS her almost iu>aIiahlr
answer.
Bur one >ultry day in August she
said. "Shc seems t" Il" sinking fast. sir.
Way up where We live We don't get
none but hot air. and the sun don't
come III till into the afternoon. Pears
+" me We need sunshine as much a> the
plants and flowers"
The next day the gentleman went
home earlier than usual and aS he came
near the old woman'S stand he caught
sight of the invalid daughter. seated in
Il liand-wag"n. proppcd up 10y Il pillow.
and shaded 10y thr big umbrella. The
attention Of the old woman WAS en-
crossed 10y Il juvenile customers: but
the daughter noticed his approach. and
called To him aS he made aS though he
would 90 10y without speaking.
''Sir. sir. she said. please to stop ::
| want Nou to see, shall soon he
we'll; for now | can go out every day
in fine weather."
And wha got you down the stairs
and upon the Common ?"
The man that lives on the lower
floor he carried me down: and Tom
my drawed me here before school
time"
Alu W Ilt' St'Hl us the WAGON lShttl
the old woman. her ugly face lighting
up with the smile that. to this man. al
ways made it handsome.
The Lord. suppose. All good
things come from Him: and this is a
good wagon" answered the gentleman.
The old woman looked at him for Il
moment, without Il word. Then she
said. The Lord will say to them on his
right hand. We did it unto me. mas
much as We did it unto one of these. my
poor children"
The man turned and walked away
in his eye Il tear, and in his soul an
other revelation. He had learned the
whole of religion faith and good works
at the cost of carrying an old woman's
basket and buying for her daughter Il
cheap hand Wagon.
Every pleasant day for a month after
this he found the sick woman seated
there III the wagon under the old UNI
brella. She always had Il smile for him,
and he always fingered awhile to get
that smile and little of the old wo-
mans sunshine. But one morning he
went by, and found there neither the
apple stand nor the hand wagon 1t
was so, too, when he went 10y at eve
nIng; and then. without geing home,
he made his way to the home of the old
woman. Softly opening the door. he
entered the dimgy apartment. A few
rays from the setting sun came through
the open window, and 10y the dim light
he SAW the old woman and two children
kneeling by the low bed in the corner.
She was holding the hand of the Young
woman, who lay with eyes upturned to
he fading sky, as if looking in the
clouds for some one coming. He had
come, the Great Angel, and he had al