Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-08-01
Whatever the dreaded gentry might think

and went out at the front door with pack
ages aud baskets, just as they had a right
to do In a house without restrictions, and
with no other entrance but one through the
back cellar, reached only by long, dark
alley-way. They were very tidy, and very
quiet for "such folks" and always had
pleasant smile and "good-day on the
stairs. But there was the awful suspicion
OF "brogue on their tongues
They were soon set down as strange
persons" for the voice of prayer and thanks
giving was heard night aud morning, from
their rooms, and Sabbath was a day of rest
and of worship in Gods house.
The family below stairs were completely
puzzled by their mingled air of gentilitv
aud modesty. They had at first resolved TO
keep entirely aloof from them, and to let the
folks opposite see that they did so but al
most invountarily they fell into companion
ship with them One night, the poor old
teamster, having lifted heavily and wrought
long in drenching rain, was taken sud
denly i'll. The widow above stairs heard
the commotion below, and waited for no call
She went down and put all her motherly
skill into practice while her son went for
the doctor, and her daughter rendered little
services which the alarm of his own children
prevented their doing.
The doctor chanced to know Mrs. Ora
ham, and the respectful manner in which
he addressed her, raised her into the posi-
ton of lady
The Dobbs family were greatly relieved
to learn that the new neighbors were from
Aberdeen, instead of Cork, as they had
feared, and that the son was studying medi-
cine. That, of course, made him gentle
man
When the doctor was leaving, he gave out
a.. 4
~ must tell your conntrywoman, Mrs.
Sheafe, that you are so near. | know she
will be glad to meet you. And, by the way,
if Miss Gracie's hands are not full already,
Pm sure she will find pupils there"
The Dobbs family soon learned that their
new neighbor was the widow of Scotch
clergyman with little means that she had
come to America in hope of ekeing out
living, and at the same time allowing her
son to finish his medical education that the
modest young girl had already secured
place as morning governess, at three dollars
a week, with time left for other pupils and
that the mother passed her leisure in cover
ing buttons--an easy, though not a lucra-
tive employment.
The next week, Mrs. Sheafe, who occu-
pied one of the houses opposite, called on
the widow, and invited her and her children
to tea, which greatly surprised the Dobbs
family.
The little Sheafes were soon numbered
among Miss Graham's scholars. When Miss
Grace told her neighbors of it, she said
| playfuly, "Just as soon as get two more
pupils mother and | will put the button
basket out of sight evenings, and go to bed
at ten o'clock. But shall always love but
tons and speak respectfully of them, for
they helped us to earn our honest bread be-
fore we could get anything else to do.
When we were strangers here they became
our friends, and every button had halo
round it, like heads of the Virgin in old pic
lures If | ever canonize new saint in
my calendar it shall be st. Buttonl"
The girls below stairs, who knew nothing
hut what was in school-books, began to feel
their deficiencies in comparison with this
bright, competent and we'll bred girl. They
borrowed her books, admired her pencil
drawings, and asked her down to play on
their piano-she, though skillful per-
former, having no such luxury as yet.
As the old teamster's health failed it be-
came necessary for the girls " to do some
thing" They opened their hearts to the
old lady upstairs, who gave them this good
advice; " Do what pleases your taste if you
can get it to do; and if not, do the next best
thing, aud thank the Lord for that. Do any
thing that is honest rather than live in idle
dependence on one who is not able to earn
your bread. Begin at the buttons, if you
like, with me. When Fergus is once able
to care wholly for himself, neither he nor
Oracle will suffer me to touch button but
will bid me keep my wee bit of income for
myself. If we still 'bde here, or know
where to find you, I'll pass the buttons all
DER to you, and you'll find them friends in
need friends indeed, as we have done"
THANK you, but-but-" began one of
the girls.
"But-you know-we both graduated at
the high school"
Aye dear, but that won't hurt the but
tons, nor yet will the buttons harm the edu-
cation. Look at my lassie She has the
education of lady; and wisdom she got
with il helped her to make the best of mat
ters when in poverty. If she and had seated
ourselves in this strange land, and said, We
are ladies, and competent to do this and that
and will condescend to nothing else,' we
= should have been paupers to-day instead of
, being independent and able to give the less
fortunate lift, now and then, with their
burdens. Remember, dears, God has made
us with hands, as well as brains. Could you
keep account books, very simply"
"No."
! "Could you teach the rudiments of French
g to the little Sheafes Oracle hasn't time
) for that"
+, al shouldn't dare to undertake it, although
!, have studied French"
"What can you do besides taking place
Y in a school 2"
0 Nothing in the world"
0 "Then your education is very defective.
/ If half, even, of those graduating as you
: have done want to do this, there are not
Il, II g., Il, Al H..
S fore, live in idleness and dependence
i Women are not shut up to so narrow a
! sphere There is no reason why woman
y OF education and good sense should flee the
e walks of business any more than a man of
+ the same class. Suppose every man with a
q fair education should refuse to work unless
! he could be professional man-wouldn't
you think them all fools ?"
e Why, yes, but ladies-you know-why,
d the Sheafes and such folks wouldn't
e What wouldn't they do 2"
K They wouldn't take notice of-us if"
l. The widow smiled, and replied They
e certainly take notice of persons who cover
A. buttons; aud if they scorned well educated
= woman for doing the best thing she could
get to do, their regard would not be worth
e having. We have nothing to do with such
" folks, but are accountable to God for the
r, use we make of our hands as well as our
4, brains and he will not smile on us il we set
ir up our will and do what peases ourselves,
or nothing. We may lay out certain path,
n but God may lay out another. He may
1t choose to lift us up, or to cast us down; but
:. as long as we follow his guidance, We are
rs safe Ii he shuts up our chosen door, we
ir must enter an open one and acknowledge
d him in all our ways. In his own good time
our loving Father will give the seat of honor
Ar to the faithful, either here or at his right
It hand above"
W These girls were thoughtless rather than
" headstrong aud they pondered on the lesson
10 of the good woman. The eldest of the two
at took her seat the next day to learn of hel
new friend the mysteries OF the humble art
Is Aud we'll it was for her family that she did
in so, for very soon her work was all that kept
or the wolf from the door
The poor old teamster laid down the reins
I'd and the whip never to raise them again, anc
ne the whole time of his wife was required a
lie his bedside.
N, While thus faithfully engaged a cal
id came for the oldest girl to take school il
N. her own city She accepted it joyfully
nd but she and her sister still devoted thei
Ii. -. sl, l,.tt a -.