Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-09-19

You turn from the foirest TO gaze on her facei,
And when you had seen her forehead and mouth,
You saw as distinctly her soul and her truth"
went straightway to Cousin Alexanders
study, exclaiming,
al have found at last word-picture that
is duplicate of my hearts picture of your
Ruth. | have found the secret of her
charm
think Alexander was pleased for he
smiled while he read every verse of the
brief poem, though all he said was:
Yes, it is like Ruth but you do not
here find the full secret of her loveliness"
No did not then recognize that the
secret was bounded by her much pondering
of the Bible command, Whatsoever We do,
do all to the glory of God" And yet, Ruth
never seemed to talk religion as some do
she Just lived it; Just lived in the light Of
Christ's felt presence so that her every
deed and word had a glow which kindled
warmth in other hearts, because, being per-
vaded with a sense of her Saviours love,
she could no more help imparting gladness
than flowers can help giving out their fra
GRANGE.
Now | am not going to detail Ruth's life ;
| am only going to give you an illustration
of what | call "her way "a way that
seems to me full of hints for the great COM
pany of women all our broad land over,
whose queendom is home" the place Of
peace !" and do you remember how Ruskin
goes on to say, Wherever a true wife comes,
this home is always round her; the woman
is to be within her gates as the center of
order, the balm of distress, and the mirror
of beauty ?"
You may think my example of Mrs. Lees
influence very insignificant, for it has to do
only with her treatment of her servants.
had been with her but a few days when |
noticed the peculiar gentleness with which
they always addressed her. | noticed, too,
that she never forgot in the giving even of
the simplest command, the gracious little
prefix, "please" never forgot, in return for
service rendered, a pleasant thank you
and somehow Mrs. Lees "please " and
thanks" always seemed to echo with the
kindly note OF heart-smile, if there be such
an echo, and ! think there is. | also OBJ
served she turned everything to account,
teaching lessons of love and faithfulness
through every event, and it is wonderful how
full of such lessons are the occurrences of
what we are wont to call "a most common.
place day only one must look to find
them. | was particularly impressed with
this on Palm Sunday. Bridget, Cousin
mum , NdlltI Rlll, Cdiut llOlilt DIluRluB II
branch of palm straight to her mistress
saying;
81 knew you would like to see it, ma am >
! listened in amazement. Could it be
that my orthodox cousin, Ruth Lee, would
encourage Bridget in setting store 10y that
bit of green Would she find lesson to
teach from it Yes, indeed, she did, fol
with a smile bright as a sunbeam she ex.
tended her hand, replying, "Thank you
Bridget" and Immediately she began the
tender story of the long ago triumphant en-
try into Jerusalem city, telling it in language
simple as that one would use in speaking
to little child and yet her words were
like poem, so glowingly Ohough she wa,
only talking to Bridget-poor, ignorant
Brdget) she described the rejoicing multi
tude who out of love for him, the Christ
scattered their very garments before him
strewed his pathway, too, with branches oi
the palm and olive; and sweet as a song wa.
my Cousin Ruth Lees voice as she added
d" Though we, Bridget, cannot thus show
our love to Christ our King, we can ye
strew olive and palm branches before him.
What did she mean ? Only minute was
left to wonder, for she continued
Z" | do not mean real bits of palm, like thi
holdin my hand, but | mean this should b'
reminder to us that every act of kindness
every act OF faithful service, every tempta
tion resisted because we love Christ ant
would show our love by striving TO follow
him. he will notice and accept with pleasure
AS he did the palms the Judean people cas-
before him because they wanted TO show
him honor. And so all the year through til
next Palm Sunday let us keep this littl
green branch as a reminder that the dea
Lord Christ who loves us and is please
every time we try to do right because W
love him."
just then the dinner bell rang, but it wa
good place to end the conversation.
Going down stairs ! whispered to kutl
Where do you find authority for sue
teachings TO your servants 7"
In reply she quoted the words of Bont
ventura, Z" Then do we go to meet Chris
with boughs of olive when we exercise tn
works of mercy and of charity; and with
branch of palm when we bear away the vie
tory against any temptation, and we stre'
our garments under the feet Of Christ whe
we lay down our lives for the love of Christ.
Later in the day | overheard Bridget n
peating the conversation TO Jane, the cool
and saying, +" II seems after a-hearing Mr.
Lees words as though my bit OF palm wa
worth twice as much. To think OF her giyin
it such "a meaning !"
Giving it meaning Oh how we migl
help those whose creeds differ from our ow
by Just giving them a meaning for the muc
they do not understand and this eve
ready help-giving to all was the somethin
that call Mrs, Lees way,
DO you smile at it, or do you find hint
, it2 repeat there is a hint that might al
! md ,,.r,,laxaI hntna- noth ha