Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-10-30
A Bit OF Life.
WYATT A WEE AND DfSSA WEARY.

II was Miss Ray who said this. | had
become acquainted with her full two months
before, up among the Berkshire hills,
where we were staying in one of the dear
old farm.houses of that locality, that so
open vide their doors to city
wanderers, who. with the coming of sum-
mer, like birds fly countryward.
knew Just the outline of Miss Rays
story merely that she was an orphan, a
teacher in the public school in New Eng
land town, and that for years every summer.
time she had sought this farmhouse for rest.
She was midde-aged person, with quiet,
composed manner, gentle, pale face, and
a voice soft and pleasant, like low song
yet till she uttered the words about pa
tience, had not specially noticed her;
but they straightway attracted me, though
| never thought to approach close to her
heart as | did the day before we parted. 1t
was toward twilight; we had been searching
for ferns aud grasses weary at last, we sat
down to rest on moss-covered stone by the
roadside, and it was then and there that we
talked together of many things, then and
there that she told me this simple story
commonplace enough, doubtless
IL was only young girl" thus she be-
gan, when the news from Fort Sumter
flashed through our land, kidding into
action thousands who only needed such a
blow to rouse them. My meeting with An
drew Gray was year before that time. 1t
was at the academy at G.. We were young
things, with no thought that in moment a
shadow could come between us and the sun
shine of our gladness.
The world was boundless for we did not know
And life poem, for we had not sung.
After six mouths we parted. and there
was no spoken word of promise yet we
knew one another's story-we knew"
And the light in Miss Rays eyes grew
tend rer as her fingers rested caressingly on
a quaint ring, the only ornament she wore,
while she said, Just before we parted, An
drew Gray named the stones in my ring,
calling the ruby, rosy and warm, Love, aud
the pearl. that shone in the centre then, he
called that Hope.
I" 1t was so strange, my losing it when |
did, my beautiful pearl of Hope-so strange.
Wait, and will tell you. We made no prom
Use in parting, repeat, but knew | was to
wear the golden, jewel.starred circlet till we
met again-and | have worn it ever since
ever since"
Then there fell a silence between us,
while Miss Ray stopped to pick daisy from
a nodding cump growing close by the road
side, and unconsciously as child she pulled
one after another the fringed leaves from the
flowers golden heart.
Presently she continued: I'VE did not
meet again there was letter sent, never
received, a mystery, and then that Sumter
blow.
both OF my brothers enlisted in the
Northern army, but Andrew Gray's home
was at the South, and his place was among
the ranks of his own people Aud again
Miss Rays right hand caressed the ring she
wore IN the left, and she never ceased caress
ing it during all the rest of her story.
ut was the year 1862; a Sabbath morn.
ing in September. Never did the world
seem more beautiful remember it all SC
wel-and somehow, since that day Gods
world has never seemed so fair place.
could not tell why, but Andrew seemed SC
near to me that morning | almost felt hi.
presence as one feels the nearness Of friend
expected the next hour. Was he near? Dc
earthly miles separate hearts that love 2"
Not waiting for reply Miss Ray con
tinued; Atterward they told me that q
cloudless sky had bent, too, over Maryland
Heights that Sabbath morning, even though
the day before the air had been thick with
smoke, had palptated with the roar of can
non aud musketry. A cloudless morning
out at noon-time again the wild tumult rent
the air, and before nightfall all through the
broad land hearts were aching, eyes Were
weeping, so quickly the story of that battl,
winged its way.
alt was at noon-time that stood in the
sunshine with the fingers of my right hanC
resting as they rest now, on my ring.
know every stone was in its place then, bu
at night when | felt it again, with will,
hunger in my heart for the comfort OF il
mute companionship, my fingers rested on {
vacant place; the pearl, my gem of hope
was gone, and | never found it, though
searched and searched every step OF the wa,
| had trodden that day. And then iollowe,
years OF waiting, years of learning patience
| was such a slow scholar, | seemed to spell
the lesson backward. | seemed to forge
that | never could learn the lesson till faitl
and patience met; and there is only on
| place where they can meet, just to rest il
Christ. ! was such tired thing then, S,
rebellous iiuttered and beat against tn
door of the ark of safety, but at last foun'
the green olive branch-submisson
then flew within the shelter of the ark. |
was after the war was over that there cam
a stranger TO me-a soldier. | straightwa
knew, for one coat sleeve hung empty. No
long did il take for him to tell the history o
that day on Maryland Heights-not long.
Z" We fought on opposite Sides he said
but we fell close together. He was MORTAL
wounded, but he fingered long enough T.
tell me your story. He babe me bring thi
Il found it in the bulletcpierced pocket 0
his coat-and he bade me, too but canno