Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1878-11-18


Her carriage was at the door and we
were soon there. It is unfinished, you
know, but pleasant and airy, and the
little block where we stopped as neat
and cheerful as could be desired. The
little parlor gave evidence at once of
Strengthened means and perfect taste.
There was nothing IN it but chintz-coy-
cred furniture of delicate pattern,
cheap carpet, but of neutral color, and
frightened by few choice engravings,
and lovely rose tree in full bloom, in
the small bay window.
"Mrs. Laurie soon came in, and look
ed like the room, delicate, simple. but
lovely; yes, l do think" added Mrs.
W., musingly, ''she is the sweetest wom-
man ever saw She greeted US warmly,
and yet with that peculiar ease which
only culture can give. which is SO rare
in such surroundings. Mrs. Lacey en-
quired for her little ones, and asked to
see them. She stepped to the door of
the back parlor, which was closed. and
opening it, showed them to us, three of
them-a boy of five, darling rosebud
of girl about three, and the baby of
six months, all playing together like so
many birds in their nest, with young
girl Of twelve or thereabouts, as nurse.
Such pretty picture as they made, and
how she can keep them SO fresh and
sweet is mystery, for Mrs. Lacey told
me that the young girl was her only
help.
81 fancy Mr.. Laurie is model par
ent, however, for when he came in just
before we left, baby instantly stretched
out his arms to be taken, and he was at
once, and quite as matter of course,
elevated to seat on his shoulder, his
amusement of pulling his fathers thick
curls not appearing to interfere in the
least with the easy politeness with which
he exchanged greetings with US, and af-
terwards opened the door to show us
out
Il told Mrs. Lacey that 1 did not
wonder at her interest in them.
"'Yes,' she quietly remarked, it
makes my duty very pleasant one, but
it would have been my duty all the same
to join this church and help build up
the Saviour's cause in this growing. neg
leeted part of the city, if the pastor and
his wife had been uninteresting and
common-place.' -
The children had all been listening
eagerly to their mothers account, and
as they rose from the table, Elinor, the
eldest daughter, remarked, 81 wish we
could 60 to that church, and help, too,
mamma"
And the father and mother looked at
each other and wondered.
Mrs. and Mr.. Williams were types Of
a large class of city church members.
Sincere. faithful in Sabbath attendance,
constant. unless something very special
occurred to prevent, at the regular ap.
pointments of the church, liberal in
their support of the gospel at home and
abroad, and kind and even generous
in private benefactions; but there il
ended. What more, indeed could be
demanded of them?
True, Mr.. Williams seldom raised hi;
voice in the prayer-meetings; he was
naturally modest, and then there was
really no need of it.
There was Deacon Day, and Brother
Clay, and dozen others, always ready
and willing to lift theirs on all occasions
and so he could afford to sit still anc
enjoy their remarks. He was member
of the Bible class too, and sometime.
had good many ideas of his own OF
the subjects presented, but never men
toned them. 1t did not seem to b,
worth while to provoke the spirit o
controversy with which the teacher
Deacon Jones, was largely endowed i
did not matter, after ALL Sometimes
however, he felt it did not matter, ant
he spoke.
When, for instance, the unreasonable
desire for change which, in the cours
of human events. arises every now ant
then in every church, however good an,
devoted the pastor may be, when tn
long suppressed under-current of discon
tent among the less intelligent and leas
efficient members would slowly rise t
the surface and then suddenly bubbl
over, Brother Williams deep, clear, un
accustomed voice would be heard, an
his strong, earnest, sensible. but lovin
words, more than once stllled the dis
cordant element and restored peace; aid
ed, perhaps, not little by the conditio
that in his case words were welded t
!. deeds" and that. even in case Brothe
A. or Sister B. thought best to withdra
! and unite with another church, ther
would be none the less money in th
= treasury at the next annual society NEE
! ing.
8 Would that all our churches wei
q blessed with even one such strong, MOI
t eyed man. Mrs. Williams was worth
| II