Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-02-05


ing, and she hardly restrained her tears.
While yet her pulses throbbed with aquicker
beat, the door opened, and woman entered,
on whose rather pale face was smile of
pleasant welcome.
My friend Mrs. Loring," such was the
introduction, "of whom have spoken TO
you several times"
The smile did not fade from the counte-
nance Of Mrs. Adrian, but its expression
changed as she took the hand Of Mrs. Lor-
ing, and said;
thank you for your kindness in calling"
Mrs. Loring scarcely returned the warm
pressure with which her hand was taken.
Her lips moved slightly, but no word found
utterance. Not the feeblest effort at a re.
sponsive smile was visible
ave have both been called TO pass through
the fire." said Mrs Adrian, in more sub
dued tones, though the smile still played
around her lips. "Happily, One walked
with us when the flames were fiercest, or we
must have been consumed"
IL was now her voice reached the heart of
Mrs. Loring. The eyes of the selfish woman
had dropped to the floor, and her thought
was turning in upon itself. In the smile
that lowered about the lips Of Mrs. Adrian,
she had seen only indifference-not sweet
more particularly the voice that gave them
utterance, unveiled to her the sorrow of
kindred sufferer, who would not let the voice
Of wailing disturb another's ear, nor the
shadow of her grief fall upon spirit already
under cloud. The dropping eyes of Mrs.
Loring were raised, with half-wondering
expression, TO the face of Mrs. Adrian. Still
lowered the smile about those pale lips but
its meaning was no longer a mystery-the
smile was loving effort to send light and
warmth to the heart of a grieving sister,
From the face Of Mrs. Adrian the eye of
Mrs. Loring wandered to the portraits of
her children on the wall.
All gone p The words fell from Mrs.
Loring's lips almost involuntarily. She
spoke from new impulse-pity for sister
in sorrow.
GAIL" was answered. They were pre-
cious to me-very precious-but God took
them"
A slight huskiness veled her voice.
"Beautiful chidren;" Mrs. Loring still
gazed on the portraits. "And all taken in q
year o, how did you keep your heart from
breaking 2"
He who laid upon me so heavy burden,
gave me strength to bear it" was the reply.
81 have found no strength in a like af1c-
tion," said Mrs. Loring, sadly.
No strength Have you Strengthens
tanning power ?" Mrs. Adrian spoke with
winning earnestness.
al have prayed for comfort, but none
came" said Mrs Loring sadly.
Praying is well; but it avails not, unles,
there be also doing"
"Doing?"
"Yes, the faithful doing of our duty. Sor-
row has no antidote like this"
Mrs. Loring gazed intently upon the face
of her monitor.
"When the last heavy stroke fell upon
my heart" continued Mrs. Adrian, " shat
tering it, as it seemed, to pieces, lay for a
little while stunned, weak and almost help
less. But as soon as thought began to run
clear, | said to myself is there nothing
for your hands to do, that you lie here idle ?
Is yours the only suffering spirit in the
world ? Then thought of my husbands
| sorrow, which he bore so silently and man.
fully striving to look away from his own
| grief that he might bring comfort to me.
Is it not in my power to lessen for him the
| gloom of our desolate household p asked
of myself. felt that it was, and when
next he returned home at the days decline,
met him-not with a face Of gloom as be-
fore, but with as cheerful countenance as
it was in my power to assume. had my
reward; saw that had lightened his bur
den, and from that moment half the pres
| sure of mine was removed. Since then
have never suffered my heart to brood idly
over its grief; but in daily duties sought
the strength that never is given to those
4 who fold their hands in fruitless inactivity.
The removal of my children lightened all
home duties, and took away objects Of love
that ! felt must be in measure restored. i
had the mothers heart still. And 80 sought
out motherless little one and gathered her
into the fold of my love. All, madam this
is the best balsam for the bereaved and
bleeding affections that | can tell of. To
me it has brought comfort, and reconciled
me to losses, the bare anticipation of which
once made me almost beside myself with
fear. Sometimes, as | sit with the tender
babe | now call my own, resting on my
bosom a thought Of heaven goes pleasantly
through my mind, and picture to myself
the mother of this adopted child as the
loving guardian of my own babes, now risen
into the spiritual kingdom of our Father,
| cannot tell you what thrill of delight
such thoughts at times awaken !"
Mrs. Loring bowed her head upon her
bosom, and sat in silence for some moments
Then she said;
|
! hope to profit. No wonder my heart has
ached on with undiminished pain. have
} been selfish in my grief. There is nothing
now to live for have repeated to myself
over and over again, until / believed the
words"
Nothing to live forl" Mrs. Adrian spoke
in surprised voice. ain the image ant
likeness of God we were all made, and i
we would have lost beauty restored we mus
, initiate God in our lives. He loves ever,
, one with divine tenderness, and is evel
| seeking to bless u.s. II we would be lik,
!, him we must love each other and seek eact
, others good. He has given us the abilit,
to impart blessings, and made true happi
, ness to depend on the exercise of this abil
) ity, and if we fold our hands and sit in idl
repinings happiness is not possible. How
fully have proved this "
"And, God helping me, will prove tn
, opposite" said Mrs. Loring speaking from
, the warmth of a new impulse. "Long enougl
r have been sitting under cloud"
J. "While the bright sun shone far above il
: the clear heavens" added the friend, with
}. smile Of encouragement.
n "May we see this babe you have calle,
d your own ?" said Mrs. Loring.
The little one was brought and as sh
lay teHutIll cidSpeu W Tue posou VI uc
a new mother, giving even more of blessednes
+ than she received, Mrs. Loring after her lip
= had touched, with lingering pressure, tn
a pure forehead, said:
"Your action has been wiser and bette
than mine, and you have had your reward
| While the waters of love have grown stas
nant in my heart, sending up murky exhall
e tions to darken my sky, yours have bee
kept sweet and pure to mirror the bendiu
Il heavens. thank you for the lesson"
e She wore different face on returnin
home than when she went forth so relu,
II family. There was rift in the evershadov
ing clouds, and few rays of sunshine cam
e warmly down.
% A few weeks of unselfsh devotion to tn
t, life-duties awaiting her hand on all side
1t wrought a wonderful change in Mrs. Lorini
u In seeking to be useful to Others, her heaI
,r was comforted and when, into that hear
ever yearning with mothers undying low
Y. babe, left helpless and friendless in th
! world, was taken, the work of consolatio
r was completed. She sat under cloud n
G longer Above her arched the beautiful SIX,
n bright through the cheerful day and whe
the night of grief for the loss Of her preciou
e ones returned, as it would return at interval