Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-08-27
The "OmnipOtent Hand"

house on Hammer street a dreaded visitor
was waiting-waiting to hug the dropping
mother in his long, thin arms, and to bear
her away to paupsr's grave.
Although one could see that her life's
sandglass was nearly empty, one could also
notice a sweet look of PATIENCE a foreground
of restfulness and resignation, although the
background was unmistakably dark, sad
and unutterably weary.
Only thirty-six years of age--only thirty
six could it be? Thinking of fair matrons
with heavy, glossy, untinged hair, bright,
earnest eyes, and graceful. active forms, one
would surely say, No, no; not so young as
thrty-six. This wrinkled, haggard face,
this thin gray hair, this care-worn form must
belong to fifty-six-ay, it might to sixty-six.
But it was even SO that only thirty.six years
had rolled away since the world-worn woman
lying there had been Graded ON loving
mothers breast.
We cannot take time to trace this sad
woman's backward history; we will only
tell that a first glass, with its fair, hypocrit-
ical face, betrayed woman's loving hus-
band, making of him demon, pulling him
down to the very depths of the deep, and
dragging his beautiful wife and happy chill
dren from CHEEKY, loving home down to a
pauper's cherries home, a pauper's crust
and suffering.
And yet, although the blue eyes of the
lovely woman faded and the dimpled cheek
grew paiu-streaked, the aching hand had
still chung to the Masters, the weary feet
footsteps.
Brave soul she was to believe kind
Father was leading her along a rough and
wearisome road. Her drunken husband had
gone to meet just judge, and now in her
dying hour group of children were sobbing
and moaning about her. Nette, the eldest,
beautiful girl of fifteen, knelt by her
mothers wretched bed in an agony too great
for tears. She looked at Berry, Lettie and
little Dick almost enviously, for great tears
were coursing down their little unwashed
faces, while hers was smooth and clean.
"Why can't | cry when my heart is
broken and feel as if the floor would give
way beneath me?' she questioned herself
but no answer came.
"Nettie p
The girl looked up as her beloved mother
uttered her name in that gentle, plying way
"Well, mother dear, what is it 2"
al am going dear, going to Fathers
house to rest, to joy going from this faint
ness TO home where / shall never hunger
or thirst again. ] am glad, dear, too glad
for words to express, at the glorious pros
pect opening before me, and yet / would
stay if could, to help you, dear. The road
will be rough, rougher than ever for your
poor young feet, poor Nettie dear child +
And the thin hand passed lovingly over the
young head.
The tears flowed now thick and fast from
Nettie's eyes.
al will do the best can, but o mother
motheri
1.-THE Hand will guide you, dear. The
Omnipotent Hand don't let loose, Nettie
DOM let loose"
Two days passed, and then "over the
stones ratified the bones" of Nettie's beloved
mother to a sorrowful place-the pauper',
buryirg-ground; and yet Nettie well knew
that God could gather his jewels from tina,
despised resting-place as well as from any
other All yes, the Christian pauper',
robe is just as pure, her crown as beautiful
as if her frail body had found rest beneath
Greenwood's lovely shade.
A rough road surely were the young feet
treading. Cold November was staring the
orphans in their faces with dreary unsympa
thy. No fuel had they to warm their chilled
bodies, only thin and faded garments tc
and mouldy bread for their bill OF fare.
1t was the eve before Tn snksgiving the
little ones were sobbing in corner OF thu
attic--sobbing for three-fold cause grie
for their mother, grief from hunger, ant
grief from cold.
Nettie sat alone in the opposite corner
her face of rare beauty wearing a look o
anguish which no artist could transfer Il
canvass.
"What shall do, what shall do ?" he
soul cried in its extremity-the little one
crying, starving, and she sitting there, help
less TO save them.
All that day, and for many days, he
weary feet had been seeking work-all il
vain the effort. Even this evening she ha,
been out, hoping that at such busy tim
some work could be found, but everybod
seemed too busy to notice the weary child
At the cheerful, well-lighted market peopl
were busy buying and selling savory poultr,
and tender vegetables for the morrow's fes
tivities without one thought towards tn
famished girl who watched them with wisi
full eyes because of the pain of the wolf
inward cravings.
Little Dick crept from his corner over h
Nettie, and laid his little head upon her lap
Nettie, Dicks awful hungry; ant there
mite of a crust somewhere 7" Poor littl
Dick Poor little Dick |" said Nettie 10,
ingly and then suddenly thinking of he
mothers last Words "The Hand, the On
nipotent Hand !" she dropped upon her knee
and prayed aloud. The children, awe-strucl
gathered about her and listened
30 my God give these poor little ones
left to my charge, some food 10 save thsr
from starvation. DO, dear Father do, 70
Christ's sake. Amen"
n CHAPTER II.
Hugh Morris. the childless widower, wa
walking slowly over the slippery pavemeu
: towards home, where only maiden siste
!, aud her servants awaited his coming. Ha
: any one asked him why he had told oil
Tom to drive his glossy black pony bac
alone, that he preferred to walk, he coul
, not have told save by the one word-res
lessness. sN hnuI ais
Why this restlessness The Suprem
!. Power doubtless impelling him TO wall