Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-07-09
Story Of a Little Missionary.
CHAPTER I.

CHAPTER I.
The name of my heroine is Mary. She
sits perched up in chair by the window,
reading. Surrounded by every luxury
wealth can bring, an only child, caressed,
loved and petted by her fond parents whose
hearts also are young and fresh, she has
never known much of suffering. No trouble
has yet darkened the door of her home.
A shadow gathers darkly over her young
face now, as she reads her tales of poverty
and misery. Yonder is the mother reclining
upon cushions of velvet. Her small, deft
fingers weave in and out bright meshes Of
scarlet silk, while contented smile plays
about her mouth. She, too, is child of
pleasure.
Mary goes over to her hastily; Mamma,
can this story be true ?"
"Tell me the tale first, child"
"A little girl named Maggie; her father
dies, her mother drinks, and grows cross
and beats her. At last she runs away, wan
ders in the streets a beggar, sleeps in barns
at night, and begs her crust through the day.
One day she raises her sweet voice in song,
and it brings her money. Gladly she uses
that newly -discovered gift up and down the
streets, wherever she can gain penny. At
last she marries, and only steps from one
misery to another"
Tears flowed from Mary's eyes, as she told
this for though fourteen years old, she had
never before been allowed to read such tales,
and had been carefully kept ignorant of any
scenes of misery. Her mother endeavored to
console her, but to no purpose. All day, as she
tried to read, little Maggie stood before her
eyes, going to and fro, bartering her sweet
voice for money. Not for one moment could
| she forget her. If such things were real,
how could she enjoy her luxurious home ?
The exquisite blue and white lace draperies
about her little bed only turned her thoughts
more wildly to the cold barn where perhaps
many Maggie found refuge from the snow
and wind.
| In vain the mother tried to still the
sympathy reused in the child's breast, in
vain assured her it was only story. Mary
made great secret resolve. Young as she
was, her search for the Maggie of the streets
began.
She rested not, till she had talked with
all the ragged children she met, when going
| and coming from school. Some were dirty
and rude others seemed half grateful for a
kind word, but too shy to meet her advances
She longed to meet one like the heroine Of
her story, with big blue eyes, so full of grace
and so gifted of voice and speech. Day
after day passed and she began to think
such existed only in books, as her mother
had said
| CHAPTER H.
Nearly year after we meet Mary again
now grown taller and more womanly. She
is walking slowly towards school, books il
hand 1t would seem she must have for
gotten her search of year ago, but no, hel
heart is full of it. Thus far all whom she
had approached had repulsed her, some
times so coarsely that her hope had almos
died within her. Her parents rejoiced tina
she seemed almost to have forgotten he
first shock. They assured her that only tn
coarse and vulgar were so poor as to beg
and that she was called upon to help them
But Mary was not a mere child. She ha'
womans heart, and she again resolved
that she would never give up. To-day sh
walks thoughtfully, with bent head. A we
bit of child steals up behind her, ant
; pulling her silken shawl says, Z" Bread, mi:
sus." The words were uttered low, bu
distinctly
"Iwill 60 with you" said our little self-ar
pointed missionary. What is your name ?
"Maggie." Aud now Mary heard tn
soft rich voice of her dreams. As the
walked and talked, there were the sam
blue eyes so darkly fringed and full of tn
, deep light her imagination had pictured.
She soon drew from the little one he
story, so common to all ears acquainte
with the world, and so new and real to Mar,
They stopped at dirty brown house, an
after going up some filthy stairs, entered
I room cold and dark. Upon pile of stra
q in corner of the room lay woman, i'll an
dirty, ard too drunk to notice that strang'
I had entered but when she saw little Ma
J gle she asked, with an oath, why she ha
brought her no food. She threatened to be-
her. The terrified child pulled at Mary
dress, whispering, "Come away" b.
Mary told the miserable woman she woul
bring her food and, going to bakers nea
I'd she soon returned with bread. Greedil
with no thanks or appearance of gratitud
t. the woman devoured it all and, with 9
oath, demanded rum.
The two girls went out, and Mary DIRE
from Maggie the story of how she spent h
:. days. She begged she stole when 81
could without being caught. Very honest
g, she said this, with her eyes turned up
., Mary, who asked If she knew there was
God.
"Oh yes; for you there is, but not for
beggars. He made us but does not ca
for us, nor we for him.
Mary turned quickly. "Why, Maggi
who told you that p
GAN the poor people say so and |
IS lieve it,
Mary was in new school that day.
CHATTER III.
no Three years have passed when again '
lift the curtain of this home. Though
reveals the same picture of wealth a
luxury, still on all the faces gathered the
lies an added beauty. Both father a
as mother, taught by this girl of fourteen, ha
70" gone out to the lanes and by-ways to gath
ss' in the hungry and naked
- Two slender girls are moving about soft
y There are groups OF little ragged childr
* in the different corners, and If we look 10
enough we shall find out the secret of ii
meeting. II seems that the two girls, hi
n ing persuaded Marys father to go W