Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1880-11-17

had Invited her u spend the day on
tho river with her, and The two had q
long and pleasant talk,
MIS-, Hanz thought Id make such
friends Of tho boys, We didn't know
what tormenls they were, And then
she said I'd have friends herei but
tho girls stand OF so-not ono Of them
has called q second time. o Father,
Father ! feel 10 old, and tired. and
Who was that smiling up at her !
WHAT Could It be' Yes, the lady
was coming IN at tho gate, and 1t was
yes, II was-Mrs, Harlzl In an
other moment Hattie was At the door,
and Mrs. Dallas, hearing her bright,
aflectiopate words, wondered if that
could DO Hattie She would have
wondered still more It she had seen
the girl, who had seemed 80 cold aud
reserved toward her, throw her arms
about Mrs. Hartz's neck and burst 10.
to u flood of tears. But Mrs. Hariz
was not surprised; she could under
stand better than Mrs, Dallas how
very bard her new life seemed to
Hattie; yet she did not give her any
hope OF change.
Il conld stand il if IL were for a
year or two, butt may go on for
ever. | see no way out
Hattie, did You ever think why
you are hereY'
Why' I suppose because l have
Just enough Of an income to dress on,
and pay Tor my home by being use
ful. Oh, how l hate III!
No; | dent think that is ,ohy, be.
cause God puts you here. | think
you are here TO learn something which
you could not learn elsewhere; to do
something for the dear Lord that no
one else can do; aud when you have
learned the lesson and done tho work
you may be moved-not before. Pll
tell you how it was with me once.
When was first married my father
and sister.in.law lived with me. They
were not at all congcuial and at first
l made myself utterly miserable wish
ing / could have my home 10 myself,
and so forth. But at last dear old
clergyman told me just what have
told you, and l began to watch and
see what I had to learn and what to
do. My father-in law was apt to find
fault, and I had to be watchful both
to give him less occasion and TO take
it patiently. And at last, when I was
so busy learning my lesson that l had
quite forgotten the work l might ac-
complish, my sister.in.law came to
me one day and told me she had de-
cided to try to follow Christ; that l
had won her TO the decision All,
Hattie, how blessed my old friend.
Then, when they we're no longer
thorns in my side, those two were
taken out of my home, and ] had m
wish: I had my dear husband and
children 10 myself-for little while.
There was a silence. for the deep
Grape veil and widows cap told the
rest Of the story. Dear Hattie, if
you can but put your heart in your
daily life. if You can give up watching
for change, and live each day for
Christ's sake, you will be happy, with
no young friends, even with teasing
nephews and busy, over-tasked Sis
ter. Mrs. Dallas is Christian is she
not?'
oh, yes! only l suppose she does.
mt think me one.'
Don't be so sure. I've no doubt
she is wishing she could brighten you
up. 1t must be hard to see you look
ing so-sad, shall I say' as you
looked when I caught your eye at the
window
Hattie laughed and blushed.
But am not keeping you from
some duty?'
oh, no, indeed.
But this is holiday, and, with the
children all home, there must be extra
baking, and so on
Hattie remembered the pudding and
cake, and looked conscious. 'Ah! l
see there is something, and l have an-
other call to make. l shall be in the
village for week or two, so l shall
see you again. Good by, dear, and
try to learn the lesson and do the
work, but-not in your strength. re-
member
JEANNE, If you'll give me the re-