Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-01-28
Written for the Vermont Waterman.
Mistaken Missions.


Mistaken Missions.
[coNcLuDEDl
Beautiful, Flora certainly was, with her
dark olive complexion, regular, clear-cut
features, eyes dark and profound, and hair
as long and black as that Of pagan god
dess. Her head was bent long time, and
her thought were unusually serious, almost
solemn.
"a penny for your thought, Miss Flora"
said gay voice proceeding from head that
had stuck itself, unlimited, through the open
window, q head belonging to classmate of
hers, at the village high school.
"Why, Clarence Hail." said she, starting
up, mo, you will not get them for a score Of
pennies they are far too valuable to deposit
in your wild head. It's little interest they
would bring one there" And already the
wonted smiles were returning to her face.
The young man suddenly gave jump and
landed in the middle of the room, but un-
fortunately landed upon Cora's pet work
basket which she had been overhauling.
Away flew the hundreds of balls of worsted
green, blue, and crimson, red, yellow, and
white-under chairs, tables and sofa. Was
there ever such chaos Of colors In
statAly, before the surprised unfortunate
could gather up his courage, two tiny kit
tens which had been soundly sleeping on
the sofa sprang to the new and inviting
scene. Away went balls and kittens, bob
bling and twisting about the legs of chairs
and tables, till Cora, who had suddenly
entered the room, declared the two occu.
pants Of it to be hopelessly insane.
al don't know but | shall go crazy from
mere remorse," moaned the unlucky young
man. al am miserably entangled in my
own footsteps. Has no one any pity on me p
and he moved one foot, which gave all the
balls and the kittens fresh start. 81 sup
pose you will let me stand here until
petrify and become an eternal monument to
your cruel aspirations"
"No, no." cried Flora, {" l will not, will
be most merciful this time, and help you
out of the difficulty, if you will promise to
have a care on the future.
"Indeed, will promise you everything
anything Flo," and he leaped out of the
beautiful web, 80 quickly unsnarled by the
deft fingers of the two laughing girls. With
many bows and much mock humility he es
capped from the scene of his discontinue.
"Dear, DEAR" laughed Flora, "Clarenct
Hall must put his foot into everything;
never saw such boy. He has turned my
world topsy-turvy this afternoon as we'll as
my work-basket Why, Cora, was making
the most solemn resolutions to myself, wher
all this hurly-burly began" and both girli
laughed heartily. A moment more and the
penitent Clarence came and tapped lightly
at the door. He said he came to see if hi'
injuries to Flora's fine art had been at al
serious.
"Oh, indeed" replied Flora, ait is wei
you bethought yourself to inquire, and it il
well for you that can answer, no. Every
thing is in fine order now, as you see. Yot
could hardly imagine we had had such I
tornado, thanks to Cora"
"And," said Clarence, looking long ant
earnestly at the fair girl, "can Cora so sool
quell any tempest that breaks upon you
house 2"
al believe she can, and by just one lool
of her quiet blue eyes," and Flora turned OIL
her sister look full of love.
Cora's fair hair fell almost over her face
as if to hide the rising blush. "Now viii
not allow this" she exclaimed.
"Then I'll CO." said Clarence, "before 20,
change the subject" And he disappeared
Clarence was tall aud slight, and alread..
possessed the finished manners of gentle
man, though still full of boyish pranks AM
fun. He had grown up side by side witt
these girls, had shared all their plays AM
studies, but never till this afternoon, whel
these all-subduing, quiet blue eyes wer
turned on him, had he detected anythin
distinctive in his love for Cora In tn
midst of his heedlessness he had felt for thi
one girl friend new and singular regar
that he did not quite understand. Indeed
it was so new feeling to him that he gre,
quite sober as he walked down the street
He began to feel as if he had grown olde
within an hour, and to wonder if reverence
slipping in would separate them, the villag
boy and girl.
Flora's meditations had been very sud
denly broken off that day, but the effect O
them remained, and the good thoughts a
came back to her that night. They ra
thus "Now, Flora Jackson, you like bes
of all things fun and frolic and dress an
fashion and society; but these are not tn
things you are to have. So be brave, an
fix your eyes straight on the things that wi
make you great a noble and holy cha
acter; one fit to be presented in sacrific
to living God Do not swerve to the RICH
or left single inch, for you are pledged.
And the big hot tears fell fast from her eye
and again her head was bowed down low fC
long long time.
| Iiettti, nave YOU oocH SiatohSc ioVciy
asked Flora, in school one day.
"No," was the reply, "not for three days
what is he doing2"
"Getting ready for college; he is to 6
this year instead of next, as he is fully pr
pared. You know he was far ahead of h
classes all last year, and now he is to have
tutor for a few weeks, before the collel
term Begins"
"Well," said Helen sorrowfully, 81 can
imagine how we shall get on without h
spirits; and besides he is kind of inspir
ton to me. There is high and mob
principle in him that always has an i
{ auence on me for good. l shall miss hi
terribly" and long deep sigh was hear
Was life growing hard to girl of less tina
/; twenty2 If so it was only because her plal
for life we're so lofty that she begins to fe
them totter. Still she will not give u
Her mother, who is growing feeble with i