Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-01-28

patience. Helen was tne youngest ana now
the only well one. She knew that now she
had not only the terrible loss of her mother
to bear, but must take her place. Long she
pondered on these things, long she prayed
for guidance 10 do her best in this, her I'M
expected mission field. After which, with
all the resolution Of her strong nature, she
turned and faced the inevitable. Still the
tears came now and then, and there came
times Of bitter mourning for lifelong hope,
dead indeed, but not buried. Her faith.
grew strong in this great time Of need, and
she believed she would have the grace to
meet It, She saw plainly now, that she had
willed one way and God another.
"Oh how could be so blind az not 10
see that my way might not be his" moaned
the poor girl, after escaping to her own
room. "How terrible IL is that mother is
gone, and so soon and that man like Ned,
full of grand capabilities, should be 80
hampered and thwarted, left helpless and
| blind, with such staff to lean upon as |
shall be. And Christy, that beautiful,
blessed sister of mine, stricken from the
| first, and now smitten indeed, but never
| hopeless or uncheerful. The everlasting
arms are certainly under her. Her growing
mind will not be stunted, and it bears such
| abundant fruit, and Of such excellence, that
ever goes away empty. How strangely ev-
erything happens; and these are the ways
Of providence" unused poor Helen. "But
even /, selfish as have been, amid this ap.
parently shattered, desolated family begin
to see small compensation, and now | only
| pray that | may be worthy Of the work he
gives me, be it what it may"
"Helen, Helen" was the call that inter
rnpted her meditations.
"Oh dear" she CRIED "my Tears must not
be SEEM" and she fastened down stairs.
Helen, some one is knocking at the door,
do see. think IL is Fora's light footstep."
And it was. She looks little older as
she enters, and possibly more serious, but
her dark eyes are full of light and life. She
and Helen draw their chairs up TO the bed
side, and the three are soon engaged in
earnest conversation. Before Flora leaves
she is pledged to go as missionary in place
of Helen, who had warmly urged her to go.
The village was filed with establishment
at the news. Flora jackson why did
not know she could stop sewing and dress
ing long enough" exclaimed some. And
others, al should think it would be more
like Cora. Flora is too fond of society and
fashion" But" commended others, "have
not you noticed how changed she is ? Her
clothes are quite plain, and she always did
work for the poor great deal. And then,
you know Cora in engaged to young Hall,
Clarence Hall, the old friend of her child
hood. Yes, sheis TO bemarried in the spring.
He has graduated from college with honors,
and is to settle here as a lawyer. And Cora,
who had almost, yes quite, made up her
mind to the missionarys life before is to be
little village wife and housekeeper."
Think of it; what changes, and how little
we can plan for ourselves There are those
three girls. Cora turns out differently from
her plans. Flora, whom we all set down as
frivolous and worldly, has turned her whole
thought to the salvation of souls, and is GO
ing to devote her life to missionary work.
Once, not three years ago, she declared she
could not understand Helen Rivers, whose
heart was so bent upon that work. Now,
poor Helen has the hardest task of all.
There is no romance, no novelty, no excite
ment about home MISSIONS nothing but
mere drudgery. If the doing it for Chrst'a
sake did not bring new strength 10 ones
heart, it would be uncomfortable. But Helen
Rivers is brave, she is made of strong ma
terial, and her life will be grander in its
homely duties than any of the others. As
far as she can see, shei is to spend her life in
a cottage on the HILL away from all neigh
bors, attending upon sick sister, and a
blind brother. Can anything look harder
and yet there are compensations in that
home. That sick sister and blind brother
have characters that will not only sustain
but cheer her in the doing of the otherwise
irksome duty. At first her poor heart
seemed to sink, pressed down by the weight
of her mission, but now she is cheering up
and beginning in her resolute aud hopeful
way to find the sweet in the bitter. In that