Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-01-21
Written for the Vermont Waterman
Mistaken Missions.

Otten ne resolved TO resist and did resist Tor
weeks and months, and then--but now, at
the time of our story, that was all past and
we will not revive it, but the evil effects
were not past. His health had begun to
fail Most of all his head and eyes felt the
punishment of his indulgence. Long and
earnest talks with Christobel had worked
The reform. She had helped TO build him
up on strength not his own, and the change
proved to be permanent one, but it came
too late to save his health. Still he went
daily to his desk in the bank, and by dint Of
a strong will kept his business up, never
missing an hour and giving such perfect
satisfaction that none suspected he was u.s.
ing up his strength, and most of all his eyes
He loved his mother with a passion almost
fierce and Helen equally but all the rev.
erence in his nature bowed down to Chris
tobel, through whom he had received his
peace, and the power TO keep it, Let us
| watch him as he comes home this same
evening soon after Cora left His step is
not light and elastic as once, for he is the
Oldest in the family, and has left his youth
far behind him. As the door opened it re-
vealed tall dark haired man, his lip covered
with thick moustache, but the rest of his
face clearly shaven, and strong and decided
in its outline. He went straight to his
mother and kissed her lovingly. Then he
greeted the quiet sister, who could not come
to him, and at last the impatient Helen.
dwell, mother, another day is done, and
another victory won, though once | did not
know the rhythmical, satisfying harmony of
such days." and glad restful smile swept
across his tired face, and the eyes closed
YEARLY as he sat down.
"Now Ned" cried Helen, | am at your
| foot raadu for ynur carvina vpbat ahail I Jo0
Would you have your supper2 guess that
is the one thing you need first now"
"Well, perhaps so, Helen dear but fear
that light for my eyes is what am to need
| most That if your high aims should end
in simply being eyes for me, then you would
well nigh curse the conscience that impes
you to do your duty; but trust the good
and merciful God will never leave me to be
drag on my friends for his mercy endu-
reth forever" Helen had glided out of the
room.
"But and the magic wand rose and
| fell and healed" but" added the fairy
sister, "if the light he takes from you should
be needed to illumine Helen's pathway, lest
she stumble and go astray in the shadowy
| places, would you then lend the light of
your eyes for life, Ned, if by so doing you
might guide soul to the perfect light ?"
"Oh Christobel how can | answer such
question And yet might be able to
say, Yes, if could be quite sure of such
a result"
swell, we will see," were the mothers
CHEEKY words; " We won't look into the
dark while it is yet day."
"And why not mother?" persisted Chris
tobel. ain that way our eyes may become
accustomed to the dim and the dark, and SO
we may be armed for all things"
But Christobel," her mother replied,
own cure ? Possibly we may have no to-
morrow here, it may be there"
Yes, MOTHER" continued the low voice,
"but every tomorrow that is here is only
to-day's pupil and heir, and will inherit all
its ills"
"Not necessarily so, my child, many to-
days are clear sunshine after yesterdays of
storm. But, come now to tea" and she
| wheeled the lame girl out into the small but
cheerful dining-room.
Helen had gone, but only as far as here
where she threw herself on chair and
choked back the great sobs that seemed
about to overwhelm her. She overheard
every word of the conversation and quickly
these thoughts ran through her mind. " And
they think it is nothing for me to give up
my great plans; me, who have dedicated
myself to the missionary work. No; / can
not withdraw now" As they seated them
selves at the tea-table, she drew herself up
proudly, thinking, How little they under
stand and appreciate me-" The converse
ton passed pleasantly between the three,
but Helen was silent. She felt bitterly TO-
wards those she loved, for they had wounded
her. They had not even referred to her
wishes, while they so lightly treated her
great life-work. "She stay at home in this
small town and in this hill cottage, Just to
be a companion to Ned How could they
expect itp"
But that night, when in her own little
room, Helen could not keep her mothers
words out of her mind, that to do the ap-
parently commonplace home duties, was
really harder than TO do great ones. And as
it dawned on her that she might be required
TO stay, she buried her head in the pillows
aud gave way to the big sobs that so filled
her heart. Had she not told all the girls
her grand intentions, and when they laughed
assured them that she would prove her words
true some day, until now they all quite be
Iieved herr What would they say 2" and
her sobs again shook the bed When more
quiet she reasoned to herself thus; Now il
mother and Chrsty must stay at home any
way, why can't they read and be eyes fol
Ned if he must be blind Z" and the big tears
streamed down her face at the thought. Hel
, love for Ned was Deep and yet, Just now
even blindness for him was less terrible tc
her than the idea of giving up her life plans
, After much thinking she did not see why
the two could not be everything to hel
brother if he should come to need it. She
could not yet believe it could be so, though
the physicians had pronounced his cast
hopeless. 81 could return often to visit them,
was her thought, and it would be ridicu
lous for me to give up all my cherished
plans" With these and like thoughts sh'
cheered herself up, and soon went 10 bee
and fell into a sound sleep.
1 As time passed on Helen often felt tina
: much uncertainty attended the future. Sh'
did not speak of it confidently, as she used
nor as often, yet she would not allow her
self to entertain a doubt. Christobels eye
pierced the girls heart, and read it all
though she said nothing. She believed tina
Helen was led by wise hand and she wa
willing TO leave her to its guidance. Sh
. did not understand how the patient submis
siye spirit, still 80 needed in Helen's Chris
tan character could be blended with he
earnest but wilful and sometimes almos
vehement VOWS of conservation 10 God. Sh
d only knew it would be. She had learned, a
z many another sufferer or tired pilgrim has
a that God can work out all things into pei
feet harmony; that no way is too long or to-
}. hard, if the end is eternal rest. way tina
seems to his ignorant children cruel is oftel
the only way by which they can be brough
to attain the gracious end he proposed 10
:, them. These were the invalids meditation
that same night, as she lay thinking OF
Helen aud her future. 1t did not once oc
cur to her that Helen would try TO resist, o
would shrink from Gods way, after havin
so earnestly pledged herself To his service
But Heen's mother had penetrated her IL
most thought and saw with startled hear
} that her daughter was hardly equal to wha
might come. Heroic deeds would be cas-
enough for Helen to do, but she was not ye
ready simply to submit.
As for Edward, he deeply realized tina
coming dark events might Illustrate the hig
hopes Of that loved sister, and with almos
= bitterness he paced to and fro in his sma
room, forboding the near approach of evi
aud sometimes murmuring against the wi
that might destine him to be burden o
the earth. lie was not young and had bee