Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-01-14

hStray. one watched and guarded tnem
against the many perils on every side, and
led them gently and carefully through the
difficult and dangerous places ; now holding
them back and now pushing them forward.
With firm gentleness she governed them,
almost without their knowledge. As she
bends her head now to give thanks for their
health and daily bread, every eye, even
Flora's, is lowered in reverence.
After tea they all assembled in the large
sittingroom, and every one enjoyed the brief
reunion--brief indeed, for at eight O'Clock
the little ones said goodnight, and scam
pered to the upper rooms, while the others
brought out their books and writing, and
were busy and silent for another hour or
more.
School brought Helen and Flora and Cora
together again the next day. They were
dear friends aud held fast the theory that
three was the right number for friends as
well as for the graces. The various traits
of the three characters blended into almost
a perfect whole, each supplying part. The
Eighty, dress-loving little Flora had such a
generous and benevolent spirit toward all
that every poor child of the village came as
naturally to her, with her small woes, as to
a mother. She soothed and comforted them
and would spend hours after school making
up little garments for them, cut from pieces
or old clothes that her aunt or other ladies
could spare. She could hardly resist putting
on the hounces and rufes that to her eye
were so pretty and so harmless.
Cora, the dreamy" was the home pet ;
loving and gentle and winning, she yet lacked
the energy and capability for action that so
characterized Flora She found great plea
sure in reading to and talking with the in
valid Christobel, whose home was called
" Hill Cottage" by the jackson family, every
member of which used to put by choice
books or stories or bits of poetry that might
please their sick friend. They said that she
kept in her heart magic wand that turned
every thought to gold. Cora was the mes
senger sent to deliver these mementos.
Every night after school she fastened to the
invalid, who sat by the window looking
down the hill, and could see the child be-
fore she crossed the silvery brook. 1t was a
pleasant sight to the sick girl, and brought
life and light to the silent room. Cora would
never let anything deter her from this daily
visit. Sometimes the girls, even Helen,
would urge her to go with them first. "No,
girls" she would say, " we have health and
spirits and school, and many other pleasant
things, and mamma says we must never for
get the sick besides, love best of all things
to read to Miss Christobel, and then sit by
while she explains it all or tells me her opin-
ion on the subjects" So off walks wee Miss
Cora with determined air.
"Now girls, isn't she good 7" exclaims
Helen, "for | declare, even |, who know
Just how good and wise and sweet dear
Christy is, get very tired of the stiffness of
that room on stormy days, when cannot
get down to school and nobody can get up
to us. | often feel as if must run and
scream. And girls, begin to feel lately as
if mother was right in saying it is easier
to do some great thing than to keep quiet
aud submissive" Helen looks very sober as
she watches Cora walk up that long hill
path and across the bridge. At that point
Helen knows her sister can see her, so she
turns and joins the girls in the walk. Not
that Helen ever neglects Christobel or
leaves her alone, but she knows she is pro-
vided for each night after school, and is she
not excusable for doing what will amuse
herself best
When Cora reached the door she fairly
bounded in and kissed her friend heartily.
School was little late to-day, and then
the girls kept me talking awhile, so it is
past our time" she said gaily "but we
will finish that beautiful story we beg Il
last night any way, won't we ?" And she
threw her hat on chair and began at once.
The story was about boy who was taken
to the South Sea Islands when quite young,
and as he grew older and began to notice
and investigate different things he wrote
many interesting letters to friend in Bos-
ton who kept and published them. This
chapter was description of trees, fruits and
flowers, aud even grasses and ferns, so differ
ent from those in America that Cora grew
quite enthusiastic. The book was in the
form of letters, of course, and was called
"A Boys Travels"
"Oh dear cried Cora, how Iwish | could
| travel | would see everything and come
home often to tell of it, and that would be
better than letters, wouldn't it, dear Miss
| Christobel 7"
"Well, little girl, will tell you what |
think, great many delightful things, II
may be travels, will come into your life, if
you do not seek them but if you begin by
trying to amuse aud make yourself happy,
you will surely miss the very things that
you seek. Ii your desire to learn is very
great, go and teach others. If you long To
travel, go for the profit of others as well as
yourself. Do nothing for your own sake
always have others in your mind, just as
you do when you come up to this quiet
uninviting little room every day. You see
it is you who have put these thoughts into
my mind, and am giving them back to you
in words"
al can't imagine how | could travel for
any ones sake but my own" sorrowfully
answered Cora. "And that is the one thing
| want to do most"
"Did you never think how you could dc
even that for another's sake?' said Chris
tobel, and Cora felt the words touch her
heart.
"Yes," was the Misunderstanding reply
" and yet don't quite see how | could add
very much to Gods glory by travelling
Not unless you teach and preach as you
go, like our Master" answered Christobel
"But could not leave my mother and
sisters and home
Then of course you could not travel as
you long to do, il your aim in life is to
amuse yourself, and that by travel you must
leave your friends. If you aim higher and
can work as you go, possibly thereby you
may do good to somebody else"
But, Miss Christobel," exclaimed Cora
"that lady told us it was a great thing tc
sew for those heather people, and | can dc
that here, you know"
"Yes, you can indeed" but if more work
ers are needed abroad aud you can be spared
from home, sewing will not be your highest
offering. Surely you would not offer less
than your best, would you 7"
"No, Pm sure | ought not" said Cora
"but am only fifteen, could not 60 yet.
"Of course not, but you must be thinking
about it, in order to make up your mind"
Just then bounding step was heard, anC
Helen opened the door. "Oh, what do yol
think, Christy dear We girls walked 81,
miles, almost to the sea, where we could hea
the roar of the waves and could see far ava,
the white cloud-like waters, and the mis-
rising up. felt as If | must go on and SO,
the whole, but the girls would come back
Oh how stupid 1t is to come home Into
house walled up like this, when we hav,
such wonderful world outside, such noun
tains and waters-l wish could be LITE,
right up into the clouds and see all in on,
big look il takes so long to go all over it
and besides, half of us can never travel.
Aud Helen almost angrily flung herself int
q big chair.