Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-09-02

would have welcomed il. But those that
came to me, came because they thought 1t
their duty, not from love or kindness Not
one of them asked me to her home, or tried
to make me forget my sorrows in other things.
No, they reminded me of them, and preached
patience and resignation.
"They acted according 10 their lights,
said charitable Miss Keziah. They have led
easy, pleasant lives, and did not know how
to deal with such sorrow as yours"
"But you knew" said Mrs. Denton in
low voice.
eyes" answered Miss Keziah, ''I know,
because have suffered too"
They sat talking by the fire until nearly
midnight, and then retired to rest. Mrs
Denton, for the first time since Edgar's death,
offered up q silent but earnest prayer before
she fell asleep. Her heart was no longer
hardened.
She did not 60 back TO her cottage the next
morning as she had expected, for Miss Ke-
ziah's rheumatism had been increased by her
late walk OF the previous evening, and she
was unable to leave her bed. For many days
she was utterly helpless, and during that
time was tenderly nursed by Mrs. Denton,
who also made herself generally useful in the
house, and directed the work OF the farm with
care and decision. When Miss Keziah got
well she was so much pleased with the way
things had boen managed during her enforc-
ed illness, that she made a proposition to
Mrs Denton.
Suppose you take the place of my sister
Jane, she said, ''and stay right along with
me. 1 need somebody, as you see and
what's the use OF both of us living lonely
when we can be company for each other as
well as not? You'd take deal of comfort in
Hetty, too. believe you love her now most
as we'll as / do"
"She seems like my own little Bertha come
back to me-" said Mrs. Denton. But, o,
Miss Keziah, l ought not TO accept your kind
ness. l have been so hard, so wicked, so re-
bellious, l do not deserve that such good
should come to me-"
"We differ about that but we wont argue
it." said Miss Keziab. II want you, and
you'd like to stay SO the things settled.
You're my partner from this day on"
The next Sunday the good people of Brier-
vile were surprised TO see Mrs. Denton in
Miss Keziah's pew at church, and in attend
auce at prayers in the evening.
"How did you manage ii 2" asked Mrs. Bliss,
as she stopped Miss Keziah in the vestibule
of the church.
"Oh, asked her to tea, as / said was 60
ing to-" answered Miss Keziah, land l guess
the preserves kinder softened and sweetened
her up, and she passed on to where Mrs.
Denton stoou waiting 10 nelp ner lnto the
spring wagon.
Neither Mrs Denton nor Miss Keziah ever
regretted entering into that partnership. As
the years went by Miss Keziah often wonder
ed how she should ever have managed the
farm without the help of the capable, ener-
getic woman who had taken the place of
sister Jane"
Mrs. Denton was never weary of work; lg
for the comfort and prosperity of the friend
who had come to her in her hour of need,
and led her out of the slough of despond.
And happiness made her a different woman.
She learned at last those lessons of patience
and resignation which had seemed so hard
and bitter in the first days of her sorrow. De-
spair, rebellion and repining gave place in
her heart to hope and tenderness She grew
at last to have only tender, gentle memories
Of the loved ones who had left her, and she
proved kind, judicious guardian to little
Hetty when varm-hearted Miss Kezah had
passed away from earth.