Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-10-05
What She Could.

MY WdSnbTWOuldL udu nulSubu nbT udy |
work. and had given her her money and |
seen her tie it up in the corner of her coarse
cotton handkerchief, and still she fingered.
She rolled and unroled the little bundle
her apron, and looked with dis
satisfied air at the paper had given her to
wrap it in. wondered what could be the
matter. "That was a wonderful good pa
per you gave me last week." she said, at
length. My father used to take that paper
when l was a girl and lived to home.
can't never get out TO meetin' in the fore
noon, what with the dinner and the baby
and my man amt no hand to go. But he
read that paper out loud to me all the fore
noon, last Sunday, aud though / couldn't
hear it quite ALL bein' so busy, l heard
enough to know it was wonderful improvin';
most as good as sermon. / prayed in my
heart that the Lord would make it means
of good TO Sam, and I'm sure If it only Just
kept him to home, 'twould be worth while.
If 'tisn't askin' too much, could you give me
another 2" We had all finished reading the
last religious weekly, and as had that very
morning had occasion TO use some papers
in packing away furs and woolens to keep
them from moths, had rather thoughtlessly
appropriated that. A twinge of conscience
was felt at the time, for l commonly try to
put good newspapers in the way of some
body's reading after am done with them.
1t was some trouble to get it for Mrs.
O'Hara, but went up to the attic, opened
the great cedar chest, and substituting a
daily for it, brought it down to the poor
woman. "I'm afraid I've made you heap
of trouble" said she, looking disturbed and
uncomfortable as she took it. al wouldn't
have asked, but thought like enough you'd
Just as soon had that as the other, if you
knew | wanted it," "To be sure | had I"
said |. you shall have it every week in
future" She smiled, as she wrapped it
round her apron, and said in meek way
Il amt able, you know, to take it myself,
with all have on my shoulders besides, or
| would, and not trouble nobody" She
went away gratfed, and | took care, after
ward, to save my paper for her every week.
Often in the intervals of her work we talked
over some Of the subjects of interest we had
found there, for tho Ugh iliterate, she was a
Christian and woman of excellent sense.
| Well enough l knew all that she had on
her shoulders" Her eldest daughter was
au idiot, her aged mother a partial paralytic,
and her husband, though trained by religious
parents, was addicted 10 strong drink. The
money that went out Of his wages to indulge
| tulo dppCtioCt ohC " do ODlkCd W uldhC up Dy
| washing. To do this, and care for the feeble
and the little ones in her home, she toiled
early and late. One day spoke to her OF
| the work of the missionaries in Africa, and
| the great opportunities for doing good which
that new field offers. at just harrers me
up to read about the missionaries, and how
the fields is all white, and so few reapin
of EN-" she replied "If could give ever
a little, but you see | can't don't see how
Sam can read it so cool. l most wish he'c
skip it sometimes. If only had money d,
you spose I'd tighten up my purse-string
and turn away my face I'd Jest rejoice t
send em good round sum-" "There is
something you can give" | said "Neve
you wish that Sam would skip any, bu
when you are longing to give, lift up you
heart to the Lord and ask him to bless tn,
missionaries and help on their work. Il
you give prayer, it may do more good thar
some peoples money. | would pat in
penny if could do no more whenever go
the chance. One leaf of the Bible, with tn,
Holy Spirits blessing on it, might lead
soul to God, and that soul might lead others
and penny will pay for more than on,
leaf" $50 it will cheap as books are now
a-daysl" said she, with a happy smile. "I'n
glad had this little talk with you. hav
my health, and earn my own money, and
know can spare one cent now and then.
She went away smiling and grateful. On
day, weeks afterward, had occasion to e
to her house. 81 want you to Look in her,
a minute" she said, motioning me ava,
from the family into the bit of bedroom
where she slept. When we were alone sh
drew out from hidden corner small bal
made of striped ticking. "That's my mis-
sionary bag" said she. "Ive saved fiv
cents out of every washing and put it il
there. So little we never missed it, but yol
see it counts'up to quite sum. Thirty-fv
cents l shouldn't have thought l coul
give that much, but here It's, and nobod
the worse off. Thank the Lord that "
got it to give. l want you to take it t
meetin', for can't go tomorrow, and hea
there's to be a collection" took tn
money, and as dropped all those fve-cen
pieces into the collection next day l wond
dered if any like sum was given at anythin
like the same cost.