The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1881-07-14

dlltI tudl AL MISS heZldn, WOruS
could give you no idea of all that have
suffered. One by one every joy of my
life has left me. One by one my children
were taken from me, until only Edgar
was left. How | loved him. How | de-
pended upon him to atone for all | had
suffered. How dreamed over him. Idle
dreams, foreshadowing happiness thatwas
never to be mine Then he was taken,
and was left to sink in despair. want
ed only to die, to join my dear ones where
no suffering could ever touch me again.
My heart yearned for sympathy. would
have welcomed it. But those that came
to me, came because they thought it 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 resig-
nation"
"TheY acted according to their lights, :"
said charitable Miss keziah. "They have
led easy, pleasant lives, and did not know
how to deal with such a sorrow as yours"
''But you knew" said Mrs. Denton, in
a low voice.
eyes" answered Miss keziah. II 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 Ed
gar's death offered up silent but earnest
prayer before she fell asleep. Her heart
was no longer hardened
She did not 90 back to her cottage the
next morning as she had expected, for
Miss keZiah's rheumatism had been in
creased 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 ten
derly rursed 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 ke-
Ziah got well, she was so much pleased
with the way things had been managed
during her enforced illness, that she
made proposition to Mrs. Denton.
suppose you take the place of my
sister Jane" she said, land stay right
along with me. | 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 we'll as not You'd
take a deal OF comfort in Hetty, too.
believe YOU love her now most as well as
do"
"She seems like my own little Bertha
''But, o, Miss keziah, | ought not to ac-
cept your kindness. | have been so hard,
so wicked, so rcbellious, | do not deserve
that such good should come to me-
"We differ about that but we won't
argue it," said Miss Keziah II want
you, and you'd like to stay; 50 the things
settled. You're my partner from this
day on"
The next Sunday the good people of
Breryille were surprised to see Mrs. Den
ton in Miss keziah's pew at church, and
in attendance at prayers in the evening.
GLOW did you manage it Z" asked Mrs
Bliss, as she stopped Miss kezlah in the
vestbule of the church.
"Oh, | asked her to tea, as | said was
going to-" answered Miss keziah, 'and
| guess the preserves kinder softened
and sWeetened her up," and she passed
on to where Mrs. Denton stood waiting
to help her into the spring wagon.
Neither Mrs. Denton nor Miss keziah
ever regretted entering into that partner
snip AS lne years went Dy MISS heIlal
often wondered how she should ever have
managed the farm without the help of
the capable, energetic woman who had
"taken the place Of sister Jane
Mrs. Denton was never weary Of wor k
ing 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 diff
terent woman. She learned at last those
lessons Of patience and resignation which
had seemed 50 hard and bitter in the first
days Of her sorrow. Despair, 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 a kind, judcious guardian to little
Hetty, when warm hearted Miss keziah
had passed away from earth. From the
Standard.