Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-06-22
Quiet Christian Ways.

The following incident in the life of the
late Mrs. Lucretia Prentiss, by Mrs. Mary
ii. A. Field, now of San Jose, California,
carries beautiful and impressive lesson
with it :" It was the first Sunday in Sep
tember, 1866-a quiet, perfect day among
the green hills of Vermont-a sacramental
Sabbath and we had come seven miles
over the mountain to go up to the house of
the Lord. had brought my little two
months-old baby in my arms, intending to
leave her during the service at our brothers
home which was near the church. knew
that Mrs. Prentiss was summer boarder
in this home, that she was the wife Of dis
tinguished clergyman, and literary woman
of decided ability but it was before the
Stepping Heavenward epoch of her life,
and had no very deep interest in the pros
psct of meeting her. We went in at the
Hospitality open door, and meeting no one,
sat down in the pleasant family living room.
1t was about noon, and we could hear cheer
full voices talking over the lunch table in
the dining-room. Presently the door opened,
aud slight, delicate-featured woman, with
beautiful large dark eyes, came with rapid
step into the room, going across to hall
door but her quick eye caught glimpse
of my little bundle of flannel and not
pausing for an introduction or word of pre-
| paratory speech, she came towards me with
beaming face and outstretched hands
| 20 have you baby there ? How delight
full haven't seen one for such an age
Please may | take it The darling, tiny
creature Ia girl 7 How lovely?' She took
the baby tenderly in her arms, and went on
in her eager, quick, informal way, but with
a bright little blush and smile I'm moi
very polite-pray, let me introduce myself
I'm Mrs. Prentiss, and you are Mrs. Field,
know After little more sweet, motherly
comment and question over the baby 1
touch of nature which at once made u
akin she asked, Have you brought tb,
baby to be christened p | said, No;
thought it would be better to wait till sh
was little older 90 moi she pleaded
do let us take her over to the church now
The younger the better, l think; it is so un
certain about our keeping such treasures.
still objected that had not dressed tn
little one for SO public an occasion. e
never mind about that she said. She i
really lovelier in this simple fashion than t
be loaded with lace aud embroidery Then
her sweet face growing more earnest
There will be more of us here to-day tina
at the next communion-more Of us to prd
IOT HeT. Iue uIule jdnD was IdKen iHuo I'll
fold that day, and was Mrs. Prentis
warm friend forever more. Her whole beal
tiful character had revealed itself to me i
that little interview-the quick perception
the wholly frank, unconventional name
the sweet motherliness, the cordial interes
in even a stranger, the fervent piety whic
! could not bear delay in duty, and even tf
quaint, original, forcible thought and wa
| &c ha of I,
here to pray for her to-day For severi
successive summers / saw more or less {
3 her in this Earthly Paradise as she use
to call it; and once visited her in her Gil
home. / have been favored with many
; her sparkling, vivacious letters, and hav
read aud re-read all her published writings
but that first meeting held in it for me tf
keynote of all her wonderfully beautiful an
symmetrical character"