Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-09-27

put the irons on, Mary, and smooth EN-
out"
The woman turned a startled face up
on, and then went quickly for the clothes
but somethiug-was it tears-rollet
down the swarthy cheek, and mingled
with the bright drops she sprinkled ovel
them. When had she ever been called
Mary. When had she heard any name
bu. Moll: Not since away among New
Hampshire hills pale woman had laid
her hand upon the tangled curls of hei
little daughter and prayed that from the
strange world to which she was speeding
she might be allowed to watch over these
wayward feet lest they should 60 astray
Had she watched: Did she know
Moll hoped not; it made her shudder to
think Of it. What would heaven be
worth if she could see and know: And
yet, what did she hear about JOY in hea-
ven over one sinner that repented, II
there was joy, it must be that they knew
or perhaps only good news was carried
there.
That night Hetty sang again at her
sewing by the lamp, and from the attic
window far above her head, the wander.
er leaned out into the dark to listen.
The little chamber was bare of ornament
there was not picture on the cleanly
wh,ewashed walls, and the straight cur.
tain was for decency, not drapery but it
seemed to this lost one very chamber OF
peace. The great Norway pine almost
brushed her cheek with its resinous plumes
balmy with the moist night air, and a
bird, hidden somewhere among the branch
es, sent out a startled, half-awake cry,
and then dropped off to sleep again. There
was pale young moon low in the west
ern sky, with black clouds scudding across
it, and the dull steady sound of the river,
pouring over the great dam in the valley,
seemed to come nearer and nearer, like
he tramp of feet. Martha Rogers went
out TO the milk-room and stood for a mo-
ment in the door, shading the fickering
candle in her hand She was only TAX
ing housewitely observation upon the
gathering storm, but it seemed to the
wanderer that she might we'll be the wo.
man who had lighted candle to search
for the lost piece of silver, and with a
dim comprehension of love on earth and
ioy in heaven she tried 10 pray and fell
asleep.
Silas Rogers listened to the days story
as he sat mending bit OF harness with
clumsy fingers. lie may be forgiven if
his thoughts sometimes wandered to the
hay so fortunately secured from the storm,
or ran over the grist to be sent to the
mill in the morning if it proved wet
day, or speculated curiously on the super
human knowledge of almanac men; but,
on the whole, he was tolerably attentive,
and certainly grasped the idea that his
wife had secured valuable and much
needed helper.
ut seems 4 risk to run" said Martha,
anxiously; land ! don't know but it is
presumptious there's Hetty, and there $
Reuben
And there's the Lord" said Silas,
stopping to open his knife"
Yes" said Martha with little start,
land can't quite get rid of what she
said about the piece that was lost; though
10 be sure. the woman that lost il ought
TO hunt it."
"She never does folks are always los
ing things for somebody else to find ;
faint many of 'em can say, those that
thou hast given me have ! kept, right
straight along"
"But if you lose your own piece look
ing after other fOlks's-"
Silas cut off his waxed end and gave
the harness an experimental pull before
he answered.
"Well, there's risks, as you say, but
Id rather take risk for the Lord than
agin him."
Martha Rogers took the risk for the
Lord and he abundantly justified and re-
warded her faith. For the piece that
was lost becomes my piece to the heart
that finds it and lays it again in the Mas
ter's hand; and locking the story Of the
waderer in her own breast, it was only
to the angels that she said, "Rejoice
with me"
And when, years afterward, the woman
herself said, II am a woman over whom
there is great JOY in heaven" there was
not wanting those who thought she was
presumptuously claiming to be a saint
| Christian Union.