Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-01-26
Judge Not.

1t is gay group of young girls that
have noticed in one of our large city
churches where for the time my lot is cast.
Most Of them are the daughters of wealthy
parents, and they have received all the ad-
vantages of education, aesthetic culture, and
social position, which that wealth can give.
/ found that they were members of the
church, and saw some of them teaching the
little children in the infant class. My spe-
sstoi opportunities for observing them were
in some social gatherings where they fitted
about like butterflies, in gay colors bedight,
with laugh and merry Jest upon their lips,
and apparently with not thought beyond
the enjoyment of the present hour. re-
member going home from one such place
where the young people had been specially
gleeful, and moraliziDg sadly over the friv-
olity Of the present generation Of girls.
wondered II serious thought ever found
lodgment beneath the frizzes and ribbons
that adorned their heads. wondered IT,
under the bodices of silk and velvet, there
beat one throb of sympathy for suffering
humanity. wondered If in single heart
could be fonnd the capability of heroism or
of self-sacrifice. Could it be possible that
they who spent so much time, apparently, in
adjoining the body, could find any time fol
cultivating the graces of the spirit Church
members as knew them to be, was it pos
sible that their covenant VOWS had been any
thing but a mockery? So sadly unused
upon the evil times on which we had fallen
and upon the spirit of worldliness which
was creeping in and paralyzing all Christian
| effort, especially among the young.
| thought of the wives and mothers such girl
would make, and mourned yet more over thu
generation which they should rear. But tn,
other day was invited to the home Of on,
of these young ladies, one of the brightes
and prettiest of the set. Among the thre'
or four guests was one brilliant woman, wh'
spoke slightingly of religion and everything
connected with it. Her wit and skill of re
partee were well known, and no one seemed
inclined to measure swords with her. Blu
Cora's cheek flushed, her eye sparkled, he
breath came and went, and at last she spok
out Please, Mrs. b., cannot bear to hea
you speak so of the Bible and of the Saviour
| know that the Bible is true know tina
Jesus is the Saviour of sinners; know tina
there is reality in religion, for feel it !
Here she stopped abashed. Mrs. B. listened i
amazement. Then tears sprang to her eye
and she softly said: My dear, | would no
take your faith from you for the world.
| AnO Sne auueQ In a Stlll lower UOne, "oOm'
times almost wish had such faith fo
myself" AS for the rest of us, we felt tho
oughly rebuked for our indifference or Gov
ardice, and for one looked at this " fri,
olous" young girl, this "butterAy Of fashion,
with curious respect But another su
prise was in store for us. Early in the evel
ing young ladies and gentlemen came drol
ping in, to the number of dozen or 80; til
same ones whom, few evenings before,
had seen carving nm g mairtatin"s" tosothe
as l mad been sure they were, at a soci
gathering. AS they came in they were show
into the back parlor, and the doors wei
shnt. ".Now," thought l, "for a good tin
among themselves: an evening tulf OF gossi
and chatter and fun, TO be finished off, pc
haps, with dancing and cards." But nc
they had met to talk over book they ha
been reading, and that book was not the la
new novel; it was not Shakespeare even.
was Thomas Hughes cleanliness of Christ
| went home feeling humbled for my uncha
liable judgments, and resolving never agai
to look only upon the outward appearance
| gaIa,faI