Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-05-11
Duty Done.
BY SARAH X. BOLTON.

Hadassah Granger sat alone by the
CRATE her hands crossed, her head bent
her brown eyes filled with tears. her mouth
firmly closed. Tonight she had said mo"
to the great wish and hope of her life, be-
cause she believed duty demanded it.
She had known Ralph Guernsey as a
school boy, a college youth, manly man ;
and there had been half-felt but never
expressed belief that in the years to come
they would walk together. Hadassah had
not said. like many girls, because | shall
probably marry, therefore shall not need
like Ralph, IL college education. There
will be no place to use it in the quiet
routine of home-life. But she said, rath-
er, Just as thousands of men say who 60
through college, but take up no profess
sion: An education is development that
makes one appreciate life better, get more
happiness out of it, stand on an equality
with one 5 fellows, and be fitted for any
sphere to which circumstance, may call
The best educated woman linds need for
every particle of knowledge she has ever
acquired. Socially it gives power, with
her children it begets honor and conf
dence rs well as love. and with her hus-
band it makes her a companion, and her
Judgment 50 broad and wise that she is
something more than a creature of intui-
tions, swayed by fitful feeling.
HadasSah had laid the foundation broad
and we'll for useful life. She had stu
died Latin and Greek with mathematics
under the best teachers; and, while she
mad lost none of her feminine graces, she
had gained strength, such as one neads in
a world where each life has to bear its
own burdens and give its own individual
account to its Maker. Mutual dependence
the world needs, but it has no place nor
usa for helpless or idle women.
And, now that Ralph's college life was
over, he had come to tell Hadassah of
what each so well knew, that the life of
one was essential to that of the other.
And, with beating heart and intense Joy,
Hadassah had listened, as we do to a
sweet song that we know that we shall
never hear again, or give ourselves up to
a rapturous hour that we are sure can
never come but once. There is an unde-
Unable Joy in knowing that you are more
than all the world beside to some waiting
soul, that your presence makes all the
days sunshny, that your love completes
the circle Of human needs.
And this hour had come and gone, and
was only memory, as Hadassah looked
into the freight of the CRATE. Ralph was
her ideal. Perhaps we rarely If ever, see
that person but once in life, and that early.
We either become more practical as we
grow older, or we are more fastidious in
taste or keener in Judgment. But with all
her love, she had told her heart and him
that her first duty was to her father and
mother, both aged, the latter of whom, an
invalid, could not give her up. A brother
was also at home, but he could not fill the
daughters place. For weeks and months,
she had been coming to this decision; but
tonight it had taken all the courage and
all the prayer of trusting, devoted heart
to say, - will let nothing come between
my mother and myself, while she lives
and wishes it. ,
Ralph Guernsey was benumbed at first
by her refusal-a man S plans are more a
part of his life than he knows-then he
| pleaded his cause with all the earnestne IS
of one whose destiny is bound up in that
of another, and then he promised to wait
and see what the years would bring.
Business called him away to a distan
city. Twice he crossed the ocean anC
iourneyed in foreign lands; and finally
for a man needs home with all its tender
and delightful associations perhaps ever
more than woman, Ralph's heart almost
unconsciously went searching for its
counterpart. Had he forgotten Hadasssh
Far from it; but he rarely saw her, anc
when he did, it only added bitterness tC
his life. 1t was the old story. A gentle
woman cared for him in sickness, loved
him. and he was grateful for the care ant
the affection, and married her.
Meantime. Hadassah's father had los
his property; and she had become ou
teacher, noble, self-possessed woman
whom we all loved and reverenced. He
face had grown more beautiful with tina
sort of mlrble tixedness that stern duty
gives; while the face of a young mother
even though it gets lines Of care in it
grows more mobile and tender, with its
changeful expression wrought by the
sweet surprises and restful joy in the love
of husband and children.
To Mrs Granger, growing more anC
more like child in her need of care ant
considerateness, Hadassah was indeed
ministering angel. The mother SCENE,
never to comprehend the sacrifice mad
for her sake, if, indeed, it be ever sacri
flee, in the highest sense, to do ones duty
Hadassah was certainly happy in he
work. She was moulding the character
of hundred young women, whose powe
in the world, whether married or single
would be very great. She was making
her own home centre of refinement an
Christian labor. She was constant in
centive to all her friends to live for some
thing other than mere personal happiness
Sometimes, people said. What pit,
Mis- Granger isn't married! She woul,
make such noble wife" But some ON
always answered, Who could fill he
paceP Is she not doing more good wher
she isP But after both the aged fathe
and mother had died, and Hadassah wa
quite alone, the good people of the villag
who knew her heart-history though:
was very sad indeed that Ralph was nc
free now Novels almost always en-
with the lovers coming together, bu
things are not always in real life as the
are in books. At least the neighbor
, hoped that she would marry somebody
Probably, Hadassah had never seen an
l other man whom she loved; but she di
, her duty, and left results with God.
/ A telegram came one morning. In
, fearful railroad accident at the west tha
! all the country read about. Ralph Guerr
r sey and his wife were among those Q
' whom no word was ever heard. Tn
4 blackened heap of ashes and iron girder
in the stream into which the train ha
plunged told no names or last words q
wishes. The telegram spoke only {
0 little Mabel Guernsey, child of four, lei
= motherless and fatheress.
Hadassah at once started for the ives
and in few days returned with the fai
t haired creature with eyes as brown as he
1: own. Perhaps said the good people,
n she had children of her own, she couldn
have cared for this little thing, and mAyt