Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-09-21


something very like divine justice, which is
altogether sweeter thing in its remember
ing of our frame than the tender mercies of
the wicked.
The woman looked at her curiousy. At
first with a hooking smile, then with sui
len, and at last with defiant expression.
ais it likely 2" she said fiercely. "a
good woman 2 How should l be good
woman tell you I'm the piece that
was lost and nobody ever looked for me.
If was good woman do you suppose |
should be where [ be-only twenty-eight
years old, well and hearty, and every door
in the world shut in my face2 tell We the
man that wrote that story didn't know
women they don't hunt for the piece that is
lost; they Just let it go. There's enough
on 'em that don't get lost"
Poor Martha Rogers was sorely perplexed,
all the more that her way had lain so smooth
and plain before her that she might have
walked in it blindfolded. II this was lost
piece of silver it was not she who lost it;
but what if it were the Masters, precious to
his heart and a careless hand had dropped
it, and left it to lie in the dust And what
if he babe her seek it, and find it for him
Should she dare refuse On this very day,
when she needed so sorely the help which
she had looked for in vain, had not this
woman been sent to her very door, and was it
not plain leading of Providence 1t is
blessed thing for us that we are usually
driven to act first and theorize afterwards,
even though the after-thought sometimes
brings repentance The bread was ready
for the oven and the wood-box was empty.
"You may fetch in some wood" said
Martha Rogers, and the woman promptly
obeyed, filling the box with one load of her
sinewy arms, and then stood humbly wait
ing. Hetty came into the room and began
to clear the table, but her mother took the
dishes from her hands.
"Go up stairs and fetch big apron and
one of your sweeping caps, and then you
may get at your sewing and see if you can
finish up your dress"
Away went Hetty, her light heart bound
ing with unexpected release, and her mother
turned again to the woman, furnished her
with coarse towel and sent her to the
wash-house for a thorough publication. Half
an hour afterward, with her hair hidden in
the muslin cap, her whole figure enveloped
in the clean calico apron, comely woman
was silently engaged in the household tasks,
doing her work with such rapid skill that
the critical housewife drew a sigh of relief
"There's han'fu of towels and coarse
clothes left from the ironing; you might
put the iron on, Mary, and smooth em out"
The woman turned a startled face upon
her, and then went quickly for the clothes,
but something-was it a tear ?-rolled down
the swarthy cheek, and mingled with the
bright drops she sprinkled over them. When
had she ever been called Mary? When had
she heard any name but Mol Not since
away among the hills of New Hampshire a
pale woman had laid her hands upon the
tangled curls of her little daughter aud
prayed that from the strange world to which
she was speeding she might be allowed to
watch over these Maynard feet lest they
| should 90 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 heaven
over one sinner that repented? If there
was Joy it must be that they knew; or per-
haps only good news was carried there.
That night Hetty sang again at her sew
ing by the lamp, and from the attic window
far above her head, the wanderer leaned out
into the dark to listen. The little chamber
was bare of ornament there was not pic.
ture on the clearly whitewashed walls and
the straight curtain was for decency, not
drapery but it seemed to this one a very
chamber of peace. The great Norway pine
almost brushed her cheek with its resinous
plumes, balmy with moist night air, and a
bird hidden somewhere among its branches
sent out a startled, half-awake cry, and then
dropped off to sleep again. There was 9
pale young moon low in the western sky
with black clouds scudding across it, and
the dull, steady sound of the river, pouring
| ha dan, in, tho uallau appmpd tf
come nearer, like the tramp of feet. Martha
Rogers went out to the milk-room and stood
for moment in the door, shading the flick
ering candle in her hand. She was only
taking housewifely observation upon the
gathering storm but it seemed to the wan
derer that she might we'll be the woman
who had lighted a candle to search for the
lost piece of silver, and with dim compre
hension of love on earth and joy in HEAVIER
she tried to pray and fell asleep.
Slas Rogers listened to the days story a
he sat mending bit of harness with clums
fingers. He may be forgiven if his thought
sometimes wandered to the hay 80 fortu
nately secured from the storm, or ran owe
the grist to be sent to the mill in the morn
ing if it proved wet day, or speculate
, curiously on the superhuman knowledge O
almanac men: but on the whole he wa
tolerably attentive, and certainly graspe
the idea that his wife had secured valuabl
: and much-needed helper.
at seems a risk to run" said Martha
, anxiously; "and don't know but it's pre-
sumptuous; there's Hetty, and there's Rel
ben"
,, "And there's the Lord" said Silas, stoI
ping to open his knife.
"Yes," said Martha, with little star
"and | can't quite get rid of what she sal
about the piece that was lost; though to b
{ sure, the woman that lost it ought to hun
it,"
= "She never does folks are always losin
things for somebody else to find; 'tair
!, many of 'em can say, those that thou ha'
given me have ! kept, right straight along
: "But if you lose your own piece lookin
= after other folks"
' Silas cut off his waxed end and CAV
n the harness an experimental pull before
. answered.
"Well, there's risks, as you say, but
J rather take risk for the Lord than agi
i him."
y Martha Rogers took the risk for the Lor
!, and he abundantly justified and rewarde
4 her faith. For the piece that was lost b
y comes peace to the heart that finds it an
q lays it again in the Masters hands an
h locking the story of the wanderer in h
# own breast it was only to the angels tn
g she said, "rejoice with me-"
- And when, years afterward, the woms
- herself said, before the committee of Il
- church, 8" am woman over whom there
~ great joy in heaven" there were not war