Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-07-27
The Heart of a Stranger.


There's sor. of furrin body at the
door watin' ye, ma am" said an Irish
girl to her mistress.
There had been already half dozen
furrin" and other sort of "bo dies
asking f.vors that day; and the little lady
of the house was weary, and had lain
down on lounge in her own room with II
new book in her hand. "Tel her | am
lying down, and bring up her message"
she said, without taking her eyes from her
book
The girl soon returned saying, 1t s
work she's wantin', like all the rest NV
'em. ma'am; but cant repate half the
gibbersh she told me to-"
Tell her | have no work, and know of
none elsewhere" was the answer.
The door closed heavily under the hand
Of the heartless girl; and the lady felt
that she had done wrong, and almost
heard the words. - For We yourself know
the heart of a stranger" And the days
came back TO her with strange power
when she, a young and beautiful orphan,
had crossed the sea from England to gain
her bread by her accomplishments; and
she remembered how, after only one year
of toll and loneliness, when IL kind word
was as jewel 10 her, she became mis-.
tress of this beautiful home, and the
mother of the lonely little ones who had
been her pupils before. She wished she
had seen this "furrn sort of body :"
and listened to her story, if nothing more
and cheered the heart of a stranger"
AS the poor applicant descended the
steps, after receiving the cool message,
made cooler by the servants heartless
tone, she looked up the street and then
down, as if not knowing which way to
90 and then moved off in an aimless sort
of way, and was soon lost to sight.
She went up one street and down an
other. occasionally ringing at bell. only
to be told that the lady was out. or that
ger in the city, and soon she got confused
in her wanderings; but she kept the street
and number of her temporary home
She was weary at last with her ringing
and inquiring, and asked a boy the way
to H-street. Tie directed her, and
she turned her face thither, when she was
seized with sudden impulse to ring one
more bell.
Ascending the long flight of stone steps
before her. she did so. and was not little
surprised TO see the same stern, cold wo-
man who had repulsed her an hour ago
miles away. as she thought.
Before she could frame II question, she
was saluted with What! are We back
again, after the lady telln' ye to be gone.
that she had neither work nor charity for
ye! And tell ye--"
Catherine" called the lady, who had
heard the heartess words, al want to see
that woman in my room. Send her up"
"She's the very same furriner ye sent
away an hour ago. ma'am; she's Just
persistin' on yer helpin' her, whether ye
will or no. said the woman.
"Send her up. Catherine was the soft
reply from above.
And not little crestfallen, Catherine
pointed the way up stairs without word
| The lady was surprised to see in place
of the rough creature she had pictured to
herself, well developed girl of twenty
years, with cheeks like roses, teeth like
pearls. and with flood of golden hair
which the proudest belle might envy-a
buxom, rustic beauty.
"Well, my girl, what can l do for
youP' asked the lady, kindly.
You gives me work; does it good
for small moneys. walk, walk, all days,
four week, and ask much lady Will she
give me work. But no work vet When
passage is paid has twelve dollars, and [
pays Ludwig Anderson's wife two dollars
week, and wash and irons and sews for nv
home till has vora. Now six week gone,
money gone, sleep gone; Ludwig sick,
and must work hard for his childs and
wife, and can no more eat his bread for
no pay. talks some very good Anglish,
cause | know girl in Sweden who has
been five year in 'Mercan family in home
with Ludwig Anderson, so ladies' have no
trouble with my Svede talk
What can you doP' asked the lady.
"Ail things. spins and weaves this
gown and shawl and all my clothes.
can sew for queens; can knit stockin' :.
wash good, makes bread, cooks dinner, ali
all things for few moneys. / good to
little childs and always smilesl | do all
the cry in nights, when 'lone;" and here
her voice broke, as if she were breaking
this rule for once.
But why do you ever cry. my good
grip asked the old lady.
"Oh, lady, Sweden SO far, far away !;
my vun brother so long gone to sea; my
mother 80 sick, and so hopes l will send
her money and some days bring her to me-
But get no work. and moneys all gone.
My mother pray, pray to God, and myself
pray all the time; but no friend, only
Ludwig, from my place, and he sick and
poor. Svede minister home, and Svede
minister here, give good paper for honest,
God lovin' girl"
| And she handed her recommendations
from clean envelope, which was wrap
ped carefully in snowy handkerchief
"You may come to me tomorrow and
stay for week. and if you are good
seamstress will get you all the work you
can do" replied the lady, kindly, after
reading the good paper"
Selma dropped low courtesy, kissing
the lady's hand, and said solemnly |:
God, he thank you; my sick mother,
she thank you; and myself thank you -
How strange" thought the lady, after
Selma had gone to tell her joy to Ludwig's
wife, THAT no one engaged her before
saw her. Who could withstand her
innocence and her beauty"
There was good reason why no one had
lightened the poor girls burden before.
No lady had seen her. All had left it to
the judgment of weary or thoughtless
servants to decide whom they should see,
and whom they should not!
When Selma had been week In this
house she was found to be necessity
there. No one could sew and darn like
hor; no one could so gently and tenderv
wash and dress the poor little invalid boy
of the house; no one could charm away
a headache or sing baby to sleep as she
could Another helper had not been
dreamed of in the house; but once Selma
was there. life took on new charms for the
whole family. Home grew brighter for
the father, because he saw more of his