Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1883-03-14
VOL. 7S.-39S7. NO. %.

down and cried passionately. When the
storm was spent, and she had sobbed out
the rebellious feelings in the loving ear
which had listened so patiently TO all her
childish grief and passion, the wise mother
heart spoke softly;
"Lida, dear, do you remember when you
were learning TO sew2 You would not have
any knots made in the thread you said IL
only pulled and puckered the work all into
bunch. So for long time you sewed TO
no purpose--losiDg your needle, or coming
to have il threaded every few moments.
One day | insisted upon knot and, despite
your tears and proteststions, guided your
little hand over one seam after another till
we had fashioned tiny cape for your doll.
How surprised and delighted you were And
how careful, ever after, to have the knots
made. l think, dear, we have to learn that
the 'nots our heavenly Father makes in
the thread Of our daily lives will tangle and
spoil, or beautify and benefit, as we, our
selves, make use Of them. Can you not be-
lieve, my darling, that this will surely bring
the greatest possible good, not to ourselves
alone, but to all concerned And you would
not he selfish"
"How can help it, when love you sol"
"Trust the hand of Infinite Love as you
trusted mine in those early years.
And just those simple words helped the
vourg girl, in the sleepless hours which fol-
lowed, TO fight her way, inch by inch, out Of
the darkness of unbelief" into the old
time gladness, which had
"neart within. and God oerheadl"
II was the first week in June. The
Goodwins had shut up their house and taken
their five closely packed Saratogas to the
seaside. One morning, the brightest, bluest,
sunniest imaginable, Ida Breyton came
back from a ramble in the woods, her arms
full of pine boughs, her hands of spicy
blossoms, and dancing into the sunny little
parlor, exclaimed
"The mountain shall come to Mahomet.
See, mother-mine, we'll manufacture eli
mate -"
She paused abruptly, at sight of a stranger
sitting quite at his ease in the shabby old
easy-chair.
"Pardon me, Miss Ida" he said, rising
to meet her, but your mother and / have
just arranged to go to the mountain and
you are to be forgiven for not taking me
into your plans only on condition that you
Immediately fall in with mine"
at is Mr.. Roberts, your fathers friend,
Lida," said Mrs. Breyton, tears and smiles
struggling for precedence.
~ n bOrTy lTltuu yOu mubt nave buOugnt
me; my wife is thoroughly indignant over
the times | have come east and allowed
business to hurry me back without looking
you up" said the gentleman, resuming his
seat. :" II had known how things were
or of your ilness--. But, thanks to an
overruling Providence, am here at last,
Just in time to enforce the doctors prescrip-
tion. chanced-no, was led-to inquire
my way of that individual who very kindly
offered to take me here. We agreed that
Californian climate would be the very best
possible for our invalid, Miss Ida, and the
only question is, How soon can you be
ready 2"
"Oh if it could be But Mr., Roberts,"
began Ida, excitedly.
"No butts if you please. 1t is sheer
selfshness on my part, the whole arrange
ment. Our house is large, and we are dull
sometimes-wife and |. You can make our
home sunny, like this. We have no daugh-
ter, remember"
Those last few words, spoken as they
were, forbade dissent, even If he had given
them time, which he did not. Two days
for leave-taking-could they make that do 2
He really ought not to stay any longer, and
the sooner they were off the better it would
be for the invalid, he said, taking matters
into his own hands so quietly and efficiently
that on the third day, without the least
hurry or worry on their part, our friends
found themselves the occupants of luxu-
rious drawing-room car en- route for the
west
"Only think, mother-mine," said Ida,
the first time their friend left them to the
quiet enjoyment of the latest periodicals.
"What If there had been no not in our
plans, or mine, rather, and we had gone
with the Goodwins l will try never to
doubt again."
"Poor little Didymus," returned her
mother smiling. "You have seen and now
you believe; but 'nots will sometimes
come the better to round and shape our inner
life, while the tangible outward good fills
some other longing soul with gladness. Can
you trust, then rest content Remember
the truly blessed are they that have not
seen,' and yet believe; believe that, because
the Fathers all-wise hand is guiding the
thread, the completed pattern shall more
than satisfy, seen in the light OF eternity