Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1883-02-28
The Kings Friend.

We are gay party, summering among
the hills. Newcomers into the little board
ing.house where we, by reason of prior pos
session hold kind of sway, are apt to fare
hardly at our hands unless they come up to
our standard. We are not exacting in the
matter of clothes; we are liberal on creeds,
but we have no shibboleths. And though
we do not drown unlucky Ephraimites,
whose tongues make bad work with SIS,
fear we are not quite kind TO them they
never stay long, and so we go ON having it
much our own way. Week before last a
man appeared at dinner, of whom our good
little landlady said, deprecatingly, that he
would stay only few days. She knew by
instinct that his presence would not be
agreeable to us. He was not in the least
an intrusive person-on the contrary, there
was sort Of mute appeal to our humanity
in the very extent OF his quiet inoffensive-
ness but his whole atmosphere was utterls
uninteresting. He was unframed in mar
ner, awkwardly ill at ease in the table ron.
tine; and altogether, it was so uncomfortable
to make any attempt to include him in our
circle that in few days he was ignored by
every one, to degree which was neither
courteous nor Christian. In all families
there is a leader. Ours is a charming and
brilliant married woman, whose ready wit
and neverfailing spirits make her the best
OF centers for country party of pleasure
seekers. Her keen sense of humor had not
been able entirely TO spare this unfortunate
man, whose attitudes and movements were
certainly at times almost Irresistible. But
one morning such change was apparent in
her manner toward him that we all looked
up in surprise. No more gracious and gen.
tie greeting could she have given him il he
had been prince of royal line. Our aston.
ishment almost passed bounds when we
heard her continue with kindly inquiry
after his health, and undeterred by his evil
dent readiness TO launch into detailed symp-
toms, listen to him with the most respectful
attention. Under the influence of this new
and sweet recognition his plain and com.
mon face kindled into something almost
manly aud individual. He had never be-
fore been spoken to by well-bred and
beautiful woman. We were sobered, in
spite Of ourselves, by an indefnable some
thing in her manner; and it was with sub
dued whispers that we crowded around her
on the piazza, and begged to know what it
all meant. 1t was rare thing to see Mrs.
hesitate for reply. The color rose in
her face, and with half-nervous attempt al
a smile she finally said, "Well, girls, sup
pose you will laugh at me but the truth is,
heard that man say his prayers this morn
ing. You know his room is next to mine,
and there is great crack in the door.
heard him praying this morning for ten min
utes Just before breakfast and never heard
such tones In my life. don't pretend TO be
religious, but | must own it was a wonder
full thing to hear u man talking with God
az he did. And when | saw him at table |
felt as If | were looking in the face of some
one who had Just come out of the presence
OF the King OF kings, and had the very air
OF heaven about him. can't help what
the rest of you do or say, | shall always