The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-07-23
Folded, with "A Prayer Inside.


l fear l did not appreciate Aunt Eu-
nice, though now that she has left us,
now that she has passed within "the
portals" and is quite beyond the infu-
ence of our love or consideration, realize
that she was saint even while yet her
feet fingered upon the thorny path that
leads upward to the golden gates. She
was always so quiet and gentle, so sympa-
thetic and self.forgetful, that l did not
fancy she had ever been otherwise or
guessed that through the fiery furnace she
had passed to attain this state of utter
self-abnegation. l know now that she
was once as impulsive and quick-tem.
pered as 1, though surely she must always
have been better in every other way. 1t
was when father died that she came to
live with us. Mother had always been
delicate, and now her constitution gave
way entirely, and Aunt Runice became
mother and father, both in one. 1t is
wonderful how much can be endured by
one whose whole heart is given to the
work of serving others. So often would
ask, after day of unusually hard labor,
"Auntie, aren't you very tired 2" She
would invariably smile gently and make
the same answer: 81 am glad to do the
work the Lord has appointed" l was
notsreligiously inclined, and had less rev.
erence for sacred things than should
have had; still, though l could not quite
sympathize with auntie's conversation,
which was always redolent with her deep
piety, it never bore to me the slightest
resemblance to cant. How many times l
have seen her sit quite motionless for
moment when some one of the children
was starting out upon an errand, or to
school; and one day when asked, "Of
what are you thinking, auntie :" she
replied very solemnly, 81 never let them
60 away without sending prayer upward,
begging that the good Father will watch
over and protect them" This seemed an
odd fancy to me at first, though after
wards I became quite accustomed to it {;
and when the time came that was to
leave home and 60 away for whole year
as a teacher, very frequently during the
work of preparation l saw that look of
abstraction come over her dear face, and
knew that her soul was looking toward
the throne of divine mercy. 1t was the
last day before my departure, and when
auntie had put the finishing stitches into
my pretty new cloak, she held it thought
fully moment, folded it carefully, and
laid it into the open trunk; then drew
me closely to her heart, saying gently,
"It is folded, with prayer inside, my
darling; may the prayer shield your soul
in time of temptation as the cloak will
shield your body in time of storm and
cold. May the Lord cover you with the
robe of righteousness. Promise me to
pause one moment every time it is drawn
about you and ask our Fathers protec.
tion." l could not keep the tears back, il
was 80 hard to leave home and all the
dear ones; and auntie looked 80 wan and
sorrowful but soon | was off on the
rushing train, and, in the hustle of reach.
ing new home, entering new life, l
fear l was very unmindful of all her
tender injunctions. At first did think
of her words each morning as the cloak
was donned for the walk to the school
house, but soon my natural indifference
to serious things asserted itself, and if hel
loving prayer chung about the folds of the
garment, it did not penetrate my soul-ii
was entirely forgotten. Some months ha6
passed, and of course | had found my
share of trials in the new life, but one
day very heavy one beset me. | wal
much astonished and mortified to have
one of the school trustees call, and, in 8
manner decidedly harsh, state that h,
desired | should make no further criti
cisms upon the rules established by tn,
board, that such criticisms were quite be
yond my province--I was employed sim
ply to do their bidding. 1t was in vail
protested that had made no criticism
whatever. l saw that he did not belev
me, and when he left the room, remarking
Young ladies are generally a littl
thoughtless with their tongues" my in
dignation knew no bounds. School ha,
Just been dismissed for the day, an,
sitting alone, thinking it over, was a
first 80 angry and reckless that it seemed
could do nothing but send in my resignation
and take the night train for home-bu
mother, auntie, the children-no, l coul
not do it, at least not yet; | would wait
few days. The next morning, on the wa
to school, met another of the trustees
His bow of salutation was 30 stiff, hi
manner so frigid, that again l felt il
suited; he, too, had evidently heard somt
thing to my discredit; and, with a tanta
izing sense of being struck in the dark b
an unknown hand, entered upon m
duties heavy-hearted. The day was
hard one, and so were many that followed
for was always foolishly sensitive, an
besides the unmistakable and unjust di
pleasure of the trustees, l suffered froI
countless imaginary sights and indign
ties. One day the elimination came i
the form of visit from lady who d
clsred herself my friend-so good frien
that she felt it her duty to tell me that
was rumored new teacher was desire
at the end of the session. could 4
longer control myself, and in terms
indignation assured her that l woul
resign Immediately, that they should nj
wait until the close of the session for
new teacher. She was almost sffectiona