Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-08-18
AN AGED PILGRIM.

"Who lives in that room?" asked
OF woman, pointing to door in a
house in my district. ia
s'A very old woman bnt do not
think she would care to see you,'
was the reply.
Some days after, being in the
same house, | thought 1 would ask
the old woman herself if she would
like visit from me. So / knocked
at the door.
'Come in,'' said a sharp, clear
voice.
l opened the door, and then saw
before me indeed a very old woman
she was tall and erect, with clear
blue eye, but her face was literally
furrowed with wrinkles.
81 have called to see if you would
like a visit from me sometimes when
l come to this house," | said
"Very much, ma'am. / am obliged
to any lady who will take the szouble
to come and see me-" said my old
woman in brisk, cheerful voice.
So | sat down and told her the
house was a part of my district, and
that it was pleasure to me to come,
and / hoped sometimes visit of
sympathy and kindness would be
pleasant to her.
''Do you like living quite alone?"
/ asked. el3 o
"Oh yes, have long outlived all
who belonged to me. 1 am very old,
| am ninety-three."
"And can you do all you require
for yourself?"
''Yes 1! people tell me of the infirm-
tiles of old age, but as yet / know
little of them. i can do all 1 need
| don't require much for my support,
and that | gain by taking in washing;
and my employers are very good to
me, and do not hurry me. lam very
we'll no pains, no aches: my sight
is quite good, and as you may per-
ceive / am not at all deaf. / have
many and great mercies-still, with
all this, shall be glad when my
summons comes"
'Why should you be glad?" 1
asked. "'You seem to have much to
make life desirable? %
The old woman's face was lighted
up by smile so bright and sweet, it
seemed almost to chase away the
wrinkles, as she answered, Why
should | be glad? Because I long to
see Him who all my life long has car
ed for me, watched over me, redeem
ed me-"
"Then you love the Saviour who
has done such great things for you,
and therefore you long to be with
Him. You will rejoice to see the
city whose streets are gold, and the
gates of pearl"
''Yes p she replied, "but not be-
cause the streets are of gold or gates
of pearl" l never cared for smart
things in this world, and | am very
sure / shall not care for them in my
Saviour's presence. My delight will
be to sit in the very lowest place
near to my Lord and my Cod"
1 saw this dear old woman was in
deed ready for the home prepared
for her. | soon went again to see
her, and found her the same holy,
cheerful, happy person.-She well
coined me with true Christian court
esy, and listened as / read Gods
word to her with rapt attention.
/ had seen her we'll as usual, when,
on going a few days after, l was sur
prised on knocking at the door to hear
very feeble voice say: "Come in, !"
and on entering her room l found the
old woman in bed. ssAh." she said,
81 think the summons has come, / find
now what are the infirmities of old
age. On trying to rise this morning
all power was gone. / cannot move
Il am quite helpless, but / am very
happy, the Saviour is so gently lead
ing me. The woman, in the next
room, of whom / knew little, not
hearing me move, came in to see
what was the matter, and has been
so kind, and now you have come, l
seem to have all l want. But can
not see you, my sight is becoming
quite dim, but it is all right, and l
am just waiting for my final call.
'You have perfect peace I said,
according to the promise, "because
your mind is stayed on Him.
.'Yes," she replied, sit is just
that.-This morning there came to
my mind the text: sAnd He said !:
Let us make man. Surely if the bless
ed Trinity took all that trouble to
make me, they will indeed never let
me go-I am safe, quite safe"
She dwelt with kind of rapture
on the prospect of SO soon being in
the presence of her Lord ; and she
lay on her dying bed a picture of
peace and trust.
Very soon her dearest wish was
realized, and the spirit left the earth
ly tenement to enter that home pre-
4 Al O.