Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-07-16
CHAPTER II.


WON on LIFE.
Winter Gorkoned on apace, and while
the Old wonans health more visiblv de-
cllned. Sophla was Yained to find that she
would not elbow the idea of death to near her
From occasional remarks that she let fall it
seemed that Mrs Temple was wifullv main
tanning this delusion of returning strength.
with an undorcurrent of conviction that she
was to die after all But to Sophia she always
spoke rs if her recovery were a certainty:
md she even said one day: Next wear
shall 70 to Paris and the year after that to
Vienna
Mamma Sophia said seriously, when she
heard this extraordinary speech, next year!
and the year after that Does it never strike
You how uncertain life ISL
"Of course life is uncertain" the old woman
replied hrisklv. ~ never knew the time
when il was anything else But we must
make our arrangements, and then take our
chance. You were taught to dance when
you were seven years old, although YOU would
not require it for nine years more. and life
was as uncertain then as now Still, it would
never have done not to have taught You to
dance
YES, but when one is weak and sick these
things seem TO come nearer. don't they
mamma" Sophia said with the greatest ten
derness.
Seem to come, Sophy! They do come
nearer wish they did not But that is no
reason why we should bring them nearer still
by our own reflections and guesses.'
"But, mamma Sophia said now resolved
to press the matter, fought we not at such
times to think a little about the other world.
and prepare for it,'
"frepare for the other world" the old
woman exclaimed, imlatiently "Tcn me.
how shall we do it: You tall, as if one could
make ready for the other world like a flower
show or a ball. don't know ANYTHING about
the other world. l hope everything will be
right, hut there is nothing can do
"See clergyman mamma" Sophia said
growing tinid before her mothers unwaver
ing hardness. See Mr.. Knox. He is very
Kind | am sure, and not the sort of man TO
excite yor"
"Nery we'll Sophy." her mother retorted
getting little flushed with excitement. Int
speaking with sarcastic self-r,pres,ion Let
us suppose Mr.. Knox comes to see me. can
tell you what will happen. He will have n
black book with him. which at first he will
try to keep out of sight and he will edge it
into view a he is talking about the weather
That viii he a sicnal to me of what i, com
ing. Then he will legin by saving that this
Is a world full of pain and care and trouble"
She hi Off the clergymans voice exactly,
but more. it seemed, from her old habit of
rldlcule than from any present wish to be
hlppalt. "lf | say what | think, / shall
answer, Not bit of it; it is a coy bright
world enough, and never complained of it,
Then lie will 20 on and talk about loving the
world WELL | ought to say, 4 do love it.
and never more than now when am shut
Va ba
peol ought to be serious 'Scriousr
l sloll answer, Believe me. the per |
son "ho produces one hearty laugh from |
ano' ~ does good in the world ; r.ous. in
dee" give mo round faces, not hong ones |
won THIS be improving talk, So.ly, and do |
good '' ~" end good to M Er.vf Then r., |
VIII ta'0 About sickness being Blessing. and |
II give nm my mind shall say that sick
ness is one of the few things know which Is
an unmltl"ate6 BOTHER and pcipcNitv. Won't
that make Knox whistlel l., will feel he
must put M down; and next lac VIII say we
are all sinners What then: II | saw the
truth shall answer: 4 don't SOFT jbova
done my Lest in life, have not Leon a Lar
or thief, or cruel Enjoyment cam. TO me
and | took it, and what a fool ! should have
been if had not taken it, Tut have tried
to be n good mother and a kind fr end and
though don't mean TO say that ! have not
often Teen in fault ike other people still .
have J, vcr dolc anything to nalc u fuss
about The Almighty won't iuog, us for
mistake and little slips Of Tempe that ] am
quite sure of. ] have always gone to church
when could, and if there is any better way
to heaven than that don't know it, nor any
body eli e. So please, Sophy, don't have Mr.
Knox here either say what ] do THAI tad
shock n, on say what don't think, which
Is not likely 10 do any good to anybody"
but, mamma" Sophia went ON, "do you
never feel as if you wanted something better
'hnn this world 1t is very happy and all