St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1888-05-10


should we think like associations
would prove repulsive to her after
ward Don't you remember what a
fascination for your Jessie that slim,
handsome mulattO, Jim, had 7"
Margaret, oh Margaret !"
'sI know: but shivered to see her
lowering about the buffers pantry
whenever she could escape Elsie. He
had some monkey tricks and little
songs and stories that appealed to her
imagination and delighted her. You
yourself told me, laughing, how when
John was to be away one evening, and
Jessie heard you say you would be
mamma he's real good company,
love him."
"But she was only six years old-a
little child"
eyes, but it seems to me even a
child of six, who had always been her
mothers companion would have felt
relationships better than that"
"Why did you not speak, Margaret?''
81 could not then. l can now. The
danger is over now. Helen, be thank
full with me that your work is right at
home, where your little girls are, where
they may learn to help you in it and
be close to YOU"
Helen drew long breath, but she
did not speak.
"And there are some other suspected
interventiOns which | MISS" continued
Margaret. "Those two pretty house
maids with the white caps and the
pink cheeks and the bright eyes, who
swept and busted and waited so beau
tifully and the coachman with the
shining carriage and horses, that came
SO punctually to your door every MORN
ing-they stood between you and your
health. felt almost sure of it. Don't
you remember the headaches and Ian
guOr you used to suffer from : And the
rubbists that used to visit you, and the
doctors electrical instruments 2"
~ couldn't afford them now" said
Mrs Worden. "Such bills would ruin
u.s."
"And now you do not need them.
You look so firm and active, and you
have such color in your checks. For
give me, Helen, but l noticed the
mouthful you took between spreading
the baby's bread and cutting Mabel's
meat and helping me, and | saw that
you were hungry"
81 hardly have time to know it, but
| am real hungry at meal times. And
| have wondered to find how many
hours at time could be on my feet.
Indeed | am thankful for better health.
What should have done without it 2"
"And, my dear, where is Johns CT
gar 2"
"Oh, he gave it up! Wasn't it good
of him Right in the midst of the
trouble, too. l was frightened to have
him do it, and yet was glad. When
| married him L though l liked the
odor of good cigar, but it was getting
to be always in his mouth. | was jeal-
Gus of it. 1t seemed to make him in
different even to me. Yes, will own
that there was an intervention be-
tween us, Margaret. And oh, how
kind and good he is If you were not
here he would be reading the paper to
me, and talking about it, too"
"Then am an intervention now 2"
"No, no; it's far better to talk with
you than to hear any newspaper. But,
indeed, our trouble has brought us
nearer to each other. He has been my
great comfort"
"And you have been his. Dear Hell
en-, think you have taken it all so
nobly."
The tears came to Helen's eyes, and
she wept little with her head upon
her friends shoulder. Presently she
said:
awe have learned to say, Give US
this day our daily bread, with some
real asking in the prayer"
"There were interventions between
you and God swept away in that loss 2"
eyes; we have come near to Him,
asking for common things-shelter and
work, and sense to know how to live
this new life"
"Then, if God has put you in better
possession of your health and your
children and your husband, and Him
self this year, don't you think we
ought to have growing, happy year9"
"DOes He always leave the best ?"
said Helen.
"Always He only takes what inter
venes between us and that"
And there was a very happy New
Years next day, when Mr.. and Mrs.
WOrden, with Maurice, went peaceful
ly to church, and Margaret took Jessie
into the kitchen with her and allowed
her to help dress the turkey, and make
the cranberry sauce, and snow the po
and even let her make a
lemon pudding with her own hands.
Over that pudding was more pride and
than over the finest royal dip
that ever French cook
1t is true that there
were only two courses at that dinner,
instead of seven at the last years, and
there was no company except Marga
ret. But there were some flowers
which she had secretly sent Bridget
and Mabel and the baby to buy; and
there were four good children, who did
not come and go with the desert, but
sat through the dinner like little gen
5lemen and ladies, and were unspeaka-
oily happy playing games afterward.
And when they were in bed the faith
er said, thoughtfully:
"Helen, 1 believe there are some
ways in which this home is better
,ne for our children than the old one"
"Please God, we will make it So"
'aid Helen, humbly.