The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-05-02
A Little Sermon.

There were ten ladies in Mrs.
Wayne's spacious parlors by special in
vitation. They were waiting, with
most delightful anticipation, the serv-
ing of a five O'Clock tea, for their host
ess was an adept in getting up delicious
refreshments. 1t lacked about ten
minutes of five when Mrs. Wayne, with
a charming smile, said: 81 have
another guest, and before l bring her
down | have brief story to tell con-
corning her and myself. have neither
time nor inclination to 90 into details,
but want to say that there was time
in my life when | was left poor, friend
less child, and Miss Dorothy Harris, my
guest, now upstairs, proved my friend
in time of need. She was not in the
least related, but out of pure, sweet
charity, offered me many cup of
cold water which, l can assure you, l
drank gladly and thankfully. / have
not seen her before for fifteen years,
and it was a complete surprise to me
when she arrived this afternoon. She
told me at once that if it were not con-
venient for me to receive her she had
another friend in the city somewhere
that she could visit. OF course / as
sured her that it was convenient, and
/ was delighted to see her. She has
never been in a city home before, and
/ want her to have the best time she
has ever had in her life. She is odd
and old-fashioned, and murders the
kings English as Dick says, but she
is a dear old creature and has one of
the kindest hearts that ever beat in a
woman's breast. | know you are all
ladies and Christians, and so, although
Miss Harris is not like you, am quite
sure that for my sake and,' her voice
dropping, for Christ's, you will make
her one with you.'
Mrs. Wayne excused herself for a
moment and soon returned with tall
woman, with shoulders slightly bent,
whom she introduced as Miss Harris.
Notwithstanding Mrs. WayAe's little
story about her, the ladies were hardly
prepared to mingle Familiarity with one
evidently so inferior to themselves.
There was no denying the fact that
Miss Harris was exceedingly " common
place." and they were highly cul-
tured," according to common verdict.
Miss Harris face was sallow and wrin-
killed., her blue eyes pale and weak, her
gray hair thin and drawn back tightly
from her high forehead, with not the
least attempt to make it ornamental
Her large hands were rough from hard
work, and at first she acted as if she
did not know what to do with them
She wore a coarse, gray serge dress
made perfectly plain, and long white
apron, with a large pocket, out of which
peeped the ends of some shining knit.
ting-needles.
Miss Harris, ladies,' said Mrs
Wayne, introducing her apparently
with as much pleasure as if she were
the most cultured lady in the land
one of my dearest and most valued
friends"
The deprecatory look with which Miss
Harris first regarded the ladies', as il
fearing their adverse criticism, died ou
of her face as those reassuring words
lone of my dearest and most valued
friends" reached her ear. She haC
feared that her friend might be ashamed
of her, and she would not have blamed
her if she had been, she was " so diff
ferent " from those other friends.
" Her small eyes, under the silver
trimmed "specs," were exceedingly
observant, and she noted appreciatively
the grace and ease, the winsomeness
the charming flow of cultivated Ian
guage and the tasteful and elegan
apparel of those " other friends"
When tea was served Miss Harris
poured hers into the saucer. No on,
smiled-the ladies were too well breC
for that-and then, for fear that Mis-
Harris might be mortified if she SHOULD
discover that no else poured tea out
pretty Mrs. Wayne kept her company
Miss Harris naturally made many mis-
takes, the most pronounced of whicl
was to eat the small piece of lemon
that floated on the water of her finger
bowl. No one seemed to notice them
however. That little sermon " Mrs
Wayne had preached in her earnest bu
winsome way, acknowledging her 10y
atty to the "tried and true" friend @
other days, had so impressed them tina
each and all did their best to be a
agreeable as possible.
Miss Harris was perfectly charmed
not only with Mrs. Wayne, but wit
her guests, her home and all her SUI
roundings. The lovely face of tn
hostess often sought her eye with
fond, reassuring smile. The laughin
and happy flow of talk among tn
guests, the neatly dressed and attentiv
walters, the sparkle of bright silver an
cut-glass, the crystal chandelier send
ing down upon the bright faces brilian
rainbow-hued light, the beautiful rose
sending forth sweetness, the sweet bl
subdued strains of music waited
them from trio of musicians in tn
distant library, sounding like Dir
songs at dawn, and then like clet
water trickling down mountain-sidc
changing off to mothers lullab,
followed by p@on of praise-all thes
things taken together made her feel /
if she had suddenly been transported
new world, beautiful world, whel
hard work and grief had no part, f.
this was altogether new to her. 81