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

both ends meet, to WEAKNESS and sor-
row; used, too-dear, brave soul-to
daily service in the Masters vineyard,
to the giving of " cups of cold water"
to the least of these" to the feed
ing" of his lambs"
When the ladies had all gone Mrs.
Wayne found Miss Harris sitting in
sort of a reverie before the glowing
grate-fre, her hands clasped upon her
lap. She sat down beside her, and,
laying her fair hand upon the clasped
ones, she said, in caressing tone:
Have you had good time, dear?
And are you very tired?"
The rough, toil-worn hands were
quickly unclasped and took the beauti-
full face of Mrs. Wayne between them
tenderly. Then a voice, tremulous
with tears, said: " I've had the very
best time I've ever had, dear child, and
Pm not bit tired, but very happy.
God bless you, deariel"
One of the other guests-such is the
influence of one brave soul-went home
and wrote letter to an old friend of her
mothers who had wanted to visit her,
telling her that, after all she had found
that il was convenient to have her
come, and that she would be " delighted
to have her." There were others, too,
who did kindnesses after that little
sermon ~ which they had never i'm
agined they could do. People will
talk, you know" had been their weak
excuse for so long Withholding the
cups of cold water" they might have
ladies, Mrs. Burt, who has an old
fashioned guest, too. Although she
had been one of the most attentive and
charming of the select circle to Mrs.
Wayne's unlimited guest, she had felt
twinge of remorse even while her face
was brightest. Her guest was a maiden
aunt of her husbands who had come to
spend month. She had been like
mother to him, and yet, although he
had welcomed her warmly, she had not.
She had never dreamed of introducing
"Aunt Sally" Gas Mr.. Burt called the
old LADY, to any of her friends. 81
should be ashamed to-" she said;
everybody would laugh" And he
had turned away sorrowfully, and, l
must confess, Indignantly, only saying,
Well, | am not ashamed of her; /
should be ashamed of myself if i were.
And no one would laugh, ether-that is,
no one with heart and head" Mrs.
Burt had kept her word and Mr.. Burt
had kept his. She was ashamed of
Aunt Sally; he was not. Every even
ing found him her devoted companion.
" This little sitting-room you can have
all to yourself evenings" Mrs. Burt
had said to her old-fashioned guest,
and you can do just as you like here
knit, read or doze. Callers coming in
will not disturb YOU"
"Thapk you, Niece Rose" Aunt
Sally had replied, gently; but Mr.. Burt
was sure that he saw the aged lips
culver, and his heart was sore.
Mr.. Burt was very fond of his wife,
and their evenings together before Aunt
Sally's coming had been most delight
full. Mrs. Burt was an accomplished
musician and he was passionate lover
of music. Then, too, she had many
charming friends, and it had been
pleasure for him to hel p entertain them
as they dropped in socially evenings.
But he turned his back resolutely on
all these pleasures now. If Aunt Sally
was too old-fashioned to be allowed a
seat in the parlor he was too loyal to
her to desire one there for himself He
anu SdNdSClN W 4hlS
Burt that he wouldn't turn his back
on dear, faithful old Aunt Sally, who
had been like mother to him, for fifty
wives" He read and talked to her
evenings. He took her to concert
and lecture, and he was planning
other things for her pleasure when
Aunt Sally startled him by remarking,
81 think l will 60 home tomorrow,
John"
" Home" he exclaimed, in surprise,
"why you came to stay month and
you haven't been here week"
" 1t will be week tomorrow, Nephew
John, and that's quite long visit for
an old lady like me. You've been very
kindto me, dear boy, very kind; III
not forget it," Her lips quivered pitt
fully, as she put out her toil-worn
hand, which he grasped warmly and
pressed to his lips as fondly as if it had
been the hand of his beautiful wife.
Somehow he could not speak; his heart
was too full for words. He wanted her
to stay; he wanted her to know that he
cared for her. "God knows | do" he
said to himself, " but what pleasure is
there for her to be here, cooped up in
this one room as if she were a lunatic
instead of the best woman on Gods
earth. l never would have believed
this of Rose" with an inward groan
"what contemplate tricks a false pride
will serve its victims! When a woman
will she will, you may depend on it,
and if Rose willed what happy time
dear Aunt Sally might be having. But
if woman won't she won't, and that's
the end on it; and so suppose she
must 60"
John, dear" said tremulous voice
Well, Aunt Sally?" with gentle
questioning.
81 shall never forget how good you've
been to me-giving pall your evening;
t to an old country body like me, an
bringin' me flowers and fruit an every
f thing. You've been wonderfully kline
t and good, dear boy"
) He found his voice then. He knel
down beside his faithful old friend anC
said, huskily," Good to you, Aunt Sally
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