Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1889-10-25
MES ALul~S ALLLANCE.

A few boarders were lingering, near the
close of beautiful summer day. on the
shady piazza of Comfort Cottage at one
of the most delightful resorts on the Jersey
coast Presently carriage drove up, from
which alighted a woman, apparently about
forty years old. with nothing noticeable in
ber appearance except a mouth Of singular
sweetness, and an expression on her face
which must have grown there from the
constant exercise of good will toward ev-
erybody.
After supper all except myself went for
a moonlight stroll ON the beach, or for
chat with friends Oh a neighboring piazza.
Soon the stranger came out and seated her
self in one of the spnt rocking chairs
near me. Feeling degree of responsible
ity toward the newcomer, | was about to
open Il conversation, when she leaned her
head back on the chair, and said reverent
", What beautiful nights the Lord is Civ
ing us :"
That one simple sentence gave me the
KEY to her character, and We began to
speak at once of the things pertaining to
Christian life aud service.
Suddenly she straighteued up and eX
claimed with enthusiasm, why, ! do be
lieve We can have an alliance right here ~
can alliance :" repeated. II do not
understand.
.Of course not. ." she replied laughngly
$50 perhaps I'd better tell YOU all about
mine
Finding that she had sympathetic lis
tener, she began the following recital of
her experiences, and, though not expressed
in the choicest language, one forgot that in
seeing the earnestness Of her spirit.
1T was during my first visit III Washing
ton. two years ago last winter she said ;
and at first did nothing but 20 sight see
ing day after day. But just as | was get
ting ready to 20 back to my home III New
England. the Evangelical Alliance came
along, and thought | could not possibly
lose their meetings, though Clara-that's ;
my niece-said | must 90 alone, because
she had too many engagements to 20 with
me. But | didn't mind that. and it did my
soul good Just to look at that body of men
so filled with the spirit of the Master. 1t
was fairly sitting i'll heavenly places even
| to get on the arm of a char, or On the gal
| lery stairs of that big church. For three
whole days they talked and talked, and it
was mostly about cooperating IN Christian
work and evangelizing cities and towns.
well. before night of the second day |
| began to feel as if Id never done any real
service for the Master, and as if forty years
of life were about long enough to spend
lust with form of godliuess. | thought
! that because | went regularly to prayer
meeting and the sewing circle, and gave So
much Of the money that Silas left me t.
the Home Missionary society and the Bible
society and the American Board, that ii
done my whole duty. Now, said |, Eliza
Almy, what have you ever done toward
evangelizing your own town, or what have
YOU done for anybody even while visiting
in this great city So the third day when
reached home my mind was all made ~
to have AN alliance, if had it all by my
! self
The next morning when was alone
with Clara | said to her, Clara, do you
know ANYTHING about the folks next door
mo, indeed, aunt, she replied. / fan
cv they are not people that | should care
to know.
80 Do YOU make no calls only like wha
Won We made since I've been here : | ask ed
'''Why, no, auntie, dear. Those are al
have time for. The demands OF society
are very pressing upon one in my position,
she answered.
''Now my niece is a good hearted soul
aud didn't want to hurt her feelings, nol
make myself disagreeabe as people iron
the country sometimes do when yisitinl
their city relatives so quietly remarked
We'll. Clara. I've been greatly moved b!
the meetings this week, and you won
mind if | make some calls on my own hook
will you :
"'Why, no, of course not, auntie, sh
said cordially You ought to call upo
Mrs Abbott and Mrs. James and those Wit
called upon you. You shall have the car
rage, for am not going out today, as
must keep myself fresh for Mrs. Wilbur
reception this evening.
Ono, thank you, Clara, said |, i don
want the carriage | shan't go far today.
Some one came in Just then to Sc
about arrangements for charity ball, an
, put on my things and started out. Re
membering that one of the ministers sal
that the first thing to do was to get ac
quainted with one another, | went to tn
. next house and rang the bell. | took II
cards, for YOU can't reach folks hearts 5
well with "A piece of pasteboard betwee
you.
, "A black woman came to the door, an
} | said, My name is Mrs, Almy, and com
from the next house. Can | see Mrs. Free
man : Il heard one of Clara's servant
say that was the name)
Il was afraid Mrs. Freeman might thin
was an agent and wouldn't see me, bI
: pretty soon she came down, and | said,
- am visiting nv niece, who lives in the ne'
{ house. | came from the country where e.
p erybody knows everybody, and 1t seen
e sort of lonesome not To know ones neigl
I bors and when | saw that lovely baby
. yours at the window, | felt as if | mu
j. came in and ask to take It, Tor I'm yer
fond of babies
..rL- hill mae hr,uyht in and
! found it had two little thumbs on one ham
y The mother told me that an operation vi
:. to he performed the next day for the r
, moval of one thumb 1t was her first b
y bv. and her mother and all her relativ
:, were across the water and she hard
, knew how she could endure the trial alon
asked her if she would like to have II
f come and hold her baby, and can feel no
- the grip of that mothers two little viii
hands as she told me what a comfort
would be to her.
y "The next door had plate on it, SO
s asked for Mrs, Ely
u "A tall, pale woman came in, an
% reaching out her hand, said in a swe
=, voice, i have seen you pass my door maj
~ times, and often wished you would come
u for I'm a stranger here | do not 20 an
where, not even to church, because ! f.
so neglected and lonely
~ 1--WE soon became acquainted, aud $
gladly accepted an invitation TO accompa
r, me 10 church the next Sunday, and | IL
We promising to call for her.
- "Just around the corner was poor-loc
ing house, but noticed some bright gel
iums in the window, so | said to the wo
an, when she opened the door Excuse II
'd ma'am, but ! see you have some beautlI
H. flowers. II it wouldn't he asking too mu'
AS I'd like to exchange little slip of Il
Deg double geranium for fuchsia which "
bring YOU Il knew | could easily buy q
in the market.)
rs, immediately her heart was opened, n
NJ she told me that her husband was laid
n. most Of the time on account of wound
On ceived in the war, but if he could only !
or his pension, they could manage first ra
promised 10 see what could do about
at not telling her that | was aunt hy m
9.d riage, to one Of the most influential sol