The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1889-02-22
Story.

VIII not ours be DONE" These words Mrs
ingalls, spoke to her daughter whom sht
f 70 t,o On entering the sttingroom bathet
was her only child, while but an eighteer
months before, group Of four had beer
the Joy and life OF the Ingalls, family
Though poor, once a happier household
was not to be found In b. But diphtheria
the scourge OF so many homes, had will
impartial severity, provided tenants fol
many fresh mound In the country church
yard. Three members Of the ingalls, fami
~, two brothers and sister, filed three
little graves which lay in close proximity
almost beneath the church steeple's shade
when as the sun neared the horizon it cas-
long shadows down. the avenues If white
stone. VERNE ingalls,, sweet girl Of
eighteen, alone survived, the cheer anG
comfort or her surviving parents. Deaths
immutable Decree" was not. however
the cause OF Vernie's present grief, though
Ias God knows she had shed many bitter
BEARS over the separation from brothers and
sister. The fact Is that "hope long deferr
)ed'' had for the moment got the better of q
naturally sanguine and cheerful temper. 81
don't care what you say or Elder Bruce says
l2bout alPs happening for the best, it does
Seem as though everything is in conspir.
acy against u.s." My child, my child, don't
Verne not mndins the ei inte4Taption three
years ago this very fall had planned to at
tend the fall term of school at N. Academy.
l had worked so hard too, to save money
enough to pay my tuition and buy two new
dresses, and papa, the dear soul, had work
ed hard all summer that he might pay the
interest and spare little for me. Then
that he should break an ankle and be Oblig
ed to lay by for four weeks and all the in
tereSt money and more too, be paid for Dr. S
bills. 1t seemed too bad to say the least.
1t must have been for the best for God
says thai "All things work together for
good of those that love him. said the gen.
tie mother by her side. 'And then last
year came all that sickness and death which
was lamentatiOn for the whole village, for
we all were losers. 1t was too hard, it was
too hardv Both mother and daughter
afresh to mind. ''The dear children are
spared the sorrows we feel, VERNE. 1t
must be WE'LL" said the sweet-tempered
mother as she gently strOked the golden
locks of her one child. VERNE resOlutely
wiped away the tears that clOuded the
beautiful blue of her eyes. But feigned
cheerfulness is more painful than fearful
sorrow.
'.And now papa has got hurt in the mill.
The DIR. says it will be a long pull, and per-
haps he will never survive the shock. 1t is
cruel, cruel, cruel" Once more the tears
came in spite of the determination that they
should not. At hearing this as she consid-
cred almost blasphemOus expression, Mrs.
ingalls, lmpulsively drew her child into her
arms, and looking deep into her eyes, said
in the most earnest mother tone, ''my dear,
Gods ways are mysterious" But Mrs. In
gals completely resigned as she was, could
not restrain the sympathetic tear.
''What does it amount to that passed
the best examination in the village school.
that my crayOn sketches are admired and
praised if can never have any advantages
outside of B., if we must forever dig and
pinch and pay Drs. bills ?" "My dear girl
you must not talk like this" said Mrs. In
gals gall kissing her affectionately, You will
us hope that papa will soon be out again.
Then the bills will be paid and you shall
study to your hearts desire. But if this
never happens" the words were almost a
whisper, ''let us ask God for courage to
pass under the rod" The clock struck ten,
the mutual good night was given.
Two years have gone by-years of sor,,
those beautiful autumn evenings for which
VT, is justly famed. The sun has sunk to
rest, and the illumined horizon reflects its
beauties in leaf and branch of the Old In
gals oak under which five Generations
hSve sisiced, wept and made their exit.
Its bhnches sway to and fro in the evening
Dreeze, and sigh and whisper and SEEM to
say that man is mortal. Atleast, so thought
ernie ingalls,, as she and her mother sat
N the little sitting-room looking silently
rom it's window. "We are all alone now,
mamma said VERNE, fixing her lovely
eyes, lovely because of the soul that shone
through them on the carewOrn features of
ler mother. eyes darling, am afraid it
Will be lonely now that papa is gone, but
our trust is in the God of the fatherless and
widow. Perhaps, VERNE, you will now be
your sake" s'No mamma" said VERNE,
he tears. glistening in her eyes. 81 shall
never leave you. Never. have for a long
line earnestly hoped that | should some
day be able. to crafty my tastes, but it
SEEMS to be fated otherwise. pass under
jlf rod with joy.'"
This bit of conversation took place on
ff evening of the funeral day that consign-
ID the father to the earth whence he came.
More than one of the curious, who from
sirt of instinct never miss funeral, had
'smarked that VERNE was not her wOnted
,elf. 1t was well known that she had al
i Jays been good girl and dutiful, but she
lad never been recOnciled to her lot. That
he should be compelled by poverty and
Misfortune to work early and late, and not
at mental tasks for bread for
lClScll pdIcIllS, udu SCCllC0 VOO lCoNy
burden. Now there was change in her
'earing, her features, her very voice; she |
bowed that same resignation that had for |
0 many years been the chief charm in the |
'iOus life of her mother. Though not all |
new it she had lain her troubles at the
eet of the only burden Bearer. She was
ried by tempting offers of emOlument. She
vas loved by a worthy young man of life
)ng acquaintance, whom she in tnrn loved
nth all the fervOr of a wOmans devotion,
ut she knew she had ''charge to keep"
he never broke the pledge of the autumn
We, and this was the girl who was once SO
to acquire and to achieve. The
DOR have many such histories.
Twenty years later had the reader been
/ B., on quiet day in June, he would
ave seen funeral train unOstentatiOus to
, sure, but more pathetic than ever came
ON royal portal. The procession COM
)sed of the hearse and thirty mOurnerS, a
w in teams but the majority on foot NOV
slowly along the highway towards the
tie church. The church and yard were
DIVIDED. b., had literally emptied itself
do honor to the memory of this poor
oman who had no relative in the wide
Orld; who had neither fame nor riches,
I'd was well nigh homeless. One would
I'VE thOupht that christian virtue had not