Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1890-10-20

'sEmlly thinks well OF me, Aun
Howard, said Agnes, laughing
"Her descriptions are largely figura
tive. You must take them with abou
as many grains of allowance as tn
sands of the sea-
The next day was Sunday. Emil.
had stayed behind her aunt and Ag
mes after church to practice the
hymns for the night service. This
accomplished, she started home, loi
tering along through the daisy-sowr
fields which lay between the village
and their farmhouse, and enjoying tt
the full all the country sights ant
sounds. AS, singing softly to her
self, she passed great tree WHOSE
shadow fell across her path, she was
startled for an instant to find that
some one was sitting at its roots on
the side which had been away from
her. In another moment she recog-
nized Anne Hayden, whose face dark
ened at the sight of her.
"Good-morning,' said Emily, i'm
pulsively. 81 am so glad that you
have such beautiful day to rest on.
Have you forgotten me? | saw you
in the mill yesterday
"No, | have not forgotten, said
Anne, briefly, making a move to go.
81 looked about for you in church, .
Emily went on, "but you could not
have been there, think
"No, | never am. You need not
bother to look for me again, | have
no time for church, and if | had |
wouldn't CO."
Anne had not meant to say so
much. Provoked with herself, she
added, with a short laugh:
81 guess they do very we'll without
me. | suppose [ am not much miss
ed"
81 missed you," said Emily, with
a direct heartiness, which softened
Anne somewhat in spite of herself.
''Since / left you so hard at work in
the midst of all that flying machinery
and heat and noise | have thought of
YOU, till | feel as if we were old ac-
quaintances.
Anne looked at her curiously. "And
1 have thought of you," she began,
s1but-"
She did not finish. The ungra
cious words would not be said.
"Then'' said Emily, brightly, ''we
must be friends. How shall we man
age it? May go to see you some ev-
ening, after mill hours? When do
you get out?'
cat six o'clock. But | am afraid
you won't find US very much compa
ny for you-grandmother and me-"
cit must be delightful to have
grandmother. Mine both died long
ago, before l ever knew them
cannes face lit up with sudden,
transferring smile.
Grandmother is the only good
thing I've got" she said with an al
most rough energy. "And she's all
my own. Iwork for her, take care
of her, do everything for her. She
is mine.
"Do you take care of her all by
yourself?"
Anne nodded.
s'Think of it! How proud and
useful you must feel. If | did any
thing like that | should consider my
self very worth while indeed. How
ever, l am trying to have myself ed
ucated out of longing after circum-
stances which | probably would not
know what to do with if | had them.
Providence gives US each our task,
and if mine is not so imposing as
yours, why it need not matter, if
am only found faithful. Don't you
love that word %
"What?"
s'Faithful. 1t is such nice, whole
some, comprehensive word, not too
fine for everyday use and plenty fine
enough for Sundays. It means good
measure, pressed down and shaken
together, and running over, for him
who gives and him who takes it is
blessed ever so many times over;
and all of us are free to have it who
will. It is so wonderful and COM
forting, l think, to remember that
the plainest, most hindered sort of
life can be found faithful, and yet
God himself does no. ask anything
better for his own life, as it shines
gloriously on from everlasting to ev-
eflaSGlnS,
The two girls were silent for a mo-
ment; presently Emily asked, "Does
your grandmother go out much!'
"Never. She can not move from
her room.''
There was another pause before
Emily asked second question, with
the color deepening in her face as
she spoke. "Do you think she would
care to have me come and sing to her
sometimes? Is she fond Of music?
"Oh, yes cried Anne, eagerly,
'sshe says she has not heard any good
singing since she was at grandfather
funeral. She had stroke in the
church the other day and has not
been out of the house since"
''Then / will go to her this after
noon, if | may"
They parted and went their separ-
mo until, NOM mo ra, FOOL