Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-01-03

work will bring u.s. l think ones waking
prayer should be, Lead me il plain path
because of mine enemiesp'
i was utterly cast down and disheart-
ened at the thought of leaving my mis-
tress. The responsibility terrified me- i
should be at the tender mercies of stran-
gers, VINO would not recognize my posi-
ton. ALI had got to the Hill Difficulty
at last: and yet surely the confidence re-
posed in me ought TO have made me glad.
Il trust you as myself" Were not those
sweet words to hear from my mistress
:'ns, well / was only girl Human
! nature, and especially girl nature, is sub
ject to hot and cold fits. At one moment
we are star-gazing, and the majesty of
the universe. with its undertaking laws,
seems to lift us out of ourselves with adj
miration and wonder: and the next hour
we are groveling in the dust, and the
| grasshopper is a burden, and we see moth
ing save the hard stones of the highway
and the walls that shut us in on every
side. Lead us in a plain pathr' On,
that is just what we want; Divine Hand
to lift US up and clear the dust from our
eyes, and to lead US on as little children
are led.
These salutary thoughts checked my
| nervous fears and restored calmness. l
remembered passage that Aunt Agatha
had once read to me-a quotation from a
favorite book of hers; had copied it out
for myself:
do as the little children do-little chill
dren, who with one hand hold fast by
their father, and with the other gather
| strawberries or blackberries along the
hedges. Do you, while gathering and
managing the goods of this world with
one hand, with the other always hold fast
the hand of your Heavenly Father, turn
| ing 10 Him from time to time, to see if
your actions or occupations are pleasing
70 Him; but take care, above all things.
that you never let go His hand, thinking
to gather more, for. should He let you go,
you will not be able to take another step
without falling"
Just then Hannah came to me for the
days orders, and | told her as briefly as
possible of the plans for the morrow. To
my establishment, directly | mentioned
Netherton, she turned very red, and ut
| tered an exclamation.
"Netherton-we are to go to Netherton
Squire Cheriton's placed Why, miss, it
is not more than mile and a half from
there to Dorlcote and Wheeler's Farm"
''Do you mean the farm where your
father and your sister Molly liye?" l re-
turned, quite taken aback at this, for the
girls eyes were sparkling and she SEEM
ed almost beside herself with joy. ''Tru-
ly it is an i'll wind chat blows no one any
good''
Yes, indeed, miss, you have told me a
piece of good news | was just thinking
of asking mistress for a weeks holiday,
only Master Reggie seemed so fretful and
Miss Joyce so weakly, that ] hardly knew
how could be spared without putting too
much work upon you; but now | shall be
near them all for month or more Molly
had been writing to me the other day to
tell me that they were longing for a sight
of me-"
II am very glad for your sake, Hannah.
that we shall be SO near your old home;
but now we must see to the children's
| things, and | must get Rhoda to send a
note to the laundress''
had put stop to the conversation pur-
posely, for wanted to know my mistress
opinion before ] encouraged Hannah in
speaking about Ter own people. How did
l know what MI !. Morton would wisha I
! took the opportr nifty of speaking to her
when she came up to the nursery in the
course of the evening Hannah was still
packing, and | was collecting some of the
children's toys. Mrs. Morton listened to
me with great attention; / thought she
seemed interested.
"Of course | know Wheeler's Farm"
she replied at once: Michael Sowerby,
Hannah'S father, is a very respectable
man; indeed, they are all most respecta-
bic, and know Mrs. Garnett thinks high
ly of them. | shall have no objection to
my children visiting the farm, if YOU
think proper TO take them, Merle: but of
course they will 60 nowhere without you.
If YOU can spare Hannah for a day now
and then, 1 should be glad for her to have
the holiday. for she is a good girl, and has
always done her duty"
II will willingly spare her." was my an
swer, for Hannah's sweet temper and
Obliging ways had made me her friend. AZ
was only anxious to know your wishes on
this point, in case my conduct or Haunah's
should be questioned"
You are nervous about going to Meth
erton, Merle" she returned, at once look
ing at me more keenly than usual. You
are quite pale this evening. Put down
| those toys; Hannah can pack them, with
Rhoda's help; will not have you tire
yourself any more tonight"
81 am not tired" l faltered; but the
foolish tears rushed to my ewes, Did she
have an idea, wonder, how hard felt it
would be to leave her the next day2 AS
the thought passed through my mind she
took the chair beside me,
The carriage has not come vet: Ander-
son will let me know when my husband is
ready for me; we shall have time for a
talk. You are little down-hearted to-
''''-ht. Merle: you are dreading leaving US
tomorrow"
Il am sorry to leave you" I returned;
and now | could not keep the tears back.
II shall miss you, too" she replied,
kindly; Il am getting to know you so well,
Merle. | think we understand each other
and then | am so grateful to you for low
ing my children; no one has ever been SO
| good to them before"
II am only doing my duty to them and
you"
Perhaps so; but then how few do their
dutyI How few try to act up to 50 high a
standard! l am dull myself tonight,
Merle. No one knows how | feel parting
with my children; try not to indulge in
nervous fancies, but cannot feel happy
and at rest when they are away from me-"
at is very hard for you," was my an
swer to this.
ut is not quite so hard this time,' she
returned, hastily; Il feel they will be safe
with you, Merle, that you Will watch over
them as though they were your own. l
know you will justify my trust"
You may be assured that l will do my
best for them"
Il know that" returned my mistress
gently. You will write to me, will you
not, and give me full particulars about
my darlings? l think you will like Marsh
lands; my sister Gay is very bright and
winning, aud my father is always kind"
"Alrs. Markham?" l stammered.
"Oh. my sister Adelaide: she will be too
much occupied with her own boy and her
| own affairs to trouble you much, If you
are in any difficulty, write to me and will
help you. Now / must say goodnight
Have done you any good. Merle2 Have
the fears lessened?"
you always do me good,"I answered,
gratefully, as she put out her slim hand
to me; and, indeed, her few sympathi&iug
words had lifted little of the weight
When she had left the nursery | sat down
and wrote long letter to Aunt Agatha,
bidding her goodbye, and speaking cheer
fully OF our intended fitting. When the
next day came woke far more cheerful.
The bright sunshine, Joyce's excitement,
and Hannah's happy looks stimulated me
to courage. There was little time for
thought, for there was still much to be