Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-01-10

sweat Miss Herrick, says /, I don't be
leve you've looked real close at this goods
faint thorough wove says /. SO she didn't
take it but what fetched me was 30 think
how many times I'd done such mean, onre-
liable little things TO turn a penny, and all
the time sayin' and prayin thut | wanted 70
be like Christ ] KEEP trippin' of myself
up all day jest in the ordinary business, and
| was a peg lower down when night come
than ! was Thursday I'd ruther as far as
the hard work is concerned, lay a mile of
four foot stone wall than undertake 10 do a
mans ivin' Christian duty for twelve work
in hours and the heft of that is, it's be-
cause l amt used to it and ought to be-
so this mornin' come around, and / felt
a mite more cherk. Twas missionary morn
in, and seemed as it twas a sight easier to
preach than to practice. thought I'd be-
gin to old Mis- Vedder's So put testa-
ment in my pocket and knocked to her door.
Says |, Good mornin', ma'am, and then
stopped. Words seemed to hang, somehow.
| didn't want to pop right out that I'd come
over to try'n convert her folks | hemmed
and swallowed a little, and fn'lly said,
says !, We don't see you out to meetin'
very frequent Miss Nedder'
No, you don't !" SAYS She as quick as
wink, / stay to home and mind my bust
ness
well, we should like to have you come
along with us and do ye good, says |, sort
of conciletin'
Look a here, deacon she snapped.
I've lived along side of you fifteen Years.
and you knowed | never went to meetin'
we amt pious lot and you knowed it
we're Poorer'n death and uglier'n sin Jim
he drinks and swears, and Malviny dono her
letters She knows heap she hadn't ought
to, besides. Now what are you comm here
today for, I'd like TO know, and talkin' so
glib about meetin' Go to meetin' III 20
and come jest as | darn please for all you.
Now get out O thsl Why she come at
me with a broomstick. There wasn't no
need ont what she said was enough. l
hadn't never asked her or hern to so much
as think of goodness before Then went
to another place jest like that wouldn't
call any more names-and sure enough
there was ten children in rags, the hull of
EN-, and the man half drunk. He give it
to me, too and | don't wonder. I'd never
lifted hand to serve nor save 'em before
in all these years I'd said considerable
about the heather in foreign parts, and give
some little to convert EN-, and | had
looked right over the heads of them that
was next door. Seemed as if | could hear
Him say, These ought ye to have done, and
not left the other undone | couldn't face
another soul today, brethren come home,
and here be. I've been searched through
and through and found wantin'. God be
merciful to me "A sinner
he dropped into his seat and bowed his
head and many another bent also 1t was
plain that the deacon's experience was not
the only one among the brethren Mr. Pay
son rose and prayed as he had never prayed
before. The week Of practice had fired his
heart, too. And it became a memorable
year for the church in Sugar Hollow. Not
year of excitement or enthusiasm, but
one when they heard their Lord saying, as
to Israel of old. GO forward - and they
obeyed His voice. The Sunday school flour
ished, the church services were fully at
tended, every good thing was helped on its
way, and peace reigned in their homes and
hearts-imperfect, perhaps, as new growths
are, but still an offshoot of the peace past
understanding.
And another year they will keep another
week of practice, by common consent
Rose Teyiu CpoEs