The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-07-29
Selected Storm.
Which is the Greatest9

where his mother was sitting, we have
been arguing, and, as we cannot
come to an agreement, we have, as
usual, decided that you should SETTLE
the matter"
"And who are 'we,' my SOM"
"James and Arthur, of course"
At this moment the boys to whom
the above names belonged also came
into the room.
The room in which they were assem-
bled had few of the comforts of room
of our day, for our story is of the old
Puritan times, not the first, hard days,
but yet before the time when homes
were luxuriously furnished. A low,
square room, with the beams overhead
colored to rich, dark brown by the
smoke which the poorly constructed
chimney permitted often to escape into
the room; two small windows; neces-
sary articles of furniture, plain, but not
as stifl1y set as one could see in many
houses. Guns, with deers' antlers, or
namented the wall, and these were all,
except that in plain frame hung the
portrait of little girl of exquisite love-
Illness. Itlighted up the place and gave
an air of refinement and delicacy to its
severe surroundings. 1t was the por-
trait of the only daughter, painted by
fine artist, who had, from curiosity,
visited the colonies, and who, attracted
by the great beauty of the child, had
requested permission to paint her por-
trait. And now the little daughter was
only a dream, save for the picture.
One could see strong resemblance
between mother and daughter, for
Faith Winters, her boys thought, was
beautiful among women. She looked
up with a gentle smile to her boys,
John, seventeen, eager, anxious;
James, sixteen, shade more quiet;
Arthur, gentle, loving, on whom the
mother-heart safely rested.
GA little more quiet, my sons.
What am l to decide?" "Why,
mother" replied John, we have had
an excited discussion since school
closed, as to faith, hope, charity. 1
know the Bible says, the greatest of
these is charity but insist that faith
is the most mportant-faith in ones
self. How can we even try to work"
That is what 1 tell him, MOTHER"
broke in James. "Of course, one can
not work or strive unless one has hope
to begin with. Hope buoys you up,
even when faith is almost gone"
Without replying, the mother turned
to the youngest.
And what does Arthur Think"
"Ah, mother, / cannot talk as my
brothers can; but if we love everybody,
and any one needs our assistance, we do
not stop to ask if we have faith in them,
n hnnn q hNn Of Of
forts; we only know that they are those
for whom Christ died, and we must
work for them, and we cannot avoid
loving them"
The mother looked down on the gen.
tie boy with smile, as he sat in his
favorite seat, low stool by her knee;
then the smile changed to slight, al
most imperceptible sigh, as she glanced
up at her two other sons. Noble, true
boys, she knew them to be, but as yet
every aspiration, every ambitious
thought was for the world alone.
well, mother, which is it?" said
John.
my sons, 1 can give you but one
reply, from an authority higher than
mine. But the greatest of these is
love-"
A frown gathered on Johns brow,
and James looked less hopeful; but
Puritan households were too rigid in
their ideas of obedience for the hasty
thought to be converted into words.
g think we felt almost certain as to
your decision, mother, before we asked
YOU" said James. ct is natural to
wish to be loved; hope does not ex-
clude love, but unless high, earnest
hope is the foundation, one can accom-
plish but little with love-"
All | have to say" interrupted
John, give me faith in myself, and
do not fear for the future. / will con-
quer it, and make name of which you
shall all be proud in this new home of
ours"
eyes" said the mother, "thank
God for free land and the faith in a
glorious future"
For awhile the subject that had so
occupied their attention was forgotten
in the animated conversation that en-
sued about the future Of their country.
During the last few years so many de-
sirable emigrants had come, towns
were springing up in every direction,
ANNA "a Jul ~ iLS iiOil Nohu VI PiCN ioiOh
had disappeared, so that many with al
most prophetic vision were foretelling
the future prosperity and renown of
their land.
My boys" said the mother, " we
must stop talking, it is time to bring
the cows, to prepare the supper.
Arthur, you make the fire and assist
mother. Before we separate, my sons,
l will make a proposition. Let this
subject drop now, and ten years from
to-day, if our lives are spared and you
are still firm in your convictions, we
will again converse on this subject, and
we can then decide which has had the
happiest and most useful life"
But, mother, happiness is moi
everything" burst out John.
"No, my son; but an unselfsh life
must be happy one. You will all be
men in ten years. Shall We drop this
subject to renew it then?"
With smile and a kiss to the
mother, each boy assented.