The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-08-28
WHICH IS TIE GREATEST ?

been arguing, and, as we cannot come
to an agreement, we have, as usual, de-
cided that you should settle the matter y
"And who are 'we,' my son ?'
flames 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-
sarv articles of furniture, plain, but not
as stiffly set as one could see in many
houses. Guns, with deers' antlers, or
namented the wall, and these were all,
except that in a plain frame hung the
portrait of little girl of exquisite love-
illness. 1t lighted 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 a
fine artist, who had, from curiosity,
visited the colonies, and who, attracted
by the great beauty of the child, had re-
nnnSfnH tCgfn To sr,4 hn,.
trait. And now the little daughter was
only dream, save for the picture. One
could see a strong resemblance between
mother and daughter, for Faith Winters,
her boys thought, was beautiful among
women. She looked up with gentle
smile to her boys, John, seventeen, eager,
anxious; James, sixteen, a shade more
quiet; Arthur, gentle, loving, on whom
the mother-heart safely rested.
"a little more quiet, my sons. What
am 1 to decided" why, mother" re-
piled John, 1--WE have had an excited dis
cussIon since school closed, as to faith,
hope, charity. l know the Bible says,
the greatest of these is charity but l
insist that faith is the most important
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, l cannot talk as my
brothers can; but if we love everybody,
and anyone needs our assistance, we do
not stop to ask if we have faith in Them
or hope that they are worthy of our eff
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 a slight, al
most impeceptible 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, 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.
II think we felt almost certain as to
your decision, mother, before we asked
you," said James. 'It is natural to
wish to be loved; hope does not exclude
love, but unless high, earnest hope is
the foundation, one can accomplish but
little with love-"
"All have to say" interrupted John,
'give me faith in myself. and 1 do not
fear for the future. l will conquer it,
and make name of which you shall all
be proud in this new home of ours"
"Yes," said the mother, ''thank God
for a free land and the faith in a glorious
FUTURE
For awhile the subject that had so &C.
cupied their attention was forgotten in
the animated conversation that ensued
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, fear of
suffering from want of provision had
disappeared, so that many with almost
prophetic vision were foretelling the
future prosperity and renown of their
land.
''My boys" said the mother, 1--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, 1 will
make 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 not every
thing ~ burst out John.
mo, my son; but an unselfish life