The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-07-29

Winters, that it is difficult to realize
that ten years have gone into the past
since we last looked upon her. There
is the same calm brow, clear eyes, pure
face, as of yore. Steps and pleasant
voices are heard, and with the old sweet
smile the mother greets her boys. Men
as they now are, there is much to re-
mind one of the boys of ten years ago,
except that in Johns face is an UNI
satisfied expression. Lovingly they
greeted the mother, who evidently had
lost none of her preciousness to them.
Can it be that ten years have elapsed,
my sons" said Mrs. Winters, "since
that day that l requested you not to
resume the subject upon which we
were speaking, until this time? We
have all been spared, and now we are
ready to hear whether your youthful
dreams have been realized. John, you
are the Oldest" and as she raised her
eyes to her fine-looking son, shadow
for one moment passed over her face.
My boy, is your faith in yourself and
in your own abilities as strong as ever?"
All mother" and the strong face
worked with emotion, until the last few
months my life has been a failure.
Faith in myself, not faith in God, was
all that 1 thought I needed. While
not despising the love of my compan-
ions, l felt that 1 was superior to many
of them, that if they did not choose to
love me | was strong enough to stand
alone. You know l won the highest
positions in the colonies. Even old
men have looked up to me with respect,
and the younger men have envied my
talents and influence. But they only
chose me because they knew me to be
honest, and that l better than any
other could insure the success of the
colonies. A few months ago the
thought came to me, | must make my
decision. Am | satisfied? Is my life
what l had hoped to make it? Alas!
it was not. For many days l had no
rest, but that | can not speak Of"
The mother, with a look of sympathy,
laid her hand upon the hand of her son.
cat last" he spoke in low voice,
"peace and trust in Gods wonderful
love came, and then l won the love of
sweet Ruth White, and now know the
greatest of these is love-"
The mothers eyes were not the only
ones moistened with tears when John
ceased speaking. After moments
silence she turned to James.
"My son, what have you to tell us2"
James face, always hopeful, couded
little, and he hesitated for a moment,
then spoke in his CHEEKY voice.
Mother, dear, have given my prin-
ciple, as you know, a fair trial. Moth
ing has ever daunted me. My ambi-
ton has not, perhaps, been as far
reaching as Johns, but l had set goal
before me and hope has ever urged me
forward. You know that l have sue
ceeded as the world goes. My hopeful
disposition has never let me see an OBJ
stacle in the way, but have found out
in these ten years, that though hope
occupies high plane, yet that heart
filed with love for God and man "-he
glanced at Arthur as he spoke" can
surpass all that faith and hope can &C
complish. While l have not found
such one to fill my heart as my
brother has, have my mother, whose
faithful love has convinced me that
the greatest of these is lOue.'"
The man, still boy to his mother,
stopped and kissed her fair brow.
"Thank you, my son, for your appre-
| SlhUlOh' all liOllOlCu, IL
have led my boy to see and believe the
great gospel truth. We scarcely
need ask what Arthur has to say" she
added, looking at her fair, slight boy
who so much resembled her.
"Dear MOTHER" Arthur replied with
fond caress. 81 did not have to
change my views, only to hold fast to
what l already firmly believed. The
profession have chosen, minister of
Gods Word, grows dearer to me every
day. To comfort the sorrowing, to
help the erring, TO draw precious souls
to Christ, needs heart filled with love.
Though faith and hope may almost fail,
love will cling and never loosen its
hold. 1t is to this alone that l attri-
butte what little success l may have
had. If God spares my life, hope to
bring many trophies to his feet
brought there by this one quality,
which to me transcends and over
shadows every other. Love will yet
conquer this world and bring it into
loyal allegiance TO its Master and
King"
How well the mother and brothers
knew what Arthur's life had been {;
none so low, none so debased, but that
he, by the influence of this mighty
power, exhibited so plainly in his own
life, had brought them out of darkness
into Gods marvellous light.
For long time they sat in silence,
and then the mothers voice gently and
TREMENDOUSLY breathed out: And now
abideth these three, faith, hope, love;
but the greatest of these is love. "-Mary
d. Crane, in NeW York Observer.