Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1892-02-25

lllC sun W dDDTOdCn
the horizon. As the clouds were now
begiuing to assume all the colors of
the rainbow, she determined to put
aside her perplexipg '.ambitions" and
watch the different phases of the sunset.
SO wrapping her shawl around her, she
laid her head back against the friendly
rock and prepared to drink in, mind and
soul, the beautiful western glory. In
one particularly brilliant place where all
was so rosy red she discerned, formed
by the clouds, the outline of noble
king seated on his massive throne,
scepter in hand. Before him knelt a
herald, evidently awaiting the monarch's
orders. Bessie seemed to hear this faint
ly waited to her on the evening air ]:
Hast thou found me the noblest woman
of the Empire?''
"Thou, 0 King, wilt have to choose
the noblest, for | have found for thee
more than one between whom in great
ness no difference can ascertain''
every well, thou faithful servant
Show them hence
The form of the herald Strengthened,
changed, and instead of man there
stood before the monarch woman clad
in a rich and flowing robe with glisten-
ing jewels adjoining snowy throat and
tapering fingers.
s'What is thy vocation, 0 fair one?'
asked the King.
II am an actress"
s'And what canst thou do to merit the
reward of being called the noblest?"
cat my wish wise men ltugh; at my
will men weep. From a merry girl
dancing and singing in her fathers
house, l can change to the impas stoned
woman, glorying with frenzied words
and flashing eyes in her murderous
deed. | control the passions of the
multitude by word and act When
am merry, they are; when sorrowful, so
are they. What greater thing than this
canst thou ask in a woman, o Kiog?'
But the monarch shook his head, say
ing: NAY. thou'rt not the noblest -
and then instead of the actress there
stood before the throne another woman,
fine of form, clad in the statuesque cos
tune of Greece, with banded hair and
sandaled foot.
'And what is thy vocation, o fair
one?'' asked the King
81 am an artist
And what canst thou do to merit the
rewa d of being called the noblest?'
'sFrom the cold marble by my won
derful skill come the forms of men and
angels. The dull canvas l make CLEAN
with pictures of forest and hill, flowers
of the valley and trees of the mountain
top. Sceptered with chisel and brush,
beneath my sway all nature comes"
But the King again shook his head
saying: Nay, thou'rt not the nobest!'
and 10 I'D behold, there stood before
the monarch, in the artists place, a
woman crowned with laurel and bearing
golden Tyre in her hand.
sand what is thy vocation, 0 fail
one!' asked the King.
81 am singer"
.And what canst thou do to merit the
reward of being called the noblest?"
'With the ripple of the waves | car
lull to sleep; by the witching notes of 8
bobolink's song can l sweetly awaken
Listening with wonder and awe to my
beautiful notes, mems souls are thrilled
10 the very depths and drawn ear untt
Heaven"
But again the King shook his head
saying, NAY, thou'rt not the noblest!
and then instead of the singer anothe
woman stood before the monarch. Sh
was crowned with roses, while ropes o
the same sweet flower hung from slen
, der waist and snowy hands.
"And what is thy vocation, o fai
one?" asked the King
81 am poet"
ssAnd what canst thou do to merit tn
reward of being called the noblest?'
s'By my touch the ugly become
beautiful the earthly, heavenly. Me
, lead from low and degrading to hig
! and ennobling thoughts. From tn
toll and trouble of everyday life l lii
their souls to CELESTIAL realms. Wha
more sublime than this canst thou as
from me, o King?"
; But the monarch shook his head, say
/, ing: "Nay, thou'rt not the noblest
and in place of the poet before th
E, throne another woman stood clad in
= :. robe as dark as night; but from her fac
!, cleaned light born not of earth.
:. "And what Is thy vocation. o fai
=. - one?' asked the King.
81 am a minister"
: : "And what canst thou do to merit tt
= reward of being called the noblest?'
"From lot and land 90 teaching Il
& ignorant of the divine God. Unto tt
= weary and sick do l give my tend
:, ministries. At the couch of the dyin
:. | comfort by word and deed. Doir
q acts of kindness on every hand where
y = l go, men call me blessed. What mo
- than this canst thou ask from me,
:, Kin. p
= But the monarch shook his head, sa
ing, 'Nay, thOu'rt not the noblest!" al
:. instead of the minister there stood befO
20 the throne another woman, in pure
10 white, with the brow of an angel, al
~ head bowed low DER the snowy do
. clasped to her bosom.
= "And what is thy vocation, o fl
!" one?" asked the King.
n 81 am my mothers guardian"
- sand what canst thou do to merit
- reward of being called the nOblest?"
he ''Only my duty, o King"
y. sand what is thy duty?'
u ITO care for those who are not able
care for me-"
- The King stepped down from his loi