The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-09-13

wife, and most people wouldn't think
that gave helpless girl much claim upon
her. She Drought me home with her, and
treated me like a queen, nursing me
| back to health with the best she had of
herself and her belongings. And then
| trouble came to them-the old story of
| raising some money on the place for a
| son, and the son has been unfortunate,
and can't pay. 1t is fearful burden
to the old people, and that is why
| they are taking summer boarders.
| thought l could get back to my
studies, but what can | do? Help is
hard TO get. They need me both sum
mer and winter. They have treated
me like daughter. must be daugh
ter to them"
And you are contented, dear?
There is a great deal about it which is
not to your taste, but still you can take
comfort in realizing what comfort you
are to Others"
Margaret's eyes filled with tears.
mo, am not contented. l dislike
this life. remain only because l am
obliged to-"
" Dear child, cannot you see the
Masters hand leading you exactly in
the right way?"
81 ought to, but / cannot. | had
chosen my own way, and it was so diff
ferent from this. / wanted to do
beautiful work. could have done it il
L had had opportunity"
There are so many" said Mis-.
Draper thoughtfully, SO many all over
the land who have been denied the OPP.
portunity they thought due them.
Some have gone through life rebelling
at it, some have lovingly and gracefully
accepted the different leading and found
peace in it,"
Il don't want you to think that do
this grudgingly," said Margaret 81
do not. 1t is only, think, when such
as you come right down to my life tina,
allow myself to think of it. Then /
realize that | am not happy in it. But
it is only seldshness to think of our
own happiness"
You are too young not to think of
it," said her friend gently. "But are
you so sure, dear, that you do not find
it?"
80, dare say do" said Margart t.
with half laugh. cit is blank per
versity in me to talk this way. OF
course it is a happiness to be so much
to those who are so good to me. And
then there is the country neighborhood.
| sometimes have time TO 90 a little
among them, and they are so good as
to look up to me in some things. Some
OF the girls come to ask me about their
reading and their choir singing"
All. Margaret, see how it is with
you. Just that you have not quite
learned to listen for the loving voice
and to grasp the tender hand which
leads you.
81 will tell you little story Long
years ago there lived worker of won
dertul skill in mosacs who had in his
employ boy, whose duty it was to care
for the tools and sweep the bits of glass
from the floor where the master worked.
One day he asked: Master, may l
have for my own the bits of glass you
throw upon the foor?'
Permission was given, and day
after day the boy was seen studying the
glistening crystals, preserving some
and throwing others away. He was
t. faithful and quiet, and years went by
in which he still remained with the ar
fist.
lone day his master entered a
storeroom seldom used, and came upon
piece of work mOdestly set out OF
sight Gazing on it with increasing
surprise he found it to be noble work
,, of art.
"Just then the young servant en-
tered and stopped with deep flush at
, sight of his master.
"'Tell me- said the latter, what
great artist has hidden his masterpiece
Z here?'
go, MASTER was the amazed an.
swer, it is my poor work. You gave
me the bits OF glass you threw away
The boy bad gathered up the frag-
ments, and with the touch given by an
artist soul had patiently and lovingly
wrought them into a work of marvel
lous beauty.
Don't you see it, Margaret" The
y earnest, beaming eyes held those of the
' young girl. cit is like you. Don't
say you have missed your opportunities
You are gathering up the bits of time
and opportunity lying all about you.
Some are bright as with the light OF
gratitude. Others duller, dulled per
haps through the imperfect sight whct
!. cannot discern the gracious purpose
hidden under clouds and dsappoint
ments. But YOU are, like so many
others, precious in His sight, working
: out your life mosaic. in the light of His
, smile, one day to shine forth as a mas
u terpiece. p Sydney Dayre, in Neu