Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-01-05

ne speaker next prOcecueu W al dli'
alogy. He contrasted the story of the
ring with the story of poor girl HeI
parents were refined and intelligent
she herself was refined and sensitive,
her earliest years were passed in COM
fort, and in surroundings suited to her
tastes. But when she was fourteen
years old, her parents died, she was
left destitute, there was no near rela'
tives to take care Of her, and she was
obliged to go to work in a factory in or
der to support herself. The other girls
in the factory were commonplace, not
n few of them were vulgar, and some
were vicious. The best ones were good.
hearted, but they did not understand
their proud and sensitive companion,
who did not readily mingle in their
conversation and amusements The
girl was unhappy; she could not be
otherwise in observation-disclosures and yet
she was too weak and too friendless to
better her condition. She tried to read
and improve her mind during the win
ter evenings, but the severe work in
the factory during ten and sometimes
twelve hours daily fatigued her SO
much that she found it almost impossi-
BILE to crafty her ambition. Moreover,
the woman with whom she boarded
was ignorant, and the house was un.
clean and uncomfortable, so that the
home life of the girl was unfav-
orable for the development OF
her higher tastes. Not singular,
then, was it that she finally be.
came desperate and began to yield tc
the weight of the circumstances that
oppressed her. The vulgar talk of her
companions no longer shocked her, and
she gradually adopted words and ex-
pressions which formerly nothing
would have induced her to use. She
was deteriorating. Like the ring in
the furrow, the best in her was becom'
ing dim. She was out of her proper
sphere and she knew it She longed to
escape from her present condition, to
save herself from mental and perhaps
moral ruin, to mingle with better peo-
pie and to enjoy congenial surroun-
ings; but of what avail was it for her
to battle longer?
Fortunately at this critical period in
the girls career a rich and philan-
thropic man who lived near the factory
became interested in her. He ascer-
tanned that her parents had been re-
fined people, and that the hereditary
traits in her family were good. He
comprehended the circumstances sur
rounding her, and saw the temptations
to which she was exposed. He
recognized in her gem in obscurity,
which only needed some person able
and appreciative enough to place it
where it ought to be. Accordingly he
adopted her as his daughter, gave her
good education and other advantages.
She became a noble and accomplished
woman, and her benefactor felt well
repaid for his kindness. But what
could be said in regard to many cases
like that of this girl, where no helping
hand was extended? 1t was sad to
think of these cases. The fate of the
individuals involved was similar to
what the destiny of the ring would
have been, had it not been found by
| the farmer.
The audience, most of them well-to-
| do persons, were much impressed by
| the sermon. One wealthy member of
| the church was especially impressed.
1t happened that he had become in
terested in n girl whose circumstances
| in life were almost identical with those
of the one whose story the pastor had
| related. The man had thought of
| adopting her as his daughter, but he
had been restrained by selfish consid-
| erations. 1t only needed the sermon to
| overcome his reluctance, and he imme-
| dlately decided to carry out his philan-
| thropic plan the next day. Now it
CHANGED that the poor girl whom the
| rich man had in mind also heard the
sermon, she occupying one of the free
| seats near the vestibule during the
| services. She, of course, was aston
| ished, and wondered whether the
preacher had heard of her, and had
founded his story on her experience.
She dared not hope, however, that she
| would be fortunate like the poor Cir
| in the story, and have n helping hand
| extended to her. Great then were hel
amazement and JOY when the benevo
lent man came to her and made his
proposition. She accepted it with pro
found gratitude. Her new guardian
was especially anxious that she should
be we'll educated, and it was not long
before he sent her to noted boarding
school in another city. AT the end o.
five years, Mary, that was her name
returned to her benefactor, a beautiful
and accomplished young woman.
Every Sunday Mary accompanied he
adopted father to church and Listened
to the preaching of Rev. Thomas Moul
ton. The minister noticed with de
light that the fair young woman ap
peared to appreciate his sermons yer,
much. Soon he began to cultivate he
acquaintance, and made such rapi
progress that friendship ripened int
love with surprising celebrity. He wa
more Undetermined than are mos
preachers, however, and he was dis
heartened by fear which many mani
men have felt He feared that he wa
not good enough to become the hus
band of a superior woman.
In the course of 4 STUN bling speec
in which he acquainted Mary with hi
desires he said:
II love you, but feel that you ar
too good for me-"
Mary looked at him in an encourae
ing and affectionate way.
"If you knew how great my oblig;
ton to you is, you would have nor
J courage" she replied.
What do you mean?" he eagerl
) asked.
= II was in the furrow, and had it ne
} been for you 1 would have remained
it to this day"