The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-05-30
Life's Opportunities.

~ huhIiC, w Vi lyluk uClO all
summer long, and was going to have
such beautiful time!"
6 l know, DEAR" said Aunt Faith,
tenderly. / know, and l am 80 sorry;
but, Lide, you know ii must be all right.
God never makes mistakes. 1 remem-
Der reading a sweet little story of a
woman who took for her motto, God
never sends you anywhere that He
does not send an opportunity with YOU
Now, l am sure it is just as true that he
does not keep us anywhere unless He
also keeps an opportunity for us. On
your pleasant trip you meant to seek for
ways of serving the King; why not
seek for them in the place where you
are detained?"
"But why must l have been de-
tained?" asked Lide, with a little Sob
at was so hard to give up the White
Mountain trip and lie here all summer
with bad sprain!"
That cannot tell, my darling; but
God knows and loves you, and never
makes mistakes. Just say that over to
yourself when you are tempted to MUIR
muir, and try to trust cheerfully"
Left to herself for little while, Lide
let the tears come as fast as they pleased;
but presently she began to think of
what her aunt had said. Had she been
kept for some special purpose, and what
could it be? Before she was aware of
it her tears had ceased, and she was
bordering earnestly what there might
be for her to do here at home.
81 am sure / cannot even imagine"
she thought; "but 1 will keep close
watch and if there really is anything,
l hope l will not miss it,"
Good evening Lide," said Mrs.
Smith, putting her head in at the door
just then, els your sister Maggie hereP"
"No," answered Lide, "she is down
in the kitchen, believe, doing up the
tea dishes. She sent Nora to bed be-
cause she had hard headache. l think
she will be through soon."
will run down and speak to her."
said Mrs. Smith. CT only came to ask
her if she could come over and sit with
Jamie little while; he is feeling 30
badly, and wants her 80 much"
Poor Maggie keeps herself busy
most of the time" said Lide with lit
tie laugh, to Aunt Faith, who had
come back again.
my DEAR" she replied gently, "I
do not think you quite appreciate Mag
gle. She says very little about herself
or her feelings, but, as you say, she
keeps her hands full the most of the
time. l have often wondered if you
gave her credit enough for her sweet
unselfshness and nobility of charac-
ter"
"Why, auntie, Maggie is as good and
| kind as she can be, but she is perfectly
contented to do the dishes for Nora, sit
with Jamie Smith, and read to old
Becky Davis"
"'Are you sure of that always, Lide9
Watch her close!y-that may be one OF
your oppOrtunities-and see if you
really know Maggie"
But want something to do" an
swered Lide, with just a shade of i'm
patience in her voice.
Perhaps, my dear, you have need
to learn how to do better service"
Lide closed her eyes, and thought
again for quite a while. Evidently
Aunt Faith thought that she could
learn something from Maggie, and that
did not quite please her. She loved
her sister dearly, she was very COM
Portable person to have about, there
was nothing she would not do for one
but somehow Lide had always thought
her just little commonplace. Maggie
was so quiet and unassuming that Lide
without thinking much about it, sup
posed she did Morals work and Other
homely acts of helpfulness because
she liked to do such things.
While Lide was thinking, the bel
rang, and she heard Maud Hamilton'i
voice.
"Ive come for you, Maggie, to spent
, the evening with us. Mr.. and Mrs
Harper are there. You know they've
Just come from Europe. They hav,
some beautiful photographs, and the,
are going to tell us about them.
knew you would enjoy them 80 mucl
that asked them to wait few minute
and I've just rushed over after you
Come just as you are"
30 Maud, am so sorry, but can
not go to-nightl'
Lide knew by the sound of Maggie''
voice that she could hardly keep bac
the tears.
"It's a shame |" she said to herself
"Why don't she let jamie go?"
And then Lide remembered how oil
ten poor Jamie's days and nights wer
full of severe pain, and no one SCENE
to soothe him as Maggie did. Sh
4 watched Maggie closely, as she went i
y and out of the room, to see if she di
not show some signs of regret at havin
to give up her own pleasure; but sh
At could not detect any-she was just a
= quietly thoughtful and cheerful as eve
ii think perhaps should have don
as Maggie did," thought Lide; "but
I, should have showed it, l know shoulC
!. / am not sure but auntie is RICH
Many time when have suppose
y that Maggie did not mind doing the;