Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-09-14

forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my
disciple
When Rachel Winslow and Virginia
Page separated after the meeting at the
First church on Sunday, they agreed to
continue their conversation the next
day. Virginia asked Rachel to come
and lunch with her at noon, and Rachel
accordingly rang the bell at the Page
mansion about half past II. Virginia
herself met her, and the two were soon
talking earnestly
The fact is" Rachel was saying
after they had been talking a few min
utcs, Il cannot reconcile it with my
Judgment of what he would do. l can
not tell another person what to do, but
I feel that ] ought not to accept this
offer d"
What will you do, them" asked
Virginia, with great interest.
IL don't know yet, but have decid-
cd to refuse this offer.
Rachel picked up a letter that had
been lying in her lap and ran over its
contents again 1t was a letter from
the manager Of comic opera Offering
her a place with large travelling COM
pany for the season. The salary was a
very large figure, and the prospect held
out by the manager was tiattering. He
had heard Rachel sing that Sunday
morning when the stranger had inter
rupted the service He had been much
impressed. There was money in that
voice, and it ought to be used in comic
opera, so said the letter. and the man
ager wanted a reply as soon as possible
There's no virtue in saying No to
this offer when l have the other one,
Rachel went on thoughtfully. That's
harder to decide but I've made up my
mind To tell the truth, Virginia, I'm
completely convinced in the first case
that Jesus would never use any talent
like good voice just to make money.
But, now take this concert offer. Here
is reputable company to travel with
An impersOnator and violinist and a
male quartet, all people Of good repu
tation. I'm asked TO go as one of the
company and sing leading soprano. The
salary Il mentioned it, didn't l y is to
be guaranteed-$2 month for the
season. But l don t feel satisfied that
Jesus would 90. What do you think p
you mustn't ask me TO decide for
you, replied Virginia, with sad
smile Il believe Dir. Maxwell was
right when he said we must each one
of US decide according to the Judgment
we felt for ourselves to be Christlike.
am having harder time than you
are, dear, to decide what he would do. "
"Are you p Rachel asked. She rose
and walked over to the window and
looked out Virginia came and stood
by her. The street was crowded with
life, and the two young women looked
at it silently for II moment. Suddenly
Virginia broke cut as Rachel had never
heard her before.
Rachel what does all this contrast
in conditions mean to you as you ask
this question of what Jesus would dor
1t maddens me to think that the society
in which have been brought mp, the
same to which we are both said to be-
long is satisfied, year after year, to go
on dressing and eating and having a
good time, giving and receiving enter
tainments, spending its money on
houses and Injuries and occasionally,
to ease its conscience, donating with
ont any personal sacrifice, a little
money to charity. | have been edu-
Gated as you have, in one Of the most
expensive schools of America, launched
into society as an heiress, supposed to
be in very enviable position. I'm per-
fectly well, l can travel or stay at
home, can do as please, l can crafty
almost any want or desire, and yet
when I honestly try to imagine Jesus
living the life have lived and am ex-
pected to live and doing for the rest of
my life what thousands of other rich
people do | am under condemnation for
being one of the most wicked, selfish.
useless creatures in the world. l have
not looked out of this window for weeks
without feeling of horror toward my
self as l see the humanity that pours by
this house
Virginia turned away and walked NJ
and down the room. Rachel watched
her and could not repress the rising tide
of her own growing definition IF disci
pleship. Of what Christian use was hci
own talent of song? Was the best she
could do to sell her talent for so much
month, 60 on a concert company:
tour dress beautifully, enjoy the ex
citement of public applause and gain a
reputation as a great singer? Was tina,
what Jesus would do?
She was not morbid. She was II
sound health, was conscious of great
powers as a singer and knew that if she
went out into public life she could
make great deal of money and become
well known. 1t is doubtful if she over
estimated her ability to accomplish al
she thought herself capable of. AnC
Virginia-whats she had just said smotC
Rachel with great force because of tn,
similar position in which the two
friends found themselves.
Lunch was announced, and they
went out and were joined by Virginia T
grandmother Nine. Page, handsome
stately woman of 90, and Virginia
brother, Rollin, young man wh'
spent most of his time at one of tn
clubs and had no particular ambition
for anything but a growing admiration
for Rachel Winslow, and whenever sh
dined or lunched at the Page mansion
if he knew of it, he always planned t.
be at home.
These three made up the Page fam