Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1902-06-02


"'Sit down for moment or two,' ]
entreated.
No, no; am quite ready. See,' she
added quietly; L am quite strong
II set off by a short cut leading to
her home, hoping the men would be
there ahead of us; but passing me, she
walked swiftly through the trees, and
I followed in fear. AS we came near
the main path l heard the sound of
feet, and l tried to stop her, but she
too, had heard and knew.
"'Oh, let me go! she said piteously.
You need not fear
"And had not the heart to stop her.
In a little opening among the pines we
met the bearers. When the men saw
her, they laid their burden gently down
upon the carpet of yellow pine needles,
and then, for they had the hearts of
true men in them, they went away into
the bushes and left her alone with the
dead. She went swiftly to his side,
making no cry; but, kneeling beside
him, she strOked his face and hands
and touched his curls with her fingers,
murmuring all the time soft words of
love.
"'Oh, my darling, my bonny, bonny
darling, speak to me! Will you not
speak to me just one little word? Oh,
my love, my love, my hearts love!
Listen, my darlingv
"And she put her lips to his ear,
whispering, and then the awful still
ness Suddenly she lifted her head
and scanned his face, and then, glanc-
ing round with a wild surprise in her
eyes, she cried:
"'He will not speak to me! Oh, he
will not speak to mev
81 signed to the men, and as they
came forward l went to her and took
her hands.
"'Oh,' she said, with a wall in her
| voice, he will not speak to me!
''rhe men were sobbing aloud. She
looked at them with wide open eyes
of wonder.
"'Why are they weeping? Will he
never speak to me again? Tell me,
she insisted gently.
1.-THE words were running through
my head,
There's land that is fairer than day,
and l said them over to her, holding
her hands firmly in mine She gaZed
at me as if in a dream, and the ligh!
slowly faded from her eyes as she
said, tearing her hands from mine an6
waving them toward the mountains
and the woods:
"'But never more here! Never more
herer
81 believe in heaven and the Other
life, but l confess that for a moment i
all seemed shadowy beside. the reality
of this warm, bright world, full of life
and love- She was very i'll for tive
nights, and when the coffin was CLOSED
a new baby lay in the fathers arms.
"She slowly came back to life, blu
there were no more songs. The miner
still come about her shop and talk t.
her baby and bring her their sorrow
and troubles; but, though she is al
ways gentle, almost tender, with them
no man ever says Sing And that i
why l am glad she sang last week. /
will be good for her and good 70
them"
"Why does she stay?" asked.
MAYORS people wanted her to go t
Them" he replied.
'"They have money-she told m
about it-but her heart is in the gray
up there under the pines, and, besides
she hopes to do something for the mil
ers, and she will not leave them"
l am afraid l snorted little imps
tiently as l said: Nonsense! VIII.
with her face and manner and voio
: she could be anything she liked
| Edinburgh or in London"
4. 'And why Edinburgh or London
he asked coolly.
"Why? | repeated a little hotl
"You think this is better?''
Nazareth was good enough for tt
Lord of Glory" he answered, with
smile none too bright, but it drew N
> heart to him, and my heat was gone.
/, GLOW long will she stayY' l asked.
u '"Till her work is DONE" he replied.
Il "And when will that be?" l aske
impatiently.
'When God chooses" he answert
gravely "And don't you ever thiI
s but that it is worth while. One vail
y of work is not that crowds stare at
Read history, man!'
:, He rose abruptly and began to wa
about.
4 "And don't miss the whole meanil
Il of the life that lies at the foundatit
of your religion. Yes" he added
70 himself. 'the work is worth doin
worth even her doing"
. l could not think SO then, but t
It light of the after years proved hi
wiser than l. A man to see far mu
Al climb to some height, and | was t
u much upon the plain in those days
Il catch even a glimpse of distant sun
u uplands of triumphant achieveme
that lie beyond the valley of self So
!, rifice.
ITO RE C0NTTNrrrn