Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1903-12-04

durance Nay, my child, thou must ever
be without light in thy eyes, without
warmth in thy heart"
a tear fell from Sorrows eyes on the
wild flower at her feet. Fragrance filed
the air as the flower gave thanks for the
welcome dew.
Deeper into the forest went the lonely
maid until she reached the shore of a
wide still lake. Here nothing stirred.
Only Evening walked upon the water, al
ways in shadow, but trailing rosy streaks
of light. Now and then a star fell from
above and rested bright and motionless
on the quiet surface. Sorrow dipped her
slender hand in the water and laid it on
her brow Evening came to her, and
whispered softly:
" Good night! Sleep sweetly; forget
thy Woe"
Long gazed she after him, and sighed
. Once / found peace in the forest
once ] forgot my woe when Sunbeam
touched my heart; all that is past"
Lost in thought, she gaZed dreamily
over the lake. cool wind arose and
rippled the water; in the gathering mists
danced the shadowy forms of the water
nymphs
Presently Sorrow perceived a light re-
iectcd in the water, larger and redder
than the stars and glmmering through
! the night. She raised her eyes and saw
on the shore of the lake. 1t was over
grown with ivy, and through a gable
window which stood open streamed the
beam of light.
Strange!" thought Sorrow; in that
house have l never been, and yet some
one keeps watch"
| She crept up to the window. There sat
| beautiful lady with snowwhite hair
in soft white draperies, writing indus
triously. and with firm hand, in a big
book. Her brow was furrowed, but the
| sweet, mobile mouth showed noble wo-
manliness and wide sympathy with man.
kind While Sorrow gaZed. lost in con-
| temptation she saw two wonderful gray
eyes fixed on her, and rich, melodious
| voice said:
Come in, child. I have waited LONG
for thee"
| Astonished, Sorrow obeyed; such a
| greeting she had never heard before; anG
then a pair of motherly arms gathered
her up she felt kisses on brow anG
cheek, and the wonderful voice said
Dear little Sorrow it was decree6
| that thou shouldst find me; I could not
| seek thee. for / never come uncaled.
am Mother Patience. and here must
stay and listen and wait. The lake
brings me every whisper OF those thai
call on me. Sometimes have caught tn,
voice family, but always lost thee again.
The furrow deepcned on her brow
Sorrow buried her head on the motherl,
breast and whispered:
Oh, stay always with me!'
My child when thou callest I will
answer when thou art weary, come t.
me and rest a while My task is to writ,
in the Book of Life; l have much worl
| to do"
All night Sorrow nestled in the arm!
| OF Mother Patience, and in the morning
took up her wanderings again, strength
ened and refreshed. The whole eartl
! bloomed rich under the yellow morning
| sunshine, for it was havest time. Sor
row looked over the corn-fields dotted
with bright blue flowers. and thought
Poor flowers we bloom so happil!
and look so joyously in the light, and We
by evening we will be cut down"
And she looked further and saw ;
glorious maiden in the corn-field. al
alone, cutting the grain with a might.
sweep of the scythe as with the strength
of three men.
| " Good morning, my pale little one,
she called roguishly on seeing Sorrow
:" come and help me-" and as she spok'
she danced up to Sorrow, her yellow
brads flying and her blue eyes laughing
she cried, az she looked into Sorrow
sad dark eyes
81 am Sorrow and must ever wander
And who art thou, and why art thou 81
happy?"
81 am Work. seest thou not? Sc
how well and strong / ami and liftinl
Sorrow in her arms as though she wer
a feather, she ran up and down the field
laughing and singing. A slight ros
flush touched Sorrows cheek, and sh
said almost gayly:
"Oh, dear, dear Work, come tho
with me: thou art so strong. / must al
ways wander, and l am often weary"
" Nay. dear little Sister, that may no
be-" answered Work. =" For ] must slice
at night that / may be ready for my tas
at dayhreak. ] am needed everywher
and always 1t is my lot to be stron
and merry, and were ! always to look int
thy sad eyes the laughter would die on
of my heart. But when thou callest me
little Sister, I will come and remain afte
thee to brighten the hearts that tho
strikest."
So out into the glowing morning ligh
went Sorrow alone. on and on throug
the wide. wide world. But Patience an
Work kept faith, and were ever loyal I
her comrades: and often all three woul
gather at evening in the little house b
the lake, to read the tidings in the Boo
OF Life and write a message there.
Patience-"He wrote a song he though