Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1905-12-29

You seem to be very content" she
said.
yes. indeed May answered. How
can help it-in such a beautiful vorIdi's
Beautifully exclaimed Mrs. Gibson.
But she checked herself; II the girl were
content, let her be content. II wouldn't
last II couldn't 1t was all a delusion-
dust and ashes. dust and ashesi
And yet II was a beautiful world that
June day. every wind brought the breath
q roses or Of new-mown hay, soft films
I OF snow-white cloud wandered over the
l velvety blue Of the sky. and the sunshine
/ was like golden ladders between heaven
I and earth And at night, when evening
I bells rang over the water with a far-away
sweet and subtle music as IL ringing from
some unknown land in the afterEiovr OF
/ the west, where a new moon melted in
I the light, and when the slow, faint stars
came out in a powder Of silver over the
/ purple depths, it made Nay. at any rate,
wonder how any one could live and
breathe and not feel the divine in Il an.
I and the presence and value Of beauty in
I the supreme thought
( Mrs Gibson could not have told You
/ Why Il exasperated her to see the minister
walk home with May from the prayer
meeting on these summer nights when. to
them, al all events, the old planet swung
I very near the regions where time and
I space cease II was such idleness, she
I reasoned. such a tempting Of fate, such
{ self-deception. such a heaping up Of
/ trouble for young folk to imagine they
were happy May was very blushing and
: radiant in those days. the minister used
: to drop in for a cup OF tea that Nav
served on the veranda, and it did not need
the perfume Of the sweetbrier and honey
I suekle there to make him drink Il as II IL
! were nectar: and although he praised the
old china. Jet all the time he was looking
at May. who then was more blushing and
radiant than ever; and May always stroll
ed down the path with him. and they
stood under the great tree-boughs through
which. they glanced up. the white
flames OF the stars seemed the very
lamps Of the golden city. 1t disappointed
Mrs. Gibson. as she remarked 10 the
empty room, that ministers should be
nothing but men.
Mrs Gibson was feeling very bad at
that time; she suffered, and the medical
ments to which she had returned seemed
had said that she was progressing proper
~. and with a little more courage and
self-fOrgetfulness one day the nerve-force
she was accommodating would show itself
and she would find that she was practical
" cured. She did not believe him, to be
sure Who could forget themselves in
such troublei
She presently found out who could For
May Vance came home one night with 8
flushed face and an aching head. and By
the morning was in a high fever; and
when the doctor went he sent a nurse
and for weeks life hung in the balance.
oh, I'm sorry TO be 50 much trouolei
May signed. in lucid interval And
I've 50 upset your house!"
There's nothing to upset And you n
not mite OF trouble." said Mrs. Gibson
bending over her. You Just get well
dear child. That's al ask
For suddenly Mrs. Gibson found that tbs
months with this young girl had made
an immense and happy difference in bel
life Cheer and stir had come into tbs
house with an atmosphere Of peace and
pleasure; she had looked for the home
; coming at noon and night. had taken in
terest in the novel pursuits had had hel
horizon enlarged. her point Of view shaker
} ever 50 little, and her thoughts snatcheS
away from herself And II she were to re
: turn to the old breeding and loneliness
: no. MOI the whole world would be blzckel
than before, And when the minists
? came, she felt like imploring him to ash
? for Mays life And when the doctor sail
May would recover. Mrs Gibson woul'
: t.4r-S d-nnped PROSTATE with thanks be
il she had been sure to whom she shoult
address those thanks
} She heard the ringing OF the churcl
bells with a new and indescribable sensa
ton that day. She wished she did knov
TO whom 20 give thanks; she wished sh'
, person Those bells reminded her of
I time when she used to go to meeting
between her father and her mother viii
. / rose in her little gown There was
, note in the tone Of those bells tina
( vibrated in her heart as IL she were yOunl
| again and glad
I She felt this more and more as Nay
wan smile changed to a gay laugh. am
!, | when she sat up. and when she cam
downstairs. although weak and white. ant
still forbidden outdoors
The doctor had been co1gratulatini
himself on the faint bloom upon Ms
! GibsOn's cheek one day It's the htu
. cap May made for my birthday. and tn
= reflection of the pink ribbons" she said
r | I was trying it on when you came in
E Trying il on me- said the doctor
You know. or you don't know, I've hal
{ | a mind to make little feast Of it-any
. | way. so far as a good dinner goes, thOugi
5 I goodness knows when I've done such
I thing before, / haven't been in the wa,
D { Of being glad / was born Butt don
know-somebow May makes me feel a
I ! il il were worth while TO be here
/! "A tonic. to be taken ad lib" said tn
I doctor.
Z Yes; III have a nice little dinner
: clam bOuilIon with whipped cream, roas
: duck. grapefruit salad. floating island
/ Perhaps the ministerN come
: I wouldn't wonder
and then I'm about tired OF toast an
E tea Something else would relish, maybe
: "A good hearty dinner" said the doc
] / tor And it viii make a man OF you!
d Nay was nearly quite herself; and a
I she sat in NOra's spotless kitchen IN
{ next day, strafning the cherry eordia
made before she was III. she sang softt
D half under her breath
] My mother used 10 sing that hymn,
said Mrs Gibson. in the doorway
; wonder what is the peculiar pleasure Il
: singing hymns"
l Why said May. there is nOthini
I quite 50 sweet and fine as music-exeep
/ prayer, you know And put prayer {
e / music and tx sometimes seems 10 CIV
YOU wings; and I don't know why, bu
! those very wings seem 10 lift you owe
trouble. and 10 futter when you az
happy"
The bell was tOlling through tie t"iisn
: for the wednesday evening prayer
' | meeting an hour or two later.
4 s'Oh, / wish could 90 70 prayer-meet
ingl'' said May, looking out OF the win
e dow Wistfully.
e The idea Well you can't, said MI
5 Gibson. authoritatively.
You 20 for me- said May, careSsing
{ ". with sudden daring and persuasion
e -.Is''
J ..Yes. dear, you should feel almos
Z as II / were there
( MIS-. Gibson said to Nora that sh