Year: 1871

long before darK,had assumed leader
hue, rose in dark contrast with the love
ly mantle of white, not a star remaining
to illumine the sky Breathless silence
reigned everywhere. The few pc
destrians who were still out, hurried
through the streets with muf11ed and
noiseless tread. But, although Middle
burg was quiet and almost deserted
without, its many shining windows told
of life and jollity within. Away up the
street, Mary Bufington's windows out
dazzled them all and seemed-tC
those who knew her sweet spirit-to be
sending out beacon rays to cheer the
belated traveller through the storm.


The light shone brightly even through
the falling snow, and the picture thai
presented itself within, was peaceful
enough to make ones heart beat quick.
lier than its won't Seated before Z
bright fire. thinking Of, and momentari
1y expecting the neice of her late hus-
band, whose whereabouts she had dis
covered some weeks before, and whom
she had invited to share her heart and
home, sat Mary Burlington. Her whole
soul shone in her face as she gazed into
the fire before her; light. riPPling. wavy
hair coiled about her young head; eyes
full of peaceful light, as they ever were
under consciousness of having done
some good to the helpless, she made a
lovely picture. Her white jewelled
hands lay clasped upon an old portfolio
and her feet rested upon low crimson
cricket A little in front and to the left
holding a basket of many colorec
woods, from which she was selecting q
few colors, sat Mary's mother-in-Iaw
aged seventy-two !; cheerful, loving and
fresh-faced. Her beautiful snow white
locks, thing rarely seen nowadays
parted. smoothly under her plain white
cap, gave her that saint-like appearance
which, ever in ripe old age draws hearts
and commands respect.


Her eyes had left the basket and were
resting upon a child sitting opposite her


The child was dressed in the purest
white. which contrasted .strikingly with
the deep black worn by the two ladies
Her sunny hair fell in long braids ovel
her shoulders. tied with bright blue rib
bons. Her face was a diminutive fac
simile of Marys. The large expressive
eyes were. studiously resting upon the
mothers face, and seemingly Satisfied
with what was written there she lei
them drop to four white envelopes
that she held in her tiny hands. Gath
ering them up in one hand she drew the
little crimson chair nearer and laid tbs
white envelope down on Mary,s lap
Mamma, she said, placing them
there, "did you enclose checks or mon
ey in there?" Mary started at the sound
Of the little chirping voice, as if it had
called her back from some far-off vision
of the past. Money, darling, she said
stroking the sunny hair tenderly; "the
people to whom we send those would
not understand the checks and might
lose them Mamma, " continued little
Lizzie; mo one but grandma, you and
l will ever know that you send those
will they ?" Mary's eyes were full oi
tender joy as. pointing upward with hel
hand, she said, And God, my darling.
The large blue eyes followed the moth
er's hand heayenward. as if expecting to
catch there a glimpse Of the Divine All
knowing then moving a little nearer
she whispered, None but God ? and
perhaps. God will whisper it to papa
away off in heaven, and that will make
him so very, very happy


Mary stopped down and kissed the
little upturned face, and the tears rolled
over grandma's cheeks and nestled
among the bright woods.


Mary Burlington was a widow her
husband having died four years pre-
vious to the time of which we write
For some time previous to his death. he
had searched extensively fora sister,
whom he thought might need assistance,
as she had married much against the
wishes of her family, a gentleman with
very little property and no energy, and
after having left home, never informed
her friends of their whereabouts; there
fore, on his death bed he exacted "a
promise from his wife, that She would
continue the search, until she found her,
and, if necessary, give her a home, or
such assistance as would be necessary
to make her comfortable and happy.
He told her that she must use judicious-
ly the wealth he would leave her, and,
assured her that by so dong, God would
take care of her, and increase that
which he would trust to her keeping, and
she with his burning hands passed be
tween her own promised, amid her
deepening gloom and sorrow, that She
would do all he wished Tonight after
untiring efforts had been made to fulfill
the promise, she had succeeded, and
now was to receive all that was left oi
the once happy family of her sister-in-
law


As she carefully addressed the four
envelopes, which should be carried on
the wings of love to the poor and lowly,
to make Christmas that they would
have cause to remember for many a
day her mind went back to the dying
words of her husband, and how true in
deed had they proved, for the wealth
he left her had increased and expanded
in an imperceptible way until now, in
the fourth wear of her Widowhood she
stood far ahead of all the neighborhood
in a pecuniary respect, and how far
above them in faith and good works,
many suspected, but God alone knew. :"
Many a barrel of -four, and bag of meal
accompanied by coffee, sugar, tea, and
many other luxuries THAI she knew
were struggling against poverty, were
left clandestinely at the doors of the
distressed. Many bill was found be-
tween the leaves of widow UttOe's bible
after Mary's visits; many meagerIy
dressed boy or girl was measured by
her accurate eye as he or she passed her
dwelling, and afterward astonished with
an entire new suit of clothes, very often
with money enough for the next term of
school. There were no free schools in
Middleburg then, and many a boy who
is now entering into manhood, can re-
member with what delight he received
this unlocked for blessing as from on
high Then how her eyes would sparkle
as she imagined the astonishment of the
little ones in making the discovery that
they could drop their rags and go out
clothed. ''Inasmueh as ye have done il
unto one of the least of these, my breth-
ren, ye have done it unto Me" were the
words that were ever present with her
soul and filed it with love for ALL


Little could she imagine, with what
unbounded rapture. the little hearts hut-
tered beneath the new coat or dress, OF
heartfelt blessings that were. smothered
away in the secret chambers of the heart
which the childish tongue failed to
make known to her, but which were
caught up and carried through immen.
sity of space, 10 the golden city where


they shall appear as bright gems in hel


crown of life


Among Marv,s many friends tl,s,e