The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1849-02-17
THE CHEERFUL HEART.

LIE OilELlF UL UEAhI,
81 cannot choose brt marvel at the way
In which our lives pass on. from day to day
Learning strange lessons from the human heart
A nd yet like shadows letting them depart"
Miss LANpoN.
How weary tie little newsboy plodded
along the deserted streets on that New
Years Eve. The cold rain was beating
fercely upon him, and Il few tatered gar
mems served 10 protect him from is rane
All day long had he been Out among the
storm, and was now reiuruing, weary
and hungry, 10 lis humble home TIE
stree, lamps were Iiahed, aud as he pas
sed BY them you could see by the CLEAN
that III, face was pale and emaciaed--
could see that. Young as he was, something
had been there already 10 alternate hi,
features. and give him that wan and deso>
late look which Can be given only by some
great afflicIion, some pinching want or over
whelming grief. lon could tell at Il glance
that dark shadow was resting upon his
pathway shadow out of which lhele
seemed inet then. but little hope OF escape
BorE amid poverty and wrelchednes5 ard
left iaihercss While vet lshis cradle, his
life up 10 tlia, hour had been nothing bnl
misery-and the whole record of that life
Wa. written in his pale face and ta0ered
rags. Yet with all this rs he passed al 'ue
close observer might have noticed
strange light in his clear blue eye--.an ex-
preston OF kindly chcerlulness, such as we
may not often see ia this world of care and
grei-for Gods blessing was upon him
the blessing Of a cheerful heart. The sor-
row Of bis life, however deep and abiding
the gloom upon his pathway. however dark
and fearful, dimmed 1901 the light that burn
ed so quietly, and yet so slea lily within.
Like the Fes'al h.a OF old. il grew not dim
but threw is rays far out over the great
gloom around him -even now the cold
Storm heat upon hin unheeled, They are
waking dreams lhat come upon US some.
times when we least expect them bright
dreams Of love, and home and heaven
beautiful visions of fnture. all olorions with
lis burden of rong and gatiless! and such
vision OF such a future. now filed and
crowded aud blessed the heart of that for
saken boy. He was dreaming as he walk
ed along. Of better day 10 come--of the
time poverty in his pathway should depIt
and the beautiful flowers should spri,9 mp
10 bless him wiE ,.ieir presence. If Il hri4h,
home far away from that great city, upon
whose cheerful hearth The fire .hond 10,
90 ou', aud where hunger shonii never
haunl him more And then into that dream,
81 a better Iife--into that vision OF a cheer
iul home far of among The green hills
came a pleasant iacn-he face of his bt lov
ed mother. He conh see her as she sat
by the lattice al The quiet evening honr,
reading the sacred Bible, with the last rel ,
rays resting like a g'orv upon her brow,
while the rose eafIremhlea at the window
and the lille volels folded themselves 10
sleep. Very pleasant was the picture
there passing before the gaze Of thai ragged
child. very glorious the panorama Of green
hills and bright nowers and singing birds -
very beautiful that humble cottage, nalfrov
ered By the clustering foliagc-and his heart
thrilled and heaved with strange Rapture
never known before, such rapture, such Joy
as the stricken poor can never know, save
when some good angels comes down from
the blue heaven and beckous them away
from The haunts of woe and want in which !
they suffer, to the free air and The blessed
sunshine.
But the dream had pa5sed-.he sun had
set--the flowers faded the cottage disap
peared OF all that beautiful vision so cheer
ing and so glorious, no trace remained: no
vestage Of leaf or tree or ord; no letter Of
his mothers Bitle-no lovel,cht Of his
no,hei's eye The darkness came around
him, and he found himself there amid The
storm in the silent streets of that grea, and
sinful city. So gathering his garments
more closely abon, him, he hurried along 10
his home with a prayer upon his lip and
Gods sunlight in his heart Turning into
ar obsure street few steps brought
him in sight of wreiched dwelling
which he entered. Follow now and be-
hold scene Of want and penurv, such as
may he found sometimes in This world OF
ours--a scene upon which men look with
unconcern, but on which. thank God! the
angels gaze with Joy; home where pow
erty struggles with brave heart and is con
querea.
Before tie first sal pale, sad woman.
upon whose features the traces OF great love
illness were still visible, though sorrow had
sharpened them somewhat, and wan,
down much 10 dim their beauty. Up
on her high and queenly brow the blue