Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1854-11-22

| The harp OF man S nature is strangely strung
and attuned to a variety of melodies: At on
time, to give forth its sweet notes of joy-a
another, its deep, plaintiye notes of sadness
and hencext the great drama of human life il
| interluded with the music of sorrow or Joy
just as occurrences chance to touch the attun
ed strings.
| Valens is still seated, with his face buried
in his hands, while the great, boiling waves e
| sorrow are whirling and dashing through hi:
soul Valencia, with little Ware clasped to hel
| breast, is pacing the hall in an agony of grief
Falindus, unused to thinking or caring much
about anything, at length. has raised his hand
to wipe away the tears which have found vent
in despite of his efforts to keep them back ;
while Vertitia, at last, reused to full sense
of the overwhelming calamity, has thrown
herself back in her seat, pale and death-like,
and is wringing her hands, the very picture OF
grief and despair.
.sAhl'' said Valens, at length, having in a
measure recovered from the first sad effects
of the shock; ssah are there no rays of light
penciled in the darkened skies ! Is there no
comfort, no hope in this dark, frowning provi-
dence /! Is there no loud, meaning voice in
it 9'' s.t a
'sIt's more, think, than can bear sobed
Valencia, clasping, at the same time, little
Ware tighter in her arms, and pressing her
warm, scalding cheeks to his. ssf
Sand me, too,'' quickly, rejoined Vertitia !;
81 wont bear it I'll go and die with her.
Poor Vertitia! For the first time in her
life, perhaps, she had experienced the pangs
of an honest, heartfelt grief. Young, gay,
and thoughtless, and immersed in the pleasures
of the world, her life's journey had glided
along smoothly, uninterrupted by any of its
sad, sudden checks. And she had all her
tears yet to shed yet to learn the great lesson
of the worlds regrets and SORROWS
At length, however, the call came; and she
is obliged to enter the school of experience,
and, with all others, learn how few and full of
trouble are the days of our appointed time on
earth.
How hard is the lesson, How bitter is the
first sip from the full, overfowing cup, SO
it often is. When the long gathering cloud at
last breaks, it is with the force of the whirling
dashing tornado--bending breaking, and pros
trating all before it.
Then. her untamed nature refuses to submit
to bear the load that has been laid upon it.
1t is too grievous. 1t stings, torments, crush
es the soul and throws it inso a wild, mad,
furious frenzy. IT rebels, and like the vic
tim around which the seapent has coiled its
huge folds, it writhcs and tortures, plunges
and struggles, to relieve itself. But in vain.
Even Valencia, though fortified by the prin-
ciples of great and glorious faith, finds sub
mission difficult. In their best estate, the
children of light are encompassed with infrm-
ity and that which is weak gets the better of
that which is strong; and the soul; for the
time being, is swallowed up in the depth and
intensity of its SORROWS, and sees nothing but
ityo misery.
Falens, however, at last, looks up from the
depths; and sees the dark, frowning skies
streakcd with the light of advancing day
sees the bright star of hope and promise rise
over the gloomy hills; and hears, most of all,
in this sad, affective providence, the entreaty
-ssbe ye also ready @
elf Fiducia lives, i will see her face again
at the peril of my lfc,'' said Valens
To be continued.