The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1855-12-08
NUMBER II. !.


81 Hsarsh-Brsksn Tallsw .Candls.
We entered . dark hall before the time Of
nshens', and qaietly taking seat in on.
corner of the room, seemed to witness the
4 folIowings A janitor entered, and touching
i small daciser nstch upon the wall. tbe,s
was modest snap like the faint echo Of
breaking light, . light hallow hung for :
moment around the head of the ianitor--hs
applied the match to tallow candle, and the
light increased. The little match went out
without word Of regret, it had done it's
work. I mused: noble little match--unam.
bilious Of glory-you have performed your
raissien, ~ud hurried cut Of sight like .ra6.s
dest child better pleased to lie upon the
floor blackened coal, to be trampled upon
by the gathering assembly for whom yeu
have kindled this blaze, than to lineer and
clammor for glory, by voiciSerating to III
who enter. I was the first light in this
hail."
But now began another scene. As tia
janitor sntfsd his tallow candle, it kindled
brightly and threw out faint light into the
rernotest parts of the room. "Glorious,n Il
exclaimed, "what alight / have made--wheu
came in hare all was dark, now see how
this great hall is lit up. am the only light
here; every one who comes in tonight will
look At me-the people are now looking at
rpe through the windows. Thanks to these,
thick walls, yon distant lamps in halls and
parlors cannot obscure my glory. o, it's
glorious to shine alone! hope no star
candle, solar lamp or gaudy chandelier will
ever intrude into this hall I have found
one dark spot for me to illumine, and hope
to keep it all to mysel-here will shine
supreme" a,ss Y, s IN
Just then, the janitor, withcandle in hand,
advanced towards a reflector that hung
against the wall. The tallow candle flashed
Indignation, when it beheld q star standing
in the socket Of the reflector, white as if it
had been dressed up for the occasion. The
poor tallcw looked imploringiy into the face
OF the janitor rs he lifted it towards its
rival. It seemed at first to turn aside its
blaze, but there was no help for it, and so
being compelled to communicate, it managed
to drop greasy tear upon the sloping cheek
OF the star, turned up so lovingly to thank
it and acknowledge it as the first light.
Janitor went from reflector to reflector;
tallow wept until her tears ran down over
janitors fingers. At length he came to two
large solar lamps that stood qpon the front
of the stage; hs~ing removed she slassss, be,
raised tallow to apply the Iight-she was
hcrrified-this was the place she expected
to occupy, the most prominent position in
the hall-here, she hoped Notwithstanding
the wall was surrounded with brighter
lights,) holding central and prominent
position-she should be able to convince the
assembly that she was, after all, the greatest
and most important light of the evening
but in this last resort, this seat of honor,
these two great solar lamps are to glare with
dazzling light. 1t was more than the poor
ambitious tallow could bear. She fatty re-
fused to light a single lamp-ainted-
over and went out-muttering as she fell,
~ have been badly used-I was the first
light in this hall"
The janitor threw her into the closet,
wiped her greasy tears from his fingers upon
the leg of his old boot. AS we breathed for
moment the sickening odor of her departed
light, we thought, poor thing, ambition has
proved your ruin. Let me learn from the
candies fate, to shine contentedly in my
humble sphere, nor try to increase my light
by vain attempts to veil the light or the
brightness Of higher or lower luminaries. If
may add but one ray to the light that is in
the world, the world will be that much
lighter. GILLIN.