Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-08-05
5fltsteIlautolrs,
Under a Cloud.
BY 7. 8. ARTHUR.

It was the remark Of lady to her friendas Mrs
Loring passed her window. Mrs. Loring bad ridde'
out for the first time for months not now OF he
own choice, but 10 obedience 10 the solicitation
friend, and positive command of her physicial
She was in deep sorrow-r refusing oil comfort
Heavy clouds were in her sSy-bIa:k cloud,
through which not ray of sun hine penetrated
"Never," answered the friend while shade
caught from Mrs. Loring's cOuntenanee, fitted
across her own face. "Who can she be ?"
didn't you recognize her?'
mo. The eouutenance was, to me, that Of a
stranger"
Il can hardly wonder that it should be So" said
the friend, "for she is sadly changed. That was
poor Mrs Loring, who lost her two children last
winter from scarlet fever"
"MrS. Loring p The lady might well look sur
prised Sorrow has, indeed, done fearful work
there. But is it right thus to sit under a cloud
right, thus to oppose no strong barrier to the wa
ters Of afi ction that go sweeping over the soul,
marring all its beauty?"
alt is not right was answered. "The heart
thet thus sits in darkness brooding over its loss
sorrows with selfish sorrow. The clouds that
| shut out the sun, are exhalations from its own
stagnant surface. 1t makes the all-peryading
| gloom by which it is surrounded. ! pity Mrs
! LoriDg, unhappy sufferer that she is but my pity
for her is always mingled with desire to speak
sharp, rebuking words in the hope to agitate the
slumberous atmosphere, in which she is enveloped
like cloud"
Il WONDER" remarked the other "that her hus-
band permits her to brood so long in idle gief over
| the inevitable"
| Husbands" was replied, shave often the least
salutary influence over their wives, when bowed
with affection Some men have no patience with
displays of excessive grief in woman, and are there
fore, more ignorant than children in regard to its
| treatment. Suca man is Mr.. Loring. All that
he does or says, therefore, only deepens the encom
passing shadow. A wise, unself5h man, with
mind to realize something of his wifes true state
and heart to sympathze with her, will always
lead her from beneath the clouds of sorrow, upward
to the cheerful heights upon which the sunshine
rests. If she show unWilligness to be led-if she
court the Shadows and hide in the gloom of her
own dark repinings-he does not become impati-
eat. lie loves her with toO unselfsh love for
this. And so he brings light to her on his own
counenance the sunshine Of even afectel cheerful
ness, that penetrates the murky atmosphere in
which she sits, and warns her heart with its genial
radiance. Thus he w0os her with sunny CLEANS
from the clear sky that yet bends over her, and
that will make all again bright and beautiful on
the earth of her spirit, if she will bu. lift herself
above the clouds 1t is the misfortune of Mrs Lor-
ing, that he is not blessed with such husband"
The subject cf this conversation had, on that
morning. yielded to the solicitations of one of her
nearest friends, and with great reluctance, consen
ted to go out with her in her carriage
81 shall be much better at home," she objected,
to the earnest appeals her friend. THE quiet
suits me. The stiffness of my own chamber ac-
cords best with my feelings. TIE glare and hustle
of the busy streets will only disturb ME deeper
/ know it is kindness in you, but it is mistaken
k;ndness"
To reason with her would have been useless, and
so reason was not attempted.
Il have come prepared to hear no objection"
was the firm answer. "The doctor says that you
get yourself ready"
"Hea,th-life even What are they to me? /
have nothing to live fol-" was the gloomy re-
sponse. Come quickly the time when shall lay
me down and sleep in peace"
"a woman, and nothing to live for! One Of
Gods intelligent creatures, and nothing to live
for"
There was so much of rebuke in the tone with
which this was uttered, that Mrs Loriug was par
italy aroused thereby.
Come! Let ug see whether there be not some
thing to live for. Come you mast 60 with me
this morning"
So decisive was the ladys manner-so impelling
the action of the willthat Mrs. LOring found her
self unable to resist and so, with reluctance that
was not concealed, she made berpreparatOns to so
sut In due time she was ready and, decchdng
with her friend, took a seat in her carriage and
was driven away. Houses, trees, public buildings |
swept, like moving panorama, before her eyes, |
and though familiar objects glassed themselves |
therein they failed awaken the slightest interest
The sky was clear, and the bright sunshine lay
everywhere but her heart still sat under cloud
and folded around itself gloom for a mantle. Her |
friend talked to her; calling her attention every
little while to some new paace-house, or to some |
glimpse of rural beaty which the eye caught far in
the distance. But all WIS vain; the mOurner'S |
slender form still shrunk back amongst the cush-
ions, and her face wore its sa1dest aspect.
Suddenly the carriage drew up before a neat ,
looking house Of moderate size, with plat of |
ground in front, wherein was a verdant square and
borders of wel,tended flowers. Ere Mrs. Loring |
had time to ask question: the cOachman was at
the door.
"WLy do you stop here?" she inquired.
81 wish to make brief call. Come! Ycu
must go in with me-"
Mrs. Loring shook her head in . positive way, |
and said No. still more positively.
"You will meet no light votary of fashion here, |
my friend" said the lady, "but one who has suffer
ed like yourself. Come"
But Mrs. Loring shrunk farther back in the car
riage.
ut is. now, only three month since she followed |
to their mortal resting place two precious little |
ones, the last of her flock, that, scarcely gear |
ago, numbered four. want you 10 meet her
Sisters in sorrow, you cannot but feel drawn tc- |
wards each other by cords of sympathy"
Mrs. Loring shook her head imperitiveIy.