Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-11-18
ISCELL A N Y
The Shadows We Cast.


ing materials, and as the mimic castle arose be.
fore his eyes in graceful proportion, new plea
sure swelled in his heart he felt himself to be
the creator of a "thing of beauty" and was con
scious of new born power. Arch, wall, but.
tress, gateway, drawbridge, lofty tower and bat,
Element were all the work of his hands. He was
in wonder at his own skill in thus creating from
an unseelnly lot of toy materials, structure ol
such rare design.
Silently he stood and gazed upon his castle
with something of the pride of an architect who
sees after months or years Of sklfully applied
labor some grand conception in his art embodi-
ed I'M ilnperishah,s stone Then he moved a.
round, viewing it on every side. It did not seem
to him toy, reaching only a few inches in
height and covering but square foot of ground,
but real castle, lifting itself hundreds of feet
upwards towards the blue sky, and spreading
wide upon the earth Its ample foundations,
AS the idea grew more and more perfect, the
child's strange pleasure increased Now he
stood with folded arms, wrapped in the over
mastering illusion-now walked slowly around,
viewing the structure on all sides and noting
every minnie partcular-and now sat down,
and bent oyer it with the fondness of mother
bending over her child. Again he arose, pur-
posing to obtain another and more distant view
of his work but his foot struck against one OF
the buttresses. and instantly, with crash, wal,
tower and battement fell in hopeless ruin!
In the room with the boy sat his father, read
ing. The crash disturbed him, and he uttered
sharp, angry rebuke, glancing moment towards
the startled child, and then returning his eyes
to the attractive page before him, unconscious
of the shadow he had cast upon the heart of his
child. Tears came into those fair blue orbs,
dancing in light moment betors Fran the
frowning face of his father, to which his glance
was suddenly turned, the child looked back to
he shapeless ruins of his castle. Is it any won
der that he bowed his face in silence upon them,
and wetted them with his tesrss
For more than five minutes he sat as still as
if sleeping; then, in mournfui kind of way,
vet almost noiselessly, he commenced restoring
to the box, from which he had taken them, the
many-shsped pieces that, fifty joined together,
had grown into noble building. After the
box was filled, he replaced the cover, and laid it
carefully upon a shelf in the closet.
Poor child That shadow was a deep one,
and long in passing away. His mother found
him, half an hour afterwards, asleep on the floor,
with cheeks flushed to an unusual brightness
She knew nothing of that troubled passage in
the attractions of his book he was reading, the
momentary annoyance expressed in words and
tones, with power in them to shadow the
heart of his child.
A young wife had busted herself for many
days in preparing pleasant surprise for her
husband. The work was finished at last; and
now she awaited his return, with heart full OF
warm emotions. A dressing gown, and pair ol
elegantly embroidered slippers, wrought by her
own skilful fingers, were the gifts with which
she meant to delight him. What troop Of
pleasant fancies was in her heart! How, almost
impatienty, did she wait for the coming twilight,
which was to be dawn, not approaching dark
ness, to her
At last, she heard the step of her husband in
the passage, and her pulses leaped with tiutter-
ing delight. Like bird upon the wing, she
almost flew down to meet him, impatient for
the kiss that awaited her.
To men in the world of business, few days
pass without their disappointments and perplex-
ities 1t is mems business to bear this in q man.
ly spirit. They form but portion of life's dis
cipline, and should make them stronger, braver,
and more enduring. Unwisely, and we may say
unjustly, too many men fail to leave their busi-
ness cares and troubles in their workshops or
counting houses, at the days decline. They
wrap them in bundles and carry them home to
shadow their households
1t was so with the young husband on this
particular occasion. The stream of business had
taken an eddying whirl, and thrown his vessel
backwards, instead of onwards, for briefspace !;
and though it was still in the current, and glid-
ing safely onward again, the jar and disappoint-
ment had fretted his mind severely. There was
no heart-warmth in the kiss lie gave his wife,
not because love had failed in any degree, but
because he had let care overshadow love. He
drew his arm around her; bHt she was conscious
of a diminished pressure in that embracing arm.
'Are you not wel2" she inquired.
With what tender concern was the question
askedl
every we'll" he replied.
He might be in body, but not in mind that
was plain; for his voice was far from being
cheerful.
She played and sang his favorite pieces, hop.
ing to restore, by the charm of music, bright
ness to his spirit. But she was conscious of on
ly partial success. There was still a gravity in
his manner never perceived before. At tea-t;me
she smiled upon him so sweetly across the table,
and talked to him on such attractive themes,
that the bright expression returned TO his coun-
tenance, and he looked as happy as she could
desire.
From the tea.table they returned to their
pleasant parlor. And DOW the time had come
for offering her gift, and receiving the coveted
reward of glad surprise followed by sweet kis-