Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1858-06-14

4
iulness and untiring devotion to his du.
ties, won the confidence of all who knew
him. During the first years of her widow.
hood, the mother had taught a private
school for young ladies and it was the
boy 5 highest ambition to relieve her of
tins necessity, and give her the rest her
feeble health required, cannot tell YOU
all his privatons, his willing sacrifice of
every recreation, his continued selfdenial,
that he might tighten the burden of those
so dear to him.
ear after year success crowned his ef-
forts. In the village where his mother
had passed the years of her childhood and
the first years Of her married life, he pur-
chased pleasant residence for her, and
then, lucrative business being opened
to him IN the west he came here.
At the time of his arrival here accident
revealed to him the fact that the widow
and invalid daughter of one whose fortune
was, by his fathers advice, risked in that
unfortunate speculation which had SO
changed his own life, were living in en-
treme poverty, To him the are indebted
for the pleasant home that now shelters
them, and for the delicate thoughtful min
ration TO their daily comfort
Now, when the commercial world is
cloudcd, and disasters crowd thick and
fast upon him, as upon others. his anxious
thoughts turn to the mother and suffer-
ing sister, in the little village home whose
comfort depends upon him, to tine other
lonely fyeside towhich his sthought'ulncss
imparts its only light, and to his own
home, and the young wife whose Aappin
ness is dcarer to linn than lie. For this
Margaret, Ralph Hale gives hi, days to in
ccSsant toll, and willingly sacrifices social
pleasures he Is cminently fitted to enjoy.
have been in these three chomcs. With
a love that is almost reverence, his moth
cr and sister speak his name,and with full
heart thank God for his liie-that life so
filled with the beauty OF selErcnuncation.
The widow and daughter whose hearts he
has made glad. tell Of numbcriess acts Of
kindness, of his delicate and unceasiug
watchlulncss, and daily they ask Gods
blessing on him whose life is blessing to
others.
In his own home, the wife whose love
should bless linn, whose gentle ministry
should comfort and strengthen him.
turns coldly and unfcclmaly from him,
because he prefers the happiness OF 9th
ers to his own qualification, because tie
pressing duties OF life claim al! lis Waking
hours, leaving him little leisure time for
the claims Of society, or for the high intel
leotual culture which few attain whose
lives are not wholly devoted to it,"
ooh Ralph, have never known vou,
! have so cruelty mijudgcd you" said the
weeping wife.
"The old man continued: Some men
talk poetry, some write it in words, and
some write it in their lives. The true he
roism which poets have sung, the beauty Of
sci -abnegation and Of ceaselcss devotion
to duty, which have been their inspira-
ton, Ralph Hale has lived. The woman
who has won the deepest love of such q
heart should rcycrently and gratefully
cherish it, as the richest blessing OF her
life.'
In the twilight of that day, Margaret
was awaiting her husbands return.-A-
mid the bitter sclfreproachings that dark
cncd the hour, cleaned a new and holy
light. Higher purposes were aroused
within her. In the future she would
make divinely real in her life the beau
tilul ideas which had filled her heart with
unsatisfcd longings. She, too, would live
for others, and first of all for him whom
She had so misunderstood.
A hurried step in the entrance-hall,
then on the stairs, and the next moment
she was clasped in her husbands arms
"You have been very i'll, lsaid a voice
faultering with emotion but thank God,
you are safe now, my Margaret"
"Oh, yes, am safe indeed, now" said
Margaret's heart.
In that hour all was clear between them
With new resolves for the future, with
deeper love for each other, and a prayer
for strength, another page Of life was tur.
ned for them.
Ye rs afterwards, Margaret, a proud
and happy wife, wrote: 81 cannot tell you
all he has been to me---my guide when |
was ignorant, my strength when faulter-
ed, my best earthly friend always. What
do not owe you for revealing the mistake
which had almost wrecked the happiness
of both"