The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-08-12

| every Wlah, however fanclful and extravaganza
her early life had never tried her spirit or made
any demand upon the hidden strength of her
nature. i.
Now, with the countless demands upon the
time and patience of wife and mother, and
the mistress of q household, where the need OF
strict economy was often felt, strength and
courage often failed, and the atmosphere of her
home was dark and thick with bitter complain
| ings and unrenSvsd obstacles ...r.
On this day of misfortunes, the house came
into some degree of order; little Alice was quiet
and was sweetly sleeping, Mrs. Atnold's aching
head was bathed, and her dust stained morning
dress was exchanged for fresh white dressing.
gown, and then she lay down on the couch by
the cradle side, to rest. On q table by the open
window were pots of roses and heliotrope, in
full blossom, which her husband. always remem-
bering herr love of flowers, had brought to her
on his return the previous evening. Through
the window came the songs of the BIRDS rejoic.
ing in the bright June light, after successive
days of clouds and rain. The naples that shad
owed the house waved their branches and their
| deep-green leaves in the fresh breeze, and
through the openings she caught glmpses Of
the clear blue sky beyond, A sweet smile rest
ed on the sleeping baby's face. Dust and noise
and pressing duties were forgotten Naples and
blue ekies, white roses, baby faces, and the
songs of birds, mingled in pleasant confusion
She slept, and the weary head forgot it's aching
In her sleep, she Was far above the earth
its tolls, its weariness its discords and it's sor-
rows. While she was looking downward, watch.
ing the countless forms, the busy life, the eager
running to and fro, her ate ntion was arrested
by a woman robed 10 white, who, apart from
the crowd, was walking in narrow path, which
led through green, fertile Valleys along the shores
4 of peaceful lakes, over narrow bridges which
we're stretched across deep precipices, through
deep shadowy woods, up rough hill-sdee, and
across mountain passes, till it terminated, far be.
yond the vision of those who were walking in it,
in country of exceeding beauty, such as
mortal eye has never seen.
There were many in the pathway. Some
were lettering by the wayside, some resting in
beautiful places with folded arms some pausing
at the foot of the mountains, and others press.
ing earnestly onward. The little group who
surrounded the woman were going onward
There we're little childreE, who clustered close.
ly around her, and sought her hand to lead
them, q few very aged men and women, and some
weary looking, trsvel-stained men, over all OF
whom she seemed to exert marvellous in.
Auence. When the heat became oppressive,
she paused in the pleasant valleys, and brought
cool water from the wayside spring, and sweet
refreshing berries, to strengthen the travellers
and gathered fragrant flowers, and bore them with
her through the desert places where there was
down in food of golden light or when its first
morning radiance gave glory to every object
her face beamed with q new light, and she call
ed the others to watch the ever new beauty
In the toughest places, as in the smoothest, sht
pointed out some pleasantness and beauty, anc
the little children learre ed from her to see tn,
changing wonders as they passed along.
When the little ones grew weary and theil
voices sad, she did not hasten onward unmind
Cal of their cries, but sat patiently by the way
de, and bathed the aching little feet with COO
{water, and parted with light touch the tangled
| curls from their heated brows, and sang swee
songs to soothe them and as she sang, the Oh
men and women listened, as if they too wer,
soothed and strengthened by the sweet sounds
Then she went her way, bearing the young
est of the band, folded in her arms and he
step was lighter and her face wore sweete
serenity, as she thus helped others.
x ono.; a little child, the fairest of the group
it. Then they all paused and drew closel,
around, and the white-robed woman covered he
face and wept. While she was weeping dowl
through the air, from the bright country at tn,
of heavenly radiance. She took the little on,
who had fallen by the road side, and with lool
of inefable love folded it in her arms, while sh,
cast look of tender compassion upon thos,
who were standing 30 sorrowfuliy there Their
che bore the little child away, up the hill.sides
over the dangerous passes and the hot sands
unto the beautiful countryside journeys end
The white-robed woman sat q long time
weeping, when she knew the child had gone
then, with prayer for strength an expression
of holy trust mingled with the sadness that resteC
on her face, and with tender care for the re
naming little ones, and words of cheer for tn,
others, she went onward.
A low cry from the cradle awakened tn,
k sleeper. The vision disappeared and bel
own narrow path of duty stretched before her
leading, as the dream path led, through light
y and darkness, through joy and sorrow, ovel
9 rough places and smooth, to the heavenly conn
n try. Had she no helpless ones to lead, nj
weary ones to strengthen? Were there nc
flowers Of love and trust, no golden fruit by
the wayside, for her to gather Were there
e no eyes which she had power to open to the
e beauties which Fathers hand has scattered
9 along the way?
n To the question she had blindly asked
What ia the use of living?" her heart made
answer, good axd true, and the strengthened
heart earnestly resolved that in ali the future
her better, truer life, should be the answer.
t With calm, happy smile, and quiet ten.
D derness Of manner, she welcomed her husband
/ and children when they returned, and o hap
pier group had seldom assembled around their
dinner. table 80 true is it, that heart at peace
with itself, and filled with an unselfsh love for
t others, will give light and warmth to an entire
1 household, snd strengthen and bless all within
{ its sphere.
Was the way never again dificult2 Did her
. | etr 9th fail co. cLr
was only mortal, and her path led over very
rough places. Her steps often faltered, her
E courage failed, and the clouds gathered thick
and close around her; but she never forgot to
look upward for the strength that ia never
asked in vain, and in that strength her trials
, became lighter. Through the clouds came
the heavenly sunlight. Her crosses were
) wreathed with hnv~.o.
Al Who's, after months of suffering, little Alice
Iay in her coffin, her still hands folded, and a
sweet smile dimpling the baby face, the mother
saw, through binding tears, the angel with the
radiant face, folding her darling tenderly in
, her arms, and bearing her, over the rough
J places and the dangerous ones, to the brighter
home.
Garbanati, in an article on this subject in
the American Journal Of Photography, relates
Sne following;
i IL was recently handed two small pieces of
of glass; in the centre of each was dark oh.
ject about quarter of an inch square. In the
centre of the square of enc Of these, by dint of
close and painful examination, discovered
speck about nesixteenth of an inch in diane.
ter, which bore somewhat the resemblance to
portrait or head. In the other was also speck
about one eighth Of an inch, and some very
l. "a nkrsf e., xf,o +