The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1858-09-29
then, lucrative business being opened
to him in the West, he came here.

AT the time OF his removal here, accl-
dent revealed to him the fact that the
widow aud 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
extreme poverty. To him they arc in
debted for the pleasant home that now
shelters them, and for the delicate,
thoughtful ministration to their daily
comfort.
"Now, when the commercial world is
clouded, and disasters crowd thick and
fast upon him, as upon others, his anx-
ious thoughts turn to the mother, and
suffering sister, in the little village home,
whose comforts depend upon him, to the
other lonely fireside, to which bis constant
thoughtfdlness imparts its only light, and
to his own home, and to the young wife
whose happiness is dearer to him :han
life. For this, Margaret Ralph Hale
gives his days to incessant toll, and will
ingly sacrifices the social pleasures he is
SO eminently fitted to enjoy.
81 have been in these three homes.
With love that is almost reverence, his
mother and sister speak his name and,
with full hearts, thank God for his life
that life so filled with the beauty of self
remuneration. The widow and daughter
whose hearts he has made glad, tell of bis
numberless acts of kindness, of his deli
cate, and unceasing watchfulness, and
daily they ask Gods blessing on him
whose life is a blessing to others.
"In bis own home, the wife whose
love should bless him, whose gentle min
istry should comfort and strengthen him,
turns coldly from him, because he prefers
the happiness of others to his own graft
ication, because the pressing duties of life
claim all his waking hours, leaving him
little leisure for the claims Of society, or
for the high intellectual culture which few
attain whose lives are not wholly devoted
to it."
"Oh, Ralph, I have never known you!
I have SO cruelty misjudged you," said
the weeping wife.
The old man continued =" Some men
talk poetry, some write it in words, and
some aorite 1t IN their Ices The true
heroism which poets have sung, the beau
ty of self abncgation and of ceaseless de-
votion to duty, which have been their
inspiration, Ralph Hale has lived. The
woman who has won the deepest love of
such heart should reverently and CRATE
fully cherish it as the richest blessing of
her life."
In the twilight Of that day, Margaret
was awaiting her husbands return. Amid
the bitter self-rcproachings that darkened
the hour cleaned a new and holy light.
Higher purposes were aroused within her.
In the future, she would make divinely
zeal in her life the beautiful ideals which
had filled Eer heart with unsatisfed long
ings. 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, said a voice
faltering with emotion, "but, thank God,
you are safe now. my Margaret
"Oh, yes, I am safe indeed now" said
Margaret's heart.
In that hour, all was made clear be-
tween them. With new resolves for the
future, with deeper love for each other,
and prayer for strength, another page
of life was turned for them.
Years afterwards. Margaret a proud
and happy wife, wrote: :" | cannot tell
you all he has been to nle--my guide
when | was ignorant, my strength when
I faltered, my best earthly friend, always.
What do I not owe you for revealing the
mistake which had almost wrecked the
happiness of both" -National Era.