M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1858-07-29

selt'torgetfulness, he turned cheerful
| ly into the way marked out for him
and walked resolutely in it.
He obtained a situation with a mer
chant who had known his father
where his taithiulnesa and untirins
devotion tYhis duties, hon the conf
denee OF alswho knew him. During
the first years of her widowho0d, his
mother had taught q private schoo
for young ladies; and it was the boys
highest ambition to relieve her of thi;
necessity, and give her the rest hel
feeble health required. | cannot tel
you all his privations, his willing sac.
riiice of every recreation, his continued
self denial, that ho might Tighten the
burden OftAose dear to him.
Year after year, success crowned
his efforts. In the village where his
mother had passed the years of her
childhood, and the first years of her
married life, he purchased pleasant
residence for her, and then a lucrative
business beginning to rise in the West,
he came here.
AT the time Of his removal here,
accident revealed to him the fact,
that the widow and invalid daughter
of one whose fortune was, by his faith
er's advice, risked IN that unfortunate
speculation which had SO changed his
own life, were living in extreme pov-
erty. To him they are indebted for
the pleasant home that now shelters
them, and for the delicate, thoughtful
ministration to their daily comfort.
Now, when the commercial world
ii ciogded and disasters crowd thick
and fast upon him as upon others, his
anxious thoughts turn to the mother,
and suffering sister, in the little will.
age home, whose comfort depends up
on him, to the other lonely freside, to
which his constant thoughttu!nesS
imparts its only light, and to his own
home, and the young wife whose hap
piness is dearer to him than life. For
this, Margaret, Ralph Hale gives his
days to incessaut toll, and willingly
sacrifices the social pleasure he is SC
eminently fitted to enjoy.
have been in these three houses.
With a love that is almost reverence
his mother and sister speak his name
and with full hearts thank God for his
lile-that life SO tilIeG with the beauty
of self.renuaciatiou. The widow and
daughter, whose hearts he has made
glad, tell OF his numbcrless acts ol
kindness, of his delicate and unceas,
ing watchtulness, and daily they ask
Gods blessing on him whose life is a
blessing to Others.
In his own home, the wife, whose
love should bless him, whose gentle
ministerDg should comfort and
strengthen him, turns coldly from him
because he prefers the happiness OF
others to his own qualification, 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, have never known
you! | have so cruelty misjudged
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 heroism which is the poets in
spiration, Ralph Hale has lived. The
woman who has the deepest love ol
such a heart should reverently and
gratefully cherish it as the richest
blessing of her lito."
In the twilight of the day, Marga
ret was waiting her husbands return
And amid the bitter self-reproach
ings that darkened the hour, CLEANED
pure and holy light. Higher pur
poses were aroused within her. II
the future she would make divinely
real in her life tie beautiful ideal
which had filled her heart with un
satisfied longings. She, too, wonlC
live for others, and first of all, for hin
whom she had misunderstood.
A hurried step in the entrancehaIl
then on the stairs, and the next mo
ment she was claSped in her husband
arms.
"You have been very ill.," said
voice faltcring with emotion, "but
thank God, you are safe now, m.
Margaret
"Oh, yes, l am safe indeed, now
said Margaret.
In that hour all was made clear be
tween them. With new resolves 70
the future, with deeper love for eacI
other, and a prayer for strength, an
other page otlite was turned for them
Years afterwards, Margaret, prou'
and happy wife, wrote: 81 canno
tell you all he has been to mem,
g1ide when was ignorant,my strengtI
when faltered, my best earthly trien'
always. What do | not owe you 70
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