The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1858-12-08

t"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 resi-
dence for her, and then lucrative business be
ginning to rise in the West, he came here.
"At the time of his removal here, accident re-
vealed to him the fact, that tie widow and in
valid daughter ofone whose fortune was, by his
fathers advice, risked in that unfortunate spec
ulation which had so changed his own life, were
living in extreme poverty. To-him they are in
debted for the pleasant home that now shelters
them, and for the delicate, thoughtful minis
tration to their daily comfort. s,r.- -...
"Now, when the commercial world is clouded,
and disasters cloud thick and fast upon him as
upon others, h is anxious thoughts turn to the
mother and suffering sister, in the little village
home whose comfort depends upon him, to the
other lonely firesde, to which his constant
thoughtfulness imparts its only light, and to
his own home, and the young wife whose hap
piness is dearer to him than life. For this,
Ralph Hale gives his days to incessant toll, and
willingly sacrifices the social pleasures he is SO
eminently fitted to enjoy. . -~..
81 have been in these three homes. With a
love that is almost reverence, his mother and
sister speak OF his home, and with full hearts
thank God for his lie-that life so filled with
the beauty of self-renunciaton. The widow
and daughter, whose hearts he has made glad,
tell Of his numerous acts of kindness, of his del
icate and unceasing watchfulness, and daily they
ask Gods blessing on him whose life is bless
ing to others. ,.I .q1l...
an his own home the wife, whose love should
bless him, whose gentle ministry should COM
fort and strengthen him, turns coldly from him.
because he prefers the happiness of others to
his own qualification. because the pressing dri-
ties of life claim all his waking hours, leaving
him little leisure for the claims Of society, or
for the high intellectual culture which few at
tain whose lives are not wholly devoted to it,"
'Oh, Ralph, have never known you! have
so cruelty mi$judged you," said the weeping
wife. !gH-' T .f f
The old man continued: "some men talk
poetry, some write in words, and some write it
in their lives. The true heroism which poets
have less devotion 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 gratefully cher
ish it as the richest blessing other lfe."
In the twilight Of that day, Margaret was a.
waiting her husbands return. Amid the Bit
ter sclf-reproachinss that darkened the hour,
CLEANED a new and holy light. Higher purpo-
ses were aroused within her. In the future she
would make divinely real in her life the beauti-
full ideals which had filled her heart with un-
satisfied longings. She, too, would live for 9th
crs, and first ofall, for him whom she had so
misunderstood. '" ''
A hurried step in the entrance hall, then on
the stairs, and the next moment she was clasp
ed in her husbands arms.
81 You have been very ILL" sa id a voice alter-
ing with emotion, "but thank God, you are
safe now, my Margaret" r"#.. ..
'Oh, yes, am sale indeed, now," said Mar
garet's heart. j. +- .s.a 1..
In that hour all was nude clear between
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 hap
Ply wife, wrote: II cannot te Il you all he has
been to me--my guide when I was ignorant,
my strength when ALTERED, my best earthly
friend always. What do / not owe you for re-
vealing the mistake that had almost wrecked
the happiness of both. " .'+''@- H'"'g