The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-07-13
for tie Dome Girtle,
The Proud Heart Humbled.
BY LOUISE CHANDLER MouLroN.

But ye forgive trespnsses neither sviU
your Fatter forgive your tespdsses."
The March night had darkened down upon
the little New England village of Ashiale -
1t was pretty place in summer,lying between
two hills, on whose summit the ash trees lifted
their green arms to the sky all the long, bright
days, as if mploring benedction, or spread
them out lovingly over the white houses mes.
tied round the one church in the vale below.
But to night it wore different aspect. A
storm was upon the hills. A little snow and
hail was borne upon its wings. but not much.
Chiefly it was the force of rushing winds; shak-
ing the leafless ash trees hurlling against.clos
| ed windows; swinging the bell in the old
church tower, till it gave lorth now and then,
dirge like peal, as if the dead we're tolIing
their own requiems. .--s ii
Many homes there we're where the wild
scene without seemed but to heighten, by the
fotce of contrast, the blessed calm within
homes where smiling infants slept warm and
still, though the twilight, in the soft hush of
mother hosoms, and happy children gathered
hear again some simple story; or thoughtful
ones looked into the FIRE, and fashioned from
the embers brave castles, in which they we're
10 dwell in the coming time, with, over all, the
sunshine of youth and hope. Twenty years
fiom now they will look again into the embers,
and see these fair castles, in which they had
never come to abide, with ruined windows and
blackened walls .l
"The twilight memory over all,
And the silence o death within !"
| But in one house no stories were told to
gladly listening ears-no soft evening hymn
hushed slumbering babes to rest-no childrens
eager eyes looked into the en,bers. 1t was
the staeest house, by far, in the little village
Ia lofty mansion, cleaning white through
the trees, with the roof supported by massive
pillars. Nowhere did the evening fire burn
brighter, but into it looked only two old peo-
pie, worn and sorrowful with the shadows of
grief and time upon their shrivelled faces
two who had forgotten, long ago, their youths
fair castles-who looked back over waste fields
of memory, where not even setting sun rays
i gided the monuments built to their dead
hopes.
They sat there silently. They had sat silent
y every since the darkness gathered. The
lofty, well-furnished room was lighted only by
the wood fires glow. and in the corners itrange
shadows seemed to gather, with beckoning
hands and white brews cleaning spectrally
through the darkness Toward them, now and
then, the wife looked with anxious gaze; then
! turned back again toward the fire, and clasp.
ed her hands over the heart that had learned
, through many trials the hard lesson of pa
tience.
Judge Howard was stern. self contained
man. In his native town, where be had passed
all his life, none stood higher in public esteem.
Toward the poor he was iiberal-toward his
neighhors just and friendly; yet, for all that,
he was hard man, whose will was iron. whose
l habits were granite. His wife had come to
know this, even in her honeymoon. The
I knowledge was endorsed by her sad, waiting
g face. her restrained manners
:, His daughter Caroline, his only child, had
u learned it early, and her father became to her
s almost as much an object OF fear as of ten.
= derness.
: . And yet he loved those two with strength
weaker, more yielding natures could not have
fathomed When his child was irst put into
his arms, when her frail helpless. hands groped
blindly at his owl, he felt the strong thrill o.
fa,her-love sweep over him. For the moment
it sweed his soul, irradiated his face, flooded
:. his heart, but it did not permanently change
or soften his nature. AS she grew TOWARD
womanhood. and her bright head glancing il
II his path, was the fairest sight earth held he,
IN ringing voice the sweetest music, be neve
gratifed her whims, not always yielded to hel
is reasonable wishes.
re At length love came to her She gave he
heart to one whose father Judge Howard has