Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-11-30
THE PROUD HEART HUMBLED,

t"eeH TWO HlIIS, on whose SUBMITS the ash
trees lifted their arms to the sky all the long
bright days, as if imploring a benediction, or
spread them out lovingly over the white houses
nestled round the one church in the vale be-
low. But tonight it wore a different aspect
A storm was upon the hills. little snow
and rain were borne upon its WINGS but not
much. Chiefly it was the force of the rushing
wind Shaking the leahess ash trees, ,hnstling a.
gainst closed windows, swinging the bell in
the old church tower, till ii gave forth now
and then a dIrge-like peal, as if the dead were
tolling their own requiems.
Many homes there were, where the wild
scene without seemed TO heighten. by the
force of contrast. the blessed calm Within
homes where smiling infants slept warm and
still. through the twilight in the soft hush of
mothers bosoms, and happy children gathered
round the knee of father grandsire, 10 hear
again some simple story or Thoughtful ones
looked into the fire and fashioned from the
embers brave castles in which they had never
come 10 abide, with ruined windows and black
ened walls, s'the twilight of memory over ALL
and the silence of death wthin.''
But in one house stories were told to
gladly listening ears-no soft evening hymn
hushed slumbering babes to reSt-no children's
eager eyes looked into the embers. 1t was
the stateliest house, by far, in the little viii
lage-a lofty mansion. cleaning white in the
trees, with the roof supported by massive pill
lars. Nowhere did the evening fire burn
brighter, but into it looked two old people,
worn and sorrowful, with the shadows of grief
and time upon their shriveled faces-two who
had foigotten long ago their youths fair cas-
ties; who looked back over waste fields of
memory, where not even setting sunrays gid
ed the monuments built to their dead hopes.
They sat silently. They had sat silently ev-
er since the storm gathered. We lofty, we'll
furnished room was lighted only by the wood
fires glow, and in the corners strange shadows
seemed TO gather; beckOning hands and white
brOws cleaned spectraly through the dark
ness. Towards them, now and <aen, the wife
looked with anXions, searchiis gaze then
turned back again towards the fire, and clasp
ed her hands over the heart that had learned
thro' many trials the hard lesson of patience.
Judge Howard was a stern, self-conceited
man. In his native town. where he had passed
all his life, none stood higher in the public es-
TEEN. Towards the poor he was liberal-to-
wards his neighbors, just and friendly yet,
for all that, he was hard man, whose will was
iron, whosaszAabts were granite. His wife had
come to Ia<Ebr this, even in her honeymoon.
The knowledge was endorsed by her sad, wait
ing face, her restrained manners. His daugh-
Ter Caroline, his only child, had lie armed it ear
ly, and her father became to her almost as
much AN object of fear as of tenderness.
And yet he loved those two with a%Strength
that weaker, more vi ldng natures could not
have fathomed. When his clssstl first put
into bis arms; when her fraii, tbepless hands
groped blindly at his own, he felt the strong
thrill of fathers love sweep over hin. For
the moment it swelled his soul, irradiated his
face, Sooded his heart but it did not perma-
nentl yschange soften his nature. AS she
grew to womanhood, and her bright head
glanced in his path, she was the fairest sight
earth held, her ringing voice the sweetest mu-
sic. He never gratified her whims, nor always
yielded TO her unreasonable wishes.
At length love came to her. She gave her
ban tO WI fat IudOa Hoyya rd had
hated. James Huntley and he had been young
together, and feud had arisen between them
which Rufus Howard's stern nature allowed
him neither to forget nor forgive. tie had yet
to learn the lesson, holier than philosophy,
loftier than all the teachings of seers and
ges, the lesson our Saviour lived, wrought,
aye, and died to teach, of forgiveness even
for our enemeS-prayer Tor those VINO nave
despiteiully used and prosecuted us. His
former enemy was dead now, but not so that
Judges hate. 1t had been transmitted to the
dead man heir and so he forbade his daugh-
ter marrying him, and sternly bade her to
choose between parents and lover. She IN
herted her fathers strong will, and she put
her hand in Richard Huntiey's and went forth
she would not have been her fathers child
if she had not-without a tear
From that time, for ten years, her name nad
been forbidden word. Letters she had writ
ten at first during her Punishment, but they
had been sent back unopened, and for years
no voice or token had come to tell whether she
were dead or living. Therefore the mother
look ed shudderingly into the shadow-haunted
corners in the long twiIights, and almost be-
lieved she saw there the face for which her
mothers heart had yearned momentarily, all
these years.
Judge Howard loved his wife, too--Oh, if
she had but known it every outline OF that
sad waning face, every thread of that silver
hair, was dearer to him now than when bridal
roses crowned the girl-bride he had chosen,
but his lips never sootbed away the sadness OF
that patient face.
ssIt's terrible night" he said at length,
rousing himself from his long silence. In
the pause after his words you could hear how
the wind shook the house, groaned among the
trees and sighed along the garden walks.
eyes, terrible night,' his wife answered,
with shudder. Good grant that poor
soul may be out in it, shelterless."
"Amen. would take in my worst enemy
on such a night as this"
His worst enemy; but would he have taken
in his own child; the daughter with his blood
il, her veins, fed once at his board, warmed al
his hearth If this question crossed his wife S
mind. she gave it no utterance.
'sShall i light the candles, Rufus ~ she
asked meekly.
Eyes, it is almost bed time. / had forgot
ten how long we were sitting in the dark
| will read now, and then we shall be better IN
bed''
He drew towards him the Bible, which lay
between the candles she had hghted-lt had
been his habit. for years, to read chapter of
il nightly. Somehow, to night, the pages
opened at the beautiful. ever new story OF the
nrodigal son. Judge Howard read it through
calmly, but his hand trembled as he shut the
Book. Il
sHannah,'' he began, and then paused as if
his nride were too strong TO permit him TO
confess himself in the wrong. But soon he