The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1860-11-17
WHOLE No. 10.


in sudden surprise and pain at this intelli-
gence.
1.-The news came yesterday. He died on
the Pacific coast"
''Captain Elford %
yes"
''Oh dear! that is trouble ! And he has
left her poor without doubt
81 fear as mueh.''
''Have you seen her ?''
eyes, called this morning"
Chow is she go
Entirely proetrated By the blow
''Poor Margaret 10 Tie tone of sympa-
thy was genuine. 81 must go to her in
this affection. must try to speak some
word of comfort
''She needs all the support her friends
can give. Il is-heF hour of darkness, and
she is sorrowing as one without hope. The
sun has Withdrawn himself behind thick
clouds, which are pouring down heavy rain
upon her life. Yes, go to her by all means,
and tell her that though her sky is dark to-
day, and filed with cloud and storm, that
the sun of Gods love is still shining as
brightly as ever, and will, in the good time
of him who is all-merciful. send down his
beams upon her heart again."
It was an old and dear friend who had
passed under the cloud of sorrow, and the
doubling and respondent one, already half
forgetting her own pain, was bordering over
words of consolation.
"God is really nearer to US in aff1ictlon,"
she said, as she sat holding the nerveless
hand of Mrs. >Elford, ethan at any other
time, though He may seem farthest off; for
His infinite, divine pity, is moved with the
tenderest compassion for the griefs of His
children. Though his face may be hidden
from US, it is not the less a smiling face"
A sob and long, tremulous sigh were
the only answer.
Unto each life some rain must fall,
Some days must be dark and dreary."
Yet no response came. The words of
the comforter seemed as if spoken to shut
ears. Not so, however. They entered,
and like seed when first cast into the ground
gave no life sign of their presence. But
memory held them for the time of fructif-
cation.
And now it happened to the respondent
and grieving one, who bad refused to be
comforted, yet tried to speak in consolation
to another heart, that light seemed to come
around her. She did not see the sun, nor
even rift in the clouds with azure in the
far distance. But it was not SO dark in the
chambers of her soul. The pressure on
her spirit that seemed at one time as if it
would close her life in suffoeation, was not
so great. She could breathe deeper, and
with even sense of relief and satisfaction.
my poor friend % she said, many times,
as she thought of Mrs. Elford. And as her
desire to bring relief to another heart, grew
stronger and stronger, her own concious-
ness of suffering diminished. In the mag
nitude of another's sorrow hers seemed TO
grow less.
Almost daily she visited her afflicted
friend, into whose sad face a little light would
come at her appearance; and though it ia
ded instantly, the ign OF pleasure At seeing
welcome countenance was too palpable for
any mistake as to its origin. She had real
ly been helped and comforted, though she
knew it not; and the face Of the comforter
was therefore welcome.
When next her own friendly visitor call
ed, she was not sitting in idleness, brooding
over the irrevocable past; but really forget
full of the past in pleasant thought of home
duties with which her hands were busy
How is it with you to-day ?" said the
friend as she took Ler hand. "But l need
scarcely ask, for the cheerful tone Of your
countenance tells me that light is breaking
through the Clouds
II have been too busy to think dark
thoughts this morning. was the answer;
and even as this was said the lips which
had arched with feeble smile fell back into
a sadder outline
busy in what? ?"
s'In the duties of my home. I'm afraid
that, under the pressure of pain. grew sell
fish, loving to nurse Respondent states, and
growing forgetful of the comfort and happi-
ness of those around me. And now l am
trying to make amends
"And in the first right effort comes a
more peaceful state.''
Perhaps So"
Don't speak doubtfulIy. Say yes"
81 am not so much depressed in mind
as have been.''
"And if you keep on this path of duty
the weight which has been bearing you
down will grow less and less burdensome; |
the clouds that mantle our sky thinner and
until light breaks through and dis |
perses them altogether. There are only !
some dark'days in our lives, and the sun
must and will penetrate the gloomy vapoIs,
and reveal his smiling countenance. If
these days are prolonged it is our own fault.
But how is Mrs. Elford ? have not seen
her for some time
"More cheerful" was the answer.
"That is gratifying"
"She received letter few days since
long and satisfactory letter--if l may use
the word satisfactory in such a connection
about her husband, who had the most
careful attention and every comfort during
his last illness. Unexpectedly, this letter
ter brought her the intelligence that Cap
tain Elford left property TO the value of near
ly fifteen thousand dollars, the result of
some trading adventures on the coast"
''Then she is not left destitute 2"
Mo-
ALREADY there is break in the clouds.
showing clear blue sky above them"
YES
"And the days must come as well for her
rs for you, and for all whose sky has be-
come dark and threatening. when the broad
bright sunbeams will flood the whole hori-
zon again. Let as not give way TO weak
distrnst, or paraIyzing dependency. when
the rainy days come; but keep hands and
thoughts busy with useful work, having
faith in the law that governs the world Of
mind as well as the world of nature, and