The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-10-26
CATCHING A SUNBEAM.
ny KATE.

4
CATCHING A SUNBEAM.
ny KATE.
The sun Is always shining In the sky OF
our lives, and his bright beams coming down
10 gladden. the earth. But into how few
hearts do they find their way Tho earth
upon whIsh our minds dwell, like tho mate
rial earth has its dense forests, its deep, dim
valleys, its dark caves and caverns into which
the sunlight rarely, il ever comes. II would
seem as il many people loved these gloomy
shades, and hid themselves. OF choice, away
from the bright and beautiful sunshine. They
carry shadows in their hearts and shadows
on their faces. When they come into your
presence 1t seems as IL the mir was suddenly
darkened by u passing cloud.
Mr.. Hickman was one of these men, who
walk for the most part, in dark valleys, o:
sit in drcary cavcrns. Rarely, if ever, on re-
turning home, did he bring light into his
dwelling. If there was merry laughter
among the children on his entrance, their
voices were hushcd; il loves light bcamed
from the countenancc Of his wife, rs she
sported with her little ones, it faded away,
giving place to sober, thoughtful, hall
troubled look. lie always came home bring.
ing shadow with him, and sat, for the most
part in this shadow through all tho cheer
less evenings.
Why was this? Was there n great trou.
bic in the heart of Mr.. Hickman? Had he
passed through some depressing misfortune,
or suffered some terrible aiiliction? No. II
was Us well with him as with most people
better than with very large number. His
business was prosperous, and every year 1t
added many thousands of dollars to his rap
idly accumulating fortune. But hc was but
man possessing an ordinarily adjusted mind
was easily disturbed by triiles, and annoy
cd by incidents that should not have affected
him any more than the buzzing of 1y.
But the real cause lay deeper and more hid
den, grounded in an inordinatc sclfshncss,
that robbed him of the pleasure which might
have attended success, through envy OF 9th.
ers' good fortune. He WIS jealous OF his
compccrs in business, and always experienced
disagrecablc sensation when he heard them
spoken of Us successful. No wonder that
sunlight could not find its way into his
heart. Envy and i'll will, burn in what
heart they may, always send up black smoke
that obscurcs tho heavens. The sun is there,
shining as brightly rs ever, but his rays can
not penetrate the cloud Of passion. No day
passed in which something did not occur to
disturb or cloud the mind of Mr.. Hickman
and SO evening after evening no came home,
bringing with him shadow instead Of sun.
light. Oh, what desecration Of homo was
this home. where tho hearts sunlight
should ever dwell, and bcart-warmth per-
wade all the sweet atmosphere. Nothing Of
external good was denied by Mr.. Hickman
to his family. They had all of Happiness
that money could buy. Yet far from happi-
mess were his wiic and children. They were
dropping for sunshine-thc sunshine Of
smiles and pleasant words, and joyous laugh
ter. Blu. these came not from Mr., llick-
man. lie SIT among them grim and gloomy,
for the most part, like some sombcr hcathen
diyinity-half dreaded, half propi.iatcd.
Mr.. Hickman was not 10 stolid but that
hc saw in this the existence of wrong. lie
loved his wife and children, desired their
good, and was ready to mako almost any
sacrifice for them that hc knew how to make.
Even us no sat modify in his home, con-
scious that his presence rested like night
mare on the spirits of his wife and children
he would say to himself:
This Is not right. should bring homo
pleasant words and cheerful smiles
Yet almost rs he said this would his
thought go back to some incident Of the day,
which mere seliishncss gave power to disturb
his feelings, and he wodld 50 of again into
brooding state OF mind, out of which he
had not resolution enough to liz. himself.
Often it happened that his children sought,
in the out-gushing gladncss Of their hearts,
to break the SPELL that was on him-but al.
most always ho rcpulsed them-somctimcs
coldly, sometimes frctfully, and sometimes in
sudden anger-so that ut last, they rarely
came near or spoke to him, as he sat through
his silent evenings.
Wrong, all wrong Mr.. Hickman often
said,to himself, rs the shadow fell darker on
his home. But knowledge OF tho evil did
not bring knowledge Of the cure, or, rath-
or that self conquest which must prcccdc q
cure. IIc must lot the sunshine como into
his own heart ere he could pour forth its
rays on other hearts. lIe must come out
of tho dense forests and gloomy valleys and
dusky caycrns, into the clear sunshine; but
how was hc to como out? Who was to lead
him forth?
One day, rs Mr.. Hickman sat In his count
ing.room, convcrsing with q gentleman, n
lad came in from tho store TO ask him some
question about business. Mr.. Hickman rc-
piled in curt way, and the lad went out.
What is that boys name" asked the gen.
tlcnian.
Frank Edwards, was replied.
Il thought 60. He's fine boy. How
long has he been with your
About three months
Does he give satislactionT
'Ycs.'
Il sm pleased to hear II. His mother
lives In our ncighborhood, and my wife has
taken considerable interest in her. She IL
very poor, and in feeble health. She main
tains herself by sewing; but that kind OF
exhaustng toll is wasting her life rapidly.
Frank is her only child, and the only one to
whom she can look for any help. am glad
you like him.
Nothing moro was said on the subject. but
il did not pis FROM the mind 0i MIR. llick-
man. lie had taken the lad few months
before, ON trial. and IL was understood that
II he gave satisfaction, hc was to.bc put on
wages in six months:
.Tbc boy Is faithful, intelligent and ac-
tiye,' said Mr.. Hickman, speaking to hun
self .If Il is 10 with his mother, he must
be put on wages Immediately
This conclusion, in the mind OF Mr.. Hick-
man, was attended with some sense OF pleas.
urc. Ills heart had opened just little, and
two or three sunbcams, with their light and
warmth, had gone down into IL. II
.what shall pay him for his serviccsT
said Mr. Hickman to himself, still dwelling
on the subject.
There are plenty Of lads to bc obtained at