The hydraulic press., 1860-11-10

sIf it ever comes'' The despondent soul
could not look beyond the clouds.
"Have you heard of Mrs. Elford's trouble?'
asked the friend
"No." There was quick fash Of interest in
the mournful face. "What of herr"
''Her husband is dead
"Oh now The lady clasped her hands in sud
den surprise and pain at this intelligence.
"The news came yesterday. He died on the
Pacific coast"
Captain Elford?"
"Oh dear! That is trouble! And he has left
her poor, without doubt"
81 fear much"
"Have you seen herr"
eyes, called this morning.
"How is she?"
ssEntirely prostrated by the blow
'tPoor Margaret The tone of sympathy was
genuine. 81 must go to her in this affliction. 1
must try to speak some word of comfort"
She needs all the support her friends can give.
1t is her hour of darkness, and she is sorrowing
as one without hope. The sun has withdrawn
himself behind thick clonds, which are pouring
down heavy upon her life. Yes, go to her by all
means, and tell her that, though her sky is dark
to-day, and filled 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"
1t was 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 pondering over words of consolation.
"God is really nearer to us in affction," 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 u.s. it is not the less smiling
face"
A sob and long tremulous sigh were the only
answer.
'.Into each life some rain must fall
Some days must be dark and dreary.'
Yet no response CAME. The words of the COM
forter seemed as if spoken to shut ears. Not so,
however. They entered, and like seed when first
cast into the ground, gave no ife-sign of their
presence. But memory held them for the time
of fructifcation.
grieving one, who had 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 suffocation, was not
so great. She could breathe deeper, and with
even a 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 consciousness of suffering di-
minished.
Almost daily she visited her afflicted friend,
into whose sad face little light would come on
her appearance; and although it faded instantly
the sign of pleasure at seeing welcome coun-
tenance was too palpable for any mirtake to
its origin. She had really been helped and COM
forted, though she knew it not.
Ii
was not sitting in ideness, brooding over the ir-
revocable past but really forgetful of the past in
present thought of home duties with which her
hands were busy.
''How is it with you to-day" said the friend ,as
she took her hand
Il not so much depressed IN mind as /
have BEEN"
"Andif you keep on in this path of duty the
weight which has been bearing you down will
grow less and less burdensome; the clouds that
mantle your sky thinner and thinner, until light
breaks through, and d;sperses them altogether
But how is Mrs. Elford: l have not seen her
for some time
''More cheerful, - was the reply.
''That is gratifying"
''She received few days since a long and sat
isfactory letter-if | may use the word satisfac-
tory in such connection-about her husband,
who had the most careful attendance and every
comfort during his last illness. Unexpectedly,
Elford left property to the value of nearly fifteen
thousand dollars, the result of some trading ad
ventures on the coast"
''Then she is not left pestitute"
sNo"
"Already there is break in the clouds, show
ing a clear blue sky above them"
"Yes"
e'And the days must come for her as well as
for you and for all whose sky has become dark
and threatening, when the broad, bright sun
beams will food the whole horizon aSsin. What
is the lesson that past experience teaches? Is it
not the same in regard to the inner as to the out
er world? There have been times of cloud and
rain, and times of sunshine. And all these
changes are for the sake of fruit-the fruit of
righteousness. Letus be mindful, my friend, OF
the lesson, and not keep too much out of the
sunshine; lest, when come to make up
sheaves in the harvest-time, there be found only
husk instead ofgrain."