Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-11-06
Catching A Sunbeam,

CatChlng A sunbeam
The sun is already shining in the sky OF
our lives, aud his bright beams coming down
to gladden. the earth. But into how few
hearts DO they find their way2 The earth
upon which our minds dwell, like the material
earth, has its dense forests, its deep dim
valleys, its dark caves, and caverns into which
the sunlight rarely if ever comes. Il would
seem as if many people loved these gloomy
shades, and hid themselves, from choice,
away from the bright and beautiful sunshine.
They carry shadows in their faces. When
they come into your presence il seems as If
the air was suddenly darkened by passing
cloud,
Mr.. Hickman was one of these men who
walk for the most part, in dark valleys, orsit
in dreary caverns. Rarely, if ever, on return
ing home, did be bring light into hisdwelling
If there was merry laughter among the child
ren on his entrance, their voices were hushed /;
ifIove's light beamed from the cOuntenance
OF his wife, as she sported with her little
ones, it faded away, giving place to a sober,
thoughtful, halEtroubied look. He always
came home bringing shadow with him, and
az the eheerless evenings.
Why was this 2 Was, there a grest trouble
in the heart of Mr.. Hickman Had he passed
through some depressing misfortune, or suf-
fered some terrible afiictonH No. 1t was
as well with him as with most people-better
than with very large humber. His business
was prosperous and every year he added
many thousand dollars 10 his rapidly accu-
mulating fortune. But he was not man
possessing az orderly yadjusted mind, was easily
disturbed By trihes, and annoyed by incidents
that should not have sfected him any. more
than the buzzing ola fy But thereal cause
lay deeper and more hidden, grounded IN an
inordinate sel6shness, that robbed him OF
the pleasure which might have attended sue
cess, through envy Of others good fortune.
He was Jealous Of his cornpeers in business,
and always experienced q disagreeable sensa-
ton when he heard them spoken of as success
ful. No wonder that sunlight could not find
its way into his heart. Envy and ill-will,
burn in what heart they may, always send up
a black smoke that obscures the heavens
The sun is there, smiling as brilliantly as
ever, but his rays cannot penetrate this cloud
of passion. No day passed in which some
thing did not occur to disturb or cloud the
mind of Nr. Hickman; and so, evening after
evening, be came home, bringing with him
shadow instead of sunlight. ., what desc
Grafton Of home was this Home, where the
hearts sunlight should ever dwell, and a
heart-warmth pervade all the sweet atmos-
phere. Nothing of external good was denied
by Mr. Hickman to his family. They had all
of happiness that money could buy, Yet how
far from happiness were his wife and child
rem. They we're dropping for sunshine
the sunshine of smiles, OF pleasant words
ofjoyous laughter. But these came not from
Mr. Hickman. he sat among them grim and
gloomy, for the most part like some sOmbrC
heathen divinity-hslf-dreaded, halt-prOpi.
tiated. ~ -7.----E
Mr., Hickman was not so stolid but that h'
saw an this the existence Of a wrong. do
loved his wife and children, desired their good
and was ready to make any sacrifice for then
/ that he knew how to make. Even as he sal
moodily in bis home, conscious that his pres
ence rested like a night-mare on the spirits o
bis wife and children, be would say to him
self ;----- -----.-.-----.---
'sThs is ssnot right. I should bring hOm,
pleasant words and cheerful smiles"
Yet, almost as he said this, would BIZ
thought 20 back ts some incident of the day
to which mere sel6shness gave power to dis
turb his feelings, and be would 60 of agail
| into a brOoding state Of mind, out of whicl
| he had not resolution enough to ifl himself
| Often it happened that his children sought
in the outgushing gladness oftheir hearts, Il
break the spell that was upon him, but Away
1 he repulsed them-sometimes fretfully, ant
sometimes in anger, so that, at last they rsrel..
/ came near or spoke to him, as he sat througl
bis silent evenings.
aWrong, all wrong Mr.. Hickman oftel
said to himself, as the shadow fell darker o.
his home. But knowledge of the evil di
not bring a knowledge ofthe cure, or, rather
that selt-conquest which must precede curt
| he must come out Of the dense forests an
gloomy valleys and dusky caverns, into th
clear sunshine; but how was he to come out
Who was to lead him forth :? 80
Oneday, as Mr.. Hickman satin his cOun
iug-room conyersing with gentleman,
lad came in from the store to ask some que
tioRs about business. Mr. Hickman repliC
in q curt way, and the Lad went out.
What is that boys name r asked Il
Fgs1tlmau. lraarf - saisI
g Frank Edwards, y wasrepiied. r.
81 thought 50. Hes fine boy. Ho
long has he been with you ~
"About three months"
EDoes he give you satisfaction2'
HYes.n t.st H...a.
dam pleased to hear it. His mother Iiv
in our neighborhood, and my wife has tak'
considerable interest in her. She is vel
poor, and in feeble health. She maintaii
herself by sewingi but that kind Of exhaus
ing toll is wasting her life rapidly. Frar
is her only child, and the only one to who
she can look for any help. ! am glad u
Ike him." ~
Nothing more was said on the subject, b
it did not pass from the mind Of Mr.. Hio
man. He had taken the lad few mont
before on trial, and it was understood that
be gave satisfaction, he was to be put
wages after six months. -.1
1.-THE boy IS faithful, intelligent, and 8
tive, said 8Ir. Hickman to himself. "If
is so with his mother, he must be put
! wages nov"
This conclusion in the mind Of Mr. Hic
man was attended with sense of pIeasu
r His heart had opened just little, and two
. three sunbeams, with their Light and warm
D had gone down into it. .
"What shall pay him for his services
said Mr.. Hickman to himself still dwelli
on the subject. ll.r5-Ia a-
? There are plenty Of lads to be obtained
a couple of dollars week, for the first @
or two years. or even for nothing, in cons
N Grafton Of the opportunity for learning a %
business in a good hohss. But Fra5lx's =
i is peculiar and pust Be considered lbv its
& There is question Of humanity iIivdlv.ed
His mother is poor and sick, and sc bas
hoy e but in him. Let me see; shall I rlF
it three dollars q week? That viii b
2 them con5iderably. But, dear me 8 three Z
lars a week wifi hardly pay for Franks Z
ing. I must do something better than Il
Say four dollars"
AT, Hickman dropped his head little, {
sat turning the matter over iR his mind.
had once been poor boy, with a mother
feeble health; and he remembered how h
il vas for him TO get along, how many
Fstions and hardships his mother had to