The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-07-27
From Chambers Journal.
GUARDED SECRETS.

What woman Is there that conicsses not ia
the possession of guarded secret? School
girls have their cherished mysteries; but
these pass from mouth to mouth, till, like
the witches ut seventh hand" oil their
magic dies out. 1t is not Of such we would
speak, but of that stcrncr and moro stubborn
secret, which is the lie in life, which occu-
pics tho souls inner aud most secret chamber,
and is the hearts holy Of holies; ajoy, or
dread, or o pang-most commonly the last
through lifo; q thing that wcayes itself,
with more or less intensity, into every act of
our daily struggle on earth; it Is with us
when wc rise to q new sun, and lies down
with us in tho darkness; (; our accompanying
shadow, 60 where We may, and do what we
will; that mocks us when We smile, counter
feits all our agonies; and to lose which
would bo something like that loss OF soul
pictured in the well known golden legend.
That the constant presence of our secret
within US and around us has its meaning for
good, who shall doubt? Our human woes
would not be allotted to us-ay, even as our
daily brcad-werc they not necessary to the
nourishmcnt of higher life than that which
pcrplcxes us here. Our wandering spirits,
ever lost and restless, must like tho tabled
children in tho wood, gather their food from
oft the thorns. There is, in truth, no teach
ing like the teaching of great and master
sorrow.
There arc few places filled with more
startling materials for the romancist than the
much neglected secret drawer. Secret pas
s,ges, hidden vaults, tapestry-yciled doors,
traps leading downwards through the floor,
and escapes opening upward through the sky
light, we have in abundance but the narrow
and apparently insignificant receptacle that
holds within It, unseen by vulgar eyes, the
boarded secret of heart and OF lifetime
nav, perhaps morc-the darkening pres
cncc of n household, the skeleton behind
the door" seems altogether TO have escaped
the yirilant research OF the curious. Relics
some sainted, some proianc enough-hanng
yi,ibly about our very doors. We arc iamil-
lar with relics Of various kinds, from the
sentimental lovers hair.fllcd lockct down
to the rcligiously guarded " heart Of Mon
tros,." Some people arc essentially relic
lovers, and will make far-oT pilgrimagcs for
the bare sight Of an iron belt or knotted cord
youched for rs the castigatory badge OF some
mouldercd monk, and feel strange gratiii-
cation in being permitted to kiss the dust
from the worn stones troddcp by the feet OF
those whose once unhonorcd grave centuries
have since hallowcj into something akin to
tie divine. From the mystic to the real Is q
wide bound, and few care to take the leap.
But, leaving to the star gazcr his more daz-
zling horizon. let us gather round ms for q
brief space the lowlier interests Of humani
y: let US look with rcverent eyes into the
secret drawer.
Ny grandmother had an old-fashioncd
cabinet, portioned out, as was the method Of
constructing such commodities In her day,
into sundry small shelves, drawers, and odd.
covered boxes. Tho centre compartment Of
this same old chest opened like door, hav-
ing lock and key, and within was long slid
ing drawer, occupying the entire depth Of the
cabinet. That in this drawer something very
precious was stored, oil her children knew.
None, however, dared to pry into their moth.
er's guarded secret. Her husband, Il was
more than suspected, could have thrown some
light on the matter; but he was never known
TO do 90, and silence rested upon the unknown
occupant Of tho drawer; the mystery 70.
maining mystery up to the day Of my good