The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1860-04-19
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
Light i'm a Dark Place.
By T. :. aRTHUR.

sunlight again.
Mr.. Watson was one Of this clas-a brooding
7ilent man, whose presence in his family wa
always felt as the shadow Of 4 cloud that lid IA.
pleasant sunshine. Mrs. Watson in the begin
ming oi their married life, had been Of q Cheerful
TNP-r- but easily taking the aspect q what wa,
around her, had gradually changed. until hel
NINA was a. dark-hued as that Of her husband
latte things fretted them, and - life becim,
made up Of 4 seTie- Of petty annoyance..
IhIs was not a genial home for children. though
children came pressing into IL. and filling it, dim
chambers with di-cord instead Of music. They
dFi not grow beautiful, like healthy plants open
70 the sunshine, bat mentally d.fOrTne-d. for lick
"i pure air warmth and culture.
ANA - there came new causes Of gloom 10 the
mind Of Mr. atsOn. in fOrebDdings a. - the
future Of his children and, in truth, the prom
80 was BY no means fattering. The Oldest bov
was passionate and -elEwilled the second child.
= girl, fretful and annoyed with everything that
dld not how smoothly the third IF the brood. 1
perfect llttie outlaw IN his propensity 70 invade
the rights OF every member Of the family and
the badly, 81 fond Of showing the strength Of her
lungs, that she cried through nearly all her
waking hours.
One night late In autumn, Mr.. and Mrs. Wat
son sat alone, their children, after an unusually
diseordant time, having been whipped all round,
baby included, and put TO bed. Mrs. Watson
had her sewing IN her hands, and was bending
close down over her work, a. if in the effort u
lessen the capacity Ct her bosom for trouble. while
her husband sat a little turned from her. in
moody abstraction.
" | sometimes wish they'd never been born
said Mr. Watson, giving vent to his feelings in a
low monotOnOus tone of voice. There's little
chance OF their coming to any good. I never
saw such children. Johns passionate temper
will be certain TO plunge him. as a man, into
scenes OF violence. and as for Dick, unless a mir
acle prevent, he'll turn out a thief or a robt.r.
lie has no resrect for the rights or property Of
others
Mrs Watson answered only by q long. deep
sigh. as she bent still lower over her work.
That Martin l. going 70 cheat me, | believe.
after ait Mr.. Watson's thoughts were running
IN a new direction.
:" You don't think so - His wife raised her
sober face. and turned towards him.
II do think So | trusted him like a brother,
and unless l am greatly mistaken, he is about
playing me false, like a villain
How much is he indebted to YOU now -
" Over six thousand dollars and if lose that
sum, there's no hope for me. / shall 90 down
like a man thrown helpless in mid ocean"
"What a hard thing it is to live in this world ~
sighed Mrs. Watson. IF one were but safely
out Of it,
"Or. if We had never been born, said her
husband. IL is nothing but disappointments
sorro"s, and pain, from the cradle to the grave.
And If all ended there, We might grope on 10
the end and then lie down in eternal rest. But
there Is a still deeper mystery involved in the life
beyond than there is in this. Who can know.
with any certainty, his state in the future. This
preacher tells Us one thing, and that preacher
another, directly opposite so that if both be
right, all men must 60 to perdition.
They had been talking in this way for some
time, when the bell rang. \ servant came back
from the door to say that one Of their neighbors
had called in and wished to see Mrs. Watson.
Poor Mrs Jenkins is dying said the neigh
rs the two women met, and I've called to
get you to go oyer with me-"
Dying" The face of Mrs. Watson grew
pale.
Yes. Poor woman, she's had a hard time
n this world, and 1 hope she'll find 4 better one
IN The other side of deaths dark river"
I" " hat IL to become of her little ElIen?'
Heaven knows, replied the neighbor.
I" Has she no relatives to whom the child can
sent ?"
- None that ! ever heard of. think she stands
ntIrely alone in the world. But time is Passing.
Yrs Watson, and the Pickering candle of her
lie may go out at any moment" {
AIT a moment, until 1 get my shawl and
rood" And Mrs. Watson left her neighbOrand .,
an up stairs She was back in a minute. and
he two women repaired To the humble abode of I
heir dying neighbOr. Ellen, the child to whom i
eterence has been made, was only three wears {
Id She was the widows all i'm this world. They G
Jund her nesting close to her mother. whose c
Fhitc, shadowiug hand was toying with the goI-
en curis that lay IN masses about her face. IL \
ras plain at a glance. that only a few sands Of b
ne remained- and that the dying mother was 50 f
away itJIu mDrCil CONSCIOUSNESS as To be freed u
the pangs of separation. And 90 she died 4
led without one appeal for love and protection a
n the tender, precious being she was leaving be- h
md her alone IN the world. l.
There was no attempt to remove Ellen from the
rm OF her mother until life ceased to STRUGGLE Il
II mastery over the heart. Then Mrs. Watson 81
tied her tenderly away and as she did So, the b.
hid put her arms about her neck. and laid her
cad down trustingly on her bosom, through p
hich a %motherly impulse ran like a new vital cl
81 Poor, motherleSs child - sobbed the really "
nder hearted woman. - Poor. motherless little ii
" - %
- What shall we do with her - asked the b.
in q tone of doubt. ID
80 | vii! run home with her and keen her for on
- replied Mrs Watson.
- fOu'v We IL hOusefui of your own" iIit
81 know but we can make room for one OBJ
ore" ru
IS Is will he true charity said the neighbor. or
20 Mrs. Watson ran home with the Little girl an
her arms Ellen was already asleep when she af
tered the room where her husband sat modify
the CRATE. ar
- Poor Mrs. Jenkins is dead - she exclaimed. -.
a low but excited tone.
- Dead - Her husband repeated the words in =,
half bewiidered manner. me
les; she lassed, just now, to the better
rid, and I've brought this motherless little one VI,
me to keep her until tomorrow. Oh, John
would have made your heart ache could Won W
We seen what l did-this child living upon the ov,
of her dead mother" And tears fell over sh,
2. watson cheeks. hel
!" W as there no one but you to take her? 1t wi
ms to me that of all others, you should have
N spared this part of the business" Mr.. Wat an
IS voice was cold and fretful. We've trouble
nigh with our own children" ext
: | shall only keep her for tonight was re-
ed to this ungracious welcome Of the little
han. ber
: Tonight, Yes I see. Pray what will YOU
with her tomorrow ~ Mr.. W atson's thoughts.
r suspicious of something wrong. were push Ell
queries as to the disposition of Ellen already 7
the future. .