The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1860-09-27
From Arthur's Home Magazine.
CATCHING A SUNBEAM.
BY KATE.

BY KATE.
The sun is already shining in the SIX
IF our lives, and his bright beams com
ng down to gladden. the earth. Blu
nto how few hearts do they find thei
way ~? The earth upon which GU
minds dwell, like the material earth
las its dense forests, its deep, dim val
eys, its dark caves and caverns int,
which the sunlight rarely, if ever
comes. 1t would seem as if man,
people loved these gloomy shades, an(
lid themselves, from choice, away from
he bright aud beautiful sunshine
They carry shadows in their hearts anG
shadows on their faces. When they
come into young presence, it seems as
if the air was suddenly darkened by a
| passing cloud.
Mr.. Hickman was one of these men,
who walk, for the most part, in dark
valleys, or sit in dreary caverns. Rare
ly, if ever, on returning home, did lie
bring light into his dwelling If there
was merry laughter among the children
on his entrance, their voices were hush
ed if loves light beamed from the
countenance of his wife, as she sported
with her little ones, it faded away, Civ
ing place to sober, thoughtful, half
troubled look. He always came home
bringing shadow with him, and sat,
for the most part, in this shadow, thro'
all the cherries evenings.
Why was this? Was there great
trouble in the heart of Mr.. Hickman I?
Had he passed through some depressing
misfortune, or suffered some terrible
addiction ? No. It was as we'll with
him as with most people-better than
With large number. His business was
prosperous, and every year he added
many thousand dollars to his rapidly
formulating fortune. But he was not
q man possessing an orderly adjusted
nind-was easily disturbed by trifes-
md annoyed by incidents that should
rot have affected him any more than
he buzzing of fly. But the real cause
lay deeper and more hidden, grounded
in an inordinate selfishness, that robbed
lin of the pleasure which might have
attended success, through envy of oth>
crs' good fortune.
He was jealous Of his compeers in
business, and always experienced a
llsagreeabe sensation when he heard
them spoken OF as successful. No won
der that sunlight could not find its way
into his heart Envy and ill-will, burn
in what heart they may, always send up
black smoke that obscure> the heav-
ems. The sun is there shining as
brightly as ever, but his rays cannot
penetrate this cloud ofpassion. No day
assed in which something did not oc-
:ur to disturb or cloud the mind of Mr..
Hickman; and so, evening after evening,
e came home, bringing with him shad-
W instead of sunlight. Oh, what
esecration of home was this home,
there the hearts sunlight should ever
well, and heart warmth pervade all
ne sweet atmosphere. Nothing of
external good was denied by Mr.. Hick-
IAN to his family. They had all Of
happiness that money could buy. Yet
low far from happiness were his wife
and children. They were dropping for
sunshine-the sunshine of smiles, of
pleasant words, Of joyous laughter
But these came not from Mr.. Hickman
lie sat among them grim and gloomy,
or the most part, like some sombre
heather dlvinity-half dreaded, half
rropitiated.
Mr. Hickman was not so stolid but
that he saw in this the existence of a
wrong. He loved his wife and children,
desired their good, and was ready to
make almost any sacrifice that he knew
how to make. Even as he sat moodlly
in his home, conscious that his presence
rested like nightmare on the spirits of
his wife and children, he would say to
himself
"This is not right. I should bring
home pleasant words and cheerful
smiles"
Yet almost as he said this, would his
thoughts go back to some incident of
the day, which mere selfshness gave
power to disturb his feelings, and he
would 90 off again into a brooding state
Of mind, out of which he had not reso-
luton enough to lift himself. Often it
happened that his children sought. in
the outgushing gladness Of their hearts,
to break the spell that was on him, but
always he repulsed them-sometimes
eoldly, sometimes frettully, and some
times in sudden anger-so that, at last,
hey rarely came near or spoke to him,
IS he sat through his silent evenings.
"Wrong, all wrong" Mr.. Hickman
often said to himself; as the shadow fell
larker on his home. But knowledge
Of the evil did not bring a knowledge o.
he cure, or, rather, that self-conquest
which must precede cure. He must
let the sunshine come into his own hear t
ere he could pour forth its rays on 9th.
er hearts
He must come out of the dense forests
and gloomy valleys and dusky caverns,
into the clear sunshine but how was
he TO come out? Who was to lead him
forth
One day, as Mr.. Hickman sat in his
counting room conversing with a gen,
tleman, lad came in from the store to
ask some questions about business. Mr..
Hickman replied in curt way, and the
ad went ont.
"What is that boys name % asked
he gentleman.
'Frank Edwards" was replied.
81 thought so. He's fine boy. How
ong has he been with your"
"About three months.''
"Does he give satisfaction ?''
eye
81 am glad to hear it. His mother
ives in our neighborhood, and my wife
as taken considerable interest in her.
She IS very poor and in feeble health.
She maintains herself by sewing; but
hat kind of exhausting toll is wasting
her lite rapidly. Frank is ner only child