Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1861-07-19
MIS- C. Ell l. A N Y.
ECHOES.

had hung her silver bow in the east. Th'
hour was beautiful. and the place in which
he walked one to delight tho heart. But
seeing, he saw not. and hearing. ho heard
not, for his mind was with his ledger and
tangled business affairs.
Mr.. Harlow did business in Boston. and
resided m one Of the adjoining suburban
towns. lie had recently purchased a pre-,
,y little place, and his family rcpiecd ia
the exchange from narrow city street, "a
the lovely gardens surrounding their new
home.
a, the foot Of the garden was little
woody dell which had been purposely left
In i,s natural state. A brook leapcd mu'
'ically down ito rocky bed, and then, taking
sudden turn. wound placidly through a
green meadow. Here the Eve children oI
Mr. Harlow were playing, and their shout'
OF glcs rupg out upon the evening air.
Papa, papa" cried little Harry, ap'
p-arins a, tho top Of the bank, come and
hear our echo. Ellen says i, i' the swee,
e., echo she ever heard; We ba,e called TO II
again and again, and II answers back just
wha, We say"
Mr.. Harlow followed his son mechani
cally, bu, when he stood in tho mid.. OF The
laughing troop Of children, ho came out o'
hi. troubled reveric.
"Oh. faher! We have found an echo 80
they cried together. "Ilark-i, shall cal
father" said Susan. Father ~ and III,
echo answered Z" Father :"
Ism, |, pleasant" sad Ellen, the elJ'
ct. q thoughtful girl of twelve years. I'll
We stand in this spot, the echo speaks just
once. clearly and distinctly tu,a little 'C
the rish, or len, Is is repeated two or three
times
- Away. liked 70 hear an echo. saii
the father. with smile.
"llallo. old echo :" shouted Harry. jump
ins up and down, aud the response mad,
him shou. and laugh again.
Where 10 you live ?" called Nelson.
"Swec, echo .wce, echo :" cried Susan
AMI ,bo woodland spritc grew quite Wild in
answering to their merry calls.
"whAt is it, papa" a.kcd Eddie. Oh,
three year old 20, as he cluns ,imidly Il
his father. side who is IL that spcaks7'
81, !, the nymph OF the stream. or the
goddess Of these woods sad Nelson. with
a pa,ronilins air. lls had been reading
mythology.
Don, you be afraid, Eddie" .aid FL
len. kindly taking her little brothers hand
Il, is only the sound Of our own words
coming back to US"
4" Tho dew is falling le. Us now so int
the house." said he father, AMI he turnet
from the place. followed by his children
Ellen walked by hi. eide. " Father. th'
echo remind. mo Of something read the
other day. !, was a piece Abou, moral ech
oe-; i,sali ,ha, IL We spoke kindiy. almos
always we .houli hear the echo in kline
reply; and everything We do or cay awak
en-. echoes in our own hearts. and the heart
Of those about US"
Very true. dear Ellen; you are quite I
moralis,."
In the society Of his family the shadow
were charmed from Mr.. Ilarlow's brow. bu
when he lay upon his pillow. busy. irouble'
thoughts bani.hed sleep. lie had beer
.peculating, somewhat aside from hi. rceu
lar business, and was consequently harra'
sd with too much care. a, the day dawn
cd, ho sank into f,iul slumbcr whlci
gave no rcfreshment 10 his wearied minC
and body.
A cheerful group gathered around ,h'
breakfast able--Gvc smiling. happy chill
dren, and their gentle mother. Ba, ,h'
fathers brow was shaded. and he had no re
ply for the pleasant pra,tle Of his children
50 they subsidcd into silence, chilled by hl
stern aspect. 4, might and should har'
been au hour bright and beautiful with do
nestle sunshine; and when Mr.. Harlow
bade his family "sood bye" for the day
and Eel, that his wiie's eye followed hin
with sad, inquIriug glance. his conscienc
.mo,e him, for he had clouded the svee. q.
mosphere OF home.
On his way to tho depot, an importuna'
neishbor seized him by the arm. and he'll
him an impa,icn, captive, while he de.aile'
long account Of Affairs which he care'
nothing about. lie reached the depo. JUS
Us the train was passing out ofsight. Fret
iul and vexed a, this unnecessary delay. b
.roic the platform irowninely until tb
next train appeared. Had the rido bcO'
longer. he might have settled down beior
its termination into moro quiet state o
mind but as it was, he grew NOR, impa
tient with each passing moment, and whe'
he arrived ut his place Of business. almO'
an hour behind the usual time. he was in
high state Of excitement.
A little trial awaited Mr Harlow. which
did not improve his temper. Andrew Chas
a lad Of fifteen. approached him with tim
il downcast air
"See there. Mr.. Harlow rho said, point
ing with trembling hand 'oa large mir
ror which was one Of row lining one cid
o! the store-a long crack di.6sured its pol
isbed surface.
"who did that7" exclaimed Mr.. liar
low.
"I did Il. sir; I was dustins II, Imean
to be very careful but the brush slipped i
80. h.nI and the hs ndla stvor al tba 0iss m