Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1861-10-25
cArcHrNc AsUNBEAM.

a
The sun is already shining in the sky of our
Hives, and his bright beams coming down to
gladden. the earth. But into how few hearts
do they find their way? The earth upon which
our minds dwell, like the material earth, has
itsdense forests, its deep, dim valleys, its dark
caves, and caverns into which the sunlight
rarely If ever comes 1t would seem as if ma
ny people loved these gloomy shades. and hid
themselves, from choice, away from the bright
aud beautiful sunshine. They carry shadows
In their faces When they come into your pres
ence il seems as if the air suddenly dark
ened hy passing cloud.
Mr. Hickman was one of those who walk,
for the most part in dark valleys, or sit in
dreary caveFns. Rarely, if ever, on returning
home, did he bring light into his dwelling. If
there was merry laughter among the children
on their entrance, their voices were hushed; if
loves light beamed from the eOuRtenRpce of
his wife, rs she sported with her little ones it
faded away, giving place to q GOber, thought
fuI half troubled look. lie always came home
bringing shadow with him. and sat, for the
most part, in this shallow, through all the cheer
less evenings.
Why was this? Was there great trouble
IN the heart Of Mr.. Hickman? Had he pass
ed through some depressing misfortune, or suf-
fered some terrible affection? No. 1t was as
well with him as with most people-better
than with very large number, His husnC IS
was very prosperous, and every year he added
many thousand dollars 10 lis rapidly accumu-
lating fortune. But he was not a possess
ing an orderly adjusted mind was easily dis
turbed by trifes, and annoyed by incidents
that should not have affected him any more
than the buzzing Of a fly. But the real causs
lay deeper and more hidden, grounded in
inordinate seIfshness that robbed him OF the
pleasure which might have attended success,
through envy of others good fortune.
He was jealops of his compeers in business,
and always experienced disagreeahle sensa-
e~tion when he heard them spoken Of as success
full No wonder that sunlight could not find
its way into his heart. Envy and i-will, burn
in what heart they may, always send up black
smoke that obscures the heavens The sun is
fhere smiling as brilliantly ever, but its rays
cannot penetrate this cloud Of passion. No day
passed in which something did not occur 10
disturb or cloud the mind of Mr. Hickman;
and so, evening after evening, he came home
bringing with him shadow instead of sunlight
o, what desecraIion of home was this! Home,
where the hearts sunlight should ever dwell
and heart warmth pervade all the sweet at
= -fnospheFc. Nothing or external good was de-
MED by Mr.. Hickman TO his family. They had
all OF happiness that money could buy. Yet,
how far from happiness were his wife and chill
drcn. They were dropping for sunshine-thc
sunshine of smiles, Of pleasant words, Of joy
osls laughter But these came not from Mr.
Hickman. He sat among them grim and
gloomy, for the most part, like some sombro
heathen divinity-half dreaded, half propita-
<eooted. .a7z sFe1s5. @ setEz u s'acl
Mr.. Hiokman was not so stolid but that he
saw in this tha existence OF wrong. lie loved
& his wife and children, desired their good and
was ready to make any sacri6oe for them that
he knew how to make. Even rs he SIT moodi-
ly in his home, conscious that his presence rest
-As2 ed Ikea nightmare the spirits Of his wife
auSlsehildren, he would say to himself:
EThis is not right. should bring home
vIs Sbleasaat words and cheerful smiles. -
Yet, almost as he said this would his thought
go back to some INCIDENT Of the day; to which
mere seGShness gave power TO disturb his tpel-
ings, aud he would go off again into brood
ing state of mind, out of which he had not
resolution enough to lift himself. Often it hap
pened that his children sought, in the outgush-
ing gIadness of their hearts, to break the spell
7sI that was upon him, but always he repulscd
them-sometimes fretfully. and sometimes in
anger, so that, at last, they rarely came near
OK or spoke to him, as he through his silent
evenings.
-s- "Wrong, all wrong" Mr.. Hickman often
said to himself, as the shadow fell darker on
his home But knowledge Of the evil did not
bring knowledge of the cure, or rather the
selEconquest which must precede cure. lie
must come out of the dense forests and gloomy
valleys, and dlsky cAverns, into tho clear sun
shine; bat how was he to come out? Who was
. 10 lead him forth?
One day AZ MIR. Hickman sat in his count
f7. ing room, conversng with a gentleman lad
came in from the store TO ask some questions
about business. Mr. Hickman replied in a curt
way, and the lad went out
'-F-~ "AYhat is that boys name?" asked the gen
tIeman.
"Frank Edwards" was replied.
al thought so. Hesa fine boy. How long
has he been with yOu?"
About three months"
"Does he give you satisfaction"
"Yes."
AZ am pleased to hear IT, His mother lives
in our neighborhood, and my wife has taken
considerable interest in her. She is very
s poor and in feeble health. She maintains her.
self by sewing but that kind of exhaustng
toll is wasting her life rapidly. Frank is hel
only child, and the only ono to whom she car
look to for help. l am glad that you Ike
him."
Nothing more was said on the subject bu
it did not pass from the mind of Mr.. Hick
man He had taken the lad a few months be
fore on trial. and it understood that if HI
Sc gave satisfaction, be was to be put on wage
after six months.
"The boy is faithful, intelligent and active,
said Mr.. Hickman to himself. "If it is s
with his mother, he must be put on wage
now"
This conclusion in the mind of Mr.. Hick
man was attended with a sense Of pleasure
His heart had opened just little, and two o
Z three sunbeams, with their light and warmth
had gone down into it,
what shall pay him for his services? sni
= Mr.. Hickman to himself still dwelling on tt
subject.
3 There are plenty of lads TO be obtained a
i a couple Of dollars week, for the first one Q
' two years, or even for nothing, in consideratio
of the opportunity for learning good bushes
in good house But Franks case is peculia
and must be considered by ITSELF There is
+ question Of humanity involved. His mother
rv poor and sick, and she has no hope but in hin
Let me see; shall make it three dollars
week? That will help them considerably. Blu