The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-03-22

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and were always looking out for one anothc,
and pretending not to, and were engaged at
Christmas time, and sat close to one anoth-
er hy the fire, and were going to be married
very soon-all exactly like somebody won't
mention and Fanny!
But the traveller lost them one day rs he
had lost the rest Of his friends, and, after
calling to them to como hack, which they
never did, went on upon his journey. So he
went on for little while without seeing
anything, until ut last he came to middle
aged gentleman. So he said to the gentle
man, "What are you doing here?" and his
answer was, "I am always busy. Come and
be busy with me-"
So he began to be very busy with that
gentleman, and they went on through the
woods together. The whole journey was
through wood, only it had been open and
green ut first, like a wood in spring; and
now began to be thick and dark like a wood
in summer some of the little trees that had
come out earliest were even turning brown.
The gentleman was not alone, but had la
dy of about the same age with him, who was
his vile and they had children, who were
through the wood, cutting down the trees,
and makinga path through tho branches
and fallen leaves, and carrying burdens and
working hard.
Sometimes they came to long green ave-
nuc that opened into deeper woods. Then
they would hear very little distant voice
crying, "Fathcr, father, | am another child.
Stop for me-" And presently they would
see very little figure. growing larger as it
came along, running to join them. When
II came up, they all crowded round it. and
kissed and welcomed it ;and they oil went
down together.
Sometimes they came TO several avenues ut
once, and they all stood still, and one of tho
children said, "Father, | am going to India"
and another, "Father, ! am going to seek
my fortune where i can :" and another,
"Fathcr, | am going to heaven ~ So with
many tears at parting, they went solitary
down those avenues, each child upon its
way and the child who went to heaven rose
into the golden air and vanished.
Whenever these partings happened, the
traveller looked at the gentleman, and saw
him glance up at the sky above the trees
where the day was beginning to decline and
the sunset to come on. lie saw, too, that
his hair was turning gray. But they never
could rest long, for they had their journey
to perform, and it was necessary for them to
be always busy.
At last. there had been so many partings
that there were no children left, and only
the traveller, the gentleman, and the lady
went upon their way in company. And now
the wood was yellow. and now brown; and
the leaves even of tho forest trees began to
fall.
So they came to an avenue that was dark.
er than the rest, and were pressing forward
ON their journey without looking down it,
when the lady stopped.
"My husband" said the lady, 81 am call
cd"
They listened, and they heard voice q
long way down the avenue, say, "Mother,
mother :"
Ii was tho voice of the first child who had
said, Il am going to heaven : and the father
said, Il pray not yet. Sunset is very near.
| pray not yeti
But the voice cried, Mother, mother.
without minding him, though his hair was
now quite white and tears were ON his face.
Then the mother, who was already drawn
into the shade of the dark avenue, and NOV
ing away with her arms still around his
neck, kissed him, and said, MY dearest
am summoned, and ! CO. Aud sho was
gone. And the traveller and he were LETT
alone together.
And they went on and on together, until
they came to very near the end Of the wood
so near, that they could see the sunset shin
ing red before them through the trees.
Yet, once more, while he broke his way
among the branches, the traveller lost his
friend. lie called and called. but there was
no reply. and when he passed out Of the wood
nnd saw the peaceful sun going down, upon
n wide purple prospect, he came to an old
man. sitting ON fallen tree. So he said to
him, what do you do hcreT And the old
man said, with calm smile, Il am always
Come and remember with
me-
So the traveller sat down by the side Of
the old man, face to face with the serene |
sunset; and nil his friends came softly back
and stood around him-the beautiful child,
the handsome boy, the young man in love,
the father, mother, and children every one
of them was there, and he had lost nothing.
So he loved them all, and was kind and for
bearing with them all, and was always plcas.
cd to watch them all, and they all honored
and loved him. And think the traveller
must he yourseli, dear grandfather, because
this is what you do to US, and what we do to
YOU,