Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1861-02-08
MY CEILD-LoVE AND
From the Home Journal.

MY CEzILD-LovE ANDI 3
500 From the Home Journal
1t seems to me, as | look back upon it,
that oil which came before, was unconscious
nesss-that all which came after, was reality.
1t was the silent ministry of better being
to my heart; the first of those mysterious
words Of life which the Infinite is ever speak
ing to our inn,ost souls. What marvels there
are in the hearts OF children: marvels of
thought, of hope, of passion-complete expe-
riences, which no episode of after-life can
rival. The first strong chisellings of the
sculptor give to the block beneath his hand
its true proportions; after-touches, infinite,
do but Till out the rude beginning, and per-
feet the work. In that short year, through
which we passed, hand in hand, together
my chld.love and IL learned what life was
| began to ask those never answered ques-
tons which the realization Of every existence
prompts; voices Of the soul whispered with
in me, harmonizing sometimes in Joy, some
times in mournfulness-witho outward things.
Mysterious concordances with nature, mys-
terious afinities to God ...'
learned the language Of love, rude and
untutored in words, but in the communion
of look to look, Of thought with thought, of
tone to tone, perfected. The yearnings of
inmost nature were stirred by that quicken
ing power, so mighty, which, when it touch
es human hearts, never suffers them again to
rest, never suffers them to relapse into quiet
satisfaction. There were longings for earthly
idols, aspirations to heavenly things. Words,
murmured listlessly from infancy, grew to
bear meaning and spirit. Alteration and
supplication were no longer duties only, but
great necessities; channels in which an
awakening heart must vent its deep emotions.
Self was no longer ignored; one by one were
revealed its depths of weakness, its possibil-
tiles of strength and beauty. Let none doubt
or wonder: sooner or later, the day must
dawn in which hand divine raises the veil,
and the life Of Hts-that life within the outer
life, which has already numbered its years
is revealed to us. Sorrow and love stand at
ITS portals, and lead us through all it's paths.
Sorrow and love! twin brothers, parted never,
unfold to us all it's mysteries. Fitting agents
and ministers of heaven, they attune our
hearts to all holy things, to all beauties and
all glories. Ht
What shall choose of all the store of gar
nered memories? l was a graceiess child,
and there mingled with me, in the daily
walks OF school and pastimc. one whose every
act and word were in strong contrast with my
own wild nature. lnsensibly, the sweet
smile and gentle word, SO constantly meeting
me, stole into my heart. and, through love,
tutored it. Life's lessons are taught, day by
day, its experiences daily renewed, daily
varied; but in all tie new (save that it Is
still strong, when we had thought it, our.
,ycfo -
not bear some analogy with the old, the past,
the first. the unforgotten time of the child
love. Nature, which had seemed dull before,
spoke out to me-. Words of song and strains
of harmony touched chords of thought un.
known before; all common things grew
beautiful with the beauty of exuberant joy,
pensive, sadness. e,as
A summer tste day! What wonders were
born with it Oh, who shall tell the stirring
voices wakened by the sea! Oh, who shall
tell how often it has whispered to the hearts
Of children, and made them wise in a knowl-
edge of sorrow, by the far-reaching thoughts
with which it inspires them. And this sea
Of the summer tste day, the summer day.
how lovely! And what do my eyes follow
with such eager, fond delighty Light gar
ments fitting in the ocean breeze, bright rib
bons quivering far along upon the shore,
and footsteps, which seemed like fairy's, in
the dance, winding in between the rocks, and
ont again boldly to the retreating sea =
Soon the shades Of ofevening gather; the rocks
are but dark phantoms on the shore, and we
retrace our homeward way. We are overta.
ken by a storm, and stop for rest and refresh.
ment ata low, small cottage. Wcarines and
exhaustion have succeeded the life and bright.
ness Of the morning; the laugh resoanls moi
in the dim parlor of the cottage; the fail
head so erect is dropping. and cpntractions
| of pain gather upon the brow Oh, unutter.
able warnings of child unutterable ten.
derness! OF all the party, one alone war
unwearied. Strength came from source
which never fails-love. The weary head
lies pillowed upon little heart, fast beating
| and over it, for q long hour, that seemed toe
| short, are watchings, dreamings, prayers
hopes, tears, caresses, unheeded and un
known. #.2 - i
| No truer words we're ever written thar
those Of the p0et:-- @
There is an ave in nortals' Tor. A
| deep mysterious fear
af Hall Of the heast will still employ, io q
ASH We drew too near
Even then, so long ago. there came, in tn,
happiest moments, secret dread. lest the,
should cease. True instinct Of our nature
that warns US Of the fceting abd the perish
able! Rlessed ptovidencoo Of God, that point.
beyond it 10 things that can never pass away
or wither. Ina year. ourssweet companion
ship was rudely severed we were no longc,
schoolmates. We strove, for while, still Il
be friends There are little notes, All vel
lowed ovcr, and cfampe9 child.writing. haif
blotted out With teafs. which attest the el,art