The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-05-09
A Vivid AIlegory.
BY CHARLES DICKENS.

BY CHARLES DlChESS.
Once upon a time, good many years ago,
there was traveller, and he set out upon a
journey. 1t was a magic journey, and was to
seem very long when he began it, and very
short when he got half way through.
He Travelled along rather dark path for some
little time, without meeting anything, until at
last be came to very beautiful child. So he
said to the child, what do you here And the
child said, i am always at play. Come and
play with me-
So he played with the child the whole day
long, and they were very merry. The sky was
so blue, the sun was so bright, the water was so
sparkling, the leaves were so green, the flowers
were so lovely, and they heard such singing
birds and so many butterflies that everything
was beautiful. This was in fine weather.
When it rained, they loved to watch the falling
drops and to smell the fresh scents. When it
blew, it was delightful to listen to the wind, land
fancy what it said, as it came rushing from its
home-where was that, they wondered wills
Ting and bowling, driving the clouds before it,
bending the trees, rumbling in the chimneys,
shaking the house, and making the sea roar in
fury But when it showed, that was the best
of all, for they liked nothing so we'll as to look
up at the white flakes falling fast and thick like
down from the breasts of million of white
birds; and to see how smooth and deep the
drift was; and to listen to the hush upon the
paths and roads.
They had plenty of the finest toys in the
world, and the most astonishing picture books;
all about cimeters and slippers and tuybans
and dwarts and giants and genii aud fairies and
bluebeards and bean-stalks and riches and cav
ems and forests and Valentines and Orsons );
and all new and all true.
But one day of sudden, the traveller lost
the child. He called to him over and over again.
but got no answer So he went upon his road,
and went on for while without meeting any
thing, until at last he came 80 a handsome boy.
So he said to the boy, what do you Go here?
And the boy said, 4 am always learning. Come
and learn with me-
So he learned with that boy about Jupiter
and Juno, and the Greeks and and the Romans
and know not what, and learned more than
could tell or he either for he soon forgot great
deal of it. But they were not always learning
they had the merriest games that ever was play
ed They rowed upon the riverin summer, and
skated on the ice in the winter; were active
afoOt, and active on horseback at cricket, and
all games at ball; at prisoner base, hare and
hounds, follow my leader, and more sports than
can think of; they had holidays too, and
Twelfth cakes, and parties where they danced
ill midnight, and real theatres where they saw
palaces ofreal gold and silver rise out of the
real earth, and saw ali the wonders Of the world
at oLce. AS to friends, they had such dear
friends and so many Of them, that | want the
tire to reckon them up. They were all young
like the handsome boy, and were never to be
strange to one another all their lives through.
Still one day in the midst of all these pleas
ures, the traveller lost the boy as he had lost
the child, and after calling to him in vain, went
on upon his journey. So he went on for
while without seeing anything, until at last he
came to young man. So he said to the young
mn hot Il do hava nd fie,vr ,,,cr
man said, 4 am always i'll love. Come and
love with me-
SO lie went a way with that young man, and
presently they came to one ofthe prettiest girls
that ever was seem just like Fanny in the cor
ner there-and she had eyes like Fanny, and
hair like Fanny, and dimples like Fanny S, and
She laughed and colored just as Fanny does
while | am talking about her. So the young
man fell III love immediately-just as Somebody
wont mention, the first time he came here did
with Fanny. Well! He was teased sometin es,
just as Somebody used to be by Fanny; and
they quarrelled sometimes just az Someb ody
and Fanny used to quarrel; and they made it
up, and sat in the dark and wrote letters every
day, and never were happy asunder, and were
always looking out for one another by the fire,
and were going to be married very soon-all
exactly ike Somebody won't mention and
Fanny!
but the ti0NtISF lOSI iHeul one uaJ as HH uaQ
lost the rest OF his friends, and after calling to
them to come back, which they never did went
on upon his journey. So he went on for lit
tie while without seeing anything, until at last
he came to a middle aged gentleman. So he
said to the gentleman, What do you do hero !?
and his answer was, i am always busy. Come
and be busy with me-
So he began to be very busy with that gen
tleman, and they went on through the wood to-
gether.. The whole journey was through wood,
only it had been open and green at first, like
wood in spring and now began it to be thic;
and dark like wood in summer; some OF The
little trees that had come out earliest were even
turning brown. The gentleman was not alone
but had lady of about the same age with him,
who was his wife; and they had children, who
were with them too. So they all went together
through the wood cutting down the trees, and
making path through the branches and fallen
leaves, and carrying burdens and working hard.
Sometimes they came to long green avenue
that opened into deeper woods. Then they
would hear a very little distant voice crying
Father, father! [ am another child. Stop for
me ! And presently they would see a very
little figure, growing larger as it came along,
running to join them. When 1t came up, they
all crowded around it and kissed and welcomed
it F; and they all went down together
Sometimes they came to several avenues al
once, and then they all stood STILL and one OF
the children said, Father, | am going to India,
and another, Father, am going to seek my |
fortune where | can and another, Father, / |
am going to heaven!' So with many tears at
parting, they went solitary down these 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 tray-
eler looked at the gentleman, and saw him
glance up at the sky above the trees, where |
the day was beginning to decline and the sun
set to come on He 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 pattings hat |
no children were 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 ofthe for
est trees, began to fall.
SO hey came TO an avenue that was darker
than the rest aud were pressing forward On their
quincy without looking down it, when the lady
stopped,
MY husband said the lady l am called,
They listened, and they heard a voice long
way down the avenue, say, Mother. mother ?
1t was the voice of the first child who had
said, l am going to heaven and the father
said, l pray not yet Sunset is very near. II
pray not yet
But the voice cried, Mother, mother!' with
out mnding him, though his hair was now quite
white and tears were on his face.
Then the mother, who was already drawn in
to the shade Of the dark avenue with her arms
still around his neck, kissed him and said, My
dearest, am summoned, and go! and she
was gone and the traveller and he were left
alone together
And they went on and on together,until they
came very near to tho end Of the wood; SO near
that they could see the sunset shining red be-
fore them through the trees.
Yet, once more, while he broke his way
among the branches, the traveller lost his friend
He called and called, but there was no reply
aud when he passed out of the wood and saw
the peaceful sun going down upon a purple
prospect, he came to an old man sitting on q.
fallen tree So he said to the old man, What,
do you do here?' And the old man aaid, with