The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1861-03-06

ever dwell, and heart warmth pervade all
the sweet atmosphere. !. Nothing Of external
good was denied by Mr.. Hickman to his "a
mily. They had ell Of hSpplness thOt mo-
ney could buy. Yet how far from hsppi-
ness were his wife and children. They
we're dropping for sunshine-the sunshine
of smiles, Of pleasant words /; Of joyous
laughter. But these came not from Mr..
Hickman. He sat among them grim and
gloomy, for the most part, like some SOM
bre heather dVinity-half.drsaded, half.
propitiated. ~
Mr.. Hickman was not so stolid but that
he saw in this the existence Of a wrong
He loved his wife and children, desired their
| good, and was ready to make any sacrifice
for them that he knew how to make. Even
as he sat moodiy in his home, conscious
that his presence rested like a nightmare
! on the spirits of his wife and children, he
would say to himself:
"This is not right. should bring home
pleasant words and cheerful smiles"
Yet, almost as he said this, would his
thought go back to some incident of the day.
to which mere selfshness gave power to
disturb his feelings, and he would 60 of
again into brooding state of mind, out of
which he had not resolution enough to lift
himself Often it happened that his chill
dren sought, In the outgushing gladness OF
their hearts, to break the spell that was upon
him, but always he rspulsed them-some.
times fretfully, and sometime In anger, so
that, at last, they rarely came near Or spoke
to him, as he sat through h 10 geDia'N1
"Wrong, all wrong" Mness.- your offe
said to himself, as the shSled, en- 'W4l!l
his home. But knowledge oh, me evil did
not bring knowledge Of the cure, or, rather
the self.conquest which must precede cure.
He must come out of the dense forests and
gloomy valleys and dusky caverns, into the
clear sunshine but how was he to come
out Z, Who was 10 lend him forth
One day, as Mr.. Hickman sat in his
counting-room Conversing with gentleman,
lad came in from the store to ask some
questions about business. Mr.. Hickman re-
piled in o curt way, and the lad went out.
"What is that boys name 7" asked the
gentleman.
"F'rank Edwards" was replied.
81 thought go. He's fine boy. How
long has he been with you ?"
"About three month";"
"Does he give you satisfaction =
eyes"
81 am pleased to hear it. His mother
lives in our negbborhood, and my wife has
taken considerable interest in her. she ls
very poor, and in feeble health. She main
tains herself by sewing but that kind OF
exhausting toll is wasting her life rapidly.
Frank is her only child, and the only one
TO whom she can look to for any help. |
am glad you like him."
Nothing more was said on the subject,
but it did not pass from the mind OF Mr..
Hickman. He had taken the lad few
months before on trial, and it was under.
stood that il he gave y, sespsshe was to
be put Issss sssn ss9a1 AZ ;9ssas fas. fss
esg6Wed father coldIy at what has not IL
q =. s4 ..ad c1g nas than an
hasel with DIS "o'0er' ms must 0r's,eass easdi
wages now"
This conclusion in the mind of Mr.. Hick-
man was attended with sense of pleasure.
His heart had opened just little, and two
or three sunbeams, with their light and
warmth, had gone down into it,"
"What shall pay him for his services 7"
said Mr.. Hickman to himself, still dwelling
on the subject.
"There are plenty Of lads to be obtained
at couple of dollars week, for the first
one or two years, or even for nothing, in
consideration of the opportunity for learning
good business in a good house. But
Franks case Is peculiar, and must be con.
sidered by itself. There is question Of
humanity involved. His mother Is poor and
sick, and she has no hope but in him. Let
me see shall l make it three dollars o
week 2 That will help them considerably.
But, dear me three dollars a week will
hardly pay for Franks eating. must DO
something more than that. Say four dollars" !"
Mr.. Hickman dropped his head little,
and sat turning the matter over in his mind.
He had once been a poor boy, with mother
in feeble health; and he remembered how
hard 1t was for him to get along, how many
priyations and hardshps his mother had to
endure, and yet their income was nearly
double the amount he had thought OF giving
Frank. Mr.. Hickman had always loved his
mother, and this memory Of her softened his
feelings still more toward the poor widow,
for whom an appeal had come to him 50 I'M
expectedly. a2
"Frank is an unusually bright boys" said
MIR, Hickman. "ETe has an aptness for bus
mess; is prompt and faithful. I can afford
10 make his salary liberal. I'll pay big ~
,dss,1-s t,gur throwing
grip upon the hammer; and pro. / siez'
lFEslss door. i pushed back the bolt trials, W
Mrssd ID. The deer. discovered the the a6ag
counting. room door, called the I'D whoecans
| ...Isa.~ls, a4 49, 1,t#t EsS3