Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-01-01
MRS. GOLDSMITH AT FORTY.

MRS. GOLDSMITH AT FORTY.
The case of Mrs. Goldsmith was a sad one
] did not see the remedy. She was forty, and
not as happy as at thirty FIVE. At thirty her
face, though beginning to look dreary and
discontented, was for the most par, bright
with anticipation. Her children. all daught.
ers, we're unfolding from bud to fragrant bios.
som, and her life rested in their lives.
Since the completion of her thirty fifth
year one OF her children had dicd-the young
est, and most teuderly loved because the
youngest. All! for woman like Mrs Gold
smith, who had built only upon an earthly
foundation, who had loved herself intensely
In her children, this was indeed an affiiction.
She bowed her head and refused to be comfort
ed. The unreiieved black that gathered in
furnerai gloom around her person was a fitting
emblem of the darkness that enshrouded her
spirit. But troubles and sorrows do not AL
ways come alone. Her oldest daughter form
ed an attachment that did not meet her pa. .
rents appreciation, and failing to gain their
consent, or even the smallest approval of her
choice, took the desperate and almost always
uEwise course of marrying against their re-
monstances, threats and commands From
the day she left her fathers house she had
been an alien therefrom and two long years
hnd passed without reconciliation.
So al forty Mrs. Goldsmith had cause of
mental suffering, heart disquietude but the
suffering and disquietude were in excess OF
legitimate causes. The home of Mrs. Gold
smith was luxurious. So far as her external
life was concerned, or rather, so far as in the
use Of money she could arrange the externals
Of her life, she had all the means OF happiness
but these in her case, were wholly inadequate.
Nay, instead of giving that repose OF mind
which freedom from worldly anxieties is sup
posed to confer, they only added TO her dis
satisfaction. Their possession brought no
sense of responsibility, but induced a feeling
Of superiority to others. She must always be
ministered to, never minister. Her comforts,
feelings tastes habits, desires and convsniences
must be regarded by her domestics and by all
from whom she required anything; while to
Sheir feelings, tastes, habits, and conveniences
no regard was ever paid. Her position of lux
urious ease had made her, as it does so many
in like situations, intensely selfish-and this
very selishness was q cause of her miserable
disquietude.
Mortified pride was another source of unhap-
piness in the case of Mrs. Goldsmith. To
think that her daughter should humiliate the
family by marrying any man beneath their
condition. Death, fearful as the visitation
had eeen, was light affliction compared with
this, and disturbed her not halt so pro oundly.
Poor Mrs. Goldsmith At forty, as 1 have
said, her case a sad one, and did not see
the remedy. Human efforts to bring her N ind
back into the sunshine were of no avail. She |
bTooded over her sorrow and her humiliation,
admitting no cheerful guests into heart. Nor |
iihcation at her daughters discreditabe mar |
riage, added to a morbid grIef-half affected, |
half resl-that succeeded the first strong out |
sush Of maternal anguish, caused entire |
withdrawal of herself from society, and shut |
her up in the shadowy retirement of her own
chamber for greater portion Of the time.
No interest for others could be awakened in
fHaF, id
outside world to herr Human sympathy was
barred from her heart. She felt herself to be
OF inner quality than the mass OF people around
her; and in her sorrow and stricken pride she
held herself coldly aoof.
If Mrs. Goldsmith had taken interest in any
employment-had gone down, with true
"oman's care and thought, into her household,
ana wrought therein the highest possible com
iort Tor Its inmates, then would she have found
seasons Of caimness and peace. But instead
oi this, neglect and indifference produced
constant Irregularities; and sharp, angry or
inludicIous reproof and complainngs aienat-
ed domestics, and made the home of Mrs.
goldsmith so unlike true home that il
scarcely deserved the name
And so life at forty was proving failure to
one whose promises at twenty appeared brigh.
as a cloudless day in June. | called one eve.
ming 10 see her husband man of large busi-
ness operations, whose sober, abstracted face
u'a not indicate peaceful mind. Care drew
ushtiy on The muscles about his lips, wrink led
MS forehead, and fixed his eyes in an absent
MI, slnd Cf gaze, as if he were looking away from
t ',e present into some far beyond. 1t was not
oi'eh thar visitors saw Mrs. Goldsmith. |
Sds privileged. She did not retire from the
.-i.'y circle on my entrance. A heetiug
su,'ie lit up her pale face as came in, but it
;aued quickly, leaving a weary, desolate look ,
:" her eyes and about her mouth. Her con- t
,' sa'ioh was as dreary as her face. Domes- j
~ ,e Touoies-fhe worthlessncss of servants
, ~e uaiy and hourly vexations to which the f
,ahliy were subjected-poor health-depres- s
n, ou Oh spirits-these were the topics dwelt /
.pon y. during the hour stayed. tried sever c
-. utnes to get her away from them to inter- v
'' i,n ner In other people or other themes; but,
j.. strained spring, it came always back to e
30 common adjustments. q
: Inc case of Mrs. Goldsmith is hopeless a
..'s. .sId to myself on retiring. "What tare C
a,h and luxury worth IL their possessor can a
~ f'' .eem to no better advantage than this
b.acuon produces stagnation, and stagnation d
cesa sickly forms of life. The mind of Mrs. g
ov.. osasmith is a stagnant pool. Miasma hangs h
,I. t tne surface like a cold vapor, and in the q
t,t tttssn waters below monstrous crestures are s
ing shape and vitality. Storm and food i
:, .e 80. oetter than this Let the pool be swept T.
~. away, SO that even the tiniest stroam +
and dio' singing. as its pure waters flow on d
s,s,o ns happy song chording sweetly with &
~ "lndnote that kisses the flower heads u