Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-01-12
A h
.APEeasa,.IS Sketch.

a Pleasant Sketch.
o The sun Is always shining in the sky of our lives, ani
L his bright beams coming down to gladden. the garth
i But into how few hearts do they find their way 2 tn,
a earth upon which our minds dwell, like the materia
earth, has It's dense forests, its deep, dim valleys, its dark
E caves and caverns, into which the sunlight rarely, if ever
I comes. It would seem as ii may persons loved these
: gloomy shades, and hid themselves, Of choice, away from
8 the bright and beautiful sunshine. They carry shadows
p in their hearts and shadows on their faces When they
? Gene into your presence it seems as if the air was sud,
( denly darkened by a passing cloud.
D MIR. Hickman was one Of these men who walk, for the
D most part, in dark valleys, or sit in dreaTy caYerns
d Hardly if ever, on returning home, did be bring light
into his dwelling. If there was merry laughter among
the Ell ldren on his entrance, their voices were hushed; ii
loves light Beamed from the eountenanee Of his wife as
she sported with her little ones, it faded away, giving
place to a sober, thoughtful, half troubled look. lie
always came home bringing 3 shadow with him, and sat,
for the most part, in this shadow, through all tho cheer
less evenings.
Why was ths' Was there a great trouble in the heart
Of NJ. Hickman Had he passed through some de
pressing misfortune ? No. 1t was as well with him as
with most ~people-better than with a very large num-
Der. His business was prosperous, and every year he
added many thousands Of dollars 10 his rapidly accumu-
lating fortune. But he was not a man possessing IN or
derby adjusted mind-wa easily disturbed by tr files, and
annoyed by incidents that should not have affected him
any more than the buzzing Of a hy. But the real cause
lay deeper and more hidden, grounded in sn inordinate
%selfshness. that robbed him OF the pleasure which might
| have attended success, through envy Of others good for
tune. He was Jealous Of his compeers in business, and
always experienced a disagreeable sensation when he
heard them spoken Of as successful NOwOnder thatsun-
light ecu d not lind its way into his hear. Envy and i'll
VIII, burn N what heart they may, always send up b
black smoke that obscures the heavens. The sun is there,
shining as brightly as ever, but his rays cannot penetrate
this cloud Of passion. No day passed in which something
did nOtoccar 10 disturb or cloud the mind of Nh. Hick-
man and so, evening after evening, he came home,
bringing with him shadow instead Of sunlight. Oh,
what a Dissertation Of home was this home, where the
hearts sunlight should ever dwell, and a heartyvarmth
/ pervade all the sweet atmosphere. Nothing Of external
sOod was denied by Mr.. Hickman TO his family. They
had all of happiness that money could buy. Yet how far
from happiness were his wife and children. They We're
dropping for the sunshine Of smiles, and pleasant words,
and joyous laughter. But these came not from MIR.
Hickman He sat among them grim and gloomy, for the
most part, Ike some sombre heather divinity dread
ed, half prOpitisted.
Mr.. Hiexnan was not So stolid but he saw in this the
existence Of q wrong He loved his wife and children,
desired their good, and was ready 10 make almost any
sacrifice for item that he knew how to make. Even as
ne sat moodiiy in his room, conscious that his presence
rested Ike nightmare on the spirits of his wife and chill
dren, 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 20 back
to some incident Of the day, which mere ~selfshness gave
power to disturb his feelings, aud be would go Off again
into q brooding state Of mind, ont Of which he had not
resolution enough TO lift himself Often IL happened that
his children sought, in the outgushing giadnss Of their
hearts, 10 break the spell that was on him-buf almost al
ways he rspulsed thenl-sometimes coldly. sometimes
~fretfuhy, ana sometimes in sudden auger-so that; at
last, they rarely came near or spoke 90 him, as he sat
through his silent evenings.
Wrong, all wrong" Mr.. Hickman often said to him
self. as the shadow fell darker on his home. But a knowl-
edge Of the eva did not bring a knowledge Of the cure,
or rather that selfeonquest which must preeede a cure.
He must let the sunshine into his own heart ere he could
pour forth its rays upon other hearts. He must come out
OF the dense forests and gloomy valleys and dusky cav
ems, into the clear sunshine but how was he to come |
outi Who was to lead him forthf
One day, as Mr.. Hickman sat in his countingroom, con
yersIng with a gentleman, q lad came In from the store 20
ask him some questions about business Mr.. Hickman
replied in a curt way, and the lad went out
What is that boys name q asked the gentleman.
Prank Edwards,' was replied
Though 50, He's a fine boy. How long has he
been with y6ug"
About three months" |
Does he give satisfaction =
Yes
I'm pleased to hear it. His mother lives In our
neighborhOod, and my wife has teken considerable inte-
rest IN her She IL very poor and 10 feeble health She
MAINTAINS herself by sewing, but that Kind Of exhaust
ing toll is wasting ur life rapidly. Frank is her only
child, and the only one to whom she can look for any [
help. ] am glad you like him"
Nothing mere was said on the subject, but It did not |
pass from the mind of Mr.. Hickman. He had taken the
lad a few months before on trial, and it was understood
that if he gave satisfaction, he was to be put On wages
The boy is faithful, intelligent and active" said Mr..
Hickman, speaking to himself "K it is 50 with his
mother, he must be put on wages now"
This conclusion in the mind of Mr.. Hickman was
attended with q sense OF pleasure. His heart had opened
ana warmth, had gone down into II.
What shall l pay him for his services ," said Mir.
Hickman to himself still dwelling on the subject.
There are plenty Of lads TO be obtained az a couple
Of dollars q week for the first cue or two years or even
for nothing, in consideration Of tSe opportunity for learn
ing a good business in Q good house. But Franks case
is peculiar, and must he considered by itself. There is 3
question of humanity involved His mother il poor and
sick, and she has no hope but in him. Let me see; shall
| make it three dollars a week That viii help them
considerably. But, dear mSl three dollars will hardly
pay for Franks eating. l must do something better than
that. Say four dolara."
Mr. Hickman dropped his head a little, and sat turning
the matter oyer in his mind. He had once been a poor
boy, with q mother in feeble health and he remembered
how hard it was for him to get along-how many priya-
tons and ~hardships his mother had TO endure and yet
their income was nearly double the amount be thought
Of giving Frank. Mr.. Hickman had always loved his
mother and this memory OF her softened his feelings still
more tOEsnd the poor widow, for whom an appeal had
come 20 hiIa So Unexpectedly.
Prank is an unusually bright boy" said Mr.. Hickman.
" He has an aptness for business is pfOmpt and faithful
/ can afford to make his salary liberal III pay him six
dollars now, and if he goes on improving as fast as he has
done so far, it viii not be long before l can make it better
for him"
Mr.. Hickman arose, and going to the countingroom
door. called the LAD, who came in immediate y.
How do you like our business, FEank2" asked Mr.
Hickman, in a kind way.
"Very well, sill" replied the boy, promptly
sand you would like TO remain 2"
Eyes, sir, If ! give satisfaction"
You haYe done very well so far replied Mr. HEX
man; so well, that ] have eonEluded to put you on wages
now, instead of waiting until the sE months o: trial have
The boy started, and a quick flush of surprise and
pleasure went over his face.
Al did not expect it. sir, he said, gratefully. "You
are very good
Your motheF is pot well, l hear" said MI. Hickman
Franks eyes glstened az he answered, No, SIR she's
been sick for 3 good while and I'm 90 glad 70 be put on
wages, for now / eau help her"
." Wfl You give all your wages to yOur mOtheTf"
oh, yes, indeed, sir every cent, if it was ten dollars
a week"
u see you're a good boy, Frank " said Mr.. Hickman,
a. heart still screening " and your wages shall be six
dollars"
The boy struck his hands together with sudden joy, eN
claiming |
o mother viii be SO glad-o gladl7
As be went back into the store, Mr.. Hickman sat
quietly in his chair, feeling happier than be had been for
: Iops time. When the sun went down, Bnd Frank came
4, to shut the windows of the counting room, Nj. lick
man handed him a sealed envelope, saying:
ar,ke this to your mother. 1t contains thrtysix dol
49, ~ vour wares, at three dollars a week for twelve
$3.50 The time Won have been in my store. Tell your
mother that you have been a good, industrious boy, and
lave earned the money"
Ersak iook the little package in silence bis feelings
are ~ much overcome Dy this additional good fortune,
mai he could not speak his thankS But his syas told
What was in his heart, and Mr.. Hickman understood
them. Il
There are many ways 10 catch sunbeams, II we could
oniv set trsps for them. Nay, there is no occasion 10 go
ii mai trouble. The air is full Of sunbeams, and we
have only 20 open toe doors and windows Of our hearts,
and they VIII enter in countless malhtudeS But the
doors and windows of most peoples hesFts gre shnt anq
barred as was the heart Of Mr.. Hickman HOW are they
10 be ogauedq Just as the doors and windows OF his
heart were 0pened-ky kindness 10 others.
When Mr.. Hickman took his way homeYerd, his step
was lighter and his feelings more 0dOyRnt than lgey had
been for a long { me. Though conscious Of this and OF
the sense Of pleasure that was new 70 him, his thought
dd not 90 directly to the cause. Not that he had forgot
tan Frank and his sick mother or the glad face that
looked into his when he told the boy Of his generous de !
cision in hs favor; all this was present 10 him. though