Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1862-08-22
VOL. Xiv.
MARKING THE HOURS THAT
YSHTNE.
BIZ MRS. FRANCES D. GAGE.

z
sSHINE.
By MRS. FRANCES D. GAGE.
The next morning, after taking possession
of our "own hired house, in Carbon3ale
arose rather dispirited, half inclined to th'
the blues, and did not see any way in partieu
lar to rub off the dolorous color. Everything
was at skies and sevens-boxes and bureaus
barrels and bedsteads stood in ghastly ant
gaunt array, while cases eupboards, chairs anC
carpets made confusion more confounded.-
Everything was wanted and nothing TO b'
found, and yet everything was exactly in th'
way. The rooms Of the house we're in thC
best possible condition TO set ones nerves int
tremor, and the elbows began to tingle viii
excitement. as the eye took in the view o
soiled paint, creased floors, stained glass, and
windows made without paint, broken and be-
daubed, and plaster that nothing but paper
would render decent. The sight was anything
but refreshing; although at another time
might have smiled at the dogs and horses on
the wall, mot made by Rosa Bonheur,) that
looked complacently down upon me in all the
glory of red keel and charcoal.
/ was a stranger in a strange land. I doubt
if Joseph, when his brethren sold him into
Egypt, felt more strongly depressed. The
tired family did not rise as early as usual, so
had the gloom all to myself
Did the sun shine tha. morning? 1t might
have penetrated those uncurtained windows
but it did not send beam down into those
gloomy depths, where lay the longings for the
old home, and its roses and honeysuckles. Did
the sky glow with the upspringing morning?
1t might, for there was not a visible cloud in
all the visible sky. But there were shadows,
shadows, shadows everywhere. They fell on
the doors, on the wall, on the stairway, in ev-
cry nook and Granny; and the ghosts of treas
ured memories seemed TO mock me, fitting a
bout among band boxes and bundles, and glib
bering at me with saucy tongues.
sailed out into my new kitchen-uupaint-
ed, upholstered. unlathed, unsealed. Oh how
desolate! dropped down on box, covered
my face with my apron, and was just going
to do-as silly women arc in a habit Of doing
Il won't tell what.
Rap, rap. came to the door. I wiped my
eyes, smoothed out my apren, and opened it
ghost or raven
''Only this, and nothing more,
but there stood a beautiful child, a boy OF
some six or eight summers, radiant as MAY
morning, ana in his hand 4 small boquet Of
spring roses.
iy mother sent these TO YOU he said in a
soft-toned voice looking mp brightly into my
eyes.
Indeed Y exclaimed, as I took them from
hTrt,t Gcf i
mother lve?"
"Oyer there, was the laconic answer, as he
pointed with his finger to cottage among
the trees.
"Oh, thank you my little man, and tell
your mother thank you more tEan can tell
for love flowers" was my answer to him
as he turned ana bounded away.
l held the beautiful things in my hand, and
looked into their eyes, and they seemed to
find tongues to talk to ne, and comfort me-
They told me of kind and genial heart near
by, that knew of stranger; end sent this
message Of love and good cheer, to lift the veil
from her eyes, aud speak hope to the sinking
spirit, and there came a glow from the centre
and spread out over all the Garth I looked
up and the sunlight gided the forests, the
/ house tops and the brown and bare fields
! The rooms were changed, the broken plaster
/ log and bare walls were blooming with fresh
roses. elasped them iu MY hands. and press
cd them 10 my lips, and drops of gratitude
fell into their pure eoroI'as, as 1 flew with
them to the children crying:
"See-we are not alone"
There is one heart in the neighborhood al
least, that knew the feeling of stranger
one that knew there was a gloom even ct sun
rise in a May morning, in q strange land, in q
new home, and she had sent us flowers, the
most cheerful and beautiful of all Gods hand
iwork of the forest or wood, and by the hand
of little child, "type of the kingdom ofheav.
en- to link the past with the present, and &c
gild with brightness the portals of the future
with hope and light. Heaven bless her fol
that thought, she had swept away in a mo-
ment the clouds Of doubt and sadness
Who but woman, gentle and loving, could
have thought of such delicate compliment;
In the depths of her own soul she knew my
need, and answered.
went back to my duty Day follows day
and mig ht answereth 10 night, and no sucl
gloomy hour has come 10 drape to drape the
world in mourning, rose buds are opening
everywhere, and my eyes see them. That ont
kind act will gild all coming time, and al
eternity will not, cannot destroy its effect.