Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1862-12-26
THE JOURNAL.
ONE DAY alta TIME.
BY T. 9. ARTHUR.

Byr. 9. ARTHUR.
One neighbor dropped in upon another.
"Are, you sick, Mrs. Carson?" asked the WIS.,
itor, on meeting a pale, troubled face.
"Sick at heart, Mary" was answered gloom
lily. Not even tho ghost Of smile became
visible.
us that all?' The visitors ccuntenance
frightened.
II don't know Of any worse sickness" she
said, rather abruptly. i.
s.That depends on the organ and nature OF
the disease" replied the friend. There is
heart-sickness, which is unto death but l
take it that yours is milder type, having ITS
origin among life's petty annoYances, or 1t
may be in its more sober disappoirtments, in
things common to US all, yet borne in how
many different ways"
Mrs. Carson sighed heavily. There was
leaden weight on her bosom. Reason assented
to her visitors suggestions, but oppressed
feelings held her in bondage.
"WEat troubles you to-day? why are
YOU so much cast down ?" asked the visitor.
"But this may be an intrusion
Mrs. Carson did not answer Immediately.
Her dreary eyes rested on the floor, her hands
lay idly in her lap she was the picture OF
dependency. At length she said:
Sowing to changes in business. my hus'
band must give up his situation. A disolu'
ton of the firm throws him out. Tomorrow
he leaves his place, with no prospect OF an.
other. What are we to do? We've saved
nothing. How could we on so light an in
Gomez"
''I'm sorry to hear that" answered the
lady. Every sorry"
''Could anything be more gloomy or dis
couraging? Can you wonder that am in
trouble ?"
81 do not wonder that you are concerned
about the future Mrs. Carson. That is q
natural result. But cannot see, in the event,
any reason why you should sit down with
folded hands, and make yourself miserable,
Mr.. Carson is, of course, troubled"
"You may we'll say that. He took scarcely
a mouthful of breakfast this morning."
On him rests the heaviest part of the burden.
lie must provide and maintain home for
his wife and children. sympathize with him
from my heart"
"It's seeing him So cast down that makes
me so wretched," said Mrs. Carson. "If he
were cheerful and hopeful, could take heart. "
"Perhaps in thought he is sayining the
same of you"
"When did he tell you this?"
"Last night saw that something was
troubling HIM, and urged him to say what it
was. Then he told me-"
"How did you receive the announcement p
Mrs. Carson was silent.
"Bravely, as wife should, when she sees
trouble approaching her husband, or in weak
ness and tears!"
"In weakness and tears, I make you this
confession"
"Did that help him any? Did that make
his trouble lighter"
mo, no, my friend. While telling me OF
this change, he mingled hopeful words in his
sentences. But afterwards he sat silent and
gloomy through all the evening"
"And your"
''Cried myself almost sick"
"And sat opposite to him, at breakfast
time, this morning, with rueful visage.
sNo wonder" said Mrs. Carson, repeating
the words to herself. "That was not we'll at
least"
"And shall not be repeated, Mary. Poor
man! he has enough to bear, without the dead
weight CT my dependency"
Il am glad to hear you say that, Mrs. Car
son."
"Now you are coming towards the right
way of thinking. We have only one to-day
we shall find the elements of disquietude as
we'll. TO accept the one and reject the other,
is to be wise. Last evening you cast aside
your husbands hopeful words, and drew
around both his heart and yours pail OF
dependency. This morning your state was
unchanged, and you let him 60 forth doubly
weighted. My friend, this was not well.
Now pray you, limit thought and duty, as
far as in you lies, to this one day, which in
Gods Providence is yours. You have q
pleasant homo, children and husband. There
is not a single external cement, in all apper-
tanning TO your to day, that is not favorable
to peace of mind. When tomorrow becomes
today, will the change be marked? think
not. You will still have home, food, raj
ment. your children and your husband, and
Gods promise to those who do their duty in
sineleness of heart. What if your husbands
hands are idle for short time? What if the
way looking weeks and months in advance,
does not seem clear? Your to-dayis all bright
if you have it so. The sun shines, the heart
beats, Gods Providence is not hindered.
You may be in peace, if you do your best to
secure peace"
The friend departed, leaving Mrs. Carson
in better frame of mind, and with her
thoughts flowing in the right direction. Zone
day at tme," she said to herself, as her
hands took hold of the duties of the hour.
"Ah! if we could so live, how tranquil all
might be. Even in this feeble effort, my
heart has a calmer beat. did not believe
in the possibility of a change such as l feel
One day at time"
She fingered on the suggestion, drawing
out more and more distinctly many of the
things it involved, aud seeing more and more
clearly how it lay at the basis of all right
living and true enjoyment.
Relieved in great measure from its burden
of dependency, the mind Of Mrs. Carson
lifted itself into clearer light and became
busy with ways and means adapted to the
change which had taken place in their circum.
stances. Instead of running with folded
hands, in terror Of approaching ills-or dwell
ing in vague apprehensions, she let hope gain
entrance; and hope had good words to say.
Slowly, in the dimly closing twilight man
walked, with eyes upon the pavement;
bowed head and hand, with STOPPING should
ers, he was bending under heavy weight.
One week ago, the Same man walked in the
twilight, with head erect, and quickly falling
footsteps almost impatient to reach bis home.
Then he looked for smiling welcome and
loving words, now as thought reached for
ward, he saw only clouds Of tears. His heart
was cheerful then, heavy now. Suddenly his
path had been crossed by amountain range
that seemed impossible. For himself he
might grid his loins, and bravely move to
ascend, but, she who must walk by the side
through smiling landscapes, or amid toillng
activities, had sunk down, overcome by weak
terrors; and with this added, how was be to
advance? Brave enough to face the noun
tain, with it's sky reaching cliffs, and snow
SUBMITS, if his way was over its barrier; and