The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-09-25

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he came here, did with Fanny. Well, he
was teased sometimes-just as somebody and
Fanny used to quarrel-and they made itup,
and sat In the dark, and wrote letters every
day, and were never happy asunder, and
were always looking out for one another and
pretending not 70, and were engaged at
Christmas time. and sat close to one another
by the fire, and were going to be married ve-
ry soon--all exactly like somebody won't
mention and Fanny! ..
But the traveller lost them one day, as he
had lost his other friends. and after calling
to them to come back, which they never did,
went on his journey. So he went on for o
little while without seeing anything, until at
last he came to q middle aged gentleman. So
he said to the gentlemap, "What are you
doing here?" His answer was, al am al.
ways busy. Como and be busy with me-"
So he began to be very busy with the gen.
'tleman, and they went on through the wood
together. The whole journey was through
wood. only It had been open and green at
FIRST, like wood in spring, and now began
to he thick and dark, like a wood in sum.
mer sUlnc. Of the little trees that had come
out earliest were even turning brown. The
gentleman was not alone, but had lady of
about the same age with him, who was his
wife-and they had children who were with
them, too. So they oil went on together
through tho wood, cutting down the trees,
and making q path through the branches
and the fallen leaves, and carrying burdens,
and working hard.
Sometimes they came to long, green av-
enue that opened into deeper woods. Then
they would hear very little distant voice
crying: "Father, father, am another
child! Stop for me ~ And presently they
would see very little figure growing larger
as 1t came along, running to join them.-
When it came up they all crowded around
it, and then they all went together.
Sometimes they came to several avenues at
once, and they all stood still, and one of the
chllden said, "Father, am going to sea,
and another said. "Father | am going to
India" and another, "Father, am going to
seek my fortune where can" and another.
"Father, | am going to Heaven" So with
many tears at parting, they went, solitary,
down those avenues, each child upon its
way; and the child who went to Heaven
roso into the golden air and vanished.
Whenever these partings happened, the
traveller looked at the gentleman and saw
him glance up at the sky above the trees,
where tho day was beginning to decline,
and the sunset to come on. lie saw, too,
that his hair was turning grey. But they
never could rest long. for they had their
journey to perform, and 1t was always neces.
sary for them to be busy.
At last there had been so many partings
that there were no children lett, and only
the traveller, the gentleman and the lady,
went upon their way in company. And
now the wood was yellow, and now brown,
and the leaves even Of the forest trees began
to fall.
So they came to an avenue that was dark
er than the rest, and were pressing forward
on their journey without looking down 1t,
when the lady stopped.
"My husband, said tho lady, al am call
ed"
They listened, and they heard voice n
long way down the avenue, say, "Mother,
mother"
1t was tho voice of the first child who said,
81 am going to Heaven !" and the father
said, II pray not yot. Sunset 10 very near.
pray not yet"
But the voice cried, Mother, mother"
without minding him, though his hair was
now quite white, and tears were on his face.
Then the mother, who was already drawn
into the shade Of the dark avonue and NOV.
ing away with her arms still around his
neck, kissed him, and said, "My dearest, l
am summoned, and go!" And she was
gone, and the traveller and he were left alone
together.
And they went on and on together, until
they came to very near the end Of the wood
so near that they could SEQ the sunset
shining red before the trees
Yet once more, while he broke his way
among tho branches, the traveller lost his
friend. He called and called, but thero was
no reply, and when he passed out Of the
woods, and saw the peaceful sun going down
upon wide purple prospect, he came to an
old man sitting on fallen, tree. So hesaid
to the old man, "What do you do here2'
And the old man said. with u calm smile, ~
am always remembering. Come and remem.
Der with me-"
So the traveller sat down by the side OF
that old man. face to face with the serene
sunset, and oil his friends came softly back
and stood around me. Tho beautiful girl,
tho handsome boy, the young man in love,
the father, mother. and children; every one
Of them was there, and he had lost nothing.
So he loved them all, and was kind and for
bearing with them all, and was always pleas.
cd to watch them all, and they all honorod
and loved him.
"And think the traveller must bo your.
sclf, dear grandfather, because this is what
you do to US, and what We do to you."
OBrrEx DIcrA.-"Sir," said Sir Boyle
Roche, the Irish Orator, ON one occasion. al