American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1866-10-17
LIGHT ON DARKKNED PATHS.
BY MELICENT IRWIN.

"My love you are wearied. Is it i'm.
perative that letter should be written to-
nishtW and Mr.. Vernon playtully laid
the evening paper on the fair blank sheet
his wife had selected before dipping her
pen in the Angely inkstand
Tue gentle face, with the sweet earn
est look in the clear eyes, was raised for
d moment
IL want Edward to know that / think
he has done right; and the sooner the
better, poor boy After the first excits-
ment of carrying resolution into effect [
am afraid there will be reaction. His is
determined spirit, thought
Then Ed. has really given up college,
and turned book keeper? | thought he
was too much of hero for that p spoke
Frank, bright, high-spirited boy.
"The more hero for so doing, nv
son" replied Mrs. Vernon, as her pen
began rapidly tracing the clear, delicate
charactets, and as later she turned the
page she continued-"A A hero first in his
struggle with difficulties in fitting himself
for the University, and now just when
hope seemed On the eve Of. .truitiou, none
che less one in relinquishing his cherished
ambition because duty points another
way"
But Colonel Roosevelt invited Mrs
Mayo and Cornelia to come to Keens-
borp, | Thought Colonel Roosevelt lives
like a nabob, toor'
''It was that offer that made me wrong
Edward by doubling him. A home whose
uncongeniality young man could hardly
be expected to appreciate, being offered
to his mother and sister after the settla.
ment of his fathers affairs, he has from
a child been 50 persistent in his aim, SO
intellectually ambitious, that knowing his
mother gonld for his sake hide SO far as
possible her repugnance to giving up
home of her own, could not tell how it
might be with him. He has decided mo-
bly, and the quick tracefy began again
on the white page.
"You are feverish, Anna. You are
wearing yourself out with this constant
activity, carried on SO quietly, to, that
none Of US notice it until its effects are
too palpable!" !" said Mr.. Vernon, as later
in the evening his wife, with a weary
look, pressed her Hand 10 her brow as II
for momentary relief.
"'Beter wear out than rust out you
know. Whose motto is that, Mr.. vern-
on 2" she asked, archly and brightly, driv-
ing the weary look from her face as she
spoke. But, seriously, l am doing Meth
er.. : neglected my walk both yesterday
and to.4gy-t that is all. l must have my
fresh air, you Know, or | wilt like any
other growth that once owned open cliEg
ate !" and the bright smile came again.
"But all these little things that you
do SO punctually," cxpostulated her hus-
band, ,"hke the writing of this letter to
night, for instance; though you had ac-
knowledged you were suffering from
headache.
"And because headache had resentea-
a neglected walk was that reason most
learned judge, that Edward Mayoshould
miss frisadly ray of light on bis dark
cned way ?" half playfully, half earnestly.
"But merely letter." still pursued
Mr.. Vernon, zkhough in concluding
tone as though Dnqu uishing the subject.
at could have been'written another time
as vel" p
~ know | would not overate trife;
and yet, oh, Thom as" and her voice,
smooth and sweet as it was, let tones into
it from some sad, far away country, as the
sunshine lets flicker suddenly into it the
shadows of summer leaves stirred By the
soft south wind. II have known Tie time
when a few kind words had they been
me, would have filled tbs whole Heaven
with light. The most common express
sions of faith and hope, tFite though they
may seem to others, are clothed with new
meaning when coming from friend
There would be fewer doubts of Heayen,
human hearts were more faithful to their
trusts. | can never forget she resumed,
after the little silence that vas broken
only by the soft rnstiing Of Fafnk !
Weekly athat there have been times