Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1866-06-22
at(iStell ntuu s.
The Voice in the Heart.
BY LOUISE CHANDLER MoULToN.

Pierce Richmond took up letter whicl
had Just been brought in, and glanced al
the subscription, ..lIon. Pierce Richmond
lie had seen his name thus written often
enough before: but it suggested, just NOW
II curious continuation Of the tram ol
thought which had been absorbing him. II
was his pride to be Il selfmade man, and
he had been going back, this morning ovel
Il half century. and remembering his boy
hood. The little brown cottage with tht
thiekest of sweet briar round it, treishtin.
the summer air with fragrance, was apfet-
IL spot when he lived therc-the only SOL
OF his mother, and she Il widow. He could
see it. looking back, as plainly as II the II
~ Years were only Il mist ol morning roll
i'll. away from the we'll known scene. How
pale and quiet, but tender and long suffer
ing his mother was. He felt again hen
soit kisses, and remembered how her lips
used To trcmble when she called linn hen
lathercss hoy. Aud again his VEINS seem
ed 10 thrill with the hoyish' pride ot til,
old DAYS when he sat down beside her ;tne
told her that ht wonld grow up stout an,
strong, able to do Il Ilau'S work among
men, and that she never should toll 81 "ea
rly with her needle any more.
II She had but lived, ami he had had hei
10 work for, it woull have kept his hear
/ fresh and unsclIish. But he Sliltercd a%all
with throb Of the old agony, as he remem
bered how he had found her one morning
with Il smile frozen on her still lips. Iool
| Of peace on her white face and knew
that the lips would never welcome HIM any
more, or the eyes rest OH him with tllei
sad tcndcrncss-tllath his mother had gone
from the land where she was Il pilgrim t'
the home eternal in heaven
How he pitied himself, this morning .
which write, recalling that time, fifty
years ago when he Was only twelve, aut
his mother had left him alone. y Shy
shrinking boy he was then, despite his grea
faith i'll his own iutGre-'a mother boy.
as the phrase is in the country, and quaint
u touching, it always seemed to me. II,
Had been all his life under her Scltle "ln-
and NOW he could iind there no more shel
ter.
Yet his lot was not intocrably hard
He wa, apprcntieed by the town authorl-
ties To II prosperous farmer and he had !;
comfortable home. no more work than Wa'
reasonable, and little schooling ii, the
NitlitI. IbNl ib tit luNtb MN tliiN ~
who had lived, hitherto, in an atmosphere
of mother love- and his proud, sensitive
heart grew cold and hard. lie cared for
llo one but himself, and though he did his
work faithfully he cndearcd himself to none
lie seemed To live in II world OF his own
into which he was not disposed to open
an, doors. Strong purposes grew into hi'
silent musings. He would make himself Il
name II position, "A career. But all hi'
plan, ended M they begun, with himself
aud 1t /, sad thing when Il human being
has nothing else to live for.
Nheu he was twenty .onc, with his "irec-
dom suit" ON his back, he marched ANA!
tlnuI F-cNhurg, aud went ont into the Worlo
Ia begin i.i- career which, through all thoS,
brupdlus year. of his solitary boyhood, h'
had been planning. will not weary yor
with the processes by means of which ht
achieved success. Enough tina; at last he
esteemed himself To have reached it. IL,
wa nch man. we'll known i'll financial
eirclcs. aud term IN Congress had giVel
hun "a night to the title OF honor upon lll'
letters.
.Prrtty WE'LL" he said aloud, after al
these memories had passed like long pan
orama before him, pretty well Tor old Ton
SeiTboroueh's bound boy. tlmh | may
call my lie u success"
And, If surroundings earthly and tempo
fal are the standard ut measurement, Yet
would not have pronounced him far Wfon.
had lou glanced about the apartment, hal
slady, hall breakfast rooln. where he Ia.
luzi been taking his morning meal. To h'
a gentleman had been one oi his ambitions
aud rs soOn as he was able to live elegant
! Is. he had surrounded himself with the ap
pliancrs OF luxury. On the floor Of his Ia
Varite room a soft. warm carpet, Nlclde,
like woodland moss to his footsteps
Handsomely bound books filled the cayerl
eases. from iloor to ceiling, Chairs upbol
slered im Russia leather, held out capaclou
arms io him. His breakfast service VAS o
silver and porcelain, and at the least toucl
al the bell beside him, itself IA dainty toy
trained servants were ready to obey his be
hesis.
These things to-day-and, back fifty
years the little three, roomed cottage; ti,
ilotllei pale and weary, but tender, ai.t
himself harciooted. eQarsely clad, butyouns
aud strong aud eager, hopeful, and witt
MI the future possibilities before him. Wa
lie richer now
4 tap upon the door elected half un
rracinus ''come in." for he was not We
ready To break the spell OF his own thoughts
lie lad traced the career Of that barefoot