Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1867-03-21
NUMBER %.


II am glad to see you, Ellen" he said,
"but | don't see what you wanted to come
to this dreary place for. You won't stay
long, Ireckon." M
"Indeed, will / never want to leave
you all again" she answered afec tomato
" clasping his hand. and looking up kind
" into his face, that would have been
handsome had it been less discontinued.
This is mothers room," he said, lead
ing her into room, whose darkness was
lighted only by a dim fire, that just ena-
bled her to discern her mother on the low
couch near it. "a
'.Where are Susie and Henry?" she ask
ed when the tender greeting was over.
Henry spends most of his time with
Capt May, who has done mucn to per-
suade him off on his next voyage. They
leave day after tomorrow . just then Su-
sic entered, having been aroused from her
book by George.
Il intended to have fire or light be-
fore you came, she said to Ellen, but I
got to reading and forgot it." ets7 s.
''You generally do said George. sits
rather surprise than otherwise to find
light or warmth when leone in at night. y
One reason why home isn't happy, said
Ellen, mentally Henry came in just be-
fore supper; the discomfort in Georges
face was supplied in his by a reckless hard
ihood, that troubled Ellen. There, Su-
sie," he said as they sat down to the ia
BILE, ''you didn't make the cake like, after
all. / should think Ellen's coming would
have made you remember that" j.. .pa
"Well, | would have made it, but
George wouldn't cut any wood, and we
hadto have cold bread for tea, so [ could
not bake it." II don't know where the
blame is, said Ellen again to herself; lit
lies all round, / expect" 7dfo ~
That evening was the last time Henry
visited Captain May, until he left. To
hear Ellen tell of her happy life at her
aunt's, and more than all, her gentle man.
ner, that stronger than her pleadings, urg-
ed him not to go abroad, kept him near
her until he left His departure made a
little change in the household that was al
ways gloomy, but this now began to
brighten. 1t was wonderful how, after a.
few days, Ellen's presence began to affect
the household. The long darkened win
dows were opened, and the sunshine let in.
Her mother, with Ellen's kind help
and cheerful encouragement, now oftener
left her couch, and sat by the breezy sun
nv window. Susie left her dark nook ON
the staircase to sit for hours by Ellen,
learning to sew, and learning also in the
beautiful morals that Ellen's stories always
drew for themselves, to know that she had
something to do in life. and also, that az
yet, she had done nothing. George seemed
to catch the spirit, and 60 more earnest
ly about his duties. False pleasures away
from home were disregarded now in the
truer springs of happiness found around
the Preside. .5''.
And so the autumn glided into winter.
and the spring found Ellen, George and
Susie identifying and trying to renew the.
flower plots that once adorned it The
spring birds scarcely out-chatted the hap
py children, who, under the sweet guidance
of one of them, were finding in home
pleasures, simple as they were, happi-.
ness they never knew before. And just
when the fallen vine lately trained anew
over the porch, began to be covered with
blossoms, Henry was brought home, ILL
emaciated from long suffering, sick Of life,
desiring only to die at home with Ellen.
His voyage Of life was over, they thought
for long time, but tender nursing that
healed his body, and earnest words of ad-
vice, gave nobler longing after useful
ness that healed his spirit; at last brought
the light of health to his eyes. and strength
to his limbs.
There was no more wandering for Henry.
Home was happy now. No great changes
had been made; the closed house had only
been thrown open to Gods sunlight, and
closed hearts to Gods love, yet it was
different place, and they were different
household.
God has his angle in every home,
and oftentimes that angel is one of his
''little .es," and to bring the grief-strick-
en- from under clouds into the sunshine.
He often DEGREES that "a little child shall
lead them" r