Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-09-16
selttt storp.
MARION HART.

The world is full of sorrow Grief is
heavens discipline. Ii nourishes the
strength of human virtues; and in its in
fluence the graces and beauties Of
character, bud and blossom-fowers OF
earth. 10 bear their fruit in heaven.
As woman is the lovelier, and her na-
ture the most symmetrical-beautiful yet
strong-pliant, yet tirm-having at once
grace and power. so does she attain only
in the school of sorrow TO her highest rank
and mission. Men never can understand
how. in woman's heart, patience hath
done its perfect work; and character be-
comes entire, wanting nothing; and she
reaches on earth the eStature nearest 10
the angels.
Mans sorrows fall on him like the dash
of storm on the hard surface. And
though, for while. the tempest of sorrow
leaves deep furrows, these traces soon
pass away. But on woman's gentler and
more receptive nature, sorrow falls as a
silent rain which abides with her. The
gracious fruit follows in the gentle virtues
which are ever the growth OF adversely,
when grief is sustained in fortitude, and
borne in an abiding trust in the mercy Of
God Woman is not ashamed Of her faith,
OF her religion. of her weakness. Nor is
she ashamed of her reliance upon Him
who is the widows God.
Death, whenever it comes, and to
whonlsoever, is 10 some heart a messen-
ger of woe. The dying may be ready to
depart but the more ready to 60, the less
prepared are the survivors for the loss.
For the inevitable summons the world has
not yet been prepared by all its centuries
Of life and death. And never, in all his
visits, does the dread messenger come
with more of the aggravation Of sorrow,
than when the bride of a year is made =
widow. There is here so speedy des-
truction of life's hopes and plans, and
peace and happiness is 50 rudely broken.
that in all the world there seems not so
great a wreck as this.
Il cannot live!" said Marion Hart in her
despair. Il cannot live, and he for whom
lived, is no more"
You cannot de-" said the gentle and
grave man TO whom she had made this
earnest and passionate declaration. tie
had been indicating 10 her the duties she
owed to the living, and tho wrong she
thought in burying those duties with the
dead. And her answer was-''l cannot
! cannot Something was due to the
depths of her sorrow. More was due TO
her obligations to God, and to her kind /;
and in gentle voice her counsellor pro-
ceeded-"You cannot die, for neither life
nor death are in our choice. All things
are rs God determines. We are born by
His will l.; and for His work. We die by
His will and death comes only when it
promotes the end for which He created
Us. He hath appointed Life and Death.
No, Mrs. Hart, you cannot de-"
She bowed her head on her hands, with
fresh but silent gush of tears. rs her
visitor with these words took his leave
"Mrs. HART" These words brought
home to her with deeper sorrow her
widowed loneliness.
Through her short married life she had
not yet lost her maiden name of Marion.
Not yet had come to her the dearer title,
mother And in the utter desolation OF
her silent home, she whispered to her.
self--"Mrs. Hart! Mrs. Hartr' Who can
know me by that name? Inever have
been known by any other than Marion!''
| do wish my own dear mother were here. "
Two days ago the husband of her youth.
and her dear love, had been carried forth,
and borne to his long home. The anxiety
and the occupation of the sad rites were
over. There remsined nothing hore that