Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-03-24
Swinging on the Gate.


Another blessed Saturday night added
to the triumphs OF Eternity as It has been
snatched from time! f5i.itf fisi'si
The lover thinks he il one week nearer
the day when she will be his love forever,
while the sweetheart thanks God that one
week more has gone from her life of hated
unfulfillment! The sick sufferer who is ex-
pecting death thanks God that another
seven day vail has been removed from be-
fore the door we all must enter once, and
wonders if another week will be all for
earth or part for Heaven.
Tonight we walked home, for the cars
were crowded. We were thinking of the
labor we had done since last week went
and this one came. There were so manv
torial written-so may requests granted
and 30 many disappointed, just as it is in
life each day, you know. And we were
thinking and wondering how many thou
sands, OF hundreds Of persons in the land
would read this Saturday Night what we
had written and printed since last we
closed the labors of the week, wiped our
rack to rest against the morrow.
hs VIC WhlACa NioAS "C G@W ASoAAAS
over little iron gate in front of neat
brick house pretty, chubby-faced boy, as
if waiting for some one. Looking to a
window, we saw middle-aged woman
sitting thereby with paper in her hand,
as if reading.
"Hello, little captain You are the boy
that has red cheeks and bright eyes! What
are you doing out here in the cold p
Tam looking for my papa Z"
"Where is he coming from ?"
Down town, sir, and he comes afoot T.
What is your name 2 ,a s..
Bobby"
"How old are you ?" -'tf
Five years, 90 my mamma saysTa -ss.
"Where is your mammal"
cat the window! Don't you see her ?
Team !" es50.-g
ooh, yes-that is she, sure enough"
"Yesw Fg ""A b'aR "a1
"When does Jour papa Gomez"
"He always comes nop! And I am
waiting for him, and SO is mamma !"
swell, Bobby, you are a nice little boy.
Do you love your papaw
Eyes. sir" .-.ssss..,.
"Well, he will come pretty soon. May
be he is stopping to buy something to
bring you?" "a
II know he is-and he'll kiss me when
he comes, and he'll kiss mamma, too,
cause he always does, and l kiss him, and
mamma kisses him, too"
"Well, Bobby, hadn't you better run in
where mamma is, and look out OF the win
dow till papa comes. it's cold out here!"
"No, sir-I don't want to! He'll come,
for he always comes nOao Z"
Just then, down the little one sprang
from the gate, pushed it open and then
scampered down the sidewalk few rods
to meet the one he had been waiting for,
and who he knew always came no1
Perhaps some Of you saw him. He was
a well built man, clad in honest garb.
His cap fitted close to his head-his coat
was closely buttoned-he caught the little
hoy in his arms and kissed him-then let
him down and walked along with proud,
firm, muscular step, like monarch among
men. No wonder the little boy swung on
the gate--no wonder the wife sat looking
out of the widow for his coming. He held
the hand of the little one who trotted
alongtby his side. As they came to the
gate, by the side of which we stood care
lessly, the woman at the window arose
and walked to the door, the man passed
by-little Bobby looked at us with smile
and said ..s .gftt
II told you he'd come"
They passed into the house, and we
came to ours.
The man did not notice US. Perhaps he
never heard Of us-perhaps he has. 1t
may be he is a man that hates us, and
says bitter thingsagainst u.s. Well, never
mind-he is good TO his little boy-he is
good to the one he loves, who is mamma
to little Bobby-he comes home Saturday
night with proud, firm step-he lisa man
he loves his home ones, and we IKE
him.
That man is living to q purpose. He is
a true man, of use in the world. Two
hearts, atleast, besides his own, were made
glad by his coming. And he was good not
to keep them waiting, IS Thousands and
thousands Of men, and women, too, keep
their loved ones waiting. when the heart
is hungry for love, and the minutes drag
like hours. He was workingman-his
hands and clothes told US 80. The week
went and he came-not late, as il he hated
to come home, but early IS if his heart was
there. Little Bobby was proud of him.
He knew his papa would come; and with
q warm and earnest kiss. Little Bobby
was happy. Inc iAtner was happy, OF MS
looks hed-and they did not.
= =
Now, we have been thinking till the
hands on the watch face before US point
to midnight. What good world this
world would be il every home had q gate
where swung and waited o. little one,
knowing that now papa would come with
q kiss, smile, and good heart. If at
every home, by window, were seated
some loving woman and loving wife, wait
ing, not dreading, the approach Of her
husband, knowing he would be there on
time, quick, firm in his step, prompt In
his manhood, and sober, like one who 70
monarch Of himself and therefore over al.
And an men might be so-can be 20, If
they will And then what glorious
world in which to live! ~ Y
And we have been thinking, and must
write It before we quit work, Of the thou
sands Of little boys and girls who might
swing for hours and hours on gates, of
the women who may watch .: windows
for hours, wondering when will come
how win come-the one who 10 ct heart
real rood, but who lacks the nerve TO be
the man he ought TO be, can be, should,
and would be, e he would only pause TO
Il n Il - IVY