The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1871-08-24

sidewalk, | would seem to hear again the
duh drone Of the scholars over their les
sons. Again, with tired feet, l would
pace up and down the familiar room. The
world would narrow to those four high
walls, and life seem only burden-to be
rolled off at last. Then, with my face laid
close to Bennie's, he would wonder at NY
sudden tears.
Three years of the peaceful life that had
planned-then John fell Ill. And, the
door once opened, troubles of which we
never dreamed focked in. He was not
Ike to die; but week after week he lay
quite still, or crcpt about the house. Ht
even gained slowly after a time. lie could
not hope to work for months TO come, and
some craft Of men, some wickedness OF
which l need not tell, seemed about TO pull
our house down about our heads and make
Us beggars. Then, as if we were not desc
late enough, peace went. / could not rest
DAY or night for the questiOn-Wh hat should
we do What shouldI DO? 70 20 about
the house in the old accustomed ways-to
sit long hours pushing bit Of steel through
endless seams: all this | did; but oh, l
was wild with anxiety and alarm.
l had put Bennie into his bed and read
HIM to sleep one night, as usual. Some
simple story it was, forgotten now. l only
know it touched my heart, and bore me for
the moment beyond my cares. When |
had finished, and the child slept, that poem
Of Uhland's foated into my mind;
There is a land where beauty will not fade
Nor sorrow dim the eye;
Where true healts viii not shrink or be dis
mayed
And love can never die.
| said the words over softly to myself as
paced the floor. Through the half-shat
door l could see John lying upon the sofa
dimly outlined in the darkness; but with
a ray from the gaslight outside falling
across his white face, and touching his thin
gray hair Was there nothing / could 10
to help him!
Then it came to me-my vocation ]
could read. ! had had a gift Of recitation
from a child. At one time haI even Civ
en- some attention to Clocution, with hope
OF something better than my dali school
life. Other women took to the platform,
why should not / ? Was it hclpfulncss for
John that made me strong with the
thought or was it the sudden mighty up
lifting Of forgotten ambitions?
70 some, prophecy. TO some, speaking
with tongues. To Ine-this: strange that
| should not have thought of it before 4.
The German poem dropped from my lips
and my thoughts. | went out, and knecl-
down by John, told him all my deSire-my
hope. | remember how dark and still the
room was. How that one ray Of LIGHT
touched the girl,s face upon the wall
fancied it seemed less sad tonight. Yes: :
| could help him. Surely she must re
joicc
at was a girl-dream Of mine" l said at
length, laying my hot check on his. at
Is gift, given me l never knew for what,
until now
Ike did not speak. Did it pain him that
| had dreams unfulGlled? Oh, it must
notl
''You see, John" [ began again, ''it is
ii&e-like-. Let me tell you a story, as
though you were Bonnie: Once upon u time
there was a little spring that burst out of the
eir,h. Oh, such Ii -lc spring @s ir was,
dear And it was ears ago. No one
thlrstcd. No one saw it but me. So this
one laid over it q stone, and 1t dried away
and was forgotten - Something wet lay
on Johns check. Oh, he must not think
| was sorry at the sealing up of the foun-
tain. "And when it dried away Care you
listening dear y even hcplacc was forgot
ten, because all manner Of pleasant plants
crew over it. Not weeds; but lilies, Ike
those that bloom in our garden in the sum
mcr. And heayt s-edsc. Yes; most Of all
grew heorfs-ca&e, quite hiding the spot
where the little spring had been.
"AnQ after a long time the earth was
dry and choked; but no one remembered
the spring until Il careless hand-a little
hand like Bennie's-pulled away the stone,
and the waters poured out. food Oh,
John - | cried, lit is this desire of mine !
Let me try there is nothing else that l
can do"
"1oU can do? But it must not come on
you. Only be patient while longer
Only wait. | shah be out soon now.
Have patience, Esther. Yes: it is hard, |
know; harder than doing; but mine is
brave girl'' he said, stroking my hair.
! drew my head away. Something Ike
wllltulness stirred in me. "Only loait r l
could not. / would not.
John, | cannot!' l wished the words
back. Yet | would not recall them He
put me aside, and rose up. | could not
see his face, though he stood in the window.
Ills back was towards me.
so You have set your heart on this, Es-
thcr ~
Yes, john" I answered, family.
"N hen | married YOU hoped to make
your life an easier one than it had been"
Ills voice tremJlcd over the last words.
'.Oh, john crept close to him I
laid my head against his arm. One no
ment more and | should have spoken. ~
will 10 anything that seems best to Won" :"
| would have said. He gave little SIGH.
| fear with that he laid away many hopes
and all the plans that he had formed.
=" ! viii help you if | can"
/ raised my head quickly. "Do you
mean -"
I" Yes, dear, Won may try"
| e.un@ about his neck, and cried and
laughed together.
" Even if I have to go away from You q
little while | said at length. you'll
trust me, John :" He turned nv face to
where the light fell on rs both. had
never thought him handsome until then.
% Trust You! Trust nay wife -
And thar was all he said
III.
So one night l made my trial. How it
was brought about, no matter hero. Help
ing hands for good or evil are always ready
if one bat wills.
All the dizzy lights blurred into one as
crossed the platform. All the nodding
heads became a mass of terror undistin-
guishable. My hands We're ice. My jaws
were locked. Me arm I essayed to move
was held as if by iron weights,
When this chaos had slowly resolved it
self into cold cxpcctant faces | could have
fallen. could have died there. but for
the eager panied eyes that met my own,
the worn face, whittier than mine, | knew
50 well. | could not fail with John before
me One swift thought Of him, Of Ben
ME, and my mouth was opened.
IEen all the flush AMI warmth that |
had thought gone with my 5outh came
back 70 me. The faces before me were as
clay. l moulded them with my hands. /
brcathed into them the breath Of Efe. A
brief moment and it was oyer-the hour of
rp.a1r