Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-09-12
Stlett Storp.
JACOB LONG.

Ii was lovely morning The SKY WAS
clear and translucent blue and sparkling
with points OF light that shot down into
your eyes like arrows A lew warm days
had carpeted the earth with grcenncss.
aud starred il with crocuSses AMI dande-
lions. The breath oi spring WAS sweet
with delicious odors.
At the window of his poor little cot
tage sat Jacob Long; and the sunshine.
and soft air. and smell of bursting buds
and opening flowers, came in and sought
to have given him their blessing But
his heart closed itself 10 their gentle in
fluences. The sun lay warm, caresSingly
on his great brown hand; the perlumed
mir kissed his cheeks. fingered about his
nostrilS, and played with his hair but he
needed them not.
Chihiren's voices were in The room
pleasant, cheerful. happy voices; but he
scarcely heard them And mingled with
their voices WAS that OF the patient, long
suffering. true-hearted woman hy his
side. along the paths that were often very
rough and steep; bu! their soothing in
lluence did not reach his soul.
Jacob Long felt hand ON his shoulder
lie did not turn or look up; for he knew
bv its touch the hand that was laid upon
him.
"You will go TO church with us this
beautiful morning, Jacob ?"
The man shook his head that was all.
lie did not smile, nor answer verbally,
nor look up-he only shook his head.
His vile did not urge him. For little
while she stood with her hand Oil his
shoulder-stood in silence, but sending
him message of loving concern IN The
tender pressure of his hand.
Half an hour afterwards. Jacob saw
his wife neatly but very poorly attired IN
her best SUNDAY clothes, with his three
little children in clean garments, 60 out
through the gate, and join the church
goers on the street. The bells peaed
their deep, rich tones, the sun smiled
down from the azure skv, and the air was
sweet with spring breaths Every one
that passed had Il look OF satisfaction, rs
if life on such day were pure enjoy
ment. Only Jacob seemed out OF tune
with nature.
Jacob Long was II poor mechanlc-poor
in two senses. He was not u highly skill
ed workman. aud his earnings being on
that account, small, he had always. since
his marriage. lelt the pressure OF need !;
and had always heard The growl OF the
wolf Just outside of his door.
On this particular morning Jacob was
feeling worse than usual The habit OF
brooding over his poverty. OF looking
with doubt and dread into the futnre Mad
become chroie. lie had no rest nor peace
ia fear of coming evil.
What if 1 should be thrown out OF
work ~ he was in the habit OF saying 10
himself almost every day; tetting the
sentence fall like wet blanket on his
spirits, and chilling back into painful dis
auietude the feelings that were coming
forth into the light and warmth of his
pleasant fin Ieside, where the music OF chill
drcn's voices and the gentle tones OF his
patient wife were always heard.
II he should be thrown out Ot work the
case would be bad enough. there was no
doubt of that But, not a day in all that
past ten years had he lost. except from
sickness. He was steady, reliable
man, though not first class workman; !;
and on this account he had been kept in
the shop where he worked when others
had been discharged in dull times.
As we have said, on this particular
Sunday morning, Jacob was feeling
worse than usual. Work was dull, and
all hands were TO be put on two-thirds
time. This would reduce the weekly i'll
come OF Jacob from fifteen TO ten dollars.
Jacob was not what is called a reli.
gious man. He went TO church with his
wife now and then, but generally staid at
home on Sunday, reading. or sitting IN
listless absence OF thought. when not
worrying himself about the future. Gen.
erally he was more tired when Sunday
evening mentally, as well rs
physically-than after hard days work {;
and he always felt peculiar satisfaction
in going into The shop on Monday morn