The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1872-06-21
THE HEAVY BURDEN.

AseNhNA away 1oaaN1t 1881 Az a.
boy?"
Clarence Spencer, to whom the
words had been addressed, turned
from his ledger and looked at the
speaker. Clarence was young man
not more than five and twenty
and was book-keeper for MIR. Solo
mon Wardle. 1t was Solomon War
die. pleasant-faced, keen eyed man
of fifty, who had spoken.
"a heavy burden, isn't it Clarence?"
the merchant repeated.
And still the young man was silent.
His look indicated that he did not
comprehend. He had been for some
time bending ever the ledger, with
his thoughts far away; and that his
thoughts were not pleasant ones, was
evident enough from the gloom upon
his handsome face.
my dear boy, the burden is not
only heavy now, but it will grow
heavier and heavier the longer you
carry it."
"Mr, Wardle, 1 do not comprehend
you"
"Ah, Clarence"
Il certainly do not"
didn't call at your house for you
this morning."
Clarence nodded assent
"And didn't hear and see enough
to reveal to me the burden that you
took with you this morning when you
left? You must remember, my boy,
that l am older than you are, and that
l have been through the mill. You
find your burden heavy; and | have
no doubt that Sarah's heart is as heavy
ladened as your own"
And then Clarence Spencer under
stood; and the morning scene was
present with him, as it had been pres
ent with him since leaving home. On
that morning he had had dispute
with his wife. 1t had occurred at the
breakfast table. There is no need of
reproducing the scene. Suffice it TO
say that it had come from mere moth
ing, and had grown to cause of an
ger. The first had been a look and 4
tone; then fash of impatience; then
raising of the voice; then another
look: the voice rose higher; reason
was unhinged; passion gained sway;
and the twain lost sight OF the warm
enduring love that lay smitten and
aching down deep in their hearts, and
left for the time only the passing tor
nado. And Clarence remembered
that Mr.. Wardle had entered his
house, and had caught a sign OF the
storm.
Honestly, Clarence, isn't it a heavy
and ttiankless burden?"
The ook-keeper knew that his en-
ployer was his friend, and that he was
a true-hearted Christian man, and at.
ter brief pause, he answered:
eyes, Mr.. Wardle, it is heavy
burden"
The merchant smiled, and sat down.
His face beamed with goodness, and
an earnest light was in his calm blue
eye.
"My boy, I'm going to venture up
OH bit of fatherly counsel. | hope
1 shall not offend"
Not at all" said Clarence.
He WINGED little, as though the
probing gave him new pain.
I'm the first place" pursued the old
man, with a quiver of emotion in his
voice, do you love your wife,"
Love her."
"That is enough. / know that you
do love her."
"Ohl Mr.. Wardle, IL"
"You love her as well as you did
when you married herr"
Better: better! l love her more
and more"
"And do you think she loves you in
return?"
"Loves me in return"
"Aye,-what do you think about it,"
II know it."
"You know she loves you?"
dyes"
"And you know that deep down in
her heart she holds your love a most
sacred treasurer"
"Yes, | know it."
"Then you must admit that the
trouble of this morning came from
~ Hl-icciIuo ae HcatI!
"Of course not"
at was but a surface squall, for
which you are very sorry%
A moments hesitation, and then
eyes, yes,-I am heartily sorry"
"Now mark me, Clarence, and an
swer honestly: Don't you think your
wife is as sorry as you are::"
II cannot doubt it."
as she not probably, in the seclu.
sion of her home, suffering more keen
ly than you are?"
81 doubt that, Mr.. Wardle At all
events, hope she may not be suffer
ing more"
avery well. Let that pass. You
/ know she is bearing her part of the
burden?"
"Yes-I know that"
"And now, my boy, do you realize
where the heaviest part of the burden
is lodged?"
Clarence looked upon his interlocu-
tor wonderingly.
eff the storm had all blown over
and you knew that the sun would
shine when you next entered your
home, you would not feel so un-
happily"
Clarence assented.
But" continued Wardle, ,"you feal
there will be gloom in your home
when you return!'
The young man bowed his head as
ne murmured an affirmative.
Because" the merchant added
with touch of paternal sternness in