Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1872-08-10
DARKNESS AND SUNSHINE.
BY MIZPAH.


easier and seems in less, pain.' na
You have been gone long while
and must be tired" / said taking her
bonnet. ag f.ls e.s
eyes, / did all 1 could, both for
the poor mother and little Effie. Effie
is q patient child
+" But you must not do beyond your
strength, mother; you know you ap
not strong"
"No,D said she, as she sank wearily
into the low rocker, but We 'must
work while it is yet day, for the night
cometh, when no one can work; and
in as much as W did it not unto the
least Oh these We did it not unto me :"
she repeated, dreamily, as though
communing more with herself than
any visible presence. 500
We numbered three in family
mother, sister Lois. Tor Ilu, an we cali
ed her,) and myself. For ten years
our father had slept in the village
graveyard on the hill, leaving us the
pretty house we occupied, and sum.
the interest OF which added to the
various means we now aud then earn
ed as an opportunity Afforded, enabled
us, with our inexpensive habits, to
live comfortably, and even genteely,
owing no man anything. ,l san
Our mother whose delicate health
made her special object of our care
and attention, was nevertheless al
ways to be found at the bedside OF
tie sick, or door of the tieedy. A suf-
ferer herself, her heart always went
out in warmest sympathy to others
similarly affected; and her willing
hands lightened the cares of the
watchers, and sought every means to
ease the pain of the afflicted. 1t was
on her retnln from one of these Visits
that she was introduced TO the read.
er.
Seeing my mother with hands fOll
ed, and eyes closed, apparently sleep
ing, and fearing to move lest should
disturb her, turned my gaze ont o.
the window, to beguile the passing
moments by watching the passers-by
Children, just dismissed from school
were merrily dancing and skipping
homeward. Snatches of blithe, limo
cent songs, were trilled by sweet
childish voices, and many staid
sober one turned with smiling coun
tenance to cast another glance a
some fair young fare, radiant will
the bloom and purity of spotless limo
cence. Now and then through th'
trees, could catch a glimpse of II
walking along with the older girls
talking and laughing in the tree hap
py abandon known only to our youth
ful DAYS. "Dear little Lu; Heavel
bless her. How the child grows"
thought, as swinging her bonnet b
the strings ronnd her fore finger, sh
bounded up the walk; stopping a
seeing me to make a low bow in mOtl
formality, then mischievously throw
ing me kiss. threw open the dooI
and dispite my warning gesture cries
eagerly:
"Guess who I've seen! Guess Alice
guess mother.n zea s9iGv lid q
"Pm sure I cannot tell, my child,
mother answered, "wait until you ge
your breath, and perhaps you will tel
u.s."
"who do say, Alicei Oh, yo'
are 80 slow. / cannot wait. Well, ]
was Frank Ashly. knew him in
minute. He shook hands with me
asked me if we were all well, said
looked very much ike, YOU, Atice, AN
don't remember all, but l. told hin
to come and see us right away, for h
is going back again -.5
"Yon did right. In, said my moth
er, /" for I know Of no one ! should b
more pleased to see than Frank. LIE
me see, she said thoughtfully, 'sh
has been gone four years next nfonff
Yes, he went in April,n size repeated
as though ~ convince herself -.
!" And Monday is the first, motlel
and as girls are going TO have lots
fun. We mean to-thcre goes Ga
} Shaw now, and | am gning to tell be
all about it. And snatehlng ht
bonnet, she darted out of the doc