Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1872-08-27
WHO idenl md the Real.

brain, as faultless, unselfish ana
perfect as its actors are paintedj
but where, in this sempiternally,
sordid world,..can you find them =
Where, in real life, can you look
for them y
We had been reading Catherine
d. Bells beautiful "Rest and I'm
rest :" and it was in reply to some
eulogium upon the sweet, poetical
character of its saint-like "Ella"
that the above was spoken.
have been pondering the words
for hours wondering if they are
entirely correct and true and if
the goodness, the self-sacrifce, we
read so much of in books, are new
or found outside of them.
think not. We know books
better than we do hearts; and we are
apt to accept the good deeds we
see performed, as a mcasulment Of
the whole. We are not content to
glance hastily over the life-poltray-
ed pages of a book. No, we read
il carefully (if it be worth reading
at ally and find the passages, ap-
parcntly unintercsting, the most
sacred and choice of the whole
If we are only as careful i'll the
reading of life-life, as we see it,
rs it lies before us every day; If
we were only as eager to ponder
over the meaning of some unex-
plainable, incomprehensible act, as
we are some obtuse book question ;
if we tried to read the human
heart as readily as we do the ideal,
who can tell what beautiful, incom-
prchensiblc lessons might be taught
us!
"UnselAsh, patient, sclf-sacrifi-
cling characters, where can they be
found" Everywhere. There are
"Ella's" all over the world ; in the
mansion and in the cot, in the
crowded street and in the quiet
home circle. We see them, but do
not know them. And, blinded 10y
the world, and looking through its
skeptical eyes, we see naught of the
purity of mind, the struggle OF
character and true nobility of soul
hidden beneath the untelling exter.
ior
"Where must we look for thcm'
Go into the spinster's home. YOU
do not see the genial beauty Of hel
soul, but I do for can recognize
the work which events have
wrought, and can imagine her as
once she was-loving and beloved
can go with her in retrospectiol
over the lapse of all those wear!
years way back, even to the yer.
hour where, in the blush of min
gled pain and pleasure, she put 10y
her treasure which her heart pro-
claimed as priceless, but which dut!
forbade her to keep or CHERISH
There is no beauty to you in tn
sharp, high voice, or in the keen
cold eyes; but there is to me, for
know of that tear-blotted past an,
/ pity and respect the infalliblc
ness of q character that shrink
not from any sacrcfce that dut
demands, even though it be tha
bitterest of all, to q woman's lovin
hcart-a life alone.
Do you see that sad voiced won
an, ymder! Do you wonder VIII
it is there in such look of "bitte
sweet suffering upon her sa
sweet face! Hers is another ed
ton of the old, old story-''lovir
not wisely, but too WE'LL The
is wedding ring upon her fling
thank God for that-and there
no record of shame upon the te
tale pages of her conscience b
there the ''swcet' ends and 4
parallel line of "bitter" runs u
Lrollenly through all the other ph
scs Of her sad, sad life.
Oh, there is beauty almost "n
Of earth" in a love which time, CT
city or suffering can not weaken.
There is sacredness to me in the
lection that will bid its owner k
the hand that smites, and "pro
faithful in all things, even I'll
death" e..
Self-abnegation! 1t is writ
indelibly upon a life like this.
Where, in the world of books, {
characters more patient, more ,
during, and less selfish than tn,
that daily cross our path IF
could read hearts as we do boo
what stories, what romance wo,
be revealed!
In the humblest cottage, as v