Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1872-09-24
AlPENA WEEKLY e.,

hOan now. Snc SAT there
az the brakes on the hillside,
lth her face bent down to her
knees, In the long, lonely days
she had thought of only one kind
of loss that could come to her
through her boy; for a moment
she felt that it would have been
easier to bear if he had been
brought home feet foremost into
the old red farmhouse. He would
have been blessed memory then,
and all her own; there are moments
when it seems less heart rcnding to
give our beloved up in death than
in life. Patience rose the her feet
instantly, as She did so the baser
part Of her self-hood dropped of.
She felt her way down the bank
by the tree trunks and bushes, and
a new world of reelection was OPEN
ed to her mind. For the first time
it struck her as right and natural
that Alvin should have this bcauti-
full experience. There had been no
great blos-oming time in her life,
she had married late, with respect
liking, but all The passion and ro-
nance of her being had through
motherhood. She was old; she
had not thought of the Intoxicating
dlaughts given young souls to drink
nor the bliss which narrows the
world over again to a single pair,
and makes 4 new Eden of clasped
hands and meeting eyes.
Patience felt humble, almost
rcmorscful, as she walked under
the blossomed trees, waveIing and
lettering a little. She had grown
old in moment: senses, always
remarkably acute, seemed dull.
The Thought that she would not
last a great while longer came to
her with a sense of relief. Why
should she live now that her boy
had no more need OF her! Is it
not written ga man shall leave
father and mother and cleave unto
his wife p
An hour may have passed, for
Patience sat down to rest once or
twice; as she slowly approached
the house, the lovers still fingered
in the shade of the old hickory.
Alvin heard a step behind him, and
turned round, saw his mother
standing there. Something like
a blush Of shame Redeemed his
check for the selfish Indulgence
in happiness, which had caused
him to loitcr so long on the road
to sacred duty. But Patience
only clasped him about the neck,
and Sobs would not let her speak.
Huldah turned in confusion, and
was walking away; but in a mo-
ment Patience called her.
"Come here, my child; l know
that you and Alvin love each other
and | want to give you mothers
blessing. You shall have as warm
a place in my heart as my boy has.
| thank God for two good children
instead Of one"
Huldah hid her face, but Alvin
was bcaming with delight.
"Therc," cried he, "what did I
tell you! Why, mother. she was
actuly afraid that you would never
give your consent. But | told her
you would love anybody l loved;
and You could not help loving her"
he added, in half whisper.
Patience smiled family, but a
sort Of giddincss seized her limbs.
He never would know what that
consent had cost; there lies the
pathos Of many sacrifice.
"Why, mother, what ails you ~
Alvin asked in alarm.
go, nothing" she answered, CON
ly I am getting old.
'Nonesense," exclaimed Alvin,
"you are worth more that half the
young women in the country; you
have been OVERRIDING, and now you
must rest and be taken care Of
He put his arm around her, and she
drew Huldah's hand through her
own, on the other side; thus they
walked over the grass, sprinlxled
with white clover. Alvin was in
high spirits, so glad to be back
with much to tell of himself. HUI
dab was SO quiet, supremacy happy
she could not speak a word; but
Patience felt il she could have fad
ed out from between them they
would scarcely have missed her.
The house was just as she left it
but as she opened the door and