Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1873-04-19
COnyaleScence.

CoNvALEsCENCE is delightful border
land between death and life. Bel,lan IN
which YOU love To linger, whose grapes
90 down sweetly. 1t is condition in
which a perfect consciousness of existence
is combined with an absolute ne%ation OF
duties. You know that you are anulSancr.
a cumberer ofthe ground,
90 Whom none can love, whom nonecan thank,
Creations blot, creations blank, % -N
and you do not care. The furnace fires
may go out, the wine cellar run dry. the
tank overflow, the barrel of meal waste,
and the cruise of Oil fail; but you are Ger.
tain that your thermometer will be cared
for. that your shcrry-glaSs will never be
empty. and YOU lie in fine though feeble
distlain for all these carking cares. Pco-
pie cannot find things: let them hunt.
The draymen are swearing outside, but Ii
is no business of yours To show them how
10 get the coal into the cellar. The wori's
is going on and you have no responsible
! ity whatever about its goingS on. This
| is the true joy of convalesccncc. This Is
! the wav to make Illness means of grace.
/ IfyOu go caring for other people. you
might as well be we'll But TO lie in tran
quill and luxurious incrtiI, absolutely
devoid of energy, without purpose.
without conscience, without thought,
wholly selfish, and unpricked in
your selfshness-itis no mem paradise.
Life is so full that il is an exquis-
tie satisfaction for once. and for q
time. to find it empty. The hours and
the DAYS lapse lan"lldly. and you have
had a fortnight Of bliss in the process and
blank in the memory, and by thaT time
ten to one, Your soul is aStir again-but tht
pause was delicious.
Hungry, did YOU say: There are terri
BILE traditions of fcver-parched lips which
ignorance forbade TO moisten, and fever
wasted frames which food might notup
build. Who has not his story To tell o
some convalcscent ancestor who escaped
his keeper and devourcG clandCstinely
but with impunity, a whole mnce-pie be
fore he was discovered by horror-smitteI
friends? But we have chaL Gcd all that
The doctors nowadays area friendly ioik
and prOrhesy smooth things. Water
Yes, indeed, rs much as YOU like. Milk
, The more the better. Eat whatever yo'
/, wish, and whenever yOu choose, and a
long as YOU can. The Old School Stant
around astonished; but,s strong in tn
law, YOU eat SteadaStly on with mile
convalcscent defiance. and climb >teadil.
, back to strength. Against such proc
there i 10 law. And the neighOors SEM
in their best canned Strawberries and ap
pie jellies and ctIrrant wine. and You swal
, low them down with only moderate graf
, itude, not to say placid indifference. s
far from being in Il hurry TO 90 back int
the world again. you want nothing but 3
be let alone. The turmoil. the eagerness
the buSv-ness seem 10 you 50 aimlcss.
, and b and c go by every day TO meet tn
, ,nrrpipU trains What folly' aS if il mad
: any difference whether they met the trai
, or not. But your eyclamation-point g
' very small one. You are not 10 be di'
: turbed by deep emotions of any sorl
r The din of the outside world comes sof
: ly to your ears. Since the din is not III
, musical. very well; but the world Nigh
A as wisely be silent. Why should you q
up: 1t is easier to stay in bed. But VIII
, wants to be strong? 1t is just as comfor
/ able to be weak.-Gail Hamilton in HaI
p per's Bdzar.