The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-07-26


papa" that came from little Johnny's |
lips, fell on his ear like knell.
Admonished, at length, by the fast
falling shadows of night, as we'll as his |
rapidly waning strength, John deter
mined to make the descent into the |
canon from the mountain along the
brow Of which he had for an hour
tOiled. He felt no certainty that Howe's
Flat lay below; indeed, he scarcely
dared hope so much. But what mat
ters it, thought he, whether we perish
on the hill above or in the abyss be-
meath ?"
In the haste of preparation, John had
forgotten nothing. He undid from his
own waist wide band, or surcingle
passed it around johnny and himself,
outside of all wrappings, and buckled
| it as tight as he dared, to prevent the
| boy being thrown from him in case of
accident. He shuddered to think of
| himself cropping for the lad deep-buried
in the snow, where a disaster would hurl
him.
Hemming was too familiar with the
mountains in that vicinity, and with
the use Of snow w-shoes, to attempt to
pick his way down the canOn's side.
| There was but one way, and that was,
to make dash. With cautious steps,
and rigid muscles, HemmingapprOached
the mountains brow, and launched him
than the torrents of spring, that course
down those hill-sides-sWifter than the
flight of an eagle, as he stOOps on his
prey. Scarcely seen in advance, and
deftly avoided with a skill known only
to the adept in the use of snOw-shOes,
the few scattering trees fled up the
steep incline behind him as clOud-shad
Ows course across the plain on al April
day-faster and faster. And now the
even grade. is broken by sheer preci-
pices of ten, fifteen, or twenty feet, over
which he rode scarce conscious of the
breach of continuity under his feet.
breath inhaled at the top, he reached
the bottom, the impetus of the descent
carrying him far out on the level With
a mulmured Thanksgiving, John rea-
lized that the immediate peril was past.
whittier now?" said he. The anxious
question was answered on the instant;
for he saw Immediately before him,
looming out of the mist, the outline of
house, which, as he approached, took
upon itself a wOndrOus familiar look.
Margaret sitting at the window, had
for hours gazed out into the gloom had
for hours watched the idle snOw-f1akes,
IIICy SGIuHhSlCu W Ctl Ull ttIlA AlSUN1SA
for the occasional sOugh that betOkened
rising wind; but her thoughts were
elsewhere. Fit time for retrOspectiOn
She had once again reviewed her whole
past life: had thought of her girlhoOd !;
OF the days OF courtship; of her fierce,
tumultuOus love for John; of her mar
riase at eighteen of her husbands de-
termination to visit California Of his
preparation and departure for the land
/ of promise of the birth of little Johnny,
+ Oh the day of which this was the tenth
anniversary; of her struggles with pow
, erty, while fortune frOWned on her hus-
band, sick and destitute in the land Of
) gold; of the days when she earned
/ bread for herself and boy, by school
, teaching, whereby was formed the habit
of self-relance; of her persistent self
culture in all matters pertaining to the
r intellect, the fruitage of which, at he1
| cd home, had been, not firm friendships
9 nor warm affections, but envy on the
, part of women, admiration on that OF
men; of Johns joyous letters, annOunc-
: ing his prosperity in California; of hel
e Journey thither; of the glad meeting
r and her after bitter disappointment a
l finding that great gulf existed be-
tween herself and husband-that he
1 tastes, thoughts, and desires were no
a his-that while her purposes, in life were
definite and fixed, his were dreamy anC
, uncertain-that while she lived in tht
D world Of mind and logic, he lived in thu
j.. senses and feelings-while the keynote
t of her character was to haze, that of hi
v was to be. From retrOspectiOn to in
O trOsDectiOn: was she quite secure tha
her standard of excellence was highe
4 than that of John? Was it not logical
4 that the true point lay between the ex
h tremes? Even admitting the errors o
:, her husbands ideas of life and the desi
d rabilty of his adoption of her views
e had she done her duty by him. ShOult
s she not, by gentle influence, have LEI
e him step by step into the clearer light
Il concealed contempt and entire want o
q patience with his ideas, driven him from
n her side, to seek cOmpanionship and so
= cial enjoyment elsewhere She though
q of his fidelity to her in the long years o
q separation-of his endurance of sick
a ness, privati0n, and sutfering-and he
q heart softened toward him. But thel
n came in the thought of his cOldness ant
n neglect for months proceeding tn
q parting, and of his taking away th
t, boy; and her heart repented of its mo
- mentary weakness. Still one act o
" kindness said she-"one generotl
J: deed for my sake, to restore my belle
,r in the nobleness of his nature, to assur
)? me that his love for me has. not who'll
Ie died out, and will forget the past an
I strive for the future. Yes; and putin
- aside all past convictions, [ will stud
Y lifes great lessons anew. But til
n them v
n Even as she spoke, the door opened
and John, with his strange burden, en-
Is tered. Margaret neither spoke nc
N moved q great fear and dread la
upon her, and paralyzed every muscle
re- Hastily, Hemming freed himself frol
Iv his load, removed the rubber coat an
a the many blankets that had sheItere
v. and supported the boy, and placed hil
) ON her lap. The pale, suffering fac
1e lighted UP with joy, and, with a gla
is cry of " Mother! my mother" he kisse
le her on the lips and either cheek, claspe
st his hands about her neck, and reste
as his head upon her bosom. The mother
arms closed around him, and fOndl
D. would she have elasped him there fol
"a ever; but she felt the hands loose the
Of hold, the limp form weigh, heavier
o her arms, and she knew that Johnn
3 was with the angels.
10 Other children have since been boz
al to the house of Hemming, and for thel
1e the waters of love flow from the never
ne failing springs OF parental affection
r. But dearer far than the living is I'll
dead boy W hO slumbers in the. shade
es of a giant pine-whose white tombstOr
f. CLEANS out of the night, and over who's
m grave roses shed their petals and honey
es suckles distil their fragrance--whos
n Young life was demanded that the pa
| ,S,.E,+