Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1873-01-03

was drawn, gave way to one of those pas |
sionate outbursts Of tears and sobs which
are the sure tokens of youth and heart
unacquainted with sorrow. The tears
do not come so quickly when
the heart bleeds inwardly and
long. They are the passionate pro.
tests against suffering which we at
last weary of making. Next to the house
was church, and as Isabel still sat with
her head bent upon her arms, an organ
strain, higher than the rest, penetrated
into the room. She lifted her head and
listened a moment, and then going softly
to a side window she raised 1t and leaned
out. A side window of the church was
also partially open, and the chant came to
her with as much distinctness as if she
had been among the worshipers.
"Peace on earth, goodwill toward monl"
Then she knew that it was midnight
and remembered that at this hour hun.
dreds of years ago Christ was born unto
men.
'No man liveth unto himself" she
seemed to hear a deep voice saying, and
| Just at that moment the door-bell clanged
| loudly, and Isabel lowered the window,
and stole softly and swiftly away up stairs
to her own room, for she knew her friends
we're returning from social party, and
she was ashamed of her red eyes and hot,
tear stained cheeks.
"No man liveth unto himself" she re-
peated dreamily, as she unplaited her hair
before the toilet glass. 'ls not this what
l have been trying to dor First, shut
myself away from others in my joy, and
when that failed me tried to wall myself
out from the world in my sorrow. l have
always lived for myself What good have
| ever done for others? And this is
Christmas Eve, and Christ came not for
Himself, but for others. But what can |
do? know that if l cheered some one
who was likewise troubled l should feel
my own sorrows less. Nay, might Lnot
forget it in helping some one more help
less than myselfP But will God give me
any of His work to dor"
She was lying in bed when this last
question formed itself in her mind. In
stantly, as if in reply, voice seemed to
whisper to her: keep your eyes and
your ears openp
"Well, will try and remember that
to morrow" she said, with drowsy
| smile, and, turning on her pillow, in spite
of all the woe-hegnne speeches which sho
had made to herself, she slept as soundly
as if she were not the victim of shattered
hopes-a perfect "Mariana in the moated
grange" and the next morning she arose
| bright and early, with prettier color in
| her cheeks than had showed there for
many days. At the breakfast table one
thought it was the reflection of her pink
morning wrapper, and another one was
sure that the sea air was working mira
cles for her, but Isabel was too busy in
devising ways so that she might not live
to herself during the day, to furnish any
solution of the question.
"Isabel, Pm sorry your clothes did not
| come home last night, but Mrs. Waring
sent TO say that she could not possibly
finish getting them up in time, but that
she would send them early this morn
ing"
This from Mrs. Stanley, Isabers host
ess.
"Oh, well, it doesn't matter, for 1
havn't needed anything" said Isabel,
carelessly.
'It would only serve you right if you
did," said Mrs Stanley, with playful
pretense of resentment. " I'm sure
don't see why you will insist on sending
your washing out when it could just as
we'll be done in the house. never had a
guest do so before"
"Well, but confess, now," said Isabel,
pleasantly, "that it is great deal more
convenient. 1 save your servants just so
much extra work and"
"Please, Miss, here's Mrs. Warnings boy
with your things" said Mary, putting
her head in at the dining room door, and
holding her duster behind her as she did
so. At that moment the family arose
from the breakfast table. Isabel stopped
Mrs. Stanley, who was about to speak to
Mary:
"I must go up to my room for few
minutes, so let me attend to the matter
myself. l know you are all busy enough
this morning"
In the hall she found boy with a bun
die done up in newspapers, and nearly as
big as himself.
"Come up stairs" she said to him
but was surprised to see that he looked
at her inquirisgly, and did not move.
"Come up stalrs!" she said in still
louder voice.
"Laws, missr' said Mary, coming from
the other end of the hall; "you needn't
talk to him, for he can't hear you"
Cant hear me?"
'rLaws, mol he was born deaf, and ha'
: never spoken word in his life. Hi
father was drowned during dreadful
: storm by the swamping of his boat.
3 he couldn't swim, poor fellow! and ever
! ifhe could, l guess he couldn'ta' savet
q himself in such sea. And the Widow
Waring-she was his wife then-she jus
stood on the shore and saw it all-sav
a him die before her eyes, and couldn'
q even lift her little finger to help him; ant
! the worst of it all was, that he wentOu t,
q help comrade who couldn't make shore
q and so the next day this boy was born
2 stone deaf, you see-bless his poor heartl
\ Poor boyI" said Isabel; and with al
= impulse which she could not control, sh
q laid one hand lightly on his shoulder, an
with the other gently pushed away th
y overhanging shock of hair from his fore
: head. He only looked at her wondering
o ly with his great brown eyes, and hi
2 ruddy cheeks grew even ruddier wit
! embarrassment.
K Z" Yes, indeedl Poor boy! repeatG
d Mary. "You may well say that, Miss
And such good boy as he is, too! An
az for his mOther-well, she just work
t her hands off to keep herself and hiI
v afloat. And he works all day as hard a
4 ever he can to help her. And Just loo
g how neat he keeps himself! He slway
s looks just so. And amt 1t pity he can
O go to schoolP He's just as smart as h
d can be! Look at them eyes of his if yo
;. don't believe mel And his mother-wel
e she don't know much, but she's a.tryiI
as hard as ever she can to teach him
e read and write"
IS "Thank you, Mary; but the child
G cold, and / am going to take him u
d stairs and let him warm his hands befoT
e he goes home," said Isabel, hastily turI
J., ing away and beckoning to the boy, VIII
= now followed her readily up the stairs.
v Once in her own room, she relieved hiI
t of his bundle, which he had all this tim
e patiently held in his arms, and made hiI
Q sit down before the fire; and then, witt
r out taking her eyes off of him, she So
Il down opposite him, and stared harde
It than ever. Now, this was a somewh,
l. singular proceeding, and disconnected I'll
% silent child not little; but Isabel ws
# thinking SO hard that she wasn't alt
q gether conscious of what she was doinj
y until the boy made her understand b
e signs that he wanted TO go away.