Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-08-28
THE HEAVY BURDEN

hdtlol heavy UuIUeu, lSH't II, ny
boy ?"
Clarence Spencer, to whom the words
| had been addressed, turned from the ledger
and looked towards the speaker Clarence
was a young man-not more than five anG
tWenty-and he was book-keeper to MI
Solomon Wardle. Tt was Solomon War
die, a pleasant-faced, keen-eyed man Of
fifty, who had spoken.
ga heavy burden, isn't it, Clarence p
the merchant repeated.
And still the young man was SILENT
His looks indicated that he did not com
prehend. He had been for some time bend
ing over the ledger with his thoughts fa1
[ away and that his thoughts were not
pleasant ones was evident enough from The
gloom on his handsome face.
! "My dear boy, the burden is not only
heavy now, but it will grow heavier and
heavier, the longer you carry it,
"Mr. Wardle, do not comprehend you'
"Ah, Clarence!"
II certainly do not.''
| "Didn't call at your house for you this
morning? ?"
| Clarence nodded assent.
''And didn't [ see and hear enough to
reveal the burden that you took with you
| when YOU l&itt \ OH nnsiTemamlei my
| boy, that | am older than you are, and
that | have been through the mill. You
| find your burden heavy; and [ have no
doubt that Sarah's heart is as heavily
laden as your own.''
And then Clarence Spencer understood
and the mornings scene was present with
him, as it had been present with him since
leaving home. On that morning he had a
dispute with his wife. 1t had occurred at
the breakfast table. There is no need of
reproducing the scene. Suffice it to say
THAT it had come Ofs mere nothing, and
had grown to a cause of anger The first
had been a look and tone; then flash OF
Impotence; then a rising of the voice
then another look; the voice grew higher
reason was unhinged; passion gained
sway and the twain lost sightSf the warm
enduring love that lay smitten and aching
deep down in their hearts, and felt for the
time only the passion tornado. And Clar
ence remembered that Mr.. Wardle had
entered the house and caught sign of the
storm.
And Clarence Spencer thought of one
thing -more-he thought how miserably
unhappy he had been all the morning and
he knew not how long his burden of un
happiness WAS to be borne.
Honestly, Clarence, isn't it a heavy
and thankless burden ?''
The bo0l-keeper knew that his employ
er was his friend, and that he was a true
hearted Christian man, and after brie1
! pause he answered: eyes, MI. Wardle
it is q heavy burden"
HMy boy, [ am going to venture on bi
of fatherly counsel. l hope [ shall moi
offend.N
''Not at ALL" said Clarence. He WINGED
a little, as though the probing gave him
new pain.
''In the first place." pursued the ole
man, with.a culver OF emotion in his voice
''you love your wife ?''
Glove her? Yes, passionately."
Sand do you think she loves you il
return ?" '>..-
II don't think anything about it
lnowH'
'You know-she loves you ?"
esYes.''
"Then you must admit that the trouble
iof this morning came from no ill-feeling O
heart 20
COZ course not"
ut was but a surface sqaall, for whicl
you, at least, are very sorry?"
A moments hesitation, and then es
yes heartily sorry ?'
.'Now, mark me. Clarence, and answe
honestly: Don't you think your wife is
sorry as you are ?'
IT cannot doubt it,"
"And don't you think she is suffering a
this time p
eyes"
every well. Let that pass. You kno'
she is bearing her part Of the burden :"
'sYes-I know that
"And now, my boy, do you comprehen'
where the heaviest part of this burden
lodged ?"
Clarence looked upon his lnterlocute
! wonderingly.
eff the storm had all blown over, an
you knew that the sun would SHINE whe
you next entered your home, you Woul
not feel so unhappy 7"
Clarence assented.
sBut.n continued Mr. Wardle, "yo
fear that there will be gloom in your hon
when you return %
The young man bowed his head as |
murmured an affirmative