Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-01-25
An Original Story.
THE TRAGEDY OF STONE-DOOR.
BY LoNIN.

of the cliff-then all bare stone, until
the valley was reached, and the giant
trees there looked like plants when re-
viewed from such height.
They were at Stone door, near Beer
sheba, and, my friend, if eter in your
wanderings you arriveat that watering
place, do not rest your weary feet until
you stand upon the over-hanging table
rock, but a mile distant, and view that
glorious prospect spread like piano.
rama beneath the feet. Clara and
Harold stood there as if entranced,
while the sun went slowly down. The
dark blue mist ON the mountain was
varied by royal tints and the western
skies were one mass of glory. Nature
lay in quiet and stiffness waiting for
the canopy of night. Not the hum of
human beings or the voice of birds, to
disturb the calm, could be heard.
Then Clara took a stone and dropped
it down into the vast space, and they
listened attentively and at last in the
silence, heard it fall through the tress
into the steam, far, far beneath. They
drew nearer each other and shuddered
for it was terrific place, so very, very
steep, and if once the foot slipped and
the descent begun, there was no stop
or stay till those trees below and ere
then life would have fed, scared from
her citadel. So they chung to each
other and IN that moments space the
vail, which for years had been between,
was rent, and they sawinto each others
souls and knew that God in His eternal
wisdom had made one for the other,
and with this knowledge great hush
fell upon them:
Clara was very fair and wise also for
het ace, Her mother had died when
she was child, ana her father. missing
sadly the partner of his cares and joys,
| had treated her more as a companion,
than daughter, and had taught her
| daily about the science of the stars, the
formation Of the earth, the growth of
rocks and cliffs. He brought before
her physiology; showed her the Won
derf1l joints ard hinges, how strange
| ly the human system was constructed,
what Jars and shocks and blows II
| could bear and get be unharmed and
unbroken. Thett he lesd her enquiring
mind to botany and natural history and
| did not neglect mathmatics or the Ian
| guages of different nations, so her mind
was well stored. and better still. she had
obtained desire for more, and yet
more knowledge; that led her often to
the Pririail fountain. 1t is a grand
thing in mankind, this uneassing new
r-to-be assuaged thirst that rests not
on its laurels, but presses on and up
ward. He or she, who is contented
with the knowledge that is attained
and strives net for more, is ike a YES
sci tossed upon the beach, and while
The other ''ships GO by waits and lies
still and does not wish for the ocean,
but is content when the tide but flows
towards the sands; and it is calm and
tranquil while the world is in need of
it, it watches, and bye and bye, it is
rotted through and through and can
never sail again.. for it was satisfied,
with what it had accomplished and
wished not for more: We talk
to the young of contentment
and when they would aspire, We are apt
to crush the spirit, reaching forth, and
bid 1t to be happy with the things pos
sessed; far rather ought We foster such
longings and show the enquiring soul
its upward path and help plume It's i'm
mortal wings. One Of the greatest
differences between man and the lower
animals, is that the latter are satisfied,
while the nobler creature, man, strives
and tolls and is never satisfied or con-
tented, till the upper doors of heaven
are open to him.
And it is right that it should be so,
for had we not these restless longings
the world would be at a stand still.
What if every one was contented with
what he had obtained? Would steam
boats have been invented if our fathers
had been satisfied with their slow-sail-
ing vessels? Railroads. what of them?
Why suppose George Stephenson and
James Watts had rested their labors,
and thought the rate that the world
then travelled, was fast enough. What
II every proyerty- soul had not
aspired to higher place and position,
how many eminent men would have
been lost to all mankind? Why this
spirit within US that urges us to fresh
action, and when we have finished one,
to another, and yet another, so we can
not rest and hardly breathe. 1t is one
of the grandest things in this glorious
universe, for it is the spirit of right
and progress which viii bring us step
by step to the golden gate.
But let me describe Harold to You.
He was tall and dark, with such flash
ing, earnest eyes, eyes that could do
and dare in the arena of life, eyes that
plainly showed that if ever in the fu-
ture years duty and honor had need of
him, or even of his very life, he would
give and give fully and freely. Out of
his college life he had come unscathed,
nay, loaded with blushing honors. Now
on the threshold Of a new existence,
golden prospects were unfolding before
him, and his lithesome foot was eager
to press the unknown sod.
One beautiful June morning the
horses were at the door, and Clara and
Harold set out on a long-talked-of ride
along such a lovely winding road, while
the dew was yet fresh on the grass, and
the flowers had not appraised themselves.
why" exclaimed Clara, ''it is like
a fairy tale The trees are so low
hanging, and we see not far, and can
not tell what is before us. Is it not
beautiful ?" Yes" answered Harold,
like life, is it not ?" IF life could
only be so bright and lovely" "Ad-
versity is good for u.s." answered he;
1t is our winter. In n little while all
the green leaves here Will be dead and
dry, and rustic beneath our tread, and
the trees will stretch out their bare
arms into gray space; and the cold
blast Will come and moan about them;
but let them stand patiently still. The
winters gifts of frost and ice and snow
are strengtheners for the glories of the
spring and the campaign of the sum-
mer.'' 4 see" said Clara, thougtfully;
Il see"
Where are we going?" she asked a
few minutes AFTERWARDS as they stopped
at a large gate. This is the way to
Long Mill, +" replied Harold as he gent
ly helped her off her horse. A strange
road consisting Of logs laid across
politely called corduroy, l believe. On
each side were laurels which were in full
bloom. They followed it a little further