Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1874-07-11
THE HEAVY BURDEN.

THE HEAVY BURDEN.
"Rather heavy burden, isn't it, my
boy?
Clarence Spencer, to whom the words
had been addressed, turned from the
ledger, and looked towards the speaker.
Clarence was a young nan-not more
than five and twenty-and he was book
keeper to Mr.. Solomon Wardle. 1t
was Solomon Wardle, a pleasant-faced,
keen-eyed man of fifty, who had spoken.
ga heavy burden, isn't it, Clarence ?"
the merchant repeated.
And still the young man was silent.
His looks indicated that he did not
comprehend. He had been for some
time bending over the ledger with his
thoughts far 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, I do not comprehend
you"
"Ah, Clarence !"
"I certainly do not"
"Didn't I call at your house for you
this morning?"
Clarence nodded assent.
"And didn't see and hear enough
to reveal to me the burden that you
took with you when you left? You
must remember, my boy, that I am
older than you are, and that I have
been through the mill. You find your
burden heavy and I have no doubt
that Sarah's heart is as heavily laden
as your own"
And then Clarence Spencer under
stood; and the mornings scene was
present with him, as it had been pres
ent with him since leaving home. On
that morning he had had dispute with
his wife. It had occurred at the break
fast table. There is no need of repro
ducing the scene. Suffice it is to say
that it had come of mere nothing, and
had grown to cause of anger. The
first had been a look and tone; then a
flash of impatience then rising of
the voice; then another look /; the voice
grew higher; reason was unhinged
passion gained sway; and the twain lost
sight of the warm, enduring love that
lay smitten and aching deep down in
their hearts, and felt for the time only
the passing tornado. And Clarence re-
membered that Mr.. Wardle had entered
the house and caught sign of the
storm.
And Clarence Spencer thought of one
thing more he thought how miser.
ably unhappy he had been all the morn
ing and he knew not how long his bur-
den of unhappiness was to be borne.
Honestly, Clarence, isn't it heavy
and thankless burden ?"
The book-keeper knew that his en-
ployer was his friend, and that he was
q true hearted Christian man and after
a brief pause he answered." Yes, Mr..
Wardle, it is heavy burden"
MY boy, am going to venture up
on bit of fatherly counsel. hope !
shall not offend"
"Not at ALL" said Clarence. He
WINGED little, as though the probing
gave him new pain.
"ln the first place" pursued the old
man, with culver of emotion in his
voice; "you love your wifeP"
Glove her? Yes; passionately.
"And do you think she loves you in
return?"
"I don't think anything abont it-I
knoa0"
"You kro'1 she loves you?"
eyes"
"TheH you must admit that the
trouble of this morning came from nc
ill-feeling at heart ?"
OF course not"
cit was but surface squall, fol
which you, at least, are very sorry ?"
A moments hesitation, ana then
eyes, yes; am heartily sorry ?"
"Now, mark me, Clarence, and an.
swer honestly Don't you think youl
wife is as sorry as you are ?"
81 cannot doubt it,"
"And don'tyou think she is suffering
all this time ?"
eyes"
every we'll. Let that pass. You
know she is bearing her part Of the
burden? ?"
"Yes-I know that"
"And now, my boy, do you com
prehend where the heaviest part of thii
burden is lodged ?"
Clarence looked upon his interlocutol
wonderingly.
eff the storm had all blown over
and you knew that the sun would shine
when you next entered your home, yor
would not feel 80 unhappy ?"
Clarence assented.
But, continued Mr.. Wardle, "yor
fear that there will be Gloom In vou,