Weekly Trinity journal., 1874-08-01
"IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN. -

| was horribly lonesome. What could
| do with myself? 1t is only about
Christmas time that the responsibility of
my individuality hangs heavily UPON me;
my business engrosses me for the most
part for | had been more successful in
money matters than in any other inter-
ests in life. But now tno holidays wore
here. Everything my neat chambers
was orderly and comfortable, and | had
real satisfaction in the feeling that they
belonged t. me. But how lonesome they
were a follow just passed my window
with an open basket on one arm, and on
TIE other n happy-looking woman chat
tering gaily as she walked. Well, |
might have had n wife, if it had not been
for Charley's perfidy yes, and EN-
mas, too, for ! suppose she was as much
to blame ms he was.
] wonder il either of them were to
blame ? Love goes where it is sent, they
say, and ! really suppose they could not
help loving each other. Poor Emma
Proud, splendid woman ! should like
TO know what her fate has been. 1t seems
strange that | have never heard one
word from them since that Chistmas eve
on which they eloped. She was to have
married me before another Christmas
but Charley was younger and hand
somer than /, and there were such bril-
liant indications Of genius about him.
strange that they have not been realized;
and surely they have not, or / should
havo heard. Oh, if / could only see
thom again | had forgiven them both
before the expiration Of the first year, in
my anxiety about them for how could |
forget the charge Of my dying mother /:
" Take him, Paul, ," she said " be good,
and tender, and true to him all the days
Of your life. No matter with what in
gratitude he may repay your kindness
forgive him not only seven times, seven
ty times seven. BE TO him more than II
brother, my trusted child fiji my va
cant place for him. Say to yourself
il will be true-there is no crime on earth
that would cause me TO cast one Of her
children out. The more abandoned, the
more wretched they become, the more
my affection shall comfort and soace
them until at last, with n patience that
never wearies, and zeal that never flags
and love whose strong wings bear all
burdens upward, will land them with
in the portals Of that eternal home where
sin and sorrow can come no more for
ever.o
And now four years had slipped down
the thread Of time, each adding to my
anxiety, until felt that / would gladly
give all my accumulated wealth for the
sight OF their dear faces once more.
/ will get away from these torturing
thoughts, ] said | will go out and seek
some adventure, praying my good spirit
to lead me where | can make a Christmas
for somebody, though may not have one
for myself | put on my wraps and
started. The streets were thronged; how
brilliantly the lights shone, and what an
array Of Christmas cheer they illumi ned
And then TO sec the toys-oh, if / only
had child to make happy with a gift
Why, here is a whole bevy Of ragged lit
tie urchins, shivering around a pastry
cooks window. Now, good spirits, whose
duty it is 10 inspire us TO generosity,
shall commit no act Of disinterested be
nevolence to night; but / will make
these youn gsters happy if you will gran
me some reasonable recompense. So
called them in, and bought as they di
rected they were so engrossed and Sc
joyful they forgot TO thank me, and de
parted with arms full Of good things fo
their different homes. But when they
were gone, the old lonely feeling return
ed to me, and thought uncomfortably m.
bachelor Christmas again.
/ passed the next day somehow.
gave a good deal to the friendless it'll
ones on the street-God's children-stil
holding firmly by my compact with m
spirit friends and asking frankly for re
jmbursment. Why notP Have not VI
the promise, that, if we cast our brea
upon the water, after many days it vii
return to US?