River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1874-07-03
"IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN.o


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 sue
cessful in money matters than in any
other interest in life. But now the
holidays were here, Everything in my
neat chambers were orderly and COM
Portable; and | had a real satisfaction
in the feeling that they belonged to
me. But how lonesome they we've. A
fellow just passed my window with a
covered basket on one arm, and on
the other a happy looking woman chat
tering gaily as she walked Well /
might have had wife, ii it had not
been for Charley's perfidy--yes, and
Emma's too, for suppose she was as
much to blame as he was.
| wonder if either of them were to
blame? Love goes where it is sent,
they say, and 1 really suppose they
could not help loving each other. Poor
Emmal Proud, splendid woman |
should like to know what her fate has
been. IL seems strange that | have
never heard one word from them since
that Christmas eve ON which they
clipped. She was to have married me
before another Christmas, but Charley
was younger and handsomer than /,
and there were such brilliant indica-
tions of genius about him. Strange
that they have not been realized; and
surely they have not, on | should have
heard. o, if l could only see them
again. / had forgiven them both be
fore 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 ingratitude he may repay
your kindness-forgive him not only
seven times but seventy times seven
BE to him more than "a brother, my
trusted child; fiji my vacant place for
him. Say to yourself-it will be true
there is no crime ON earth that would
cause my mother TO cast one of her
children out. The more abandoned,
the more wretched they become, the
more my affection shall comfort and
solace them; until, at last, with pa
thence that never wearies, and zeal
that never flags, and "A love whose
strong wings bear all burdens upward,
| will land them within the portals OF
that eternal home where sin and sorrow
can come no more forever.
And now fonr years had slipped down
the thread of time, each adding to my
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, I said | will go out and seek
some adventure, praying my good spirit
90 lead me where | can make Christ
mas for somebody though I may not
have one for myself / put on my
wraps and started The streets were
thronged how brilliantly the lights
shune and what IN array OF Christmas
cheer they illumined. And then TO see
the toys-O, ii | had only u child to
make happy with a gift. Why, here is
a whole hcvy of ragged little urchins,
shlvering around pastry cooks win
dow Now, good spirits, whose duty
II Is 20 inspire us to generosity, ] shall
commit ho act of disinterested heneyo-
lence tonight; hut will make these
youngsters happy If you Will grant me
some reasonable recomptnse. So
called them in, and bought as they
directed. They were so engrossed and
so joyful that thew FORGOT 10 thank me,
aud departed with arms full of good
things tur their different homes. But
when they were gone the old lonely
feeling returned 10 me, and thought
uncumiortably Of my bachelor Christ
mas again.
| passed the next day somehow. |
gave u good deal 10 iriendIcss little
ones on th, strcet-GodA children
still holding firmly hy my compact with
my sWut friends, and asking frankly
Tor reimbursement. Why uotp Have
not We the promise that it We east our
bread upon the waters, after many days
u will return 30 us?
ON Christmas morning rs passed
ont of my door, | found child sitting
quietly on the steps eating bunch of
mlsins. lie looked hearty and com.
iortahly though poorly clad. that at
first thought he must belong Ia aome
~ the ncirhburs But no. had look
ed at all of these longingly aud So ten.
DERBY. knew them as we'll - If they
had been my own thought III speak
. him
How DO you DO. young man y"