The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1875-04-20
lFOr the Dallas lltrald,l
REyEItIE.

Inc afternoon Is now declining,
slt beside the open window look lug
toward the west, which IL all glowing
with the radiance Of sunset,
"TLe winds Of heaven are hushed
and mild As the breath Of u slumbel-
ing child, and near by me the grand
old forest looms up, now Frightening
into vernal beauty NJ the approach OF
spring; while 10 my ear comes with
mOurnlul cadence the notes of bella
ted bird seeking the refuge Of his leaiy
home In the bOughs of some nelghbOr-
ing tree
Near the western horizon high banks
Of crimson aud orange-coort clouds
are gathering one by one, sweeping In
pomp around the dying sun, while far
10 the southwest my eye Is attracted
by II beautiful cloud-a ship Of gold In
the blue sea Of ether, seeming 10 have
iloated up from some fairy region Of
the tropics, lmpelled by sudden
motion of the evening breeze, II sails
along slowly and gracefully, AZ
suming fantastic proportions and
wearing more gorgeous flush
rs IL Joins the train of glittering
clouds around the sun, gathering radl-
ance from the departing glances of the
golden orb which sinks from view. |
gaze upon the lovely sun until the
rays Of light have faded away, and the
clouds haYe become "tinlless and
naked and noteless all.n Then, while
the dusky veil of twilight is falling
around, swifI-winged thought carries
me back TO scenes of the past; and in
retrospection, | behold those happy by
gone days, which were as golden-tinted
rs those clouds were, ere the light of
the sun was withdrawn; those radiant
days that crowned me. when all that
is bright and beautiful in life clustered
around my pathway, each blessing of
life. | enjoyed being prompted 10y the
thoughtful care of q loving heart, and
supplied by II kind, caressng hand
and in contrast to those days, unre
lenting thought presents to my mind
the bleak, dreary season which follow
ed, clouding me in darkness and | re-
fleet
"0n that midnight of bitterest anguish,
When deemed that no morning could
When the light of the eyes that | cherished
Was from me forever withdrawn"
1t was in those days of sorrow, while
bearing the burden of grief and be-
reavement, that all nature, and all
things pertaining to life seemed clad in
sable drapery-'twas then
~ shrank from the desolate future
As gaZed down the vista of years"
"The sun of happiness and love will
never more shine for me on earth!" |
then exclaimed in the depth of my an
gush. But now, sitting here in this
calm twilight hour, look back to that
dreary time of sorrow, and realize the
truth of Schiller's words; ono pang is
permanent with man. From the
highest as from the vi!est things of
every day he learns to Wean himself,
for the strong hours conquer him."
know that "time, the unchnngiLg,
ever onward has brought me de-
gree of repose, and the truth Of the
words of the psalmist in the holy book
recurs to me with renewed force: "Ihe
Lord upholdeth all that fall, and rails
eth up all those that be bowed down,
and His tender mercies are over all"
Again | turn my eyes to the holy
armament above,
where trembling from the Vaulteu SKIES,
The stars look out, like thoughtleSs eyes
OF angels calm recliuing there,
And gazing on our world of care"
While far over the horizon the full
moon is rising, dispelling the gather
ing shades of night. There seems
spell, witchery in the bour, and its
magic influence enters my heart, filling
it with a holy calm, and when | reflect
that in my reverie | have been recall
ing those happy days of yore, can but
murmur the lines:
"And what remains OF days so fair?
a memory that is halfa prayer;
A love which owns immortal Ties,
And lifts itself above the skies;
a hope which gilds with heaven y light
The darkest hours of earthly night"
FLORENCE.
Dallas, April H. 1875.