The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1876-04-29
Sorrows ONLY Joy.

wy StVIN ItIilcS w l)OU IOltCSCuC.
1t is short, but touching.
When | first knew Bob he was in
the war office
A very good-natured fellow he was
in those days, too.
He was to have been married to
one of the best and truest-heartcd
girls ever born. He had a decent in
come. Her parents were quite
agreeable, and nothing seemed to
mar their happiness.
rccolIect her myself as it were onlv
ycsterlay-a bright, facinating little
darling, with dusky brown hair, and
and soft, liquid eyes, so bright and
sparkling You conld never guess the
color. One moment you would VOW
the were brown. The next, he pre-
pared to make solemn asscveration
they were gray. SO petite and child
like she was, so pretty, and so fond
Of poor Bob. He, in his turn, COM
pletcly id"lized her, so that it seem
ed, for once. true love would condos
cend to run kindly in harness.
An uncle of Bob's died and left him
a Thousand a year. The War Office
clerks marriage was fixed to take
place six months afterwards.
Yet it was not to I've.
But one sbcrt month before the we'd
ding day, pretty. bright eyed Florie
was taken Suddenly i'll, and Bob was
robbed of his hearts best treasure by
that dread foe consumption.
She died in Bob's arm, with her
hand in his, and her bonnie head on
his shoulder.
Poor Bod.I shall never forget his
grief ; it was something terrible at
the time.
He made rigid VOW that he would
never marry, and he has kept it faith
fully.
And now, although he is only 80
his hair is tingcd with gray, aud
the lines in his face would make you
fancy he was nearer ~.
People who don't know his sad
story wonder why that quiet, grave
looking Fortcscue has never married
and thoughtless Harry Lawless says
"Drat it you know, Ben that's mc)
your friend Fortescue is a capital fel
low, bnt he's a trihc too gloomy fol
me. He'd make an excellent hermit
with those strange IDEAS of his o,
celibacy. Why don't he start a cave
on his own account 7 don't believe
he's ever Jolly, or plays at billiards
or any thing like that you know"
But Harry is not a bad fellow. He'
only a happy 60 lucky individual
who is always getting into trouble
and coming out of it right side upper
most. He like the rest of the world
puts down Bob Fortescue as a gloom.
melancholy misanthrope.
But Bob is nothing Of the kind. II
only cherishes the memory Of til
past and his poor lost love too fondl
E to allow himself to again mix in til
gayety of society.
Whose hair is that chain made {
that he wears land whose portal
does that massive gold lockct contai
l attached to it =?
And lctus take one peep at his littl
drawing room.
g TO whom, think you, did that plan
belong, and whose the pile of music
mention tile music because it
soprano music, and Bob's voice
still a good, rich baritone.
Can you not guess I All you can
l know you can
The hair, the portrait, the pian'
and the music, were lis dear lit
dark eyed Florries and Bob value
these treasures more than ever abb,
;. valued the most sacred relics IF a d.
parted saint, or miser loved his pr
cions boarded gold.
So, you see, Bob has still these so,
renirs of the past left to console HI
wounded heart; and, after all, lie Ct
Joys life in his duiet way quite {
we'll as any other individual who h;
never known sorrow.
Perhaps you may shake Your hea
and say that he cannot find mu,
1 pleasure IN the memories Of the pas
g and must be continually lament,
tile happy days he spent before Il
F. great sorrow overlook him.
Take as an example, Bob Fortescu
Yet, every Sunday does he visit
tasteful grave in quiet little churc
yard, not q hundred miles from Lo
don.
,r A pretty little resting place it
overgrown with flowers, that a
evilant|v tended w;.1 -oalnu. car,