The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-11-29
LIGHT AND SHADOW
BY MRS. sALLIE A. RAMAGE.

al can only try again If l fail, o God
help me; must not, for then we would per
ish. What can 10 more than | have done
for my children? | would rather die with
them than pass another day of such agony
and suffering But I must not let even
these troubles overcome me, for must work
for them yet little longer, and yet find
my strength of body and. mind growing less
every day and hour, and dare not faint or
grow weary, for then they would suffer, per-
haps die in this world that have found SO
hard and bitter. Mamie. darling, can YOU take
care of Frank and Charlie while | go out I'm
the city a little while? Now you must not be
afraid. for Jesus will be with you and mother
will hurry back Are you willing to stay?'
little hungry white face that looked
aged and worn, though the tiny body be-
spoke its youth, was raised for the mothers
and sweet gentle voice answered the ques-
ION:
No, mother, am not afraid; butsI am
and here the tears would come 10 the
bright. beautiful eyes-''I am so Geld"
IL will hurry back and tlren we will have
a nice ire, and will get You some supper.
Now keep the children in the room and il
you get too cold wrap the quilt around you"
and with kiss of love and sorrow for the
brave little child nurse and the baby boys
Mrs. Comfy went out into the darkness aud
dresriness OF the night. leaving her children
to His care who loveth the widow and Or
phan. She had a room in a tenement house:
she was one of those women who make even
the humblest place home, and she taught
her children that this was To be the dearest
spot in the world to them. That no matter
how dreary or cold it was, there they
would always find mothers loving vel
come and kiss. And yet, rs she paused at
the door to look once more at the dear faces,
her heart misgave that perhaps, fter all she
had not done right in trying keep her
children together; that ma. % it weuld
have been better to have allowed them to be
taken to the homes of Others But which
one could she have given up? Not Mamie.
for she was her only help, and,
besides, she was tender, fragile
child and needed mothers constant care
Not Frank, "his fathers boy" the one with
the smile and loving ways her husband bad
No, for his sake whose strong arm had never
failed her until DEATH she could not be sep
arated from her oldest SON. Then there was
only Charlie, her baby boy. left, but she
went back and gathered him up in her arms
and kissed him again and again, as If afraid
she would lose him from her protection.
Don't cry, mother. / will be a good girl
and | will play with the children. Now
hurry. mother, for see it is all getting dark"
II was one of the coolest nights this year
and the poor woman could hardly stand, the
wind blew so hard The thin shawl huttered
in the air. and the cold fingers could scarcely
keep the tattered folds gathered about the
trembling body. The skies were gray and
leaden, the snow flakes foated down now
and then and froze on the pale cheeks and
brow, and the long lashes were
wet with tears Of pain. The
woman was freezing. She had not
for month had enough food to satisfy her
hunger, and her blood was thin and though
the quickened pulse showed the lurking
fire, it brought no percaptible warmth
All the long dreary winter. What woe
and suffering and pain IL brings to the poor
They know none of its pleasures, but they
feel all of its honors. They count its hours
victims by the multiplied graves. The fires
on their hearths burn low, the food OH their
table is scant, but the signs and tears Of |
grief are full and constant.
At theatre and ballroom the crowd was |
assembling, and laughter and merry talk |
hlled the brilliantly lighted halls and wit |
and Jest and song added to the merriment
were blazing with light, and warm with the |
good cheer of abundance. and rs for a mo- |
ment a door or window was opened, the |
voices Of happy groups floating out upon the |
night air. some paSSer-by would say, "Ahi |
winter is the time for sociability and pleas !
ure. In one of the finest houses |
a party were eagerly discussing the merits |
decide which to attend. There was no need |
for parley a. to cost; they were all wealthy, |
and the idea OF economy was unknown: |
they were simply bent on having a good |
time. The pros and cons OF the matter were |
skillfully given and answered, and the sweet |
voices of the ladies added TO the zest OF the /
conversation. They were Handsomely |
dressed with costly laces and rich jewels and |
the prospect of the season for pleasure ami |
mated the fair faces and gave a merrier ring \
10 the gentle voices. Ball, opera. drama. |
comedy, concert were all discussed; the list |
was multiplied, they were not to be the sub
iects of eIsHUi the long delicious winter nights |
They were the gayest of the gay. They saw
no dark side to the picture when one of |
them eagerly exclaimed, ''0h, do like cold |
vea<her; we always have so many things to |
give US pleasure and make us happy. 1 am /
glad from the first to the last frosty morn
ings and clear, icy nights" Ere-the beauti-
full hostess started she went to the nursery
and kissed her children goodbye, drawing
from around their throats the folds
Of heecy blankets, bidding the nurse not to
let them get too warm, and standing in the
doorway for last glimpse, she laughed to
see the bright golden heads hiding under
the snowy pillows, wild with childish glee |
There was tender spot in her heart, and il
was when her love for her children was nur-
tured. As her husband tenderly wrapped
hcf tulo dIOuiiu ilcf anu ldSttntu TIE NdTll
gloves, she said timidly, 81 pity the children
of the poor tonight; ours looked so cozy.'
What is the matter, John7 Why don't
you open the door, said his wife. as the
gentleman paused with the door ajar little
way. Here is a woman dead or drunk; /
don't know which She is leaning against /
the house." The ladies shrank back af-
frighted, pressing close together while the
sudden burst of light streamed across the YER
andah, showing the white face and the 4
trembling body of woman.
II am not drunk. sir; am only freezing. |
1 came tonight to get something for my =