The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-03-02
q" The time came.

u.
But the joy had not come.
In my home were many cares, and
in my business were more cares.
I" My children were growing up, and
l felt they must be provided for.
Let them be grown up to help me;
and let me see them settled, and the Joy
would be more.
1.-The years passed on.
" The Joy l sought was in the future,
and | worked for it, and longed for it"
" Goal after goal did I set up in the
distance, and reached one only to find
another still in advance.
with feverlsh labor I pushed on,
assuring myself that I was erecting a
fabric which would support my great
JOY at last, and in the end I should find
comfort and be satisfied.
My children grew up, and with their
growing came new and unlocked for
cares.
"And at length the dark messenger
of death came, and one of my fairest
and most promising flowers was cut
down.
" In time another fell, and darkness
came with this double stroke.
Then I plunged more resolutely in
to my business, determined to make it
brighter for what remained.
From year to year looked forward
to the Joy that was to come when I
should have earned it.
I" took no rest; realized no solid
comforts; acknowledged no present
abiding joys; but was struggling for q
grand contamination in the future.
CT did not mark the flight of tire,
and when l looked back it was only to
dwell upon the dark spots.
CT thought of the losses, but gave no
thought of the gains.
cat length I was an old man, and
worldly wealth in abundance was mine.
"Surely, now, if ever, should cease
my labors and be at rest.
g. I thought thus, almost willing to
believe that the goal was reached, when
the fabric of all my hopes was crushed
in day.
"In this last hour the partner of all
my labors and my trials-the wife whom
I had loved, and upon whom I had
come to lean for comfort and consola-
tion-was stricken from me.
"And so fell the castle Of my life's
Joy in the hour of its completion. TIE
temple was demolished before its conse-
Grafton.
Luke, you now behold me an old
man, standing surely upon tho verge of
the grave; and I can tell you that the
joys for which I labored were never
mine to enjoy.
"And yet, as now look back, I can
see, all along the pathway of my life,
neglected possibilities of JOY which I
failed to grasp.
1.-The happiest hours of my life did
not know.
"Oh, when 1 think of it now, what
would l give to be set back into the
warm, bright sunshine of those early
days-to have again the opportunity Of
grasping at joys which were given me
on every hand?
But it may not be.
"The past cannot be recalled.
"In my vain race for q great good to
come, I allowed the thousand-ard-o ne
little joys of everyday life to bloom and
fade untasted and unseen.
Through II long and weary life I
have labored to amass wealth, and when
the wealth is mine, find, alas! that the
capacity to enjoy it has failed me.
"While my powers and capacity of
enjoyment were strong and active, 1
satisfied them not.
"My opportunities for comfort I
wasted, and my time for rest I threw
away in pursuit of bubble which was
to burst as touched it.
"Oh, my boy, could l live my life
over again. with my present knowledge
to guide me, would surely make the
most of the indwelling joys.
"And not only for self would pluck
tho flowers of Joy as they sprang up
along my pathway. but for those dear
ones whose Joy must be ever my Joy,
aud whose sorrows must ever share.
Luke, I cannot go back. must be
content as builded; but my life may
afford profitable lesson for you.
think of it my boy, and look to it
that the frui. OF your labor be not suf-
fered to mould and decay on your hands
untasted."
The old man closed, and shortly
retired, leaving Luke buried in thought.
"Whst is that, Luke?"
"A whip, my dear"
"a whip?"
Yes. / have bought it to 60 with .
pair Of horses and On easy carriage"
Luke
Hush, darling. II you and the
children will go with me, I am going
back with grandfather. The good old
man has led me to believe that I may
find . grain of comfort there. At all