Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-01-02
For the SPECTATOR.
A Noble Sacrifice.
BY O. C. PEYTON.

All well! for us all some sweet hope lies
Deeply buried from human eyes.
Maud Mailer.
The Autumnal sun is sinking, in all
its lurid splendor, as Philip Haxton
dashes up to the large, double gate of
his uncle Georges beautiful, riverside
home, and, without dismounting, leans
forward from his jet-black pony to draw
back the heavy bolt.
Philips father Is wealthy merchant
of the business-like. growing city of -
In the State of Virginia. The mysterious
providence of God, five years ago, de-
prived him of fond wife, and Philip
of a true, Christian mother. Mr.. Hax-
ton is not Christian, and really shows
very little interest in the religious train
ing of. this only and idolized4 son of lis.
And, although Philip hefishef he
fondest, sweetest of memories of the
lessons his gentle, loving mother sought
to impress upon him long ago, he has
never taken definite step towards a
purer and better life. He is one of that
sadly unfortunate class of human beings
who make such an utter misapp!ication
of the philosophy of the maxim, Live
for the Present." as to totally forget
that there il beyond all the future that
may ever be present, an infinite. unseen
existence, the very best of preparation
for which is to live truly and honestly
with God, ones self and ones fellow
men in the now present. Philip is q
gay, fun loving man of some twenty
wears. His father places no restraint
whatever upon his expenditure of money
and is too much wrapped up in the con-
DIM of IF 10 hl1c n n
look the life and character of his son.
That son Is of wild, rowing nature and
devoted to the chase. A large proportion
of his time is spent in rambling over his
uncle's plantation, which stretches for
three miles along the left bank of the
- river.
But, making as he does the mistake
we have referred to, in failing to use the
present to prepare for the future, he yet
successfully practices that other trite
and useful maxim: "Never cross bridges
before you come to them" He never al
lows any trouble or care which the future
may bring to overshadow for moment
the pearly sunlight of his life's clear sky.
His practical creed is to be just as happy
and Joyous as he can make himself now
and to let the future take care of itself.
Right feeling and right thinking people
cannot help but admire the practice of
such a creed in any life, but they always
feel q tinge of sadness that those who
are possessed of hearts as kind and gen.
erous as Philip Haxton's, do not really
seek to prepare for future beyond all
time, and then be disinterested concern
ing anything of evil the future, before,
in this world may bring, since prepara-
ton for the world to come does, or rath-
er should, impart such disinterested
feeling. The practical creed of all these
who have made genuine truthful prep
aration is: "Live for the present and
trust God for the future.
But although Philip is wild and row.
ing in his nature and one who would
far rather spend a day rambling alone
among the mossy cliffs, hunting or fish
ing, than among the group At Elm nwoUd,
he is of noble type of manly character
and of so generous. friendly dispose
ton that he never fails to win the conf
dence and esteem of all who meet and
know him.
He has opened the double gate now
and closed it behind him. AS he rides
slowly up the slope. through the grove.
towards the house, his mind Is full OF
pleasing memories Of the past. He re-
calls the bright days of the last few
years-the hopes, longings and aspira-
tions of his heart. through those years,
seem swept into the nearness of yester-
day.
One of the most intimate companions
of all those bygone years was his uncle
Georges only daughter, whom Philip
has always Familiarity and lovingly call
ed Little Cous."
Edith Haxton is a little, fairy-like
body-one of that type who admirably
succeed in making their homes places
of quiet rest and calm, to which theiI
inmates never turn in hours of weary
care without being made stronger fol
the struggle of human life. She has a
wealth Of raven hair which hangs In
waving tresses upon her shoulders; he1
eyes are black and reveal in their vim
and brightness a wealth of mind; hel
features are beautifully proportionatt
and full of affection and tenderness; hel
unjeweled hands strikingly portray that
lack of desire for mere external snow
| which characterizes her; her manneri
are charmingly sweet and attractive
and there is nothing at all of that unap'
proachable stiffness which makes some
people so little attractive.
Such is the Little Cous" with whon
the brightest days of Philips past nave
been spent, and whose simple, chliuIKs
character has exerted over bis life tht
most pleasing of influences. Is it won
der that as he is recalling that past now
with its beautifully tinted pictures, ne
fairy-like form and lovely face shouit
stand before him, and Like the "dnost Q