Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-11-23

warmer ABOUT Cno nedIG, you huoW'
But this cannot be The hard things
the wrong, bitter things of life are, and we
could not ignore them if we would. They
look out on us from labor with eyes that
plead for something we fain would give
and so, with cry for wisdom and for
strength. we do the little that we may
leaving the rest with God:
Mr.. and Mrs. Shook were only types OF
large class, who are always putting away
chances OF happiness without meaning to
do anything of the kind. They owned tn
land they lived on, and their home was a
+ neat little cottage, behind high naples and
walls of jessamine, that kept the small
rooms sweet the whole summer long; and
there was no reason why they should not
be contented and glad. But contentment
and gladness were things that neither had
known anything about-long at time
for many, many years.-He irritated her,
and she him. Not in a large, tumultuous
way, but in continuous little frets, so much
harder to bear and forgive, and each vas
about as miserable as men and women can
well be, with plenty to eat, drink and wear
good shelter over their heads, but with
unsatisfed, chafng, starved hearts.
"Mamma," pet said, softly, after her IA
ther had disappeared around the corner of
the barn, and the mother had gone back to
her washing, with a big lump in her throat,
'did you and papa ever love each other 20
1t was strange question. Mrs. Shook
turned quickly, and the bar of soap in her
hand dropped with thud to the white-oak
floor. Patches of red and white came and
of means plain one, and her eyes opened
wider than the child had ever seen them.
why, yes, child, she answered as soon as
her breath came. "What makes you ask ?"
81 was thinking "-the child evaded
without intending to.
"Thinking what ?"
"You know was down at grandma's
yesterday, and Aunt Jane and Uncle Will
seemed so happy TOGETHER the little one
continued, keeping her eyes on the bread
she was crumbling into a bowl of fresh
milk for her breakfast. ''Once when
Auntie was tucking up my curls, Uncle
put his arm around her and kissed her
right on the eyes, that had tears in them,
and when they we're gone-Uncle and Aun-
tie, you know-grandma said: what
makes you so sober, Pussy ?' And-you
won't blame me, mamma ?"
"No, darling
s'I told her 1 was Misunderstanding
"What dear!''
Mrs. Shook was close by the child then.
and was looking very solemnly at the droop-
ing lids and the quivering lips.
''That I'd never seen you and papa kiss
each other in my life.''
"And what did grandma say ?" very
softly.
''She said that uncle Will and Aunt Jane
had not always been so kind and so fond !;
I think she said so fond, though [ don't
know what that means. That before cous
in Jenny died. there was never any sun
shine in the house, except what Jenny
made, and her death had made them love
each other more Just as the old counting
days. grandma said.'
SIIduSC ldlh w d CulIus VAO AuoVdCA
said, half to herself, and with the anxious
look deepening in her eyes.
';Was it % the little one was toying with
the small silver spoon, in an absent, care
less way. "But, mamma"
| Eyes, dearie.''
"When went to bed last night, what
do you s'spose told God p
'That you thanked Him for your good
home, and for your dear papa and mamma.
didn't you?''
II don't think did," admitted the child,
shaking her head obviously. "Guess [
forgot that; but I told Him He might take
me up to heaven, where grandpa and cous-
in Jenny was, if that would make you and
papa happy, like Uncle Will and Aunt
Jane, you know"
She looked up then, her violet eyes half
drowned III sacrifcial tears, while the poor
mother stared down at her in dumb, be-
wildered way, the color all gone from her
face, her figure bowed as if already upon
its helplessness lay the burden OF her cross.
81 don't want to go away, mamma the
child continued. sit amt as nice where
Jenney is as it is here-we've so many
lambs, you know, and the woods are just
full of flowers! But I told God he needn't
mind, and that I'd 60 right away, if you'd
only love each other.'
s'Don't listen to her, dear, dear God !"
walled the mother, falling upon her knees
and catching the child to her bosom. 'She's
all have in the world-all my light, my
JOY, my life, my crown and my glory Pun
ish us some other way, oh. God! punish
us any other way, for we deserve it; but
let us keep the one eve lamb Thou gayest
the one white rose-the one great good
we cannot live without"
He eyes were strained up at the window
| to the blue sky far beyond, and the child
chung to her neck as if she thought an
er. Neither heard the smothered sob in
the passage leading to the wood-shed. nor
the steps coming towards them, through
the silence that ensued; for the farmer,
! coming back for something he had forgot
ten, had heard the larger half Of the story
l have so poorly told to you, and in a mo-
ment the wife he truly loved despite the
| GOODNESS between his life and hers, and the
child that was the idol, were closer in his
arms than one had been for years, and the
trio wept together.
s'Shall we begin life over, lilly ?" the
father asked, taking the pet name he drop
ped so long ago. "Shall we try to be more
patient and more forgiving ?"
'Yes, Alex-oh, yes,' sobbed the moth
er.
s'And teDderer, lilly ?"
4 I, hoct /