The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1878-07-02

fingered seemingly on the brink OF the
grave. Though the very best physicians
were sought they could not efecta cure.
/ had no ambition TO recover. No desire
to % forth into the gay world; TO min.
gle with society. Not single object in
fife could / see that was worth effort
My parents were in good circumstances
80 had no need to exercise my facul-
ties for self support; physicians needed
the support their visits demanded, and
as long as / was considered an invalid,
nothing would be required of me in the
way Of doing for others. | grew thor.
oughly selfish. ! seldom saw anyone
but the members OF our own family.
Books and papers ] tbnreoGst,iIy sa.ei<
r'SseiI - ;ptt Jne sunlight from my fo1ni; !
could not endue its cheerful brightness.
What right had it to shine and make all
the world bright, when there was only
the blackness Of darkness in my heart.
A year from that to me eyentful Sep
TENDER morning | asked my sister to
bring me my writing desk, and then to
leave me alone. While she was taking
it from the bottom OF the trunk--for
had never used it since that too well re-
membered morning-Saidy asked who
that Harry was OF whom 1raved so much
in my illness.
"How should ] known I inquired
Probably one of the students, as am
very well acquainted with several by
that name. Why, what did sayg"
"Nothing that we could understand
only occasionally we would hear you
muttering My Harry or Poor Har,
ry."
/ was sure then that none knew the
real cause of my illness, and | would
make myself sure that none ever did.
When my sister left the room, /
burned the notwithstanding letters, with
out another perusal. Dust on ashes was
my first and last love- The little gifts
that had once priced, put safely away
in a secret drawer. could not return
them to the giycr, for | did not know
where on the continent he WAS located.
/ learned by accident that he had gone
south.
Months were woven into years, and
still | kept my room. was not we'll.
Physicians called my disease spinal COM
plant, and | allowed them to prescribe
accordingly. You may think it passing
strange how one could be so perfectly
inactive and still retain a good use of
their five senses. And yet there are
thousands wasting their inheritance,
allowing their energies to lie dormant
till every good impulse is covered over
with q rust that will eat up every God
given talent.
/ had no aim, no object in life; and l
would not seek one.
1t was enough that Inc longer suffered
acutely, and my wants were all supplied.
In this thrifiess way ten years OF my life
were passed.
Then my dear old father sickened and
died. 1t was during his illness that L
nerved myself to leave my own room,
for all this time had kept my own
apartment like the veriest hermit, and
sit by him while the rest of the family
sought needed rest or attended to domes-
tic matters.
Although he was very quiet man in
his family, yet we were very lonely
without him. And for mothers sake, |
mingled more with the family. in the
hope of comforting her in her affections.
| soon found that our neighbors were
really intelligent beings with warm, sym
hearts, and that books and
pa pers could be source Of enjoyment.
One morning when the June roses
were in bloom and the bees were gath
ering their wealth of sweets alike from
roses and nettles, and birds were feeding
their young, my idle, listless hands
picked up the weekly paper that sister
Moretta had left upon the sofa.
My eyes wandered dreamily over its
columns and finally rested on these evil
IDENTIFY heartspoken words: ooh! let
not the night come and find so little
accomplished; let not these golden jewels
Of Time, rs they drop from Gods benz
ficient fingers, be utterly lost"
Those words were a standing rebuke
to me. How many times had the cur
tains Of Gods windows been drawn,
shutting out the day from my light, and
found me indebted for time spent in
idle, useless dreaming. All day long
was haunted with my wasted life. All
my energy lay covered with rust, my
talents were covered over with the cob
webs of dreamland. / had robbed the
gracious Giver Of the caske, of Jewels
that he had lent to me to be returned
with usury. had allowed it to be cor
roded with rust, which would ever mar
the brilliancy of the jewels within.
When He called for them what an
account / should be obliged to give for
wasted opportunities. There was still a
valuable part left: should l leave that
tc GO to ruin with the rest?2
No." was the answer of my whole
soul. | would arise and put on my
beautiful garments. | would that hour
begin q new life: though the sun had
long since passed the meridian, yet the
night should not come till ! had accom-
plished some good. / would a0atch for
opportunities.
Summer faded, and clasped hand with
her sister autumn as she resigned scepter
and crown. with a bowed form. but q
placid smile upon her pale lips. She had
fulfilled her mission. Not single thread
MAS missing in all the fabric.
September with her quiet, dreamy
lays and starry nights, found me really
Enjoying an active life. I felt like an
,ther being. Old things had pass ed
away and beheld! all things had become
new. It seemed strange how much one
,ould accomplish when one had will
% do
Fifteen years from the day my whole
life had seemed wrecked upon a barren
Grand, ! was travelling through the state
II Illinois on my way to visit some re-
atoms. The numbering stage wagon
vas we'll filled with passengers and bag
rage. The roads were not always as
mooth as plank could have maize them,
Ant tbn lovnlcoo NO v,oo uorsoAt usth