Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-04-24

your nchTt DrtHk1nR
He who laid upon me so heavy
burden gave mo strength to bear II"
was the low reply.
"I have found no strength in like
affection, said Mrs. Loring sadly.
"No strength | Have you sought
sustaining power2" Mrs. Adrian spoke
with winning earneBtness.
"I have prayed for comfort, but none
came" said Mrs. Loring, sadly.
"Praying is well but it avails not,
unless there be also doing.
"Doing?"
Eyes, the faithful doing OF our duty.
Sorrow has no antidote like this"
Mrs. Loring gazed intently upon the
face of her monitor.
"When the last heavy stroke fell upon
my heart" continued Mrs. Adrian.
shattering it, as il eemed, 10 pieces,
lay for n little while stunned, weak
and almost helpless. But as soon as
thought began TO run clear, / said to
myself: rs there nothing for my hands
TO do, that you lie here idlo2 Is yours
the only suffeTing spirit in the world p
Then thought Of my husbands sorrow,
which he bore so silently and manfully,
striving 10 look away from his own
grief that he might bring comfort 10
me. Is It not in my power TO Lessen
for him the gloom Of our desolate house
hold 2 asked OF myseR. felt that il
was ; and when next he returned home
at the days decline ! mot him, not with
face of gloom as before, but with az
cheerful n countenance as it was in my
| power to assume. / had my reward !;
/ saw that had lightencd his burden !;
and from that moment half the pressure
OF mine was removed. Since then
| have never suffered my heart 10 brood
! idly over its grief; but in daily duties
| sought the strength that never iB given
to those ofold their hands in fruitless
inactivity. The removal Of my children
! lightened all home duties, and took away
! objects OF loveIthat felt must DO in
measure restored. had the mothers
heart still. And so l sought ont n
motherleso little one, and gathered her
into tho fold Of my love. All, madam !
/ this ia the best balsam for tho bereaved
and bleeding affections that can tell OF.
| To me il has brought comfort and re-
conciled mo to losses, the bare anticipa.
| tion OF which once made me beside my
self with fear. Sometimes, Gs / sit with
the tender babe ] now call my own rest.
| ing on my bosom, thought OF heaven
goes pleasantly through my mind, aud I
! picture TO myself the mother OF this
adopted child rs the loving guardian OF
my own babeB, now risen into the
spiritual kingdom Of our Father. / can.
not tell you what thrill Of delight such
thoughts at timea awaken !"
hrB. Loring bowed her head upon her
bosom and sat in silence for some mo.
ments. Then sho said:
You have read me Lesson from
which hope to profit. No wonder my
heart has achcd on with undiminiahed
pain. / have been selfish in my grief.
There is nothing now to live for, ]
have repeated TO myself over and over
again. until | believed the words"
Nothing 10 live for T. Mrs. Adrian
spoke in n surprised voice. "ln the
image aud Likeness Of God We we're oil
madc; and IL We would have tho lost
beanty restored. we must initiate God
in our livea. He loves every ono with
divine tonderneBH. and ia ever seeking
to bless as. II we would be like Him,
we must love each other aud seek each
others good. Is D.. given ms tho
ability to impart DiessinFu, and made
true happiness to depend on the exer-
else Of this ability; aud il wo fold our
hands and sit in idle repiuinga. happi.
ness is not possible. How fully have
proved this |"
"And, God helping me, will prove
the opposite, said Mrs. Isoring, speak
ing from the warmth of a new impulse.
Long enough have l been sitting
under a cloud.
"While the bright sup shone far
above in the clear heavens" added the
friend, with. smile OF encouragement.
May we sec this babe you have
called your own ?" said Mrs. Loring.
The little one was brought, and, ne
abe lay tenderly clasped to the bosom
oi her new mother, giving even more Of
blessedness than abe received, Mrs.
LoriDg, after her lips had touched. with
a lingering pressure, the puro forehead.
said:
"Yonr action has been wiser and bet
ter than mine. and you have had your
reward. While The waters Of love have
grown staRnant in my heart, sending mp
murky exhalations 10 darken my sky,
yours have been kept sweet and pure to
mirror the bending heavens. / thank
you for the lesson"
She wore different face on returning
home than when abe went forth 30 re-
luctantly. There was n rift in the over
shadowing clouds, and few rays Of sun.
shine came warmly down. Even the in.
ception OF good purposes had moved the
lonR-pulaeless waters, and the small
ripples on the surface wore catching the
light.
A few weeks Of unselfIsh devotion 10
the life duties ewaiting her hand on all
sides wrought q wonderful change In
Mira. Loring. In seeking 10 be useful
to others, her heart was comforted and
when into that heart. ever yearning with
a mothers undyiDg love, babe left
helpless and friendless In tho world was
taken, the work Of consolation was com.
pleted. She esat under cloud no longer.
Above her arched the beautiful sky,
bright through the cheerful day and
when the night of grief for the loza of