The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-12-10

why should care 80 near the infinite
WY should care that thou wilt cease to
miss meg 2'5 40 Il $500 ~
AZ, GOD, these earthly ties are knit 80 tight!
Sulck qulck, lean lower, 0 my leve, and
FOR BETTER, FOR WORSE.
When Mary Middleton married John
|skutherford she took HIM for better and
tor worse, "until death did them part"
she did not promise to cleave to him in
the sunshine only, and when the sea of
lie was smooth and sparkling. She took
an cath and called God and friends to
witness that she would be with him when
the storms arose and when the pillows
were rough, and forsaking all others, she
would cleave to him only.
1t was an easy thing to saw this, be-
cause the man to whom she thus bound
herself was yonng, handsome and rich.
lie was kind in disposition and domestic
IN his tastes. He had nothing against
him and everything in his favor. He
loved her and she loved him after her
own selfish fashion. That she would
ever ne called on to make any sacrifice
OF feeling for loves sake she never
dreamed. She fancied, if she ever
thought at all about the matter, that her
married life would be one long holiday,
full of love, and pleasure, and riches.
such life as her past had been when,
sheltered in her fathers house, she knew
only the bright side of existence. Young
and petted thus she married, without a
! thought of the true meaning of the
solemn oath she took before the altra of
| the church, with her numerous friends
as witnesses.
At first "all went as merry as a mar
riage bell" There were no clouds in the
matrimonial skies-nothing but sunshine
and serenity. She was loving and happy;
she was placid and amlable because there
was no disturbing element in her home
to make her otherwise. She could not
| be discontinued or peevish amid the choice
gifts Heaven had thrown around her. 1t
is so easy to be calm and gentle when our
pathway is lined with roses and the SUM-
shine sparkles overhead; but when our
feet tread on the thorns, and the black
ness gathers around, and the storm NUT
tiers in fury, then is the time that tries
| our very soul, and it is hard to smile and
be happy amid the trials that encompass
US. zat,-,, nn. :.a.
A terrible financial storm swept over
the country, and many rich argosy went
down amid the darkness. One merchant
drew in another, and John Rutherford
found himself struggling in the pillows,
with no possible way of escape. Go
down he must, and go down he did. He
failed" despite his exertions to keep
his business affoat.
As he sat in his counting house, striv-
ing to realize the extent of the disaster,
his thoughts naturally reverted to his
young wife. How would he face her
with the cad story and how would she re-
ceive it, Of course she would love him
still, and even love him better. She
would cleave to him more fondly and
closely for the sorrows that had overtaken
him. For, ne thought, what is love worth
If it flies when the storm approaches, it
it shrinks back with dismay when the
way grows dark and dreary. This surely
was not the kind of love his wife pledged
him one year ago, "for better, for worse,
until death did them part"
SC0SCo IA ACA 4uAuA3Ou0 AOACs OOAu
Ruthc1ford's vile looked up pleasantly
as her husband came into the room. She
exclaimed merrily:
II am 80 glad you have come: my sis
ter Annie and her husband are gong to
Europe, and they wish US to accompany
them. Of course we will go, john"
She had not noticed the sad eyes that
were looking at her with an anxious,
troubled expression.
II have terrible news to tell you,
Mary" was the answer.
She grew suddenly pale. She had
never had any sorrow in her life, this
young, petted child of fortune in whose
garland of life there was not one without
q bud.
Terrible news, John"
II am ruined, Mary; have failed. l
struggled against it, but it was no use,
and I, like, many Others, have gone
downv'
II don't exactly understand you, john"
was the reply, in tremulous tones. You
don't mean that you have lost all your
money!"
"All, Mary"
"Why, how are we to ives''
She was only thinking of this. There
was no sympathy expressed for the
man for whom she had left father
and mother, and kindred and home.
There was not one word OF loving affec-
ton to fall like balm upon his troubled
heart
I'VE must give up our luxury, Mary,
and live plainly. For my sake, you will
be willing to do this" and he put his
arms lovingly around her. All I have
now is your love-" s.
Shs burst into passionate food of
tears of weeping, they were not tears of
sympathy, but tears of keen regret tor
the glittering show of wealth passing
from her life.
Where was the womanly sympathy,
the wifely tenderness to which John
Rutherford had looked for sustaining
health9 Where was the unseltish devo-
ton which cried out with the voice OF
enduring love: "Whither thou goest l
will go; thy people shall be my people;
thy destiny my destiny, thy sorrows my
sorrows, and thy God my Godl" Truly
the delicate harp love had been struck,