Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1879-09-25

SHADOWS.

shadow, and contempt is freely thrown up
no thoughtful observer of nature can help
noticing how thoroughly they are inter-
woven with every scene, how they heighten
the beauty of every landscape, or deepen
the sublimity Of every grand and majestic
view. All our inner sense of beauty re-
spends to their delicate presence on hillside
and valley, on the vast expanse of ocean, or
the river or the peaceful lake. The artist
studies them with delight, and longs to de-
pict them faithfully on his canvas, for he
knows that if his skill deserts him here his
art is a failure. Then, too, how much do
we owe to shadows! How grateful is their
cooling and quieting presence to the heated
and wearied traveller! How eagerly we
seek them, and how gladly we welcome
them when oppressed with the fervent sun
rays! Light and warmth, now our great
est blessings, would become curses, did not
the shadow intervene to protect us from
their intensity. Often, indeed, does it seem
far more precious to us than the substance
of which it is the reflection. True, shadows
are not always blessings. Sometimes they
arc dark, gloomy and lowering, hiding from
us the light which we crave and the warmth
for which we pine. Then we are glad to
creep from under them and to escape their
chill. Yet, in either case, viewed rightly,
they cannot be described as unreal and I'M
substantial as they seem they are positive
influences, from which we are never free.
In the world of human life, shadows play
as important a part as in the world Of mat
ter as in the one, they exist either to soften
the light or to obscure it, SO in the other
they fall either to refresh and bless or to
darken and chill. DUST as the shadow Of
our figure follows us without any exercise
of the will. so a subtitle influence is ever
.emanating from our characters and feelings,
over which we nave no control. We are
always %scheming, planning, striving, doing,
and we think that these exhaust the power
of our lives. But there is another force,
silent and unobtruslve, of which we seldom
think and never count npon, yet which is
more potent and vital than any which our
will ever puts forth. 1t is the power OF be-
ing the shadow which the innermost self
casts upon the world the nnspoken, unpre-
meditated, unconscious influence which we
are ever shedding. simply by our life. In
the home we find the fullest example of the
uncalculated power of this shadow. Pa
rents are generally anxious to do their best
for their children they often toll unremit-
tingly to supply their needs; if thoughtful,
they study and plan to develop their minds
and establish good principles if unseltish.
they win give up ease, comfort and pleas
ure to secure their children's best good, and
they do we'll. Yet, after all, there is anoth-
er and even more potent influence, which is
seldom thought of. It is the shadow which
the home casts over the child from its in
most life. which is either to be its blessing,
protection and safeguard Though all COM
ing years, or a aarkenlng and chilling pres
ence which it can never wholly escape.
When men and women look back to the
home Of their youth, it is this undar-current
that remains in their memories long after
all special effects have passed away Was
their home bright, sunny, full>of love and
simple. natural joy? Where truth, honor
and duty woven into the lives of those who
guided them? If so. how their hearts
spring back with gratitude and joy to the
spot where such holy and loving influences
overshadowetl and blessed them. IF, on the
contrary. the spirit OF the home was gloomy.
f%orbidding and ~austere if nervous irritable
ity pervaded the air, or a tone of distrust
and suspicion tinctured the intercourse, then
the shadow has been a baletul one, and has