The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-03-27

D. = AL, was HubW6r6us = lQey were
precious to me-very precious-but God
took them"
A slight huskiness vailed her voice.
Beautiful children |" Mrs. Loring
still gazed on tie portraits. "And all
taken in year. Oh how did you keep
your heart from breaking ?"
"He who laid upon me so heavy a
burden gaye me strength to bear it, "
was the low reply.
"I have found no strength in q like
affliction," said Mrs. Loring sadly.
1isNo' strengthi Have you sought
sustaining power ?" Mrs. Adrian spoke
with winning earnestness.
"I have prayed for comfort, but none
came," said Mrs. Loring, sadly.
Praying is we'll /; but it avails not,
unless there be also doing.
"Doing?" -.
Sorrow has no antidote like this.
Mrs. boring gazed 'intently upon the
face of her monitor.
"When the last heavy stroke fell upon
my heart" continued Mrs. Adrian.
"shattering it, as it seemed, to pieces,
lay for little while stunned, weak
and almost helpless. But as soon as
thought began to run clear, I said to
myself: rs there nothing for my hands
to do, that you lie here idle? Is yours
the only suffering spirit in the world p
Then I thought of my husbands sorrow,
which he bore so silently and manfully,
striving to look away from his own
grief that he might bring comfort to
me. is it not in my power to lessen
for him the gloom Of our desolate house-
hold p asked of myself. felt that it
was and when next he returned home
at the days decline 1 met him, not with
face OF gloom as before, but with as
cheerful countenance as it was in nv
power to assume. T had my reward
I saw that had lightened his burden |;
and from that moment half the pressure
of mine was removed. Since then I
have never suffered my heart to brood
idly over its grief; but in daily duties
sought the strength that never is given
to those who fold their hands in fruitless
inactivity. The removal of my children
lightened all home duties, and took away
objects of loveJthat felt must be. in q
measure restored. had the mothers
heart still. And go I sought out a
motherless little one, and gathered her
into the fold of my love. All, madam :
this is the best balsam for the bereaved
and bleeding affections that I can tell OF.
To me it has brought comfort and re-
conciled me to losses, the bare anticipa-
tion OF which once made me beside my
self with fear. Sometimes, as 1 sit with
the tender babe now call my own rest
ing on my bosom, thought OF heaven
goes pleasantly through my mind, and I
picture to myself the mother of this
adopted child as the loving guardian of
my own babes, now risen into the
spiritual kingdom OF our Father. can
not tell you what thrill of delight such
thoughts at times awaken u
Mrs. Loring bowed her head upon her
bosom and sat in silence for some mo.
ments. Then she said:
"You have read me lesson from
which hope to profit. No wonder my
heart has ached on with undiminished
pain. have been selfish in my grief.
There is nothing now to live for
have repeated to myself over and over
again, until I believed the words"
Nothing to live for p Mrs. Adrian
spoke in surprised voice. SIN the
image and likeness of God we were all
made; and if we would have the lost
beauty restored, we must initiate God
in our lives. He loves every one with
a divine tenderness, and is ever seeking
to bless us. If we would be like Him.
we must love each other and seek each
others good. He has given us the
ability to impart blessings, and made
true happiness to depend on the exer-
else ofthis ability; and if we fold our
hands and sit in idle repinings, happi.
ness is not possible. How fully have I
proved this |"
"And, God helping me, will prove
the opposite" said Mrs. Loring, speak
ing from the warmth of new impulse.
Long enough have I been sitting
under q cloud" ~. .....
"While the bright sun shone far
above in the clear heavens" added the
friend, with q smilo OF encouragement.
"May we see this babe you have
called your own ?" said Mrs. Loring.
The little one was brought, and, as
she lay tenderly clasped to the bosom
of her new mother, giving even more of
blessedness than she received, Mrs.
Loring, after her lips had touched, with
a lingering pressure, the pure forehead,
said:
"Your action has been wiser and bet
ter than mine, and You have had your
reward. While the waters of love have
grown stagnant in my heart, sending up
murky exhalations to darken my sky,
yours have been kept sweet and pure to
mirror the bending heavens. 1 thank
you for the lesson"
She wore a different face on returning
home than when she went forth SO re-
luctantly. There was q 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
waters, and the small
ripples on the surface were catching the
light.
A few weeks of unselfish devotion to
the life duties swaiting her hand on all
sides wrought a wonderful change in
Mrs. Loring. In seeking to be useful
to others, her heart was comforted and
when into that heart, ever yearning with
q mothers undying love, babe left
helpless and friendless in the,world was
taken, the work of consolation was COM
pleted. She sat under a cloud no longer.
Above her arched the beautiful sky,
bright through the cheerful day and
when the night of grief for the loss Of
her precious one returned, as it would
return at intervals, thousand stars
made beautiful the azure armament.