The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-04-15

L Inv NAA AAnAAN1 AAfAA N'HAANN N+AtN- t'ft
by me for a while, darling; I want to
talk to you" said Mrs. Hardine.
Lie obeyed mechanically.
"Why are you so pale, my dear ?"
asked her mother, anxiously. "Are you
not well ?"
"Ies-well enough"
"Then something troubles you. Can't
you tell your mother what's the mat
ter?n
Lie did not answer, but she placed
her elbows on the web before her, bowed
her head upon her hands aud wept.
Remember, dear, that your mother
is your best friend You need not be
afraid 10 eonliie in me, my child"
sun no answer, but the silent tears
fell like rain.
"Hava you heard anything from John
Ingleiou ?'
30. mother - cried the wretched girl,
dropping her head upon the maternal
bosom as wearily and lrustfully as a
grieving child, 81 have heard from him,
aud be is married g' she gasped. "And
I loved him so dearly and trusted him
so faithfully! / begin to believe there's
no such thing as couatancy under the
SUM-"
"But you mustn't think that way,
dear. You should judge Others by your
self"
'No, mother. ! never do that but
make bluuders 1 never could have
been false to John. Il wouldn't have
done FOR me to judge him by myself"
"How long have you known Of this,
rmy child?"
"Since yesterday. Last night / did
not sleep at all.n
"This great trial has come upon you
for some good purpose, my daughter.
God has some important work for you
I yet to do, and He's taken you through
/ the crucible of q just agony to prepare
you FOR it,"
"But caL't see what I've ever been
/ guilty Of that I should suffer such
cruel disappointment. Haven't I al
ways tried TO be dutiful daugh,er?"
"None could be better"
Haven't / always preferred The hap
piness Of others before my own? And
didn't ! freely lay aside my own inter
ests, and give up everything for your
sake when you most needed me?"
"You did, my darling; and Heaven
will vet reward YOU for it,"
"The trouble is with the rewards Of
Heaven that they always come to Us
like penalties. Ia rather choose my
own reward"
(which proves, my daughter, that
you are not ready to do your whole
duty"
"What duty have I left unfuIflled,
mother 2"
81 don't clearly see; aud yet, know
there is some wise purpose in your pres
ent trial. To doubt it would be TO ques-
ton the infinite goodness Of God"
For that, mother, I believe that
every evil thing will ultimately work
for good in some way. To doubt this
would be to doubt the Infinite wisdom
Of God. But the question is, why can't
everything always be right, all the
time ."
"Thars a question / can't answer,
dearie. ! wish I could. I long ago
ceased to vex my mind over what I
couldn't help"
81 would far rather die than live,
mother. Ny whole life is blasted.
Looking behind me, I eau see rugged
paths and thorny sleeps over which my
weary feet have wandered far too far for
one Of my years But I can also see
smiling wales here and there, with flow
ers aud fruit almost within my reach.
/ Looking forward, I can see only a broad,
desolale desert plain, with never a brook
or tree, aud not flower or fruit Of hap
/ piuess visible. Why must I walk such
dreary road to the bitter end, moth
er?n
Don't talk like that, my child, beg
you. BE assured that you will yet find
happiness, but il must be 10 Gods way,
aud not your own"
"Other people have found happiness
ia their own way, mother. Why should
I be an unfortunate aud solitary excep-
lion >"
Unfortunate your case may be, but
p il is not a solitary Que, by any means
my dear. Life is full Of disappointment,
aud crosses"
} "But there are comparatively few
2 who are crossed in love, as have been
"You need not think that, because yor
I do not know OF everybody's troubles
! that others do not or have not had them
e Your experience with the hidden sor
s rows Of others has been very limited
e my child"
e "Mother, were you ever crossed il
# lover"
!, Mrs. Hardine nervously resumed he
2 shuttle aud treadles and batteu, but di
: not speak.
r 'Lize eyed her with a strange Interest
J. "Why don't you answer, mothe
=. dear?" she said. surely you won
:. mind telling me-"
r The bat.en hung motiouless once more
y aud the shuttle and treadles were still
Il NO child, I don't mind telling yo
y now, though I once thought / woul
never tell any person but my heavenl
e Father, who alone could know why
10 should have had such a trial %