The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-02-22

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r te taflleFs abe lad raise
s ffessl seain<t al mankins
hfaken asisn to-day by the fouc
. Il ehilds s0it lips on her cheel
~e iaoaght Of her happy an
brilliant youth, liz gand hopes an
promises. and Of the devotion t
hsf husband and children. Her
where she walked lonely and desc
7 Late now they had once Wake
with her. hand in hand togethe
beheid the waters glowing in tn
early tint Of sunrise and refectin
the gorgeous splendors of sunset
and shimmering and ripping in TIA,
hight OF the moonbeams Here sh,
had stood, too, when her child wa
brought to her, The sweet, blue eve,
closed forever, the face marble whit
and cold in terrible repose. the vel
low hair dripping with the water
OF the pitiless sea, winch had stolei
4 the dear life from the mother who
had so fondIy cherished ii.
OF the Wild tempest which hac
tossed her soul at this time sh,
dreaded to think even now. 1t had
been 50 near to madness that it wa.
a terror to heryet. Never since tina
time, now ten years, had she left
except for her lonely walks, the old
grav house. She had Shut hersel
/ up like hermit, and with wild and
bitter grief, cursed herself and hel
God. Down into the deepest gloom
of despair she went, where never a
single ray Of heavenly light and
comfort reached her. She brooded
continually upon the darkness OF
her fate, and sank into deeper
depths of despair with every day
that passed. Though she had year
~ covered her child's grave with
purple pansies and snowy daisies,
no blossoms of hope or faith had
ever sprung up in her own heart.
Winter and summer she had staid
shut up in the desolate old house,
listening to the moaning of the sea,
morbidly nursing her rebellion
against the hand that had stricken
her. aud bfooding over the fact that
her loved ones could return to her
no more. She emerged from her
retirement only to look at the little
grave beneath the cedar tree, pur-
pie in summer with the beautiful
pansies, white in winter with its
drapery of snow.
But now light had entered in on
the darkness which had enshrouded
her. A new hope had blossomed in
her desolate heart. Softer feelings
bad taken possession OF her, and
she Ionged with a longing that was
almost pain, to see again the gentle
woman and the lovely child who
had worked this miracle. That
night she slept undisturbed by the
phantom Of the past, which for so
long had made darkness terror 10
her.
Mrs. Arden and Efiie came casiy
the next day, and were received by
Mrs Granger in a room which had
grown moldy with disease and neg
lect. But the windows were open,
and the June sunshine poured in
unresirained by lattice or curtain.
Efiie climbed Into Mrs. Changers
lap and fell asleep there, one dim
pied hand clasped in that Of her new
friend.
30 think that my children can
never. never return tome, said Mrs.
Granger bending her head to kiss
the little one sleeping on her breast.
"Tl ey snail net return to you, but
you snail go TO them,' said Mrs.
Arden softly. Let that comfort
you"
Il have found neither consolation
nor comfort in religion" the other
Il cannot believe as YOU
do, that | shall meet my loved ones
in a better land Why were they
taken from me p
You mustnotask that question"
said Mrs. Arden you must feel
that God in His Wisdom knew
best
"Ah, how can | believe the God
good who could SO desolate my
life p
Her face was tense and low, and
a rigid. white look had settled on
her face.
Believe me, God Is ever good.
Whom He loveth He chasteneth. "
said Mrs. Arden, softly and then
she went on to speak Of the comfort
and consolation found in perfect
faith OF the promises held out TO
those VINO mourn ofthe blessed re-
union with the loved ones who have
gone before. when this transitory
life is oyer. So casnestly. SO elo-
quentlv, 50 tender did she speak,
that hefore she bad concluded, the
woman whose heart had been stone
for so many years, was weeping,
weepina with passionate sobs, like 4
little ei,ild
All through the Summer Mrs. Ar
len was an almost daily visitor at
.he old gray house by the sea. Mrs
Blount wondered ard the villagers
yossipped, but the little woman
vent her way unheeding, feeling
hat in that old house she had
ound the great work Of her life.
Me cast her bread upon the waters
NTH no thought of its ever return
NJ to her
When autumn came she returned
o her home in the city, leaving
Hrs. Granger eain and content. and
lceply interested in various plans
or the amelioraiion Of the condition
# the families of the poor sailors of
he village. She still mourned for
Ter dead. but not with grief that
new neither hope nor comfort.
Three years passed away, and
roubles great and terrible fell upon
entle Mrs. Arden. Her noble |
oung husband Was brought home
cad to her one day, and she was
eft not only widowed. hu.penniless.
here was scarcely enough money
nd by TO defray the expenses of
be funeral, and she had not a rela-
ve to whom she could apply for
id. How should Sic earn a sup
OFT FOR both iec-elf and child /?