The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1883-11-17
HOW THE KING CAME.

hOU IhG AANU NAAkAs
''Baby, the king is coming" Over
and over again the mother whispers the
words to the atom of humanity lying
upon her breast; joyfully, gladly, with
lips that have grown fixed, and drawn,
and white with a surcease OF Joyous
speech. Not long ago, as men count
years, they had known smiles, and gay.
girlish laughter, but it is truly said, I'VE
count time by heart throbs;" and the
path between that time and now has
been steep and thorny one.
Hers WAS peculiarly happy girlhood.
She was an only child, with every wish
gratifed, and an adoring circle OF
friends to whom her word was law.
What wonder that having reigned queen
of hearts SO lorg, the love and home
that Kingsley Hapgood offered her came
but as added loyalty and territory?
She did not think Or mean it so. 1t is
not by arbitrary rule that women
queen" it over their little social circles,
here in republican America. AS Judge
Aliens daughter, the position was al
ready won; and it was held by winsome
grace, womanly tact, and supreme self
poise.
1 know that according to all time hon.
ored precedents the wedding should be
the grand climax after trials, tribula-
tions, and misunderstanding innumera-
BILE. I sometimes wonder how the aver
age short-story writer dares reveal to us
the depth, length and breadth of fos-
tered ill.temper and angularities of dis
position; alternating from the slough of
despond to the seventh heaven of bliss,
with celebrity fearful to contemplate;
and then leaving us wide eyed and in
credulous at the church door, with the
questionable assurance that from hence
forth they "lived in peace, and died IN
Greece" as we used to end the dear old
fairy tales when we were children.
Fairy tales came into my life some time
before my geographical era, and to my
childish Imagination this was represent
ed as large kettle somewhat resembling
the one in which my mother fried the
delectable doughnuts into which all
good and happy fairies went when they
died.
With all due respect for the import
ance and necessity of the engaged period,
leads over the threshold into o country
vastly differing from the luxurious land
of Greece. Beyond the portal lies q
wider sphere of action, beset with many
a snare, and often leading directly into
that kettle of boiling 'grease" my child
ish thought depicted. If my story seems
to be commenced at the wrong end, ,.,have
patience, kind reader. I may be able to
show you only the broken, tangled ends
of the threads, but somewhere from the
beginning, they all lie straight in God's S
sight.
I believe most young people enter
upon this broader field of duties
feeling it to be, not the simple ''joinine
of commercial interests" as heard one
young man say, but with a true sense oi
its sanctity and obligations.
These two of whom I write went out
from under her fathers roof, in faith be-
lieving that their strong resolves and
exaltation of spirit would endure through
many year of veal and woe. AS she
was queen, 50 he in very truth was king
not alone in the attributes of his nature,
bat also by the name his mother gave
hIm-her own maiden name dropping
the last syllable.
Proud was the wife of the command
ing presence of her ''liege, and in mu
tual love and admiration the first few
months passed quickly. Into this Eden
crept by slow degrees the serpent of dis
cord. Trihes light as air-some small
neglect careless word-the fash oi
overcharged domestic atmosphere
These were followed by reproaches, anG
the keen resentment of royalty against
aught but unquestioned obedience
What need to rehearse too minutely the
drama we see enacted about Us every
day? It is sad old story, common bu
never so common as to lose its tragica
pathos for those who watched the glad
some launching of the ship, as it sailed
out of the harbor home, to meet with
storm and shipwreck on the rocks OF
pride and that high spirit which will
never confess fault, or admit an error
ofiudgment. It forgets, as we do some
times, that the true height-nearest to
heavens reached by lowliest pathos oi
humility and self-sacrifce.
Scarcely Jsree years have gone. The
first was flooded with sunshine, but later
on, stormy passions had so shut away the
blessed sun that it was no strange or new
thing for him to leave her in anger.
There were occasional riffs, but nothing
no solid foundation of mutual forbear
ance to rest upon. Each was tearing
away by petty aggravations the sheet
anchor of affection that once-and truly
they had deemed sufficient for al
coming time.
Should some young ardent soul, JUS
plumed for fight into this new world o.
union, chance to read these words, dc
not mistake me. Love is indeed the cen
trail figure. Marriage without it is {
desert waste-worse. bowling wilder
ness, sure death to all our noblest pow
ers and purposes. Bear and forbear,
are two lions that must guard the gate
way. Firm Christian principles and
taltough u woman says it'll the power sc
few of us possess, of silence. Not the
sullen silence that refuses speech, while
diffusing displeasure and "Yankee
spunk from every pore. Not the silence
of the wife beaten and abused by bruta
husband. God only knows the myriad!
of these in wretched hosues. where the
fiend of intemperance rides rampant. wht
never speak, and who go down to silen
graves in voiceless misery. I do-ano
speak to these, but to those who. Will
the average man-(o our brothers. borr
too of woman, with the same impulsiv,
natures as our own) would keep th,
love and early freshness of their horae
unsullied. Dear girls, in your hands ar
the homes of the future. RemeInbe
that to bear is better than to repent, bu
II the quick, impatient word be uttered
''Let not the sun go down upon you
wrath