Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-05-15
UNDER A CLOUD.
"Did you ever see a sadder face ?"


at was the remark of lady to her
friend, as Mrs. Loring passed her wiz
dow. Mrs. Loring had ridden out for
the first tine for months; not now OF
her own choice. but in obedience to the
solicitation of friend, and the positive
command of her physician She was in
deep sorrow, refusing all comfort
Heavy clouds were in her sky-biack
clouds, through which not ray of sun
shine penetrated.
"Fever." answered the friend, while
shade caught from Mrs Loriug's
lcountenance fitted across her own face
Who can she be? ?'
Didn't you recognize her?"
mo. Tine counteuaEee was, to me,
that of a stranger"
"I can hardly wonder that it should
be SO, said the friend. ''for she is sadly
changed. That was poor Mrs. Loring
who lost her two children last winter
from scarlet fever"
"Mrs. Loring!" The lady might
well look surprised. ''S,rrow has 10
deed d9ne fearful work there But ia
it right thus 10 sit under u cloud ? right
thus to oppose no strong barrier to the
waters uf affiiction that go sweeping
over the soul, marrlng ail iis beauty 2"
ssThe heart that sits in darkness, brooi
ing over its loss, SORROWS with selfish
sorrow. The clouds that shut out the
SUI are exhalatons from its own stag
nant surface. II MAKES the all -pervad-
ing gloom by which it is surrounded
l pity Mrs Lori1g, unhappy sufferer
that she is; but my pity f,'r her is al
ways mingled with desire 10 speak
sharp rebuking words, in the hope to
agitate the slumberous atmosphere in
which she is enyeioped like "a shroud !"
II wonder" remarked the other,
"that her husband permits her to
| brood so long i'll idle grief over the in
evitable."
Husbands" was replied. "have
often the lesst salutsry influence over
their wives when bowed with affiic ion.
Some men have no patience with dis~
pisys of excessive grief in women, and
are, therefore, more ignorant than chill
dren in regard to its treatment. Such
man is Mr.. Loring. All that he does
or says therefore, only deepens the
encompassing shadow. A wise, unset
| fish man, with mind 10 realize some
thing of his wife's true state, and q
heart to sympathizs with her, will al
ways lead her from beneath the clouds
of sorrow upward to the cheerful heights
upon which the sunshine rests If she
shows unwiliingness to be led; if she
courts the shadows and hides in the
gloom of her own dark repinings. he
does not become impatient. He loves
her with too much unseifish love for
this. And so he brings light to her on
his own countenance, the sunshine of
even affected cheerfulness that pene
trates the murky atmosphere in which
she sits, and warns her heart with its
genial radiance Thus he wooes her
with sunny CLEANS from the clear sky
that vet bends over her, and that will
make all again bright and beautiful on
the earth of her spirit, if she will but
lift herself above the clouds. 1t is the
misfortune of Mrs Loring that she is
not blessed with such husband"
The subject of this conversation had
on that morning yielded to the solicita
tioDs of one of her nearest friends, and
with great reluctance consented to go
out with her in her carriage.
II shall be much better at home ~
she objected to the urgent appeal of her
| friend. ''This quiet suits me. The
stiffness of my own chamber accords
best with my feelings. The glare and
bustle of the busy streets will only dis
! turb me deeper. know it is kindness
in you; but it is mistaken kindness. !"
To reason with her would have been
useless, and so reason was not attempt
| ed.
81 have come prepared to hear no
objections" saw the firm answer. 1.-THE
doctor says that you are ipjuring your
health. and must go out. So get your
self ready.n
"Health-life even! What are they to
lme2 I have nothing to live for! !" was
, the gloomy responses. Come quickly
the time when shall lay me down and