Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-12-07
GaIes xrl0 Skeifhts.


WDeD Inc i1lteT IcbL, Idiucf tudn sdW. a
charge in her friend. and though the good
bye was spoken as kindly as ever she felt
sure that something had occurred TO
trouble her. If cloud ruffied the usual
calm Of her friends gentle spirit, it was
not strange she should notice il, tor she
often rested her own impuIsive mood by
communion with her. The day in its
morning freshness was such as only Sep
tember, thar queen Of all gifts cOnfers,
and it would seem simply impossible for
any one under her brilliant banner, to be
other than content.
DAYS passed, but the cloud, hardly per-
ceptible still fingered Was the little rift
within the lutte to make the music of their
friendship mute ?''
Counting time by years, these two were
not old friends. but Mrs. Burgess, the
younger, had learned her friends worth
and love beside the couch of wee dar-
ling who owed much to her wise and low
ing ministries. Such was the tender yet
strong bond of their friendship. strength
ened also BY the daily kindness Of her
heighbor. Mrs. Gray had been widow
tor many years. Her only child was now
at West Point. and she lived quietly, see
ing little OF society. though many poor
and stricken hearts blessed her. some call
ing her a saint. Indeed, Mrs. Burgess
had IRON the first been sensible of a rev.
erence in the strong love she felt for Mrs.
Gray. This, and her reticent nature. as
she decided hers to be. accounted for the
very slight knowledge she had OF her
frIendss history prior to her removal
10 her present home.
Now Mrs. Burgess was "a nearly con-
science stricken as il is possible tor one to
be without being able to point directly to
The cause OF wrong. for she feared she had
said something to hurt her friends sensi
tive nature. Vainly she strove to recall
their conversation of the morning in which
she had first noticed "A change.
One evening she FASTENED to her friends
house s'to have it all over" az she said in
her repul,ive way. On entering the
room she could but feel the influence Of
her friends greeting twas so true. As
if to make the room take on an added
comfort, the rain began to fall and was
soon FLASHING against the windows. Mrs.
Burgess began TO confess fault that she
could not name, but was sure she wanted
pardon.
Mrs. Gray, was it anything I said to
you during our last walk that made you
so grave?"
Can you not recall something that
disturbed you that morning Mrs. Bur-
gess?"
Nothing except that irrepressible ur-
chin. whose sbrill voice insisted upon our
buy ing tickets for the Grand Army Enter
tainment. But it was provoking when
our church had nearly decided upon that
very time for our FAIR, and it is useless to
nope for success when they have started
| bought tickets only to get away from
that boy while he went away fairly dazed
by your smile as YOU took an entire pack
age. Now think OF it. you have special
liking for small boy with tickets and the
mischief knew it too. Confess now Mrs.
Gray that with all our calls, church work
and various charities, this Grand Army
Fair is vexatious. for they always manage
10 give such an air TO their entertainments
that we can never hope to excel or even
approach. said this. | remember thai
| knew very little of their work and cared
little abont it. But why should you take
il so to heart Mrs. GRAY p-Ah. my friend,
forgive me, your husband was in the ar
my"
Mrs. Burgess you are, think. twenty
five. /. TOO. at that age had been house
keeping several years. often watch
you and have so often hoped that you
might realize your happiness while it is
about you. Thank God for making you a
priestess at the sacred altar of home.
Always count such service divine. My
dear. for several days the past has claimed
me. rs it does indeed very often. will
tell you something of my life. The
Grand Army and its interests do engage
my attention and have my earnest sympa-
thy. The boy we saw selling tickets is
now fatherless. and his proudest boast is
My father was a soldier" Last Memo
rial Day we placed the first wreath upon
his grave"
"But promised you would speak of
my early life."
Our home was all in all to us. NV
earnest. true hearted husbands courage
never failed him. though in that time il
required a strong heart to succeed in the
struggle for a comfortable home in the
West. We did not stop to count the steps ;
fortune beckoned us on. and we followed
/ We were only two, in those happy days
both orphans. we were able to sympathiz-
with and help each other. We counted
the obstacles in our path but slight trou
bles. for We had in prospect q good farm
able to give us support in the tu
ture. and always home even when our
little cottage was scarcely protection
from the winters cold Then. after the
broad fields rewarded us with plentiful
harvests. and our cottage had taken on an
appearance of the eastern houses, our
future seemed secure.
One evening as l rocked my boy to
sleep. Uor our nest was not without its
biruling now told my little one. while
the happy tears brimmed my eyes, that |
was almost too happy. | always think OF
that night as the last time was really
happy. sat in that room many nights
after that. and rocked my child as told
him of his brave father fighting for our
little home and our country's honor.
gave him then his first lesson in patriot
ism, and even tried to strengthen my own
weak heart by picturing our brave one S
return. had always read his letters to
our boy. pleasing myself by thinking ne
understood them.
Our little circle of neighbors were true
to their country and we worked with a
will for our absent ones. think now,
though there was an inexpressible anxiety
brooding over us, must have been al