Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-01-04
GaIes ano Sketfhes.
A LIffLE CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM.

Christmas of 49, that brought Joy and
giadness to many hearts in bright. beauti-
full New Orleans. saw George Courtney
leave his home in anger and bitterness.
vowing, in all the blind impulse of rage,
never to come back again
Proud, hastY words had been spoken
cruel. taunting ones given back: and q
hearthstone was made desolate, a happy
home blighted, and two lives wrecked.
Two years before. in the unclouded days
and promise of early youth, he and Alice
Johns had married and assumed the re-
sponsibilities of welded life with all the
fearlessness and happy-heartedness OF boy
and girl.
That solemn pledge to the future, 81
take thee for better, for worse" was as
heedlessly given as a child's promise.
Both young, both gay, both beautiful.
what need to look beyond the joyous pres
ent7
The glory of the glad to-day eelipsed
the splenhor Of dozen bright to-morrows.
and since each tomorrow would soon be
to-day. where could any dark hour find
room?
Bliihe, uniried hearts, Listening to the
merry clang, clang, of their wedding
kAft t2tHetib NV SAL Aof -cA.
minor note that was borne back on the
echo
The first little rift within the Lutte"
came six months later A trde made the
discord thousand nameless tribes wild
ened the breach. Weaker and weaker
grew the harmony. louder and louder rose
the jsngle.
The wife had fine. noble nature, but
il was faulty around the edges. Much
had yet to be smoothed off and rounded,
much to he trained upward, and not a lit
tie pruned away.
While the warm, generous heart was
pushing through the tangle Of wilfullness
and unwholesome pride which hedged it
in. hast temper often played sad havoc
with her chance for happiness.
An older wiser. less inilammable
man than George Courtney would have
read the proud. sensitive spirit Alright,
and pressing with firm, 1t gentle touch
upon the keynote. made all the tones ring
out sweet and clear.
Love is great purifier and softener of
hearts. but two self willed. undiciplined
natures can make shipwrcck OF the gath
ering sweets Of lifetime.
A little less display o' power on his
side. little more yielding on hers, and
all would have been well.
But alas wider and wider grew the
rift. fainter and fainter came the music.
Tonight. with one loud. discordant
crash, the final note is sounded. the last
chord broken, the melody hushed.
Who can piece together shattered
dream'
You may find the bright. beautiful bits
and gather them into one splendid heap.
but YOU can never fit each to the other
again.
The husband realized this, and with the
tender cowardice. or sensitive shrinking
from pain which we sometimes find strong
est in the bravest men. he turned from
the gittering mass Of broken hopes and
fancies and fled impatently from confu-
sion he was too weak to face
When we "snap the delicate. silver
threads of our curious lives asunder, few
of us are strong enough to do more than
take up 1.-THE tangled ends and sit and
grieve. and wonder"
Not few feebler ones helplessly drop
the knotted skeins, and leave the snarl for
others to uprave.
Alice. mutely defiant. saw her husband
90. his last impetuous words, 81 will
never come back until you send tor me, "
ringing monotonously in her ears.
In the cradle. smiling in her baby
dreams, lay the little daughter that had
come Just one year ago.
Around her surged the fierce waves of
passion. engulfing in their mad fury two
frail. misguided banks; but she in her
sweet Inconsistencies slept peacefully
on.
When the little Christ-child stepped out
from the portals of heaven to come and
make his home among mortals the beauti.
full gates were flung wide apart. and for
one brief space this earth of ours was
flooded with matchless golden glory,
and