Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1885-07-04
FROSTBURG, MD, JULY T. 1885.

locutor wonderingly.
'If the storm had all blown over
and you knew that the sun would
shine when you next entered your
home You would not feel SO unhappy"
Clarence assented.
"But you fear there will be a gloom
IN your home when you return ?"
The young man bowed his head as
he replied in the affirmative.
because" the merchant added
with Il touch Of parental sternness in
his tone, you are resolved to carry it
there"
"I--I carry it ?"
eyes, you have the burden in heart
and you mean to carry it home. Re-
member, my boy, have been there
and | know all about it. | have
been very foolish in my lifetime, and
| have suffered until discovered my
folly, and then | resolved that would
suffer no more. Upon looking the
matter squarely and honestly if the
face found the burdens that so gall
ell me self-imposed. Ofcourse such
burdens can be thrown off. Now.
you have resolved to go home with a
heavy heart and dark face. You
know that your wife's heart IS bur-
dened with atflictlon which gives you
so much unrest. You are fully as
sured that you are to find Your home
gloomy; and, you don't know when
that gloom will depart and the bless
ed sunshine burst in again. Why
don't you know? Because it Is not
i'll your heart to sweep the cloud
away. You say, 4 can bear it as long
as she cam Am not right ?"
Clarence did not answer in words.
81 know | am right" pursued the
merchant, "and very likely your wife
is saying the same thing. BY and by
it will happen, as it has happened be-
fore, that one of the twain will sur
render from exhaustion, and it will
be likely to be the weaker party.
Then there will be a collapse and
reconciliation. Generally the wife
falls first beneath the calling burden,
because her love is keener and more
sensitive. The husband in such
case acts the part of coward. When
he might, with a breath, blow the
cloud away, he cringes and covers
until his wife is forced to let the
beautiful sunlight in through her
breaking heart"
Clarence listened and was troubled.
He saw the truth and felt it's weight.
He was not a fool nor was he liar.
During the silence that followed he
reflected upon the past, and he called
to his mind scenes Just as Mr.. Wardle
had depicted. And this brought
him to the remembrance Of how he
had seen his wife weep when she had
failed and sank beneath the heavy
burden, how often she had sobbed
upon his bosom in grief for the error.
The merchant read the young
mans thoughts, and, after time, he
rose and touched him on the arm.
"Clarence, suppose you were to
put Oh your hat and go home now.
Suppose you should think on your
way only of the love and blessing that
might be; with this thought you
should enter your abode with a smile
on your face; and you should put
your arms around your wife's neck
and kiss her, and softly say to her,
"My darling, have come home to
throw down the burden | took away
with me this morning. 1t is greater
than | can bear" Suppose you were
to do this, would your wife repulse
you ?"
"Repulse me"'
"Ah, my boy, you echo my words
with an amazement which shows
that you understand me. Now, sir,
have you the courage to try the cx-
pertinent: Dare you be such man !?
Or do you fear to let your wife know
how much you love her? Do you
fear that she would respect you less
for the deed Tell me, do you not
think the cloud might thus be banish-
ed? Oh, Clarence, if You would but
try it,
X
Sarah Spencer had finished her
work in the kitchen and be6-cham-
Der, and sat down with her sewing in
her lap. But she could not ply her
needle. Her heart was heavy and
sad, and tears were in her ewes.