Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1885-10-31

| ulQ feel llgnC' nearLeu WneH 1 GuouBui
/ had secured home for my family
ooh, Fred! how can you think Of
money and houses when our beautiful
boy lies dead y
The young husband stood shame
faced and penitent In the shadow Of
the darkened room, with Willie's
picture on the wall, Willie's clothes
revealed by the open lid of the trunk,
Willie's toys standing ON the floor, il
did seem cruel and heartless to think
of anything but the lost child. And
Fred had loved his baby boy with all
fathers fondness, and grieved for
him deeply and truly. So he stood
silently waiting while Susy dried her
eyes and came to his side. Carefully
closing the door of the room where she
kept the precious souvenirs of her boy
she followed her husband to the dining
room. Everywhere the bowed shutters
kept out Gods sunlight, and the house
was as dark and gloomy as if corpse
awaited burial there.
Awed by the fathers grave face, the
mothers look of woe. the children ate
silently, gladly scrambling down AM
escaping to Mamie and the nursery
when the dinner was over.
Come Susy," Fred said, 81 can
afford to take few leisure hours to-
day. l will get carriage and we
will take the children out. A run on
the sea-shore will do us all good, for
the weather is getting hot"
"Oh, Fred, drive me to Greenwood
1t is nearly a month since we were
there"
"Well, as you wish," said Fred.
plying the pale face, and really fear
ing that he was growing heartless.
eve can take the children down to
Bath afterward."
Nearly month after the day de-
scribed, which was a fair specimen CT
the days preceding it for six long
months, silver-haired old lady sat
knitting in cheerful sitting-room. In
sleeping-room beyond lady lay
upon the bed, resting after an exciting
talk, weary with crying and half
sleeping.
While the old lady piled her needles
with her sweet, placid face clouded by
some troubled thought, Fred Aiken
came into the room.
ooh p he said, kissing her fondly
"You always look cheerful here
mother"
81 am glad you still love your old
home, Fred,' was the reply.
eyes. Have you seen Susy to-day p
"She was here this morning, and"
"Has she told you / am going to
accept Russell's offer. and take the
California branch of the business p
"She said you thought of it. But,
Fred, l hope you will think better of
it. You are doing well here, and your
first duty is TO your own home"
II have no home p
Fred, you shock mel"
"There is funeral vault up town
where | live was the reply, "but the
home l had there is gone. | have been
patient, mother, as you advised me. |
have not said one harsh word to Susy,
| respected her sorrow, and tried to
comfort her, but | tell you frankly
that shall become insane if | do not
get away. 1t is useless for me to tell
you that | loved my boy. my little
| Willie. as fondly as ever father loved
son. l grieved for him sincerely,
but after my first shock of pain was
over / thought Of him safe in our
Savior's care, happy, released from all
the sorrows of this life, and was com
forted God had left me my wife, my
two noble boys and my own home,
health and strength. 1t seemed to me
monstrous and wicked to see no light
or hope in life because a babe had
returned to Heaven pure and spotless.
But Susy would not see the loss in this
light. 1t became her religion to mourn
for her baby ceaselessly and hopelessly
She Rugged her grief to her heart till
the whole world was dark, and would
hear no word of comfort"
"Have you told her what you have
Just told me of your own source Of COM
folt?"
"Over and over again, but she only
sobs more pitifully because | do moi
share her feelings. You advised me
to be patient, to let time carry its
healing t, her. have been patient
but / am losing my own powers of use
fitness in the dreary atmosphere Of
my once pleasant home. My boys are
growing pale and thin in the unnatural
suppression of their baby spirits. Susie
has actually persuaded them that it i:
a sin to romp, to makea noise or laugh
and have seen Eddie put his finger
on his lip, and say to Charley;
Don't laugh! You frdit baby
bruzzer."
Erred ?"
II assure you do not exaggerate
The house is like a prison. Ever,
room is kept darkened, and the whole
atmosphere is heavy and actually
chilly in this glorious summer weather
Susy nurses her sorrow till it is becom
ing monomania."
"Cannot you coax her out 7"
"She will 90 nowhere but to Green
wood, and the last time we wer there
she tainted on Willie's grave"
"She is not strong"
"Recause she shuts herself up closely
in the house, dark and gloomy as q
vault, destroys her appetite and weak
ems her whole system. ! cannot use
any sternness, exercise any strong
authority, for it seems like actual bru
tality and want of feeling for her sorrow
but, | must escape | am becoming
unfit for business, and Mother, ]
have actually been tempted to join
bachelor parties to get rid of the
necessity of returning home, to NEE
| l.. Il ~