Milford chronicle., 1885-01-02

father loved her would be, impossible
She was his idol: No sound was to hin
so sweet as the sound of her voice
singing some simple ballad, or lingering
on some soothing air.
Like oil poured upon troubled waters
We're words, voice and melody to his
feelings. He listened with rapt atten-
tion to every word, every peculiar grace
in the air, every variation of affection in
her voice When the last sound died
upon his ear, he looked up, and smiling
in the face of his wife, said
''Did you ever hear anything sweeter
than that? 1T was the very soul OF
music that breathed from her lips"
''It is very sweet" returned the
mother, ''Edith is a treasure that can
not be valued. If ever parents were
blessed in a child, we are blessed in
her."
The door opened, aud Edith entered.
She was tall, slender and graceful, yet
simple in her manner. She walked up
to where her mother stood, with her
hand still resting upon her husband.
and, crOwding in between them and the
window, half reclined against her
father, with an air of Ghildlike affection
! Trueman laid his hand, fondly upon her
head, and gently smoothed her hair. at
the same time that he pressed his lips to
her cheek.
No word was spoken for many minutes.
The group remained as motionless
during the time as if under the eye of a
painter; but each heart was beating high
with pure and hsppy feelings. From
the fathers mind all anxious care had
fed. He loved his family. Each men,
Der had place in his heart, and that
place was kept sacred. y
"YOu sung that evening It at
the right moment, Edith" y =
by her father, after she had
his side for several minutes.
knew 1 was sitting here? ?"
Yes"
"And sung for me my favorite
eyes; it was for your ears, faith,
"Thank yon, dear. My mind "
as calm as usual; but that song, anC
voice, have tranquilized my spirits
am Saul, and you are to me as Dav
mo, no, father; 1 cannot admit
comparison to be true," Edith repi
taking hold of his hand and gently pre-
ing it. The twilight had deepened in
obscurity, and hidden each face frol
the others eyes. "You are not Sau
possessed of an evil spirit. Oh no. no
"Distrust OF Providence is an evil
spirit, my child"
"But you cannot distrust a kind Prov |
idence. My father knows who it is that
governs all things in wisdom" This was
said with something of a surprise, that |
her father, who had so carefully taught |
her to believe in the unfailing wisdom |
and goodness of God, should himself |
feel distrust.
sit is not always, my child" he re-
piled, "that we can keep, while sub
iected to the worlds trials and disap-
our minds evenly balanced,
our confidence unwavering. But He /
who sees, loves, and pities us, ever pro.
vides antidotes for these states. We are
not suffered to remain long under the
cloud. To me your voice alone, as you
sung some favorite song, has many a
time dispelled the gloom that has settled
on my mind-has chased away the evil
spirit.
"How glad am that the voice given
me is pleasant to my fathers ear. But
nark little Charley is crying; I must
,un and see what ails him"
And away she sprang from the room.
The sound of little Charley's voice-he
vas the youngest child-had suddenly
lrisen from a chamber above. 1t was
till almost in moment after Edith's
tep was heard at the door of his room.
Her fathers troubled spirit was not the
,nly one that grew tranquil under the
ound of her voice. There was not one
n the house who did not feel its magical
influence.
eff we had no other blessing, we
would still berichly lowered" " the father
emarked, as soon as the voice of little
Jharley was hushed.
Yes; but we have, beside her, many
ood things. If ever disposed to repine
7 murmur, we are much to blame"
''To that I freely assent. But some
ines, Edith, weak, ignorant, short
lighted human nature cannot see be- !!
ond a very narrow circle. We look
head, and our pathway bends suddenly
ut of sight. There is a high noun
ain before us, with black clouds man
ling its summit Is it any wonder that 4
Dmetimes the heart will fail ?"
perhaps not, was replied. ''But let +
S not fix our minds too steadily upon
le mountain barrier and its mysterious :
clouds, but think of the =
lany quiet paths that have opened to
S, and wound pleasantly along by cool !,
lg stream and smiling meadow, when :
e had trembIed at the sight of a rugged i
.olivikxr and eb111nk from q okfav,o tir,nr | 80
lie ascent. AS thy day is, so shall thy a
rength be. While that blessed promise :
mains. what have we to fear Moth !,
e, certainly, that this world can Il
reaten. If we have to climb a steep "
cent, strength to doso will be given; if "
pass through dark, gloomy valley, I
light from some star will fall upon our H
tn, and show us clearly the way in II
hic it is safe to tread" "