The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-08-14

find out what this means" he thought.
Philip was almost out of breath from
running when he reached his aunts
home. The beautiful house and gar
den were just as he had seen them the
week before, but no sound of his couS-
ms merry laughter broke the silence;
there was no Aunt Fannie ready with
hearty welcome. Philip gazed spell.
bound at the lifeless house, and willis
he wondered the twilight faded away.
Heartily wishing himself at home, he
concluded, Notwithstanding, to spend
the night where he was and be on hand
to surprise his friends on their return
in the morning, for he was sure they
would be back by that time.
With the dawn of the new day
Philip arose, and, losing no time,
helped himself to a solitary breakfast
in the pantry. Then he roamed about
the premises, on the lookout for the
appearance of friendly faces. Butvain
was the watch, and he went down
town again, looking in every direction
for n human being. The river
sparkled joyously in the morning sun
light, but not boat moved along be-
tween its banks. Silence reigned
everywhere. Philip wandered bewil-
dered through deserted warehouses,
and up and down street after street.
At length, almost ready to cry with
loneliness, he went after old Prince,
and, throwing his arms about the
creatures neck, exclaimed: "We'll
start for home, old fellow, and won't
we be glad to see the folksn'
How utterly desolate the city seemed
as he drove along! Nowhere any
sound or sight of earnest, happy life;
no children playing in the streets, NO
scholars with their satchels of books,
no busy tradesmen running to and fro.
Home-oh, how good it looked to
lonely Philip! But what did this meant
Beth was not there to scold and love
him; Roger and Joe were not there to
hear all about his adventures, and,
worst of all, mother was not there to
greet her boy. Home was empty!
Poor Philip! He was all alone in the
world. All its riches and beauties and
pleasures were his own, to be sure.
There was no one with whom he must
share his good times, no one that he
must give up to now. But, after all,
without Beth and the boys to share
them, really what was the good of pos
ressing all thingsP he asked himself.
and what should he do without any one
to love himP Yes, he had his wish;
but he had began to realize what it
was to be "alone, alone, all, all
alone" and it seemed to him that the
terrible loneliness would utterly crush
him.
"Mother, o mother!" he cried, in ag-
ony; and, thrusting out his arms, he
awoke to find himself where he lay
down an hour before, and linear by were
Roger and Joe, who had been search
ing for him.
Philip sprang to meet them with a
gladness that they could not under
stand; and when Beth came home from
the city, he kissed her so vigorously
that she exclaimed: whats happened
to you, Philip? You seem quite diff
ferent boy"
"Oh, I've found out it's incest not to
have every thing the way l want it, and
I'm not going so be selfish any more,
Beth!'' he replied
When Philip told his mother about
his dream, and how dreadful it had
seemed to him to be all alone, even
with every thing his own, she said, kiss
ing him fondly: "Remember, dear boy,
you can be lonely even though sur
rounded by all your friends. No life
is so lonely as selfish life, no heart
so forlorn as the one that does not
know how to share another's Joys and
sorrows. think your dream will help
YOU to remember that no one who
truly lives, lives to himself alone. Re-
member that 'even Christ pleased not
Himself. Mrs. Lara q. Wilkins, IN
Congregationa'iSt.