Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-03-19
The Fathers Midnight Musings.

We know of no writer who draws more
eloquent lessons from the common intercourse
OF every day lie and from intimate nome reia-
tiopships than the humorist, Robert Burdette.
They SEEM as they doubtless arc, simple re-
citaIs OF heart experiences which go sTa ght
TO O her hearts. What could he more vlVlily
realistic and tender tru than the following
unpretentious little prose poem;
How quiet the house Is at midnight. Inc
people VINO talk AMI laugh aud sing IN IL every
day are asleep and the people who Tell asleep
In Il long ago come back into IL. Every house
has these two classes OF tenants. Do we rove
best those with whom we can laugh ana tak
and sing, or the dear silent ones who come 20
noiseessly 10 our side aud whisper 10 US III
laint, sweet, far-away whispers That have no
sound, so that we only hear their very still
ness.
am not tired, but my pen is wea~y. IL
! falls from my fingers and raise my Eead.
start 10 L. We the table and my eyes ali upon
| little book lying en- the toor. II Is little
| "Fhst Kealer.n He lett 1t iher' this alter
nool. | remember just how was impatient
! because he ,ould not rca the simple niue
J lessOn-such an casS lcssOu-and tOid HIN IL
] wa. waste uI m, time lrying u teach him
and pushed him away from he. r. member
! LoY | see the flush come into the lllte trrd
la e, the brave, Oh erlul look IN Ill eye5-hls
/ motuer's rave, patent cheeriness- Struggling
| witt his uIsap continent and pam | see MN
II nc down on he floor and the liitle lace bent
I over the troublesome lesson such simple,
easy essen any bay III ght read H. lheh
n after "A struggle a one, d has u re gwen up,
Il and the baillcd little soldier with one more
h appealing lo toward me ior rc-cuio cemen s,
.gns and zoe, away from the lesson he can
not read To tie play that com orts him. ANA
there lies the little LOOK Just . lett H. An
me. | could knee down AMI kiss II now, a.
thou IA II were awe and LOVING.
Why, what Was my time worth To me today
What was tAerr in the book wanted To read
one-halt 50 r-C.O Us 10 me a. one cooling Woiu
rom the prattllng bps that 4uNtred when
turned away ! hate the book ! read. | viii
never look al IL again Were u the last boob
n tie world THINK / would tn II n. All H.
gracious wo us are lies. SAY 10 YOU, though
all men praise the OoS, and, though an hJul
! ago / thought II excellent LAY 10 YOU ina
| there Is poison in its hateful lagos. why
Ahat can earn from bOONs That baby lips car
not teach ne Do you know want t. 20 Il
MS room ami listen; the house j. 80 stlli' may
oc he Is not breath NJ. Why, II tetwc m
book and my boy clOose my book why shou'
lot Gol leave nc with my bOoksi Ny hateiu
COOKS.
But was not harsh. Z was only litt'
IN at i. Because, you see, rs lesson Wa
80 sasY. - simple An me. thee Mer' TWO o
~ trlIug To real :his altern, o. There wer
,wo easy, simple lessons. Mine was such
very simple, easy, pleasant, loving one I
learn. just a me, Just little thrOb q
3at ence. OF gcntl me-, Of low that wOu
, na ZEE made my own heart glow and laugh an
Y. Inc Q ltI~ were 50 iel-t al ilsAths IL
aorIs s. cas-, and the sentence so short. An
Oh pity me- missed ever, word. ui
not read one line Alright. See, here IS my cop
now, all blurred aud histcred with tears an
heartache, all maIred and lnisspelled an
UlottcI | am ashamed 70 how u 10 IL
Master And let know lie viii be atler
with me; know how loving and gentle a
will be Why. how Iatitnuy AMI Lovingly a
/ ,hcse years he ras been teaching me III
/ simple lesson failed upon to-day. But wbe
! ny ItIc pupil stumbled on single word
ny tine lien 90 much more precious tina
.ir A.a-jr, : that | cannot tea h Tie little lc
son ~ gr taan once, All, frienl, We d. vast
, tim, Wutu We Ulait SECURES Tor curse We
: tuesc nur.yug DAYS, these lusy, auN.oJ
,lrcN ]. AMBITIOUS tines 81 ours are waste
wuru the tt,eC hearts away from patici
gent cucs-. al give us anne tor love and go
lor hlssts OIlp day. then. VIXEN our hul a
soul. VIII eek To- bread our selfish -Oi WI
, give "a, stone. life 1, rOt -crP lluioun
p,r lcxlug pr.hiem. II - -llui lt. easy c
= ON, -u.i ..s an child may 9, AL. on can n
anu IL, lIluu i'm TIE uundtrous tome, o. u
q old iathe-, the Phi o~ophe.s, tne investigator
9 inc tie glst,. IL is not on your book sheNt
out lu the Wormcst corner Ol the most uLIt
cred heart IL giON~ in Letters that tue blnde
G may red, a ,Wee-, plain, simple easy, iovii
7 esson. And wu,n you have l,a,Dcd IL, orJt
or OF nine, the world viii b. Letter NJ
U 4appCr.