West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1886-02-26
THE SHORTEST DAY.
And Yet How Much 1t Held for
One Poor Woman

How long is that of most people, /
wonderP Some perhaps can number
the full six hundred and thirteen thou
sand six hundred and eight hours of
the allotted threescore years and ten,
while others outlast the pre.Adamic
day of the geologist, and cover all
eternity. But mine was just the ordinary
daylight one, the shortest in the wear.
too, for it was the twenty-frst of De-
Cember.
And even short as it was, / had al
ready wasted some hours of it. Had |
thought 1t would have set so soon /
might have been up at its dawning,
though usually hold. with Lever, that
the sun looks best-as every one else
does-when he's up and dressed for the
day, and that it's a piece of impairment
curiosity TO peep at him when he's ris-
ing and at his toilet; he has not rubbed
the clouds out Of his eyes, or you dared
not look at him. But when ones sun
shines such little while as mine, might
not one be pardoned for rushing TO the
Ievee at an questionable hourF
Yet it was noon before l was out in
the bright glow, trudging down the
lane with yesterdays fall Of snow crisp
ing under my feet, and last nights
sleet clashing overhead, as the wind
caught at the Struggling, overgrown
hedge-rOw boughs, and sent them ring
ing together, with such an icy-jcweled
Hash and Splendor of green and gold
and red and blue as summer. with all
her wealth of leaves and blossoms.
could not rival. The very splcndor
promised the glittering mockery but
short life; the sun is traitor with his
kisses, and the warmth Of them would
soon wither away the snow wreaths.
making their delicate mimicry of the
white May and the hawthorn in the
hedge. But meantime they were very
fair, and the snow lay light and white
under the great peach orchards that
had their icy sparkle too, as they swept
away, in gentle undulatiOns, right and
left Of the still lane And the blue skv
had the merest snowflake Of a cloud
drifting along, and the sun was shining
full upon me, and somehow a CLINT Of
u had got into my heart, though there
was nothing in particular TO bring N
there. Christmas was so near, the first
j had spent out OF my old home. so
empty now; and Father Christmas.
when he comes 10 us with a changed
face, has the saddest Of all looks. Yet
did not intend 10 nope Aunt Mar
garet and the girls we're friendly and
kind, and the least could do would be
10 put aside the shadow Of my crane.
and show them a cOntented face And
80
Perhaps something more than content
Mashed INTO " just then, when that
thought Of mine was broken short Of
by sharper clatter Of those hedge-row
boughs, and some one sprang down
through the gap, bringing with him
litue clstter Of falling icicles into the
1oad before me For, A. we shook hands.
theTc was "a pleased look in his eyes
and he said with some abruptness.
You are "A little glad 10 see me?
fou won mind my finishing your walk
with vOu?
tried % answer csrelesslv. though
u was not 50 cay. under that gaze n
his oh, n you are Of n geological turn
TINS morning ] am going in search Of
tOXtail and crOW-fOOt 7 marked "a
quite splendid bed down by the brook
ln the wood M q sheltered spot where
J dare say this light snow has not covered
D. The girls tell me they are not i'm the
habit Of putting Christmas everpreens
abou. the house. but always ala Il az
home. and
RE understood me 40 once Tie said
with DIS rare gcntlcncss And YOU are
uylng hard 20 keep some NJ the old
Christmas feeling about YOU You
must forgive mo II can not hclp seeing
something Of your brave struggle. and
yearning % help you in it
fearningi II was o strong word.
bui bis eyes made 10 stronger. "a 7 could
NOT help glaucing up % Soc. And Ds.