Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1886-02-05
THE SHORTEST DAY.
And Yet How Much 1t Held fol
One Poor Woman

How long is that of most people. l
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 geolog;st, and cover all
eternity. But mine was just the ordinary
daylight one, the shortest in the year,
too, for it was the twenty-tirst of De-
cember.
And even short as it was, had al
ready wasted some hours oft. Had
thought it would have set so soon
might have been up at its dawning,
though usually hold, with Lever, that
does-when he's up and dressed for the
day, andthat it's piece of impertment
curiosity to peep at him when he's ris-
ing and at his toilet; he has notrubbed
the clouds out Of his eyes, OF 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
levee at an questionable hourp
Yet it was noon before / 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-jeweled
flash 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 splendor
promised the glittering mockery but q
short life; the sun is a traitor with MS
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 sky
had the merest snowflake of cloud
drifting along, and the sun was shining
full upon me, and somehow q CLINT of
1t had got into my heart, though there
was nothing in particular 10 bring it
there. Christmas was so near, the first
had spent out of my old home, so
empty now; and Father Christmas,
when he comes to us with changed
face, has the saddest of all looks. Yet
did not intend to NOPE. Aunt Mar
garet and the girls were friendly and
kind, and the least could do would be
to put aside the shadow of my Grape,
and show them contented face. And
So
Perhaps something more than content
flashed into it just then, when that
thought of mine was broken short OF
ty sharper clatter of those hedge-row
boughs. ard some one sprang down
through the gap, bringing with him a
little clatier OF falling icicles into the
road before ma. For, as we shook hands,
there was a pleased look in his eyes,
and he said, with some abruptness:
"You are a little glad to see mel
You won't mind my finishing your wall,
with youp'
tried 10 answer carclessly, though
u was NOT so easy, under that gaze OF
bis; "Oh, if you are of a geological turn
this morning, l am going in search Of
foxtail and crow-foot. / marked q
quite splendid bed down by the brool
in the woods in sheltered spot where
dare say this light snow has not covered
it. The girls tell me they are not in th,
habit Of putting Christmas evergreeni
about the house, but always did 1t a
home, and"
He understood me at once. He said
with his rare gentleness: "And you an,
trying hard to keep some of the ols
Christmas feeling about you. Yo,
must forgive me II can not help seeing
something of your brave struggle, ant
yearning TO help you in it,"
Yearning! II was strong word
but his eyes made IL stronger, as coul,
not help glancing up to see. And be
fore, in my confusion, could drol
mine again, somehow my muR was oil
the snow at our feet, and both IN,
hands were in his.
miss Deane-Annic-I can help yol
with my whole life, Annie''
And, alter that, IL IL any wonder
the sun shonc straight into my heart
don't think our researches woul
have added much to the cause OF eithe
zoology or botany that day. On tn
latter especially my lover would hay
made strange confusion, insisting tina
we were passing under quite a numbe
OF mistletoe boughs, II my superio
knowledge OF the science had not SO
him right. We did lind the crow foot
kOWeyer and aa 1 had axnactad M