The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-01-20

as II his eyesight would be purged and clari- |
fed, as II his hearing would grow more deli |
cate and his very breath would come and go |
with luxury. He was transplanted and |
withering where he was; be lay in strange |
country and was sick for home. Bit by BIT
he pieced together broken notions Of the
world below; of the river, ever moving and
growing until 1t sailed forth into the ma jes-
tic ocean; Of the cities, full of brisk and
beautiful people, playing fountains, bands Of
music and marble palaces, and lighted up
at night from end to end with artificial stars
of gold; OF the great churches, wise univer-
stiles, brave armies and untold money lying
stored in vaults; Of the high flying vice that
moved In the sunshine and the stealth and
swiftness Of midnight murder. l have said
he was sick rs IL for home: the figure halts.
BE was like some one lying in twilit, form
less pre-existence, and stretching out his
hands lovingly toward many colored, many
sounding life. 1t was no wonder he was un-
happy, he would go and tell the fish: they
were made for their life, wished for no more
than worms and running water and hole
below falling bank; but he was differently
designed, full Of desires and aspirations, itch
ing at the fingers, lusting with the eyes,
whom the whole variegated world could not
satisfy with aspects. The true life, the true
bright sunshine, lay far out upon the plain.
And OF to see this sunlight once before he
died! to move with jocund spirit in
golden landi to hear the trained singers and
sweet church bells and see the holiday gar
densl "And o fishl" he would cry, "if you
would only turn your noses down stream,
you could swim SO easily into the tabled
waters and see the vast ships passing over
your head like clouds, and hear the great
water hills making music over you all day
long" But the fish kept looking patiently in
their own direction, until Win hardly knew
whether to laugh or cry.
Hitherto the traffic on the road had passed
by Will, like something seen in a picture; he
had perhaps exchanged salutations with
tourist, or caught sight of an old gentleman
In a travelling cap at a carriage window; but
for the most part it had been q mere symbol,
which he contemplated from apart and with
something of a superstitious feeling. A time
came at last when this was to be changed.
The miller who was greedy man in his
way, and never forewent an opportunity of
ho.lcst profit, turned the mill house into "a
little wayside inn, and, several pieces of good
fortune falling in opportunely, built stables
and got the position of postmaster on the
road 1t now became Wills duty to wait
upon people, as they sat to break their fasts
in the little arbor at the top of the mill gar
den; and you may be sure that he kept his ears
open. and learned many new things about the
outside world as he brought the onelet or the
wine Nay, he would often get into con-
versation with single guests, and by
adroit questions and polite attention, not
only crafty his own curiosity, but win
the goodwill of the travellers. Many compp-
mented the old couple on their serving boy,
and a professor was eager to take him away
with him and have him properly educated in
the plain The miller and his wife were
nightly astonished and even more pleased.
They thought it a very good thing that they
should have opened their inn. "You see"
the old man would remark she has a kind Of
talent for publican; he never would have
made anything elsel" And SO life wagged on
in the valley, with high satisfaction to all
concerned but Win. Every carriage that left
the inn door seemed to take a part Of him
away with it, and when people jestingly
offered him lift he could with difficulty
command his emotion. Night after night he
would dream that he was awakened by
flustered servants, and that splendid equi-
page waited at the door to carry him down
into the plain; night after night; until the
dream, which had seemed all jollity to him
at first, began to take on color Of gravity,
and the nocturnal summons and waiting
equipage occupied place in his mind as
something to be both feared and hoped for.
One day, when VIII was about is, fat
young. man arrived at sunset to pass the
night. He was q contented looking fellow,
with q jolly eye and carried knapsacls.
While dinner was preparing he sat in the ar
Dor to read book; but as soon as he had be-
gun to observe Will the book was laid aside;
he was plainly one of those who prefer liy-
ing people to people made of ink and paper.
Will, on his part, although he had not been
much interested in the stranger at first sight,
soon began to take great deal Of pleasure in
his talk, which was full Of good nature and
good sense, and at last conceived a great re-
spect for his character and wisdom. They
sat far into the night, and about in the
morning viii opened his heart to the young
man and told him how he longed to leave
the valley, and what bright hopes he had
connected with the cities Of the plain. The
young man whistled and then broke into a
smile.
''My young FRIEND" he remarked, "you
are very curious little fellow to be sure,
and wish great many things which you will
never get. Why, you would feel quite
ashamed il you knew how the little fellows
in these fairy cities Of yours are all after the
same sort Of nonsense and keep breaking
their hearts to get up into the mountains.
And let me tell you, those who go down into
| the plains are a very short while there before
they wish themselves heartily back again.
The air Is not so light nor so pure, nor is the
sun any brighter. AS for the beautiful men
and women, you would see many Of them in
rags and many of them deformed with hor-
| rible disorders; and a city is SO hard place
for people who are poor and sensitive that
many choose to die by their own hand"
| tVo,t rt,ttet think ma ciO1niaO "
swered win. "Although have never been
out of this valley, believe me, have used
my eyes. / know how one thing lives on an
other; for instance, how the fish hangs in the
| eddy to catch his fellows; and the shepherd
who makes so pretty picture carrying home
the lamb, is only carrying it home for din
| ner. do not expect to find all things right
in your cities. That is not what troubles me
1t might have been that once upon q time
but although live here always, l have asked
many questions and learned great deal il
these last years, and certainly enough to cur
me of my old fancies But you would no
have me die like dog and not see all that i
TO be seen, and do all that man can do, lie
it be good or evill you would not have M
spend all my days between this road here AM
the river, and not so much as make a motioi
TO be up and live my lifei-I would rather di
am doingn
Thousands of people, !" said the young man
"live and die like you and are none the les
happy
"Ahp said VIII, 'if there are thousand
who would like, why should not one Of ther
have my placer
1t was quite dark; there was hangin
lamp In the arbor which lit up the table an
the faces Of the speakers, and along the arc
the leaves upon the trellis stood out illum
mated against the night sky, a pattern
transparent green upon dusky purple, Th
fat young man rose and taking Win by th
arm led him out under the open heavens
ibid you ever look at the starsn he asiel
pointing upwards.
"Often and often," answered Win.
"And do you know what they aref'
II fancied many things"
"They are worlds like ours" said the your
man. "Some Of them less; many of them
million times greater; and some Of the lea
sparkles that you see are not only world
but whole clusters of worlds turning abo,
each other in the midst Of sNaca We do n
know what there may be in any Of theI
perhaps the answer TO all our difficulties
the cure of al our sufferings; and yet we c.
never reach them; not all the skill of b
craftiest of men can fit out ship for d
nearest Of these our neighbors, nor would Il
life of the most aged suffice for such jou
ney. When great battle has been lost or
| dear friend is dead when wa are hiDned or