Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1888-11-24
Deacon Pitkil'SFarm
CHAPTER III.
BY HARRIET BEECIIER STOWE

festive, That does not Involve the near
presence Of a possible tragedy. Wien the
concert of life Is playing the gayest and
ARREST music, it requires only the change
of little fat or sharp to mOdulate into
the IN nor key,
There seemed at first glance only the
ele ncnts o, joyCusness and gayety in the
surroundings a. the Pitkin farm. Thanks
giving was cOme-the family, healthy,
rost and noisy, were all under the one
roof tree. There was energy, youth. in
teliigcnce, bcauty,-a pa OF lovers on the
eve OF betrOthal just in that misty golden
twilight that precede, the full sunrise of
avowed and accepted love, and yet behind
1t all was walking with stealthy step the
shadow II a coming sorrow.
"What in the world ails James," said
Diana rs she retrcated from the door and
surveyed him a, distance from her
chamber window. His face VS. like
bands ape over which a thunde cloud has
tlrifted, and he walked beside his father
with peculiar air OF proud displeasuIe
and repression.
AT that moment tho young man was
struggling with t. bite est sorrow that
can befall you n the breaking up of his
life-pur,o>e. lie had just come to de-
cision 10 sacrifice his hopes OF education,
his mans ambition, his love- his home
and family, and become q wanderer on
the face OF the arth. How this befell
re uires sketch Of charac or.
Dea ,On SiIas Pitkin was a fair speci-
men OF a class OF men not uncommon In
New En- gland-mcl too sensitive for the
severe physical conditions Of New Eng
land life, and therefore tn suffering and
infiictng suffering. lie was man of the
finest moral traits, Of incOrruptibe prObi-
~, OF scTupulous homo, of an exaciing
ronscientiousness, and of sincere pe'y
But he had begun life with nothing: his
whole standing in the world had been
gained inch by in n by the most unremit-
ting economy and self-denial, and he was
a w.u OF little capacity for hope. Of whom
1t VS. said, In proper phraseolOgy, that
he took things hard" He was never
sanguine of good. always eXpectant OF
evil, and seemed TO view ifc like senti-
mel forbidden u sleep and constantly un-
der arms.
For such man TO be harassed by a
mortgage upon his homestead was steady
wear and drain upon his vitality. There
were times when n osi i've horror OF dark
ness came down upon him-when his
wife's untrouhled, patient hopefulness
the smallest item of eXp,nse was an in
tolcrable burden, and the very daily
breal Of life was full of bitterness; and
when these paroxysms were upon him,
one of the heaviest of his burdens was the
support of his son in college. 1t was true
that he was proud of his sons talents and
sympathized with his love for learning
he hal TO the full that sense
OF the value of education which Is the
very vital force of the New England mind
and in an hour when tn ngs looked
brighter to him he had given his consent
to the scheme Of a college education freely.
James was industr Gus, frugal, energet-
ic, and Ia engaged 10 pay the most Of
his own expenses by teaching in the long
winter vacations But unfortunately this
year the Mapleton academy, which had
long been promised to him for the winter
term, had been taken away by little
maneuver of local politics and given to
another, thus leaving him without re-
source. This disappoin ment, coming
just at TIE time when the yearly interes,
upon the mortgage was due, had brought
upon his father one OF those parOyysms OF
helpless gloom and encouragement In
which the very worldl Sc seemed clothed
In sack-clOth.
From the time that he heard the acade
my was gone Deacon Silas la awake
nights In the blackness of darkness. I'VE
shall all go to the poorhOuse together =
that's where 1t will end" he said, rs IN
tossed res,lessly in the dark.
"Oh no, no my DEAR" said his wife
with those serene eyes that had looked
through so many gloomy hours; I'VE mus
cast our care on Col"
''It's easy for women to talk. You DON
have tho interest money to pay, you ART
perfectly reckless o. expense. Nothing
would do bat James must 60 10 college
and row see what it's bringing Us to-"
''Why. father, l thought you yoursel
We In favor of IT,.
''Well, l did wrong then. You per
suaded me into Il. I'd no business t,
have listened t. YOU and Jim and got al
this load on my shoulders"
Yet Mary Pitkin knew in her own calm
clear head that she had not been re kles
Of expense. The yearly interest none.
was ever before her. and her own inces
SAINT tolls had wrought no small portion
OF what was needed 10 pay it Fer butte
ct the store commanded tn, very highes
price. her straw braiding sold for a it'll
more than that of any other hand, and sh
had calculated all the returns 30 exactl
that she felt sure that the interest none,
for that year was safe. She had seen he
husband pass through this ner, on, crisi
many times before, and she had learned +
be blamed In silence, for she was a w,mal
out OF whom all selfness had long sine
died leaving only the tender PITY Of tn
nurse AMI the cOnsO.er. Her soul reste,
on her Saviour, the one ever present. In
seraIable friend; and when It did no goo;
10 speak to her husband, she spoke to he
God for him, and so was peaceful an,
peace-giving.
Even her husband himself felt he
strengthening. rest-giving power, and TO
this reason he bore down on her with tn
bu:dcn OF all his tremors and his cares
for while he disputed. yet he believed her
and rested upon her with an utter helples
trust, as the good an ell of his house. Ha
she Tor moment given way 10 apareheu
sion, had her step been q thought les
hrn, her eye less peaceful. hen indee
the word self would have seemed to b
sinking Under his feet. Meanwhile sh
was to him that kind OF relief which W
derive from person to whom we may sa
everything without fear of its harmin
them. He felt quite sure that, say whs
he would, Mary would always be hopefu
and courageous; and he felt some secre
dea that his own gloomy forebodIngs wer
OF scr Ice In restricting and SOLDERING whs
seemed to b m her too sanguine allure
He llindlY revercnced without abilit
to comprehend her exalted religion
fcrvor, ant the quietude of sou
that 1t brought. But he did M
know through how many silent confic!
how many prayers. how many tears. no,
many hopes resigned and sorrows WELDON