Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-02-16

lNOt1t- pa ANNAt~-AAA7f Janus ~
music and marble palaces, ard lighted up
at night from end to end with artificial stars
of gold: of the great churches. wise univer-
sites. brave armies and untold Money lying
stored in vaults; Of the high flying vice that
moved in the sunshine and the stealth aud
swiftness of midnight murder. / have said
he was sick as if for home: the figure halts.
He YES like some one lying in twiiit, form
less pre-existence, and stretching ont his
hands lovingly toward many co,orel. many
sounding hfe II was no wonder he w5-s IN
happy. he would go and tell the fish: they
were made for their life, wished for no more
than worms and running water and a hole
below falling bank; but he was differently
designed, full of desires and aspirations, itch
ing at the. fingers, lussing 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 o. to see this sunlight once before he
died, to move with a locund spirit in a
golden land, to hear the trained singers and
sweet church bells and see the holiday gar
deis And O fish, he would cry, ''if you
would only turn your noses down stream.
YOU could swim 50 easily into the tabled
waters and see the vast ships passing OYER
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 VIII, like something seen in a picture; he
had perhaps exchanged salutations with a
tourist, or caught sight OF an Old gentleman
in a travelling cap at O carriage window: but
for the most part it had been a mere symbol,
which he contemplated IRON apart and with
somethin, Of n su ,eTStitious feeling. y time
came al last when this WIS to lie changed
The miller. who was a greedy man in his
wav and never forewent an opportunity of
honest profit, turned the mill house into
little ways.de inn, and, several pieces of good
fortune falling in 0pporttinely, built stables
and got the position Of postmaster on the
road II HOW became Wits duty to wait
upon people as they sat to break their fasts
in the itte arbor at the top Of the mill gar
den: and YOU mag be sure that he kept his ears
open. and l-trnei many new things about the
outside work; ., he brought the oinelet or the
wine Eav, h. would often get into con-
versation with single guests, and by
adroit questions and polite attention, not
only crafty his owiI curiosity, but win
the goodwill Of the travellers. Many colnpli-
Inented the old couple On tier serving boy,
and a profes-slr was eager 10 t.be him away
with him and have Inn proper educated in
the plain. TIE ~ llr AMI Iii, wife were
nightly astoaI,lel and cen more pleased.
They thou ht it II very good thing that they
should have opened their inn You see,
the old man would remark, she has a kind OF
talent for a publican; he never would have
made anything else And 50 LIE wagged on
in the valley, with high satisfaction to all
concerned but Will Every carriage that left
the-inn door seemed to take part of him
away with it, AMI when peui'ia jestingly
offered him lift he could with difficulty
command his emotion. Night after night he
would dream that he w,' awa Iened by
Mustered servants and tilat "A i,.ndid equi-
PAGE waited at the door to carry him down
into the piain night after nj hit: until the
dream, which had seemed all iuiity to him
at first, began to take on color Of gravity,
and the nocturnal summons aid waiting
eIuipage occupied place in lis mind
something to I've both feared and Toned for.
One day, when VIII was about l6, IA fat
young man arrived at sunset to pas the
night He was coutcntei looking fellow,
with a Jolly eye, and carried kuai sack.
While dinner was preparing he sat i'll the ar
gun to observe VIII the book wa, laid aside
he was plainly one OF those who prefer l!v
ing people to people made OF ink ard paper.
WILL on his part, although h. had not been
much interested in the $ ranger first 81 ht,
soon began to take great deal oi pleasure in
his talk which was full of good nature and
good sense, and at last conceived a great re-
spcct for his character and wisdom. They
sat far into tine night, and about in the
morning VIII opened his heart to the young
inan and told him how he louged 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 n
smile
My young friend" he remarked, ''you
are n very curious little fellow to he sure
and wish great many things which you will
never get. Why, You would feel quite
ashamed if you knew how the little fellows
i'll these fairy cities OF your; are al after the
same sort of nonsense and keep breaking
their hearts to get up into the mountains
And let me tell you, those who 20 down into
the plains are very short while there before
they wish themselves heartily hac!; again.
The air is not SO high; nor 50 pure, nor is the
sun any brighter. As for the beautiful men
and women, You would SEQ many of them in
rags and many of them dcforDle1 with hor
rible disorders; and a city is so hard place
for people vino are poor AID sensitive that
many choose ~ die by their o'ya h?Hd.N
You must think mo very simple" an
swered viii. although hive never been
out of this valley, believe l0c, | have used
my eyes | know how enc 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 n. ic'urc carrying home
the lamb, IS only carrying it home for din
ner. do net expect 10 iiad all things right
in Your cities That is not what troubles me-
1t might have been that once upon Il time;
but although | live here always, | have asked
many questions ard learned a ;creat deal in
these last years, and cort9Glv enough tocurc
me of my old fancieS. But you would not
have me die like dog and not see al! that is
to Ire seen. and do all tiet man can do, let
it te good or evil: y0u would not have me
spepI all my days between tins road here and
the river, and not 50 much as make a motion
to he up and live nay li.e:-I would rather die
out of hand" lie crled than liliger on as
am doing"
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