The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1889-05-10

window pane, the cat purrs by the hearth.
Soon the fat amiable face by him grows
indistinct and the red hair floats away in
the smoke. The pipe falls from his flu
gers softly and Smith is asleep Presently
he smiles. All, Smith. who would fancy
that tender winged dream of youth fiut-
tered yet under your business old breast? (?
Again you stroll in the moonlight along
arbored walks and feel soft hands clasp
tightly yours, while dark eyes look up 20
tearfully. Down through the years comes
the sweet odor of jessamine and you hear
again the notes of the mocking. bird carol
ling to its mate in the night. OF bright
dreams you have told her and bright
hopes-that out in the wide world you
would seek fame and fortune, and bring
back to her trophies as the old time knight
to his lady love. "Only come back to me
John" she had said land I'll wait for you
forever" And then the poor heart over
lowing buried itself in your arms while
you leaned O;er her and-the shadows
hid you.
Ah, you started, awoke.
mister Smith you sholy air gittin' ter
snore."
You rub your eyes and look mean. You
feel that your dream is treason to the
good faithful stupid creature by you.
You are ashamed of yourself. Don't feel
badly Smith. Many night as you lay
snoring Mrs. Smith has dreamed of a time
when she was not Mrs. Smith, and W hen
one whose name was not Smith carried
her books to school, cut roses for her red
hair and spoke words that set her poor
scrawney breast atremble. But papa
thought him shaky and you steady nd
while Dark Eyes watched and faithful
little heart grew faint with longing you
sought the old man in his countingroom
and life's die was ast.
For the greater part of ten years | have
been a wanderer, rarely sleeping under
the same roof twice and sitting always at
meals with new faces. Often it has been
the homes of simple people that opened
to me, people who spoke freely Of their
personal hopes and sorrows. But in look
ing back now | recall but two faces that
showed happiness and cOntentment-one
mot her on a western prairie, surrounded
by brood Of sprightly children, the other
hale ole man in North Carolina trudging
with his little grandchild about a mount
ain farm. And in all the other thousand
homes | see but careburdened men and
sad-eyed women. Their voices come TO
me again of Eeartburnings and heart
breakings and everywhere dlsappOlnt-
ment, till it seems that the very crust of
earth must yield under its load of human
sorrow.
Is life all a fraud2 Is there nothing
reall Will this weary longing and restless
cropping in the dark for an unknown some
thing come never to an end9 es, Yes,
brother, | know, I've heard about BAPTID-
70 and all that, but I'm not afer second
hand goods now, nor even pair OF hand
me downs.
Tell me, you cid men, you who have lived
life's springtime and summer, have plant
ed and plowed and gathered already the
fruits of its Autumn, you who have
dreamed and suffered and thought, tell
me, what is the Mystery of Life? Do the
dreams of manhood turn to ashes on the
lips as have the dreams of childhood and
youth? Has mature life its bull calf, and
old age perhaps?
What pity we cannot remain children
| always. Surely the ills from Pandora s
box were Thoughts. If one could never
think, one could be happy. 1t is only
| question this grim, silent sphinx that the
wrinkles gather He is happieat who
thinks least.
| Did the gods create man for play
| thing2 What endless amusement it must
| afford them to see Us climb and fail back,
then climb and fall again. And as the
old man worn with this endless labor falls
the last time, gasps and dies, fancy al
| Olympus shakes with cruel heartless laugh
ter. Rare sport they have.
| No; From the purple twilight comes
| sometimes whisper in ali unknown ton
que that gives hope and courage, that tells
| of future yet unfOlded as marvellous a.
the hidden past-that says be strong
fight manfully, it is not in vain. This il
not Time but eternity and as far in The
future as the the birth of the soul in tn,
past that which is being builded shall
appear. JOHN W. HAYS, JR-