Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1890-05-14
NOT "sENTIMENTAL.~
Robbing Life OF the Beauty which
Is the EXPRESSION of Love.

Mrs Harden blew the horn for break
fast at o'clock. Her husband came
in from the barn and her son from the
garden, where he had been digging
since dawn. The Hardens were thrifty
farmers, sober, hard working, God
fearing folk They were healthy and
prosperous they ought to have been
happy, but they gathered about the
table silently, even without giving each
other a recognizing smile.
1t was n raw, Geld morning. Mrs
Harden had been up since o'clock to
make certain dishes because her hus-
band liked them. He thought, as he
ate them now, that mothers biscuit were
even crisper than usual and her chops
lone to a turn but he did not tell her
so.
Cely, the daughter, who had been ct
work In the DAIRY, came IN Just as the
others were finishing their meal. She
nodded and they nodded to her, but no
one smiled or spoke Her mother had
put away her break fast to keep IT v arm
nd as she set II before the girl she Ielt
Is If shs would like to stroke he- head
Or kiss her, as she used to do when she
vas a baby f; but such demonstrations
we're sentimental, and sentiment to
Harden was only another word for SILL
ness
Tom Harden was an industrious lad,
whose thought and ambition were
bounded by the farm. His father, the
dsy befora, had heard some influential
men of the county declare that Toms
calves were the fattcst brought to mar
ket, and his apples the soundest and
most carefully packed He knew that
such praise would delight the boy
and wished that he could hear 1t; but he
could not bring himself to repeat it.
When breakfast was over the men
started for a distant part of the farm,
not to return until night Cely, as she
packed her fathers dinner, felt a
wrench of pity at her heart for the old
man. He was old and weak; he had
worked for his chiliren so faithfully
and Iongl If he could but rest nowl
She wolld have liked TO put her arms
around him and tell him tins
Instead of doing so she carefully
packed the basket, saying: There's
the beef and the bread ami the pie and
the bottle of water That's all "
All; but the word of tenderness, the
loving touch which would have cheered
and sweetened the days labor for the
old mani
Too many Hsrdens are to be found
upon our New England and middle
state farms, as well rs in our villages
and towns. They are often the de-
scendants of men who fled from perse-
cution and vrested their living by hard
labor from a savage wilderness, and
thus learned to value only the rugged
virtue of truth and endurance and to
despise the lesser charities, the amen
tiles and courtesies OF life. The pre-
sent generation has inherited Their
grim, unpleasant virtues
Never be afraid TO brighten the life
of your friend or neighbor by praise or
love, provided the praise and love are
true.
God has made nothing for use with
out giving 1t an additional touch of
grace and beauty. The hardest rock,
seen through the microscope, has its
exquisite tints and lines.
Why should We strive TO rob our
lives of that harmony and beauty which
is the expression of the love that come.
from him?- Youths Companion.