The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-02-18
The Question that Changed Life.
BY allyn YATES KEITH.

Did you ever have any one tell you
disagreeable truths in an agreeable
way? In my world there Is only one
person who can do that, and she is moi
by any means old enough to be my
mother. If she were, she might fee
equal to giving me ADVICE.
1t was fortunate day for me when
Lois came to the rescue. I was trying
to live through the first half-year Of
widowhood. just keeping the battered
wreck of my life afloat with two small
spars between me and death. The
privilege of tears even was denied me
for it made my boys unhappy, and
they hung around me, lest l should be
alone with my grief, in way that
nearly drove me wild.
My loss was not common one. !
| know that there are not many men
like the father of my boys.
The day that Lois came I had shut
myself into my room to fight it out by
myself with grief and care.
Bert had been skating the day be-
fore, and had broken through the ice.
He went where he knew it was un-
safe, and Harry came near losing his
own life to saYe him. I had watched
beside his bed all night, but he would
not be coddled. And now both he
and Bert had gone to school against
my expressed wish. My wish ! And
had borne 80 much for them. Still,
it was not q command, and they had
kissed me, saying that it was right for
them to 20.
Lois came straight up to my room
and caught me. Ihad cried my face
quite out of shape, and was angry that
she should see me in that plight.
"Only worried about the boys" I
said, by way of explanation.
"Of course ?' Lois said. But she
smiled.
1t was no laughing matter to me,
and said so but she assured me that
it would be next year.
"But I don't live in next year; I
live to-dayw I said warmly.
II see you do," said Lois, land !
know just how you feel ; for I've tried
it myself"
"But you were not left alone'' -
And then I madly broke down again.
mo, not alone" said Lois, consid-
ering; "yet the father Of my boys was
often away for months at a time, and
l could not go to him in small emer-
gencies."
"None of mine are small" I said.
And Lois did not correct me.
"My boys are terribly headstrong''
C"Thank God !" added Lois, like the
"Amen" to the TIE Deuan), "and 1 am
afraid they are growing needless. My
word is not the law it uset to be-"
"Perhaps because it is only yorl
word" suggested Lois:
Isn't that enough ?" asked.
"Is it?" she asked. "Your word
must be the word Of the Lord to
them"
"How can it be, always? That is
just it. He says Thou shalt and
Thou shalt not.'" -.
"That is because he knows all
things"
"But even you will say that I did
right in forbidding the boys to 90 on
the lake again." :,
A second time Lois smiled +; but it
was not in superior way. We all
have felt the difference.
"Boys have been killed at street.
crossing," she said. "Are they to be
kept in leading-strings until they
break away and gather up the reins
for themselves? Or can you always
hold them in hand? God doesn't edu-
cate us in this way"
"You are sarcastic, Lois. l cannot
lose my boys too"
"Is it for your sake only that you
want them kept alive?".
thought hard for moment, before
could be honest with myself.
Lois was wise. She always is. She
busted herself about the room for the
space of a second or two, and then
went quietly out, latching the door
surely, but noiselessly. There is great
virtue in doing things thoroughly,
without aggressiveness. But she was
no sooner fairly out than I called her
back.
Eyes, Lois" I said, "it is for my
own sake that I want them kept
alive" And added, "Bless your
She came and took my face in her
lovely firm hands, and kissed me on
the forehead. And from that day to
this present hour, when my two boys
are true and noble men, and loyal To
my lightest thought as well as to my
expressed wish, I have always kept
Loiss question before me.
New Haven, Conn.