The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-03-24

in an elopement, the local papers have
gleefully announced that Love
laughs at locksmiths," and that "The
old folks will probably relent and
make the best of it.n Now, this is all
very amusing, doubtless, but the SOL
emn truth is that elopements are not
at all amusing. There are many
cases, as every one knows, where they
end happily; and there are many
cases where marriages celebrated with
all due formality and with the full
consent of parents and guardians end
unhappily; but this does not change
the general truth that Opponents are
ill-advised. The young man who
really loves a girl should love her too
we'll to counsel such proceed
ing. The girl who has been cared
for all her life by loving father or
mother, should hesitate somewhat be-
fore throwing aside the love of that
father or mother for pleasing fancy,
picked up yesterday, and perhaps
doomed to fade away tomorrow.
Many girl has been opposed in one
of these girlish fancies, because the
young man whom she happened to
have singled out from all the world
was not Only utterly unable to sup
port her. but had not the acquire ments
nor the habits which would make one
suppose that he ever would be able.
No doubt it is very mercenary, in the
parents to object under such circum-
stances. and no doubt tits love, tits
love that makes the world go round,
but good dinners and decent clothes
help the world to go very materially,
and any young man who wishes to
marry girl should be manly enough
to prove to her parents that he is able
to take care of her. In short, it may
be taken for granted that the father
and mother know what is best for
their daughter, and that under
ordinary circumstances the young
lover should be unwilling to
urge upon his sweetheart any
thing so questionable as runaway
marriage. We may rebel against con-
ventionalities all we will, but the
truth remains that the old plans are
best. No marriage is so sweet and
sacred as that solemnized in the pres
ence of the father and mother who
have watched over the footsteps of the
fair young bride all her life, and who
now, with tears and heartache but
with blessings too, give her over to
the keeping of the one who promises
to care for and protect and cherish
her as long as they both shall live.
*x*
Some of us heard sermon last Sun
day, into which entered beautiful
illustration about the difference be-
tween diamonds and coal. 1t was
this Coal boards all the sunlight,
while the diamond gives off every
ray. Many sweet and solemn thoughts
followed in the train of that one; and
perhaps more than one conscience
asked of it's keeper, Are you dia-
mond or lump of coal?" 1t is ter
rible question to ask, and not easily
answered. Perhaps you have receiv-
ed a great many rays of
sunlight, such as home, wealth,
health, friends, education,
accomplishments. How many rays
are you giving off? Is your home
sweeter and more cheerful to all the
inmates because of your presence in
it! Do those who know you best go
to you to comfort them in sorrow, to
rest them when they are weary? Do
you know how to put your own griefs
behind you, and be strong and stead
fast for the sake Of others? What! not
one ray of light given off, while so
many have been received? A mere
lump of most ignoble coal, boarding
the sunlight! 1t is the capacity for
making the path of those around one
little smoother, for cheering up
the wayworn and distressed, and help
ing to raise the fallen that makes the
difference. have in my mind one
woman who is remembered with ten
derest affection by every one that ever
CHANGED to cross her path. She was
no longer young, and she had never
been beautiful, but youth and beauty
looked enviously on and would have
given worlds for half her power.
They flocked around her, young and
old, rich and poor. Like queen she
held her court every day, and all who
came to it went away cheered and
strengthened A diamond giving off
every ray! And yet some of us con-
tinue to be mere Jumps of rayless coal,
take pleasure in it; and imagine too
that when we pass away sorrowing
world will exclaim, "Alas! How she
will be missed"
Nv
That was miserable day, last
week-that day of muddy and sloppy
streets and a laden sky, with cold
wind blowing, and q singing mist
that drove into your face like sleet.
Of course everybody stayed in the
home shelter that could, but all the
rainy-day people were abroad. Giddy
and top-heavy umbrellas tottered
along the sidewalks, steered with diff
ficulty by hurrying wayfarers. Men
in closely buttoned 6vercoats, with
their hands in their pockets and
their coat collars, turned up,
stalked here and there, and looked
grim and out of humor with the
Weather which was playing such an
unreasonable trick with the spring.
Women were hurrying to their places
behind counters, aud in school rooms
and offices-dain y women, who held
their skirts awaytfrom the mud and
went tip-toeing daintily across the
streets which were guiltless of cross