The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-10-19
WHOLE NO. 2151
AnOld Legend.

Once, long ago, when the world Was
young, and men turned 10 the gods for
the gifts they er.ved-Onee, 50 the story
goes, there lived 3 man and woman
bound to each other By an exceeding
great love. Neither ministered unto the
other, for the light and beauty each bore
within filed them with such glory and
strength that their DAYS were an unfold
ing, nor needed s1ocor from outside
things But 50 great was their love, 50
the legend runs, that zs time went en-
they felt within them the throb Of a
great desire 10 be yet more each unto the
other than they had been -'Oar JOY con-
sumes rs cried they. we mast work
or We perish Give ass ye gods that
thing to Do for the other which neither
can do for himself Give Is 10 DO what
the gods have done, and - mzy love
6nd is perfect way
Long the Gods pondered. @Na1ght
have We withheld,- spake they, saveone
gilt only. Shall Care dwell among men,
and they be even as VeT7 Then care her
self spoke: -Detzin ne not, Oh, mighty
ones there IS much for the men Of earth
to know that Is hidden from them till I
90 Then the Oldest god remembered
what in heaven had been forgot and be
rose and took the hand Of care and led
her downward to the earth. And the
msu and woman looking at her say &
bsanteOus maiden. full Of glee, and her
EYES we're Gs if yo1 looked a. the stars al
night over gardens full Of perfume. Aud
they shone with light Of great gladness-
And the faces Of the man and woman III
up with an overwhelming JOY. Then the
Oldest Of the gods, 80 says the legend,
stood majestic and held his hand slofi-
Children Of the earth, unto you Is given
the divinest Of our gifts. being formed
out Of love that seeks no end OF iis own
You may make Of Der what you viii
Love most your ozn-"Bat the man and
woman we're lost With joyous Care among
the flowers; aor heedei longer the voice
Of the oldest god
Afer many days. 50 the legend -uns,
when men multiplied, and each mans
need had gro~n greater 10 him than that
Of any ether, and each mans power the
greatest end worth striving FOR, then it
was that some man stopped and looked
al Care, and locking. TUNED away and
ran. For Care lad grow gaunt-eyed AMI
hideous, and clutched at him with long
and bony fingers And woman, toe, in
those DAYS. stopped and looked At Care,
and Grief out in shuddering sobs- And
one tried to drown her in the cup, snd
tie other neekly bore her to her grave
Then the Oldest Of the gods trembled for
the children Of earth, seeing how gift
had well nigh destroyed them.
But there we're those, even in those
DAYS. 50 the story runs, 70 = HON Care was
bsauteo1s as Of old They were those
with whom Love had not died, 70 whom
life meanis help for Others, and opp Ttu-
nifty for service was counted blessed. And
these walked hand in hand with Care
rejoicing, and they looked into her face
With thanksgiving, and saw that il glow
ed with a light Of great glory within,
and that about her feet shone the raiI-
ance Of perfect peace. And the oldest Of
the gods walking among these was gi4d,
and unto the children Of earth spake
once again: Take the hand Of Care and
be thankful. Look into her face. and
she IS handnAid from heaven shun
her. and she Is an ogTess haunting all
your days"
And the oldest Of the gods departed
froE this earth, nor was seen again
among men. And - the legend ends
Bur Care siill walks abroad, and will
walk, nea say, I'll AL men love their
duty and ihe'r iellow men, and 50 love
her; til men knOw her as a great pTivi-
lee al not as their own favored cre2-
iioa, stalking hungry-eyed among theiE
possessions. And EOusen IN thOse days
I viii case 20 shu1ier AZ Care, even be-
/ fore they zee The faces u their lilil- ones,
nor think Care has marked their fore
heads, OF Stopped and stolen rOm1nce
out OF their lives, or crept away With
their ambitions. And Care vii not be
= lean zna crouched figure haddling by
6rss;des, but the joyous, beautiful 40
nan xilo leads Us with radiant snilsevsr
10 higher planesof happiness And this
must ever be tue, for the szddest Of hfs
I : no. found where Care is, but there
where Love Is and Care IS denied
H1rprr's Ba-ar.