Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-06-23
Is;i - N7TKllose ulwynrs %


rs little as possible on It's sorrows, but
10 fill our minds instead with thoughts
OF the future. You will, no doubt, find
a comfortable, happy home with your
cousin, and In short time be able TO
gain many good, kind friends. There
Is n prospect Of long, useful life be-
fore you, because you are capable Of
doing much good in the world and are
disposed 10 employ your talents for bet
tering the lot OF mankind"
II Is impossible to describe the effect
these sober, earnest uttcranccs had on
me. They were spoken quietly, unos-
tentatiously, and were, apparently,
simply casual remarks, having no inten-
ton OF instructing or advising, yet they
reversed the whole train Of my thoughts
and put into my mind a new system Of
ideas. Previous 10 that moment | had
suffered my mind TO be chnrncl.honsc
Of sore grievances, my thoughts bcl1g
occupied entirely with rccollcctiona OF
the bitter suffcrings ! had known.
had never dreamed OF looking forward
20 the birth OF new and brighter ex-
istence, and, above all, had never en-
OF being able 10 administer in the least
degree TO the bettermcnt OF humanity
and its conditions.
Now everything appeared to me In n
different light. The future opened be-
fore me like glorious panorama sur
rounded by u halo Of hope. My mind
bounded up out OF the darkness Of grief
and revcled in the light Of happiness
was new being and lived in a new
world. was happy, hopeful and
thankful. My soul was free Of its old
servitudc TO grief, MS ! was free OF the
old scrvitude 10 those at home.
My companions quick eyes saw the
alteration In my manner, little suspect
ing that his words had wrought IL. lie
eyed me curiously for some time, cvi.
IDENTIFY deeply perplexed by my strange
appearance, then, In tone OF marked
surprise, said;
"Now you are all animation and life,
while a moment ago you were listlcss
change in one in so short u time. May
] ask from whence IL comcs?"
do | appear much chnngcd2"
asked, looking up with u smile.
Wonderfully" he replied.
''For the bettcr2' | continued.
"Assurcdly," said he. "Your features
are radiant with the pleasure of antici-
patton and your eyes sparkle with the
light Of hope. One would think you
very happy"
81 am" replied. Tncvcr was hap
pier In my life"
"Wcll, I'm glad TO see it," he re-
marked, after short pause, looking at
me rather doubtfully, but | am at n
loss to account for so sudden an altcra-
tlon In your manner"
"Then I'll tell YOU" said I. "You
are the cause"
"Il' he questioned, in surprise. 81
don't understand"
"By remark you made n moment
since" explained, you opened TO my
mind the possibilities OF the future,
showing that could grow out Of my
present condition and become not only
happy woman, hut useful one. That
Is something that | never thought of
before, and the idea camc TO me like
revelation, opening dazzling prospects
before me-"
81 am indeed rcjoiced," he said, III
inadvertently let drop word calcu-
lated TO brighten your thoughts. II Is
gratifying to know have done you n
small service although did IL purely
accidentally, But now that we are on
that subject, let me add that the past
has but little happiness in IL. 1t Is true
many of us In looking back see little in
cidents here and there which are pleas
ant to recall, but they are so woven In
with disappointments and sorrows that
their brightness is almost completely
obscured. The happiness of humanity
lies in the future in having some
worthy purpose for the accomplishment
OF which we must work and think
That takes our minds away from the
past and leaves ms no opportunity for
studying and grieving over what has
been or what might have been. But
excuse me. ! did not mean to preach n
sermon or deliver lecture"
assured Mr.. Cornell that his remarks
were not In the least tircsomc, and they
were not to me. To those who had
gained knowledge of the world they
might, perhaps, have been tedious, be-
cause the ideas were old, but TO me, in
my ignorance and inexperience, II was
all new, and eagerly drank in every
word he spoke.
"Now that You sec the necessity of
adapting yourself TO a life work" he
continued, "have you an idea OF the
sphere in which you would choose to
labor?"
"No, at present have not" an
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