The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1892-07-27

mother. ! thought 1T highly commend
able in hnn and I respected him for it.
"Knowing the value Of the love Of
such mother" he continued, after
pause, 81 know how to sympathize
with those who have been denied that
boon. can imagine, imperfectly, of
course, what you have missed by being
motherless. can realize, to some ex-
tent, how desolato and dark your life
has been"
l involuntarily shuddered at the mem
orics his Words called up, and he, noting
the action, continued in o different
strain.
1.-THE past Is over" he said, land, as
it cannot be changed, 1t is best to dwell
as little as possible on its sorrows, but
to fill our minds instead with thoughts
of the future. You will, no doubt, find
comfortable, happy homo with your
cousin, and in short time be able to
gain many good, kind friends. There
is prospect of long, useful life be-
fore you, because you are capable of
doing much good in the world and are
disposed to employ your talents for bet
tering the lot Of mankind"
It is impossible to describe the effect
these sober, earnest utterances 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 new system OF
ideas. Previous to that moment l had
suffered my mind to be charnel-house
of sore grievances, my thoughts being
occupied entirely with recollections of
the bitter sufferings l had known. |
had never dreamed of looking forward
to the birth of new and brighter eX-
istence, and, above all, had never en-
tertained an idea of the bare possibility
Of being able to administer In the least
degree to the bettermcnt Of humanity
and its conditions.
Now everything appeared 20 me In q
different light. The future opened be-
fore me like a glorious panorama sur
rounded by halo of hope. My mind
bounded up out of the darkness of grief
and reveled In tho light of happiness.
was a new being and I lived In new
world. l was happy, hopeful and
thankful. My soul was free Of It's old
servitude 10 grief, as was free OF the
old servitude to those at home.
My companions quick eyes saw the
alteration in my manner, little suspect
ing that his words had wrought II. He
eyed me curiously for some time, evi-
IDENTIFY deeply perplexed by my strange
appearance, then, In a tone OF marked
surprise, said;
"Now you are all animation and life,
while q moment ago you were listless
and Respondent never saw 80 great
a change In one in so short time. May
ask from whence II comesr'
do l appear much changed2- I
Gslled, looking up with smile.
Wonderfully" he replied
~For the better7' l continued
"Assuredly," said he. "Your features
Hre radiant with the pleasure OF antici-
patton and your eyes sparkle with the
light of hope Ono would think you
very happy"
"1 am" I replied "TDeros was hap
pier in my life"
well, I'm glad 20 SEQ H." he re-
marked, after short pause, looking ut
me rather doubtfully, but I am at a
loss TO account for so sudden an altera-
ton in your manner"
"Then I'll tell YOU said L You
Bre the cause"
"Iv' he questioned, IN surprise, II
don't understand"
"By remark you made o moment
SINCE" explained, you opened 10 my
mind the possibilities Of the future,
showing that could grow out OF my
present condition and become not only
happy woman, but useful one. That
is something that never thought Of
before, aud the idea came 10 me like a
revelation, opening dazzling prospects
before me-"
81 am indeed rejoiced," he said, 'if 1
inadvertently let drop word calcu-
lated TO brighten your thoughts. 1t is
gratifying 10 know have done you a
small service although did II purely
accidentally. But now that we are on
that subject, lot me add that the past
has but little happiness in II. 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 tho
past and leaves us no opportunity for
studying and grieving over what has
been or what might have been. But
excuse me. did not mean 10 preach a
sermon or deliver q lecture"
assured Mr.. Cornell that his remarks
were not in the least tiresomc, and they
were not 10 me- To those who had
gained a 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 see the necessity OF
adapting yourself TO q life work." he
continued, "have you an idea of the
sphere in which you would choose tc
labor?"
"No, at present l have not" an
swered. ''The thought is so fresh with