The Irish standard., 1892-02-06

us, we don't know how high they wi
rise; when we plant our groves W
can't tell how thickly they will grow
Always leave an opening throug
which you can see Heaven
Olive looked at her, and was struc
by the light on her wasted features
Lucy's life was widening at the close
her view of Heaven was broader tina
it had ever been before, and the glor.
that she saw was reflected on her face
which was 'sas the face of an angel
ooh, Lucy she said, in a ti1nid tone
II know you are much wiser than an
and I sometimes fancy that you can Sc
farther into the future than others can
Are you looking into my future, an
seeing things that you will not speak G
plainly?'
ssDo not frighten yourself about m.
forecasting, my dear child" Lucy an
swered very tenderly. 81 can forese
no trials in your life that brave spiri
cannot live through. Only | woul
warn You not to part with the vcr,
portion of yourself which will enabl
you to bear those trials. Keep your oil
trust in a Power that is over all; liste:
to the voices that tell you Of that peac
which shall assuredly follow the strife
Do not let the world SO blind and deafe!
you that, when sorrow comes, the tru
light may shine and the true voic
speak in vain, Oh; Olive, it is no
trouble that is to be feared; it is tn
loss of those qualities in us which hel.
us to meet trouble bravely."
''But, Lucy" Olives lips were tre1n
bling, ~ shall have Michael by m.
side, and he is SO strong! Think of al
the difficulties be has conquered! Cal
be afraid of anything while he take
care of me?''
Lucy was silent for a moment. !
was true indeed that she saw things il
Olives future that she would not plain
ly speak of. 1t needed only a. littl
knowledge OF humanity to foresee tina
this girls deepest suffering would conn
to her through the man she loved.
Il am afraid you don't like him. th'
poor child went On. "What has he sale
that displeases ,You?. All! I am disap
pointed; ] thought you would say / wa
the most fortunate girl in the world!''
Lucy bent forward and kissed her.
Olive" she said gently, II shall like
him better when he thinks more Of yo1
and less Of that great idol--success.
see that he ia clever, dear-very cleve,
in his own way: and SO determined THAI
he is almost sure to win the things thai
he is seeking. Only I could wish tina;
he had eyes to sec the treasures that III
passes by while he runs the race.
wish that he would sometimes give
thought to those things that are no
won by mighty effort, but given freely
given by a. Fathers bounty and love
Surely life need not 1,e all striving
Olive
:'Oh no. rhurn1,red Olive with sigh
Il feel that it takes a very little tt
make me perfectly contented. But mel
are different, ] suppose: they want fa1
more than we do, and they must struec
gle till they get it. For my part Lucy
! should love to live in a cottage with
Michael. and be just myself. But liz
wants me to be more than myself.
daresay he is right; to him must seen
a very ignorant uninforr,ed creature
''You are not ignorant, considering
that you are q village girl" Lucy an
swered. THE old vicar, who helped
Michael SO much, must have been YOU
friend also. It surprised me, when.
first came here, to find a girl who wa.
a reader and a thinker. Take courage
my child; you ere not as far behind
in the race as You suppose
And if--if our plan is really carried GU
you will learn q great deal with you,
uncle Wake"
"Lucy,'' Olive said, looking up sud
denly, you have never told me how
you came to know anything Of my uncle
Wake"
A slight flush rose to Lucy's face ant
was gone in an instant.
''Mr. Wake keepsa secondhand book
shop in the Strand she replied quietly
"a friend of mine, who was very fone
Of books, used to take rne there often
and your uncle talked as only those who
read can talk. It was a pleasure to &C
to that shop: some Of the happi-st mo-
ments of my life were spent among
those piles Of old volumes, and Mr..
Wakes cheerful voice and kind face
can never be forgotten. That man IN.
aerstood everybody. and sympathizel
with everybody, [ believe. He was
large man with large heart. He gave
people chances of s1atching little bits
Of happiness. Oh, Olive, think az
old bool1-shop is one of the most de
iightful places in the universe. If ycr
happen to be missed, NO one thinks OF
looking for yon in such a dusty. nusty
retreat. The most glorious fragments
Of life are often hidden away in dull
spots where few can find them. BE.
tween the dingy covers Of some Of these
ancient books one might come upor
poems that sparlsled and glowed with
immortal light and beauty. Some Of
our brightest memories are shut up,
believe, in the dinmest hooks and cor
ners of the world!''
Olive looked at her in silent surprise
The beautiful worn face had grown
young again; the eyes were shining.
''But you love the country, don't you
Lucy?" she asked, after a pause.
Eyes Lucy's face grew pale and