St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-04-02
AN EASTER VISION.

1t was laugh. Only mans hearty
laugh that expressed the keenest enjoy
ment. heard it as left the car at the
corner near the little garden that sur
rounded the pleasant home called my
own; that last Lenten day, my bur
den of tender spring blossoms, bought to
brighten the house where sorrow had
dwelt so long. For months had lived
in a shadow trying honestly enough,
God knows, to creep from under its wing
and be again my happy frivilous self
for the sake of others dependent upon
me, and in measure | had succeeded.
Now, many times had faltered, startled
out of my growing cOmDosure by the
sight of manly brown head with
sprinkling of white about the temples,
carried proudly alOft rs his had been,
or the sound OF full sweet voice. whose
every tone may be careSS, or, alas, the
sight of some happier woman, whose
steps were guided by one whose look
revealed the king among men, only one
who has received The baptism of s0r-
row can tell.
Sorrows crown OF sorrow,
Is remembering happier days.
And oh, how often memory is wakened
by just these little things; out that day |
seemed to have gained the victory anu
was Eomeward bound with my pots of
yellow primroses. They were Rich
ards fayorite flowers. because he used
to say they reminded him of the English
home of childhood, and he always bought
yellow primrOseS to deck the house on
Easter day. Only a laugh, but it
wrecked the calm that had succeeded
the first wild storm of rebelliOus sor-
row; it broke the barriers that months
of stern endeavor had built against the
pillows of grief that had swept over me,
and had threatened reason and life
itself as impiously arraigned the good
ness and wisdom of Him who had
widowed me. 1t was only when |
looked into the faces of the children.
Richards and mine. and realized that
their loss was even greater than mine
that death had taken from me my huS-
band, loving and loyal and true,
but from them the wise father. the
tender councillor, the loving guide that
the years could never replace-that l
began for their sakes to take up the
burden of life again, For their sakes
gave up the daily visits to the silent
bed in which he lay. l knew that lie
would say that it was only his outwOrn
garment that was buried there, not the
man who loved me, but that dear famil.
lar body. l could not feel that he would
not miss me or need my ministry in his
quiet sleep. and so at first l went every
day TO lay the flowers that he loved on
the sacred mound until l saw that
the children shrank from the white
and tear-swollen eyes that [ brought
home again, sol gave it up, and now
these dear faces were full of sunshine
and the music of their childish laughter
filled the pleasant rooms again. Then
that taught | could see the gradual
daWning of amused comprehension in
the deep gray eyes, the slow relaxing of
the strong face as the laugh crept down.
ward to his mouth, the upward toss of
his handsome frOst-tiecked head, the
white teeth cleaning through the
brown mustache. and the mellow meas
ures of that frank, manly laugh, that re-
Vealed heart as young and pure as
boys. All at once | realized that it was
Richards face that l saw as in vision,
his laugh that rang in my ears; nd the
sweet April day was darkened as l chung
pressing my face against the fence
that bent about the little garden
that he had planned and beautiiied for
me. The scent OF fresh turned mould
filled my nostriIS, and had seemed
sweet as l stepped from the car. l
knew that little Dick had uncovered
the borders where the tulips grew, and
the crOcuseS were already in bloom and
the dwarf iris purple hoods were peep
ing through their lance-like leaves.
Soon the whole place would be gay
with blossoms. We had looked it over
and planned our summer work that
morning. And now how deSolate it
looked, missing the tall figure that had
planned and enjoyed it so last spring.
AS passed the dining room window
| saw the supper table. Biddy
had anticipated the joy Of Easter
by filling a little basket with
purple violets for its decoration,
but Richards place was vacant. The
life and brightness of the parlOr wound
ed me anew. On table by a window
Belle had strewn her Easter gifts, and
was busy putting finishing touches to
the bright bits of gay ribbon and card
board. painted with childish precision,
but with hint Of her fathers artistic
power. Little Dick was arranging a
tray of brightly colOred eggs, gifts for
the children of the poor people whom
his father had loved and served. This
had been one of Richards pleasures,
and now only tile weak hands of his
boy kept up the tender task, and Rich
ards chair, whose cushions it still bore,
it seemed 10 me, the imprint OF his dear
head was pushed back against the
wall. 1t could not have been the sight
of their happy faces. Even his children
are forgetting him." thought in my
jealous grief. l knew that the sight of
my white face, with its look of settled,
rebellious grief, took all the joy and
light out of the pl easure that these little
plannings for the joyous Eastertide
were giving the children he had So
fondly loved: but did not care. Why
should the earth be glad and the world
go on as if he had never lived his beau
tifuI, useful life in it? 1t was not right,
and l would not try to make my heart
say. Thy will be done"
When the silent supper was finished,
and the evening that my selfishness had
spoiled was gone, L went into my room,
not even waiting to give the good
night kiss to the children, whose
hearts were wrung, as ! well knew,with
a sorrow as bitter as my own for the loss
of that sympathetic friend who had