The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-08-07
A HAPPY MAN.
The Last Day of His Mental Baianc a
Happy One, He Knows Nd Tomorrow,

The Last ma, of His Mental Balance
Happy One, He Knows No Tomorrow.
have seen at last a happy man, tn
happisst | eysr knew. He is perhaps 4
years old, All his happiness has been un
broken for two years or more.
Hear his story. He is a gentleman il
every sense Of the word. He has means
social position and a large circle of de
voted relatives and friends. He has
fine physique, a handsome face. Blu
we did not call him a happy man, "sucl
a happy ma4a." until two years ago, whe1
the great change ca,ne. He never mar
ried, and the Miss x. of whom / tell yo,
was no more to him than his lifelons
comrade, his best of friends-an ole
neighbor, related to him in many ways
but never by the tender tie.-
Perhaps he had been more of an in
valid than he knew or than his friends
dreamed. One summer day he went Il
the little lake not far from his native
village, a popular inland resort, and
spent what he called upon his return
that night "a perfect day" Skies were
never bluer, he said, nor flowers fairel
nor the lake &C lovely TO him as upon
that day. Only he had expected to
meet Miss x. there and to have had
their usual sail together. s
He would 60 again ON the morrow,
take her with him and 90 double and In
crease the joy. He went to her house
that evening to play whist a usual. II
was Saturday. She had gone to spend
Sunday at the lake. he was very glad
she had gone, he said; he would joii her
the next day. During the game he al
luded many time to the happy day he
had passed. And what IL there in life
after all hike q tomorrow full of promise?
That night after reaching his room he
had q paralytic stroke-not a severe on,
only a slight shock, but it clouded hls
brain, il We AN call that q cloud which
fixed forever in his mind the happiness
reigning there when 1t came.
Every day since then has been that
happy Saturday to him. He has just re-
turned from the lake. No matter IL the
snow In drifting or the rain 10 beating
the windows, it has been q perfect day,
everything in divine harmony. He viii
30 eyer to KS for a game of whist.
Even II Miss d, nests him he asks if she
is at home, as Il he We're Addressing some
one else; then he is SO glad she is mp at
the lake; he is going back tomorrow;
there is every sign Of perfect weather,
ETC., all in his old time charming way.
Then he takes up his cards and plays q
capital game and goes home IN the sweet
Of a happy tomorrow.
All else in life seems q blank to him.
In that n fair niche of memory he sees
all Of the past, the present and the fu-
ture. He appears to be reading often
times when the book he holds is up side
down. Death means nothing to him.
When his friends die, he does not weep
nor question nor miss them. He has had
such q happy day, and he is going to re-
peat 1t tomorrow.
Naturally his case is of interest to
specialists. He is never troublesome. He
goes about the village and exchanges cor
dial greetings. Nor does he alwaysspeak
Of what is in possession Of his mind, un-
less you hold him too long. Then he has
excuse for breaking away.
Question-H that last day of his men
tai balance had been an unhappy one,
say a day black with anguish or remor =
or embittered with rage and rer
would he now be the opposite .hsths
is-a wild beast in toils-t, -s..o -
dental who evolution of an Incl
moods, xnows but an accident,
atlantic Monthly.