The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1893-05-19
A HAPPY MAN.
The Last Day of His Mental Balance a
Happy Ore, He Knows No Tomorrow.

The Last Day of His Mental Balance a
Happy Ore, He Knows No Tomorrow.
I have seen at last happy man, the
happiest ever knew. He is perhaps "a
years old, and his happiness has been un-
broken for two years or more.
Hear his story. He is a gentleman in
every sense of the word. He has means,
social position and large circle of de-
voted relatives and friends. He has a
fine physique, a handsome face. But
we did not call him happy man, ''such
happy man. until two years ago, when
the great change came. He never mar
ried, and the Miss x. of whom l tell you
was no more to him than his lifelong
comrade, his best of friends-an old
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 to
the little lake not far from his native
village, popular inland resort, and
spent what he called upon his return
that night 50 perfect day" Skies were
never bluer. he said, nor flowers fairer
nor the lake SO lovely to him as upon
that day. Only he had expected to
meet Miss X. there and to have had
their usual sail together.
He would go again on the morrow,
take her with him and so double and in
crease the joy. He went to her house
that evening to play whist as usual. 1t
was Saturday. She had gone to spend
Sunday at the lake. He was very glad
she had gone, he said; he would join her
the next day. During the game he al
luded many time to the happy day he
had passed. And what is there in life
after all like tomorrow full of promise?
That night after reaching his room he
had paralytic stroke-not a severe one,
only a slight shock, but it clouded his
brain, if we can call that cloud which
fixed forever in his mind the happiness
reigning there when it came.
Every day since then has been that
happy Saturday to him. He has justre-
turned from the lake. No matter if the
snow is drifting or the rain is beating
the windows, it has been perfect day,
everything in divine harmony. He will
go over to ks for a game of whist.
Even if Miss x. meets him he asks if she
is at home, as if he were addressing some
one else; then he is so glad she is up 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 a
capital game and goes home in the sweet
expectation of happy tomorrow.
Ali else in life seems blank to him.
In that one 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 a happy day, and he is going to re-
peat it 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 always speak
of what is in possession of his mind, I'M
less you hole him too long. Then he has
excuse for breaking away
Question-If that last day of his men
tai balance had been an unhappy one,
say a day black with anguish or remorse
or embitterad with rage and revenge,
would he now be the opposite of what he
is-a wild beast iii toils-the remainder of
his life the horrible evolution of an Incl
dental, who knows but an accident,
mood?-Atlantic Monthly.