Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1894-07-26
THE HOUSEHOLD.
w. c. T. U. DEPARTMENT.
Edited by the Aberdeen ". c. T. u
HER WEDDING JOURNEY.

happeHcu W pt Oh tue SltailieT Tue
morning she left. She was so iorlorn, so
pitiful, with great tears in her dark eyes,
and l somehow felt attracted toward her.
Every one was on deck in the sunshine
and warmth. The fields lay all riplv and
gold in the August sunshine, like yellow
lakes margined with green forests, and
the sound Of the reaper came down to us
as We touched at the different landings.
But she sat apart, not noticing nor en-.
tering into the merry conversations
around her, half COUGHING into a corner,
and leaning over the rail as if searching
the water.
She was not attractive; she was lame
and deformed, and her features were
irregular, but her face was spirituelle in
its delicacy and refinement, and her eyes
were luminous with the reflection Of a
soul struggling to the light. Somehow
her hungry, longing look appealed to me,
and said
"You are sorry to leave Chautauqua so
early. It is not bad news that calls you
away, hope?" She gave me a startled,
appealing look, as ii had done her an
unexpected kindness.
sob. no. she said, with sob that
went to my heart, Il couldn't stay. l
couldn't bear it, was so lonesome
Lonesome exclaimed.
YES" she said, It's the worst kind
Of lonesomeness to be in great crowd
alone"
"You were by yourself in this great,
busy throng, them" l replied, with
startled sense Of what she might have
endured. By bits drew out from her
the whole story of one OF "Christ's little
Ones" who had found the full bitterness
OF realizing that every other Little one
In the hurry and joy and pressure OF the
Fathers business" had left her out of
the family circle Of God.
II had been thinking and planning
about it for years. You see, had read
the c. L. S. c. course. l can't begin to
tell YOU how l sacrificed and worked to
get the books and magazines year after
year. Sometimes l picked potatoes and
berries or sowed corn, and tended sick
child for summer boarder once in our
neighborhood sold little butter. did
some crochet work.
1--WE were never idle in the old-fash-
Toned farm house, but IN the long winter
evenings We read, mother and l. My
fo<b c.;I ~ Il
never quite got over his disappointment
that was not just as other girls. l had
a severe illness when baby that left me
with spinal curvature. Blu: my dear, gem
tie, invalid mother loved me all the more,
think, because l was not strong and
beautiful. Once in while as we sat to-
Gether in the evenings we talked OF Chau.
tauqua. 1t seemed veritable iairyland
to US, only noble men and women there,
ready and helpful. 1t seemed as ii the
blessing OF God must be on those people,
that they must be near the dear Lord
Himself, 50 much OF His spirit was in
what We read.
Zone terrible night my mother died.
can't tell you about it. 1t crushed ME
to the very earth. 1t seemed as if the
sun had dropped out Of the sky, as ii God
had forgotten the world. She had one
request to make OF my silent, stern father,
that he should send me to Chautuaqua
this summer. My aunt came to stay with
him. aud he would fulfill that promise,
foolish as be thought it. The neighbors,
busy, meddlesome people, out OF whose
atmosphere my mother and l dwelt apart,
said it was too much to ask, but he said l
should go.
~ cannot tell you how We worked and
pinched and scraped and saved to let me
come. We don't need TO do this exactly,
at all, but my father had TO do it in his
early days and now he grasps the little
he has with close hands. His life is the
little he makes and saves, and he screws
the lives OF all around him to the same
tension. Sometimes, God forgive me, l
wonder why it could no. have been my
mother spared to me.
81 somehow felt ray OF light thrill
through my sorrow. l hoped and dreamed
and planned, as girls do for a wedding
journey, think, because it is always the
unknown, the ideal that gladdens them
most, believe, and-I came at last. A
lady hearing OF my eagerness to come
who had cottage here, said I might
have room in it and the use OF her
stove. She would not open her cottage
this summer. l expected only con.
secrated people here, for l had heard
dear Bishop Vincent preach once. I
never thought Of being alone. Well,
can't tell you all the rest. To me it is
the bitterest thing, and it will seem SO
small to you, such silly story.
II sat in my little room, and on my
veranda OF the silent, unoccupied house.
No one came to me- | went TO the PRAYER