Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1895-03-21
wEsGEAA'iA:sMEeUs. q :s
Loss and Gain.

Ihe blrdS sang SWeetly in the trees
near her window but she heard them
not, although her head rested against
the open easement. The delicious
fragrance of the flowers was waited
to her nostrils, yet she scented it
not. The sun cast it's bright CLEANS
across the room, but there was no
responsive ray of light in her heart.
Later friends dropped in and laughed
and chatted about the last opera, and
discussed the coming event of the
season, but she felt no interest in il
all.
To-day her women acquaintances
envied her position, for who among
the vast throng could compare with
her in beauty, grace and talent?
Who more nearly approach in ease
Of living the lily of the field which
tolls not, neither does it spin ?"
All this for to-day, but tomorrow
-to-mOrrOw-her past life would be
but a dream. Her former friends
would forget that they had once
knelt at her shrine, would, perhaps,
forget that they had ever met her.
Worst of all-agonizing thought
she must give up her betrOthed.
She loved him with all a passionate
woman's devotion, but she could
not, no she ought not, although he
might will it SO, be united to him, a
helpless burden on his hands. These
were the thoughts that she INDUCED
in the privacy of her boudOir.
But, people whose grief strikes
deeply rarely parade it before the
public, and thus it is that we know
little of the SORROWS of many with
whom we come in daily contact.
Such people, however, are often
times comforted in ways that we
common folk wot not. There are
times when joyous song is but the
voice of one from the other world,
striving uncOnsciously to cheer the
sufferer, e'en while she wonders how
she can sing while her heart is break
ing. The poor blinded bird pOurs
forth it's richest melodies after its
sight is gone, as if in defiance to the
afilicti0n which has been brought
upon it. Gay laughter is sometimes
80 nearly approaching to tears that
some sweet memory of the past, a
sympathetic word or mayhap the
perfume of some favDrite flower will
break down the defense so bravely
put up between the suffering heart
and the world.
Thus il was that on the very eve
of what this maiden considered the
end of her social reign, to her ac'
auaintances seemed resplendent.-
Never had her eyes shone more hril'
liantly nor her cheeks assumed q
more beautiful rosy tint. But hei
head thrObbed with pain, her heart
beat violently; her hands were cold,
her throat and tongue dry and
parched. If she could but weep
but. alas, the fountain of tears
seemed TO be forever dried. She
was on the very verge OF losing
faith in humanity and-in COD. Ihe
Master had forsaken her, she thought,
else why this great sorrow, this fear
fnI punishment? She was nothing
more TO him than withered leaf,
and like il would soon be tossed
bither and thither by the crue
blasts. Oh, her very nature seemed
to be turning to stone.
The night came. She sat again a,
her open window. Hark, what
sound Is that borne upon the breeze
In her dulled sense OF nearing
She bends her head to catch the
strain. for IL seems familiar to her
j Clearly and softly the pathetic har
monv rolls out to her. The rlcf
chords of the harp and the willing
sonnd of the violin blend in one
great tone of sympathy, just in toucf
Sitb her feelings. 1t is his, her low
er,s favorite air. The spell is broken
Tears roll down her cheeks; she
dr"ns mon her knees and offers uI
% an earnest petition for help to beal
With fortItude the worst that may