River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-04-09

the sweet home ties that beautified
their younger days.
The pause was scarcely perceptible,
and they brought themselves steEnly
back to the business in hand, each try
ing to regret the happy glow left in his
heart by this tiny lapse In his religious
fervor.
SHOULD she be made acquainted with
her mothers history"
LAS thou wilt. though IL seems to me
unnecessary
Elder Charles hesitated. Thou art
right; we will not cloud her life with
the shadow of SORROW"
He went to the door, sent a sister in
search of the little maid and then re-
turned TO his chair.
Sister Elizabeth came with eyes down
cast. expecting the rebuke which she
felt she deserved.
"And thou wouldst leave us?" FL
der Charles asked, when she stood be-
fore him.
The girl glanced up and saw in his
face the permission she desired. "Then
thou art not angry?" she cried, land
thou wilt let me go? oh, thou wilt
never regret it."
How she longed to thank them, to
caress tIem In the excess of her de-
light. But the long years OF discipline
and self-repression had given her no
words with whichto express herself.
NOW may leave thee for a timer"
she asked, abruptly, her eyes full of
happy tears.
They watched her silently as she
went down the smooth white gravel
path.
II am going away" she said TO the
hedges, as she passed between them.
Il am going away" she said to the
JERSEYS, as she went through the lane
where they awaited the milking time.
and II am going away" she said to the
grass-hidden violets of the meadow, to
the trees in the grove beyond, and TO the
rugged hills that kept watch over the
peaceful Shaker valley.
Away from the dull, coloTiess life,
away from the peace and shelter of the
oDly home she could rememberi Going
from me unaltering methods, from the
irritating unchangeableness and the
hope-depressing tranquility, into the
rush and strife of the unknown world.
The caressing quiet OF the summer
evening surrounded and enveloped her.
She returned to her room, exhausted
but happy, TO dream and dream again
of the new world into which she was
going. Waking or sleeping. her dream
continued through the details of prep
aration to the hour of departing.
Tn elders of the community offered
her an embarrassment of riches and
friendly advice and timely warnings.
The juniors regarded her with half
deprecating admira ton, while some of
the more devout ones took leave of her
with tears and sighings, thinking in
their hearts that it was a final farewell.
Everyone was kind, SO kind that
she sometimes wondered IL she could
find other friends so true, or if after ali
the new life would be so happy.
Charles and Hannah had chosen
wisely when they selected their daugh-
ter's home for Elizabeth while she was
away from them. They had no doubt
she would return.
They knew that the maiden over
whom their hearts yearned with such
exalted love had not yet reached that
state of conservation that "her in
dividual interests were merged IN the
divine interest, her purposes in the di-
vine purposes and her individual lahors
merged in the labors of Christ's king
DOM" But they believed firmly, that
since the principles and practices OF a
worldly life are so opposed to the poll y
of the Shaker communism, her heart
would instinctively return to them. nd
her spiritual nature would once more
rise to their level.
At their daughters, Elizabeth would
have the best of masters for the cultiva-
ton of her voice.
This they deemed only right. More
over, they knew that here her peculiar
religious views would be respected, and
her sublime gift improved to a refine
ment of perfection.
For the rest, for her ultimate return
TO them and her entire conservation OF
treasure, as well as OF body and soul, OF
time. talents and service, which is re
quired for full membership in the
Household of Faith. they relied upon
their thorough training through the
years she had been with them, and her
own steadfast nature underneath the
youthful impulsiveness.
And so they let her go, looking for
ward confidently to the time when she
should return, satisfied.
In her new home her love for artistic
4 III ]. -
Gus whole.
She looked at the bits of curio. the
soft, thick carpets, and the beautiful
hangings, thinking, as she worked still
more earnestly How much better this
is than the old lfe."
When at the beach she wandered
along the cliffs and sung the soprano
10 the oceans deep bass, she said. look
ing forward to the winter when she
should make her debut on the stage:
"Yes, this is better than the old life. .
But when the time came and she
found herself frightened and bewii-
dered standing before the audience
her courage gone. she longed for the
seclusion of the peaceful valley.
The accompanist understood the
Shaker maiden, understood his audi
cnce and his instrument.
lie gave the piano a swift caTess
and leaning forward, seemed to whis
per: Encourage her"
The soft, varying melody breathet
upon her over-wrougnt nerves and
quieted them. IL soothed and petted
and controlled her until she could con.
troll her voice. and then subsiding, fur.
nished the background against which
her fresh young voice was only the
most charming. She felt the enthusi
asm of her audience, and forgot all bu.
the rapture of song.
Her triumph was complete. Ever
the soprano. the beautiful star of the
company, sent for her and congratu
lated her, kissing her on both cheeks.
"Oh, madsmi" Elizabeth gasped, in
her surprise and pleasure; my moth.
ct might have done So"
The soprano smiled. kissed her again
and sent her away. AS she went to heI
room, she heard the soft, sweet note.
Of the violin and paused TO listen with
happy feeling of proud possession.
; She had come TO the city with the
firm belief that any earthly love was IN
itself a passion to be condemned and
| marriage a moro than questionable in