The record-union., 1897-08-08
some RAMBLING THOUGHTS.
BY MEMO.

when they gradually absented them
selves from the store or the corner; but
now your turn has come; for 1 assume
your male companions have already
found you out. Like thieves set to
catch thieves, they recognize the symp-
toms, and they tease you little if you
are easy-going and much more
if you are bad tempered about it,.
Now stranger, a young man among
young men, would like a really thor
ough communion with you on the same
subject, but not in the same spirit of
fun making. 1 realize that none of us
know all things; that some few of us
think more than others, and that the
greater number enter in no sort of un-
derstanding of the beautiful oasis love
can prove to be in a desert life So
let US chat together as though l were
a tried and trusted friend to whom you
had come in perplexity.
Do you realize how great a change
has come over your spirit? Go back a
few years in your memoryl AS a
whooping, rollicking boy, full of good
spirits, and a probable tyrant among
your sisters, girls We're all very similar
to you. Your free boyish spirit made
you almost look down upon the poor
helpless "softies" who could not climb
trees at all nor run races well nor play
games passably. There may have been
in those early days one bright-eyed
school miss who found in you a cham
pion and a protector. But you were
more or less ashamed of your snealking
regard; had no idea of the kingdom of
love whose outskirts you were travers-
ing; and the boy who poked fun at you
about it was almost sure to be given
the lie, with a full measure of fists
behind it. In time that experience
came to an end. The girl was forgot
ten, or if ever remembered only as a
confirmation of your later theory that
woman needs a protector in man.
Schooling came to an end, business be-
gan, and the chums of the store and
the street had so much of evil sugges-
tion to make regarding girls that your
main thought of them was a very pleas
ant afterthought of the Deity, devised
for the amusement and comfort of
mankind of whom you were chief.
But now another change has come
Forgetting your belittling ideas of
'sofues" and "playthings," you have
been pressed forward by the selective
influence of nature to a point where
you see one whom you desire ''to have
and to hold" though all the rest per-
lsh. In other words, you are lin love-"
and because you are, l believe for a
time at least, you have escaped from
earlier unworthy ideas. The woman
you love has opened the dismal dun
geon of lascivious thought that holds so
many youths in thrall. How has she
done it? Mainly through your own
conviction, that, whatever Of playthings
other women may be, this one-yous
one-is a pure, noble sfprit. Your soul
is at last out of it's prison of wrong un-
derstanding; a woman has released it,,
and in the first access of new idea,
you place her on a pedestal of glorious
esteem; you worship her in secret as
a goddess hoping some day soon to
proclaim her as such in the ears of
the community.
Mark how the sleeping landscape
Lies in the twilight gray,
By the shades of night half hidden,
Dreaming the time away.
Watch as a rosy finger
Heralds the coming dawn,
POINTING the varied beauties
OF tree and wood and lawni
See the world spring to brightness,
GliSten with laughing dew,
Changed in single moment
The heavens the earth are new!
So on the youth or maiden
Fresh from the realms above,
Their twilight life Transforming
There breaks the Dawn of Love.
Mile after mile will you travel in the
stormiest weather If only you may see
her for a few moments Without a
qualm of conscience, you now are apt
to let the ordinary girl shift for her
self where escorts are needed. But
your dear one finds in you one so per-
sistent that he sees her home the long
est way round, even though his own
comfort and rest are seriously affected.
You count all loss of ease, gain; If you
can but travel a few further footsteps.
If in Scripture parlance, she ask you
to go one mile, you gladly go twain.
Whether fit or unfit, you spring to per-
form almost any task she may lay
upon you. If you are ''in love" you
know well I haven't exaggerated a
particle the complete way in which you
are now compelled to acknowledge to
yourself that weak woman has at
last asserted her strength. Her power
is so great that, compared with it, you
are feeble, and apart from it you have
none.
During the hours of gloomy employ
ment there come flashes of memory
wherein one particular smile or one ex-
preston of love brightens your whole
horizon, like lightning on a summer s
night Your senses recall her every
gesture with sort of ecstacy, that is
a solace to your eager heart until you
return once more to the donor of sweet
hopes and wholesome purposes. AS
evening draws on, if that be your time
for visiting her, supper finds you rest
less to be gone Remarks addressed
to you by the home-folks get answered
in monosylables. or you fail altogether
to understand what they are saying to
you. The sounds of the fields, the high
ways and even the busy streets, chime
| in with the rugged harmony of your
heart. Come the hoarse roar of the
storm or the gentle signing of breezes,
| they are both one to you! The storm
you defy and the breeze you would
force into strength, for you are a man,
walking with head fearlessly erect,
treading the earth like a king You
are nerved to your best because a wo-
man has owned that she loved you;
she has bowed down her mightiness to
make you feel that she leans on you,
and ii braces I'm all +ba hast that is