The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-03
ADOWN THE LANE At TIMDERLICK. 2

n ~
Outside my den the wind is moaning like
some spirit sorrow-laden, while the rain
beats with a persistent and monotonous
rhythm against the window pane. Within,
the cheerful fire throws fitful shadows on
the walls or illumines the dainty picture
OF Little Miss y-down-dilly'' hanging
above the well-loved tones on the library
shelves. Under the genial influence of the
rudy flames and the sweet solace Of Bar
rie's far-famed Arcadia Mixture" the
loneliness of my bachelor retreat is soon
forgotten, and instead of the blurr Of the
rain and the storm-swept street there comes
a vision of the olden time, fraught with
fond memories OF the Little Sweetheart
walking with the Wilful Lad adown the
lane at Timberlick.
1t is the dreamy hush of the twilight
hour broken only by the plaintive note of
the whip-poor- or the lullaby of some
sweet dweller of the void. The air is
redolent with the breath of the clover
waited abroad by the summer winds. From
the dewy pastures far afield the kline are
homeward vending. while in their wake
far down the depths of the darkening din
gle the Princess Golden Hair and the Will
full Lad lettering hand in hand.
On the morrow the Wilful Lad is to
fare forth into the real work-a-day world
in quest of the material things OF life, to
voyage out upon the untried sea of human
action and endeavor. To him it seems but
the revelation of the continuing chapter.
the beginning of the golden age. The
thoughts of the little lass dwell only in
the past, recalling sweet memories of their
comradeship. Her eyes are dim and ques-
tioning, but shine anon with nope and joy
when the Wilful Lad ends the story of his
coming adventures with promise to re-
turn to the old roof-tree when fame and
fortune deign to smile upon him.
? But ere that fortune came, yea, long be-
fore the tardier ofafnesp presented her
wreathed chalice to be quaffed. the sweet
lass bade adieu to the fields and flowers
she loved so WELL kissed the dear old
grandmother goodbye, and sent a loving
message to the Wilful Lad in the distant
city. Then a glory not of earth touched
the beautiful face of the sweet lass and
when the watchers thought her sleeping she
passed into that fair country whereof it
has been written, no wayfarer once en-
tering ever careth to return.
little lass with golden hair and witch
ing eyes of brown, the Wilful Lad, a child
no longer save in waking dreams, but late
ly walked adown the lane of Timberlick,
now but a spectral ghost of the sweet
by-way of the past Gone were the noble
trees that sheltered the timid wild flowers
and the vine-covered cottage where lived
the dear old grandmother. The garden
where grew the old-fashioned flowers and
the gnarled old apple tree with its messy
seat and the fringing violets at its base
are no more but standing there on the old
trysting ground fragrant with sweet mem
cries of the past, fond recollection shad-
owed forth picture of the by-gone years
in such sweet wise that for the moment
the dreamer seemed TO hear the cardinal
lifting in the apple 5boughs and from the
castle of the fairy queen the blithesome
voice of the Princess Golden Hair calling
the Wilful Lad from his rocky fastness in
the angle of the garden wall, Full soon
the vision faded. 1t was but the dream of
an idle hour.
So fades the vision of to-day Yet in its
stead there comes another dream, pre-
vision of that sweet time not far distant
when from the Heavenly Country will come
the welcome Messenger to cali the Wilful
Lad from the earthly home to the Garden
Ever-Beautiful where abideth evermore the
dear old grandmother and the Little Sweet
heart of the Long Ago. BEN-ARDYS.