Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1900-1903, 1902-11-05
IF I WE'RE A GIRL AGAIN.

1t is futile to assert at the end of a
game of whist that if one had led from
another suit at this orr that cast the
result would have been thus or so.
A different play by any player would
doubtless have called forth a different
response by the others following the
'rigor of the game, and the outcome
of the new permutations would again
have been past guessing.
So, when Gillian or Marian has come
to forty years, she cannot declare that
any past act of omission or commission
would have compelled any certain fate
or assured any positive need Of happi-
ness.
Few of us, indeed, from Audrey to
Poftia. even If offered the convenient
falry tale retrial of life would ex-
change our own past-the light and
shade and color that MAKES our iden-
tlty In the universe-for any other set
OF experiences however roseate and
golden. Each of us, as in the ssVision
OF Mira, J" would claim his own pack
and no one else's from the Mountain Of
Miseries or the Mountain of Delights.
Yet there is endless fascination in
turning ones face again toward youth
and in rebuilding ones life in the iris
atmosphere of fancy. To be back again
where life went a-Maying with nature
nope and poesy-to have once more the
eager, believing heart of youth, and vet
to hold ones knowledge gained from
the years, from the salt and the shine
OF the tear-this We're indeed the sspara-
disc enow, the ssvery heaven" of the
poets. Perhaps to be both young. and
wise is to be of the order of seraphs.
and this frost and fire of spirit is what
will await one when he possibly shall
awaken in another land
Should I, if girl once more. with
my woman's wisdom added to nv
maiden inclinations, select again the
vocation that was my early choice? To.
only few women is il given to choose
their work. Generally one has to take
the task at hand and adapt herself to
It. Happy if she have the gracious ma
ture of our little sister, the water. and
can fit herself to her environment!
When was girl in wild little
mining camp in the Sierra Nevada
mountains there seemed nothing at
hand for me to do but to teach. So /
dr1fted into school work. and later
specialized my deferred college course
along educational and literary lines
and went on teaching and writing.
OF course, | realize that any work
well done, from washing linen with
Nausicaa and Ramona, to discovering
stars with Caroline Herschel or
Dorothea Klumpke, is equally honora-
bic and necessary in the economy of
the universe
Yet one may have preferences and
aptitudes. I loved the work was
doing, and it is beautiful, mothering
work to care for children's souls as the
concerned" teacher does. 1t is solemn
work, too. to stand as providence for
the fitting of the house of the spirit, at
this mysterious threshold of life where.
as with the faithful at Mecca. every
deed counts sevenfold.
But, fine as use of life as teaching is,
to my mind there is more delightful
service, and as benefcent to the world,
in the creative work of the artist toll
ing with his sweet sounds. or his shift
ing lines and colors. or his obedient
clay. or his winged words So, if I
had had the ear of the destfnies, and
their favor. should have prayed at
anv time of the past as now. that it be
eiven me to be writer along some Of
the higher lines Of literature: to try to
PASS on. for the possible light or COM
fort Of others. some measure Of the
meaning Of life that flashes to me from
the faces of men and women. or the
erasses Of the field or the galaxies~ ~of
the skIes.-M Mrs Edwin Markham