The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1902-12-04
The Brighter Side.

"Msfortunes never come singly." 1t is
said. and sometimes, double-yoked, they
tread hard on the heels of our longexpect.
cd joys
Bessie Pierson had returned from her
wedding trip, established herself in her
new home with her husband and was get.
ting accustomed to her new name of Mrs.
John J.. Sawyer when the misfortunes be.
gan. There were several minor ones, and
then her father died. but this sorrow was
followed by one even worse. Her mother
suffered a severe paralytic stroke, from
which it seemed at first she could not re.
cover. Her life was saved. but the mind
was nearly gone. and Bessie and her hus-
band had no alternative but to bring her
to their own home, already overshadowed
by great sorrow, and narrow their home
life down to care which would probably
last for years, and which it was certain
that nothing but death could relieve.
1t is an old saying that living sorrow
is worse than a dead one. There is some
real comfort III grave which can be COW
cred with flowers. 1t is the open grave
that chills the heart. But in the great
trouble which had come upon the young
couple so soon after their marriage there
was one great consolation. as Bessie said to
her nearest friends, and John was unwear.
lily kind and sympathetic There was
never word of complaint from him, and
his bearing throughout was that Of a duti'
ful and loving son. Nevertheless the bur.
den pressed heavily on the shoulders OF
the young wife.
For several weeks she had been unable
to 90 to church When she went she
found a stranger in the pulpit. She was
late and the prayer was Just beginning.
There was something in 1t that attracted
her attention from the outset and gave her
feeling OF reverence and OF comfort; The
minister prayed for the congregation before
him, and the homes from which the people
came; for fathers and mothers and little
children, and finally for those children who
had reversed their own relations of youth
and had become the guardians OF the par
ents who once had cared for them.
1t was most unusual petition Bessie
did not remember ever to have heard such
a one before. 1t was the very PRAYER
which she felt she had need to offer. Her
heart RESPONDED to it. and she went home
comforted. cheered and strengthened, to
take up her burden with new and greater
courage.
The brighter side of her task soon began
to show itself Changed as her mother
was from what she had been she was still
amiable and sweet spirited, and there were
times when there shone through her men.
tai weakness some glow Of former recollec.
tions.
Two years later the transition came.
Death was kind. and the sufferer went
smilingly and without pain. Above the
coffin in which she lay with look OF peece
on her face the young husband and his
wife dropped tears, not Of regret, but OF
genuine filial sorrow. When they returned
| from the grave the home was empty, as il
| they had lost a little child. But they had
| the JOY OF duty performed uncomplain'
inglv and in spirit of love.
There are many homes which have SINH
lar burdens, some Of which must be borne
without the knowledge of the world. 1t is
something to support such burden TO the
end, but to those who will receive il God
gives grace to make the sorrow blessing
and sacred memory Youths Compan-
lOn