Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1903-04-04

Tor supper not from our own vine ana
fig tree but right from our Munger.
After supper / mace myself as com
Portable as possible in the old accus-
toned corner and fell into one of nv
moody spells. / Oft n have that kind,
and others. / couldn't help it. Turn
which way 1 would the associations
and surrounding called up the past.
Hopes and plans long gone glimmeI-
ing: faces that have vanished; voice 5
that are stilled or beyond the an
swering- all, all came back to me,
Some glad. some SAD. they all came
trouping back. an Overwhelming flood.
While working at the bench, builo-
ing that house. | stopped TO make a
pair of crutches for our first born wi o
seemed destined to be d lifelong crii =
pie. / felt as if [ were carving his
maidstone. 1t WAS our first great
grief but how triflng in the light of
subsequent eventsi When we found
ed that home we expected to live and
die there Two have crossed the river
but not there-not there, and more is
the pain of it all. That home has
not seen a birth, that house has wit
messed 40 death, but every room is
haunted by the memory of better
days. We moved into that home on
the first dav of a glad new year. We
lived happily together but in few
years the circle was broken, the light
of that home was darkened and the
hearth was shrouded in chilly gloom.
How l kept my children together
with me there for the next four years
| hardly know but somehow we wo.-
RED along.
Hope springs eternal in the human
heart. A new and kindly face joined
US. She came to abide with US; TO do
her part in mending the broken cir
Gle; to fill the vacancy as best she
might; to cheer, help and comfort Us.
The days frightened and we all felt
firmer faith in life and things worth
living for But alas! Sickness struck
at the head of that household. Long
lingering illness that leaves its inn
preston on faith and form, on body
and heart and soul, and in the midst
of it all came Death-fell, sudden
death-as Il bolt might fall from a
clear, blue sky and give no warning.
The tirst-born sleeps beside his moth
er.
The thread of life is brittle at best.
Some may blast as an DER early flower;
Some be gathered as ripened grain;
Some drift dreamily away as fallen
leaves and yet others finger along
mere encum branceS.
Around that home are shrubs and
trees, planted by hands now still and
pulseless. They have been, at once,
a care and solace. Tender solicit
tude has kept them growing as we
would keep ever green the memory of
the departed. In that home are trink-
cts anG treasures; heirloomS to me,
rubbish to others. There are useless
crutches in the garrett. Rubbish Let
them go. He has nutgrOwn them and
gone hence forever. The blind shall
see, the deaf hear, the dumb sing and
the lame shall leap for joy.
We took into that home eight nest
lings. Seven have flown, scattered
and gone whittier duty or death have
called them. Only one fiedgeling
makes the old home his abiding place
and he is fain to spread his wings and
soar away. He awaits my bidding and
it is hard to say him nay. The house
may yet be the shelter of the alien
and the stranger.
But why tear all the wounds afresh
before the gaze of the cold and
thoughtless? Hope deferred maketh
the heart sick; hope destroyed des-
pair succeeds. Sorrow endureth for a
night but joy cometh in the morning.
The spell is broken
We were out of town "a hours That
reminds me etc: A large boy, almost
a young man, left home one day and
came back the next. NAV" said he,
sis that the same cat you had when
/ went away"
THEODORE