The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1904-03-18
And A LITTLE CHILD
SHALL LEAD THEM
By ui|e
Hubert Guyol
...copyright, 1908, by TIC, Mcclure.


cared when he came nor where he
went, SO that whenever he did think of
settling down it was with a very de-
cided picture in his mind-a picture
of home that was home in the fullest
sense of the word, where there reigned
a wife whose life would be bound up
in that home; where there romped lit
de children who would welcome him
with smiles and with dropping faces
see him go. And it was this feeling, but
duly realized, that made him look
upon Miss Ellison with something of
doubt albeit much of admiration.
Life was joyous to Alice Ellison.
Her blood ran high, and nothing had
crossed her path that tended to make
her feel aught but the joyGof living
1t was natural, therefore, that she
should laugh and dance and sing.
Sometimes, though, 1t palled on her,
and she would sit within the silence of
her room, wondering why she could
net fall in love, really and truly and
deeply" And always at this wonder
the picture of Allyn Hardin rose be7
fore her and her heart grew tender.
And then something would crop up,
Nike the weeds in the parable, choking
out these tiny seeds of love, And that
something was pitifully like the vision
that had but just caused her momen-
tawy gladness But the clear blue eyes
were so cold. the fine mouth to, firmly
set with determination. the chin SO
square, that she would rise impatient
", crying outaigsI Il y7n9H nssypd
~Ah, no. he would Vneverl be tender.
NOR sweet, nor-Anef''-A igoI
For she, too, had her picture of what
home should be, and while she
scarcely dared dwell on it, as he could
do, 1t was there, in the clouds above
her head-a home in which there was
woman whose .life's one aim was TO
keep the tired lines from her husbands
face, the worrying cares from his
heart, to maintain forever the smiles
on those little upturned faces at her
knee. But the husband must be one
with heart warm enough to take and
profit by the sympathy she held out to
him In such good abundance, man
who could understand the hearts of
those little children in the arms of that
woman.
SO, thinking much but understand
ing little of each other, they went their
separate ways until one morning early,
when train drew out from the depot,
Alice seated in the chair car, Allyn
swinging on to the step of the last
coach.
He was off ON his vacation, and in
the curlings of the smoke he saw not
the face of Alice Ellison, but cool, green
hooks by running streams. He heard
the crunch of the dried leaves beneath
his feet and felt the Juggling of the
trout upon his line. il9n4as3 fareaN
He had bid Alice goodby two even
ings before, expecting to leave the city
then, and he recalled her look of good,
frank friendship as she had put her
hand in his. What pity there is not
more to her." he unused. "She is so at
tractive but she lacks weight
The train was coming to stop, and
Allyn rose and went out on the plat
form. They were slowing into pie
turesque little town with green trees in
sight of the depot and big, sprawly
southern homes, white and green in the
sunlight.
Was that Alice? "a ~ W rs a
Yes, there on the lower step of the
coach ahead of him she stood, with an
impatience barely hidden by her quiet
manner, waiting for the train to stop
She was smiling, oh, so brightly, and
the train had scarcely come to a stand
stin before she had sprung down and
was running across the platform to
meet sfi tsttu -s,,, ,..+,,,y,
Allyn Hardin could not believe his
own eyes.
A little girl with brown legs flashing
bare above low socks and face left bare
by the bonnet that hung about her
neck, rejecting the brightness he had
seen on Alice's, came rushing down the
platform too. With shrek of Joy she
threw herself into Alice's, open arms.
The whistle blew again. Alice was
moving off with young man and ,wo-
man who had joined her.
Miss Ellison! How do you dor
Alice turned about quickly.
"Oh," she gasped, II thought you
wore In Wisconsin," She moved to-
ward the train, not losing hold of the
little hand that lay in hers.
= could not get on. Wish had
known you were aboard the train was
moving. "Goodby, goodby."
bon voyage" called Alice. Then,
bending toward the child, "Wave by
By to Mr., Hardin"
"A ssunbnFaed little hand clawnd the
an, and Alice. raising her head, looked
up at Allyn. They both laughed.
On the rest Of that northbound trip
ali that Allyn saw was little country
railroad station, with its usual motley
setting Standing forth from 1t all
were the same two figures, the Madon-
m and the child lone in gown OF softly
ciinging blue, the other IN ru1ied whiss
apron.
The two weeks visit to her brother
came to an end, and the train was fast
drawing Alice Ellison away from the
sweet peace Of the country into the
rush and whiri of that old life In the
city. Leaning back in her chair,
dreamily looking out Of the window,
she came to the conclusion that she
was tired Of herself. 4a0
she sighed and rose YEARLY. SWAY