The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-12-18

4
tered a garden or a wood the flowers
and trees were his friends. Yet he had
been lonely for all this knowledge, all
this power, was within himself and no
one shared what he possessed except
that too large audience, the world.
which could not respond to him. What
he longed for was comprehending COM
partnership; a heart and mind and
spirit, all uniting in one lovely person.
ality, to whom he could turn, sure
of response, and to whom he could say,
I'VE and ours and u.s. and know that
all his thoughts were understood by
her.
She whom he had chosen was dear,
inexperienced, beautiful, hearted
young girl, blushing like a delicate
rose at his words of admiration, glad
to rest her fair head against his strong
shoulder while he read to her from
the poet of his choice" Content to
listen while he spoke. to whatever he
might say, but as unmoved by the So
norous music of the verse as if it were
| written In an unknown tongue. Look
ing down at her to catch an answering
| CLEAN to the fire kindled within him,
he always met a smile-the same I'M
varying smile of pure content, and the
| nesting of her cheek against his arm
expressed what a happy kitten ex-
presses when it purrs with delighted
satisfaction at a warm corner and a
| caressng touch.
Lovely indeed she was to look upon,
noiseless and graceful as she moved
about in her home, or worked among
her flowers. True as the needle to
the pole" all her thoughts were to-
ward him, and she was restless unless
she could sit near him. She sat in
the deep window of his study, eau
tious to the last degree not to disturb
him by sounds or needless motion.
Quietly she sewed on delicate fabrics
which he did not examine, and became,
after few months. like a charming
| adornment to his book walled, rather
gloomy looking room. AS the sunlight
| shone in upon her and the vine drap-
| ed window framed the pretty picture
that she made, it was pleasant to raise
his eyes and find her there, but he had
soon ceased to try to talk to her about
the work he strove to perfect. He was
| yet companionless, nor had he found
| any place of rest when his brain was
baffied and weary. He had not craved
! alteration, yet that was what he re-
| ceived from those dove-like eyes and
the smile. which expressed perpetual
| acquiescence.
Just when the earth was at it's
darkest time, and shivering in the abb
sence of the blessed sun; when the
outer world yielded the least joy,
there came a night of agony and
struggle, and after that a little cry
Chow strangely that cry seems to re-
| monstrate against the hardness of life)
and there was a responsive thrill in
the mans heart which pledged protec-
ton to the appealing feebleness of his
| first-born child.
Tribute of intellectual comradeship,
or spiritual suggestion, or helpful in
| spiration to his deep-thoughted work
| she whom he had called to his aid
could not pay, but her love, her deep,
self-obliterating love had given him
what? New indeed was this over
mastering glow of happy pride; new,
this spring of faithfuIness pledging it,
self even in the moment of it's birth
to tender protection and support;
new, this unspeakable flood of CRATE
full love which kept him kneeling
speeches. beside the bed, where his
young wife lay exhausted with her
battle, but radiant with victory and a
sense of triumph that only mothers
| know.
dearest" she said softly 1T is so
sweet to have him born to-day"
The strong man was weak, the elo-
quent man was silent, and there was
no speech nor language" in which he
could just then tell her what was IN
his heart.
Dear love-" at last he said. IT am
so glad and thankful" She found a
new emotion enriching his familiar
voice. and looking at him, she saw
new light in his eyes.
AS time wore on she never seemed
alone to him; he always thought of her
as with the little one in her arms, and
| never wearied of comparing her with
Old World pictures of the happiest, no.
lest of women and of mothers. At
| one time she seemed to him to bring to
| life one and then at another a different
| glowing canvas. on which genius and
| devotion had striven together to paint
perfect womanhood glorified by di-
| vine maternity. Was she like Muril-
| los beautiful, happy mother in the
Louvre? No, that mothers pride and
| Joy was too human. One after another
| they would rise before him as he sat
| and looked at his own sweet young
wife with his son in her arms. Near
| est of all to what she seemed to him
came Correggio's radiant worshipping
Madonna, kneeling before her smiling
son, lying in happy infancy before her.
More and more was he glad that his
boy was born on Christmas day, for
he would always link the child in his
mind with that wondrous Nativity
| and it seemed to bless the boy and
his mother.
Not having comprehended in what
| H6T early 0dyo haU bCCh OCAA-
cient, she yet had felt that something
intangible, invisible. existed between
the grave student whom she loved and
her perfect satisfaction in their unity.
Now she no longer lacked anything;
she had but to hold up the baby in
her arms and his father would smile
brightly in Enthusiastically sympathy
with her own happiness. Comradeship
of the heart had supplanted intellectual
sympathy.
We have neither to live long nor yet
to be among those who watch with
thoughtful eyes the mutations of hui
man lives about us, before we learn
that 1t is not alone as the continuers
of our race that children are necessary
upon earth; they have the most bless
I'd mission to fulfill as they come into
the world with their appealing, help
less innocence. The heart is brutal
lied beyond redemption which does not
soften into fostering tenderness while
babyhood claims love and protection.
Even the hardened wretch who will
expose an infant in order to awaken
pity, never fails to reap a harvest
which would not fall to her own petit
ton for aims. She need not speak IL
she will only stand at the street corner
with a suffering infant in her arms.
Something for which we have no
name comes to us through all the
centuries from that dear night when
the incarnate Jesus lay enthroned in