Perth Amboy evening news., 1905-04-20
THE REAPER AND
THE YOUNG Man.
BY $. RHETT ROMAN.

ANON y w = ~
called" said the young man to the
Reaper. Others have need OF you-a
great many. But not |.
There's that deformed child next
5oor-all on her and take her with you.
And that pale, sad, invalid woman
turn so as not to see her when she passes
slowly by. To her you would bring a re-
lease from the shackles of suffering,
disease and despair. She will welcome
you, stern and inexorable Reaper, with
thankfulness and joy. 81
There is also an old man over the
way. He, Is palsied and senile and
shrunken, For him the joys, the loves
and the ambitions Of life are but faint,
obscure "reminiscences. Occasionally
they flare up in his wornout brain. like
the feeble flame of an exhausted lamp.
go to him, and go q~uickly-you will
be a blessing and a relief.
Let him slip into his last sleep silent
ly and gently. The armchair he has SO
long occupied will be relegated to the
garnet, and his memory will soon be for
gotten.
But pass me by, oh, Reaper, and cast
not the sinister shadow OF your coming
across my path, for it stretches out at
last boldly and free, and strewn WIN
fair promises, far into the future years.
None shall snatch from me the prizes oil
life at last within reach and upon winch
my hand shall close with a sure grasp
not even you, ruthless Reaper
The breezes swept over the young
man, and the sunlight Pickering through
the leaves of a vine as he a reclining
in a cushioned chair on the porch,
played over him, while out in
front spread the shaded street Of the
town, and around lowered peaks and I'M
dulating mountains.
The Reaper, smiling sadly, drew ST.
lently nearer, and the faint shadow OF
his approach touched the feet of the
young man.
The wind blew gently and waited a
scent of spring flowers through the air,
and looking out at the bloom and fresh
ness of the spring day and the grandeur
of the towering peaks pointing skyward,
a faint flush mounted in the pale, thin
face,
There was power and strength and in
tellect in the dark blue eyes, now slight
ed look on the pale features, for all the
shadow lay so near.
We'll, they are done and over, you
merciless Reaper, those foolish years in
which | neglected opportunity and mis-
took the dross for the gold. But now to-
day, and in those which lay so close
ahead, there is success and triumph.
See here"
The young man grasped a letter that
lay beside him on a table, where books
II writing materials lay scattered
among a few bottles of drugs.
u See here" he said. holding it up be-
fore the Reaper, his slim, worn hand
shaking in triumph, st gives me the
management of a great factory. 1t puts
,rme among the important in the great
industrial world of to-day. See the
words of praise, of appreciation. Do |
not hold the future in the hollow of my
hand? Can you gainsay it?
"Ah! how sharp is the joy to give
back some of the loving care, some small
part Of The tender devotion the dear
mother lavished sc unstintingly on me
in those early days when | could not
know their priceless value. | glory in
the thought of the peace and happiness
she will know at last through me. And
the cup of joy | covet and anticipate
shall not be snatched from my lips"
The Reaper moved slowly forward,
and perhaps it was compassion as he
gazed at the handsome face before him,
al the glow of the dauntless eyes of the
youth and the wistful y%earning of his
look outward toward a future aglow and
rich with promises, which made him
pause. .-
And there is another" unused the
youth. "She will be glad-and proud.
All! the ships that pass by in the night.
1t was a promise of rare and infinite
happiness, had | but known it, and it
was close to me. Now | must make
haste. | must lose no more time to re-
trieve those lost years of dear compan-
ionship and deepest happiness.
When | close my eyes l am again rid.
ing by her side under the shadow of the
great trees, and | hear her voice, so
warm and true.
Il am telling her it was all a mistake!
a hideous mistake, my love! But now.
see how everything is changed-a glo-
rious radiance gilds the coming years
and you aud l-together-we will pass
down the illumined vista toward happl-
ness.
The Reaper stood between the Young
man and the sunlight OF spring. and his
dark and somher shadow fell over his
slight form as he lay back reclining ia
bis chair. His eyes closed slowly. his
hand still holding the letter. while a
faint smile-a smile addressed TO the de-
ceptive promises of the future. resting
on his face, nov unperceptibly assuming
the chill, marvellous perfection OF Parian
marble.
A gentle breeze stirred and lifted a
lock of the brown hair from his broad