The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1905-09-23
BY MARGARET e. sANGsTER.

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BY MARGARET i. SANGSTER.
Copyright. 1905. by Joseph B. Bowies)
In a little hamlet by the sea, never
mind where, there dwells family to
the members of which exceptional good
fortune has been granted. Several
years ago the father and mother cele-
brated their golden wedding, surround
ed by their children and grandchildren,
an unbroken circle. No death had in
vaded their ranks. There was no va
cant chair at any table. Such continu-
ity of blessing is exceptional and de-
lightful, but most families undergo loss
and change, and not all who love one
another are privileged to live together
to the very end of their days.
When husband or wife Is taken away,
there is an upheaval in the home. as II
an earthquake or cyclone had swept
the house from it's foundation. The
survivor feels at first as II the world
had come to an end. 1t does not seem
as though ever again there can be JOY
and gladness in the universe, or any
chance of going on. Things have col
lapsed for the hour
Outsiders are very apt to gauge the
fidelity to an ideal of man or woman
by the length of time that passes be-
fore there is an effort to I'LL the empty
place. 1t is, however. only in accord
ance with a law of nature that there
shall be, after time, cessation OF grief
and the effort to 60 on again under
new conditions, and with a new part
ner.
Nature always hastens to repair her
waste places. Flowers spring up and
bloom in the track that has been swept
by fire. The greenest spots are those
where battles have been fought.
No grief should last forever. 1t i'm
plies not the slightest disrespect, hard
" forgetfulness of the past, in begin
ming again new chapter of life, in
new circumstances, with some one else.
In most cases it is inevitable that a
desolate heart should snatch ct some
probability of renewed comfort and
that there should be once again the en-
joyment of home life which is incom-
plete to the widowed.
1t is the outsider who has nothing to
do with it who generally feels and ex-
presses most jealousy at second mar
riage of neighbor or friend. 1t hap
pens. too. that often there is apparent
ly good cause for this impersonal jeal-
ousy. For instance, husband who
was sufficiently devoted to first wife.
yet who made no fuss about her, who
surrounded her with few delicate atten-
lions, and took for granted all the sac
| rifices she made, is often most gallant
and lover-like in his attitude to his sec
ond wife. She comes to him after the
first difficult strife of youth, to acquire
q competence, is over. In way, she
inherits the self-denial and sacrifice OF
her predecessor. The wife of the mans
youth did her own work, saved and
skimped, had few outings, and seldom
long holiday. A handsome gown was
| perhaps an event to her. She was sat,
isfied with few Injuries. She was help
ing her husband to get firm foothold
and make his money. BY and by, Il
| may be, worn out with incessa1t labor
she slipped away into the grave.
The woman who, after decent in
terval of mourning. has taken her place
is younger, prettier, and much less In
! clined to strenuous domesticity thar
she was. She wears dainty gowns
and hats, and has plenty of changes il
her wardrobe. Her step-children do no
weigh heavily on her hands. the olde
ones being promptly sent to school
and the younger ones put under tn
care of a nurse or governess. Thi
wife has leisure, retains her good looks
is her husbands comrade and com
panion everywhere, and has the jo
always priced by woman of KNOWN
that he is proud of her. Not infre
quently the lot of second wife is ia
more enviable and desirable than tina
of her who was woOed and won In tn
freshness of early girlhood.
There is room in the same breast 70
faithful love as we all know. In NOR
than one direction. We love our friends
our parents, our children, and the var
Gus affections do not crowd or jostl
or quarrel one with another. We Low
people for different reasons. and alon
different lines. Thus, a second maj
riage may be equally as congenial IN
equally as beneficial in its results {
| both no rfiaS ac tho first n only n n
not a marriage of convenience. Whe
people marry for any lower reason tina
mutual esteem, and wish to help on
another on the road of life, they al
likely to arrive at failure and disaI
pointment. They have dared to lay pr
fame hands on the ark of God.
If a woman marry her second hui
band because he has wealth and ca
give her opportunities for herself. {