The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-06-14
THE REAPER AND
THE YOUNG MAN.
By S. REETT ROMAN.

There's that defOrmed child next
door-caIl on her and take her with YOU
And that pale. sad invalid woman
turn so as not 10 see her when she passes
slowly by To her you would bring q re-
lease from the shackies OF suffering.
disease and despair She viii welcome
you stern and memorable Reaper, with
Ihankfulness and Joy
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 fare up IN his WORKOUT brain. like
the feeble flame OF an exhausted lamp
GO 70 him. and go quIckIy-yOu VIII
be blessing and relief.
Let him slip into his last sleep silent
y and gently. The armchair ne has so
long occupied viii be reIegated 70 the
garnet. AMI his memory viii soon be for
gotten
But pass ne by. Oh. Reaper and east
not The sinister shadow Of your coming
across my path, for II stretches out al
last boldly and free. and strewn with
fair promises. far into the future years
None shall snatch from me the prizes OF
life al last within reach and upon which
my hand shall close with sure grasp
not even you. ruthless Reaper"
The breezes swept over the young
man, and the sunlight pickering through
the leaves Of q vine as he sat reclining
in cushioned chair on the porch,
played over him, while out II
front spread the shaded street Of the
Town, and around lowered peaks and UR
dulaung 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 =
scent Of spring flowers through the air.
and looking out at the bloom and fresh
ness Of the 5pring day and the grandeur
OF the towering peaks pointing skyward,
faint flush mounted il the pale, thin
face.
There was power and strength and il
tellect II the dark blue eyes. now slight
~ sunken and hollow, and an uHdaunt-
ed look on the pale features, for all the
shadow lay so near
Well, they are done and over. you
merclless Reaper. those foolish years IN
which I 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 q table, where books
and writing materials lay scattered
among few bottles OF drugs.
See here he said. holding il I'D be-
fore the Reaper, his slim, worn hand
shaking II triumph. 1t gives me the
management Of a great factory II puts
NE 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 gaiusay II?
All! now sharp is the 10y TO give
back some OF the loving care. some small
part Of the tender devotion the dear
mother IaFIshed so u1stIntingfy on me
in those early Gays when I could lot
know their priceless value. I glory IN
the thought OF the peace and happiness
she viii know al last through me And
the cup Of JOY I cove1 and anticipate
shall not be snaJched from ny lips.
The Reaper moved slowly forward.
and perhaps IL was compassion as he
gazed At The handsome face before him.
Fl the glow Of the daunJless eyes OF the
youth and the wistfuI yearuIng OF his
look outward toward future aglow and
rich with promises, which made him
pause
And there is another. unused the
youth She viii be glad-and proud.
An! the ships that pass by IN the night
II was promise Of rare and infinite
happiness. had I but known it, and it
was close 10 me. Now must make
haste l must lose 10 more time TO re-
trieve those lost Years Of dear compan-
ionship and deepest happiness
When close ny eyes I am again rid
ing BY her side under the shadow Of the
great trees. and ! hear her voice, 50
warm ana true.
Il am telling her il was all q nigtakeI
4 hideous mistake, ny Iovel But now.
see how everything IS chan ged-a gIo-
rious radiance giIds the coming Years
and you and I-together-ve VIII pass
down the iIlumined vista toward happi-
ness.
The Reaper stood between the Young
man and the sunlight Of spring. and his
dark and sombeT shadow fell over his
slight form as he lay back reclining in
MS chair. His eyes closed slowly. his
hand s-Iu holding the letter. while 2
faint suiIe-a smile addressed 10 the de-
cepIlve promises OF the future. resting
on his face now 7IrT}ercerr{FI IL aSz47r77Ir-s g
the chill, marvellous perfection Of Paria1
marble.
a gentle breeze stirred and lifted q
lock OF the brown hair from his broad
white forehead and some rose petals.
shaken from their stem. fell softly. as T
with = caress. upon MS breast-but the
young nan did not stir
The Reaper sighed He vas passing
fair-and there was genius and nobility
within him And tie music Of his soul,
ersttine tangled could have sweIled IL
10 grand symphonies Bur the Masters
decree went Portland obeyed'