Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-12-22
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little face, with something OF angelic
light" tried to peer through the hands
at the face buried In them.
Unable to longer remain oblivlous to
"a presence which Is not to be put by"
the Big Man raised his head reluctantly,
as though he scarcely could endure the
innocent light OF his childs eyes His
face gave evidence of the mental an
guish the day had brought him and his
expression was set and stern.
"Oh. papa, don't look that way" the
Little Man pleaded; ut will make man.
ma cry again. You used 10 make her
cry when you looked that way; and ono
day she said you were-you were--what
was Il now?" and the little hand went
to the f0rehead--"oh, yes: harsh"
The Big Man WINGED at the word, and
maybe, conscience added thorn.
Are you harsh, papa7"
Little wonder the father turned away
from his own little child. whose every
word, whose every look, was like a
prayer, appealing to his better self.
Not that he was beyond the pale Of
such appeal, but lest the pure soft light
of perfect love shining through this
little child should find no light in his
own breast.
maybe that's why she went away"
u.
harsh, papS, and did mamma cry?"
The Big Man could bear this no long
err, and said almost sharply:
Hush. my son; run away and play.
! cannot have you talk so.'
But love suffereth long and the dear
Little Man. realizing instinctively that
he had somehow added TO his fathers
suffering. looked up with angelic bright
ness Into that stern rigid face and said.
But she's coming back. papa; just
walt little bit OF a while: she'll come
back cause you are sorry; amt you,
papa dear?
Taking an Affirmative answer for
granted, he pulled himself up into the
Big Mans lap. Then he began again:
Its all right when you are sorry
In answer to himself. She'll come to-
night. Christ will flnd her and show
her the way,--through the dark" and
the eyes grew big, as he conned over
his little lesson learned In Sunday
school that morning Through the dark
papa; oh, amt we glad?" He clapped
his little hands, as though to quicker
bring about all that his little heart
craved-his divine heritage of peace
and love and harmony; and to drive
away the gloom that seemed TO be hedg-
ing about a glorious atmosphere whose
pure airs he still breathed; for "hea-
ven Hes about us In our infancyr'
Amt we glad. papa7" the Little Man
repeated.
For what, SOM" absently.
why. that mamma is coming to-
night?"
Els she?"
OF course That's why Christ was
born--to find people; and save EN-
and show EN- the way--when It's dark
like tonight. Oh, yes,--back to where
it's light Come papa, let's light the
Christmas tree, so mamma can see--ohi
lots Of lights"
The Big Man rose mechanically and
did as the child babe him, for he was
under divine influence; and when
the tree was ablaze with light. the Lit
tie Man led him back to his chair once
more making himself comfortable on
the paternal knee.
Now there's light enough for man.
ma," he said contentedly, while his
eyes grew bright as the candles.
Through the dark-into the light"
he murmured over and over. What
else?--eomething else. papa---oh, yes.
love-"
.E The Big Man started involuntarily.
Had ne not been striving to forget, the
live long day2 He had all but mas
tered sweet memories. so he thought,
by burying them forever In the past,
when lo the word love with all its
meaning must descend upon him
through the pure tender lips Of his
child. But---love, with all Its meaning
did he realize It, after all7 Not quite.
That was yet to be learned. Not by
driving out the dark thoughts, the Bit
ter anguish. and the harshness; for we
are told that we cannot be transformed
unless born again. that souls are
made sweet not by taking the acid
fluids out, but by putting something In