The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1907-08-01

ucC! IL oil grow mOuOlOuOuS! OuoUIo
to concentrate my mind on any partic-
ular vocation, began to yearn for
home. Pride-what a athing!-prevent-
ed my return to the parental roof. so
wandered. At last the longing to 90
back overcame me and one day re-
turned-as stranger!
81 stood upon the veranda of the
hotel where, as boy, was wont to
play. gazed up and down the main
street; wandered among familiar places;
stood near the old schooIhouse and
watched the children = children of
former schoolmates-atp play. Istrolled
about the village while former friends
gazed snspiciousiy at me-in few
words, was stranger in a'familiar
place. Surely, thought l, somebody
will remember Claude Blake; SO Isaun-
tered into billiard room. 1t was in
the evening, and in the room many
had gathered to while away time in a
social game or to converse. l recOg-
nized an employee and said to him:
Ever hear Of Claude Blake!' He
glanced at me, smiled and replied:
Sure; he went to school with me; but
he's dead now. Got mixed up in some
scrape out West several years ago and
was killed, at least, that's the report.
Why, did you know him?' l mumbled
some reply and returned to the hotel.
"On the following day l called at
the old home. In response to my
knock the door was opened by young
woman; clinging to her skirts were
two children. She was my sister!
Alas! no longer the sister of days de-
parted. l inquired for our parents but
she answered: 'They are both dead!'
A lump swelled up in my throat; was
unable to speak; stood staring at my
own sister; finally the door slammed
even she failed to recognize me!
81 wandered to the village church
yard and stood beside the graves of
those yearned to speak to. Too late!
glanced around and my attention
was attracted to an apparently new
tombstone. I approached it andre
ceived the awakening blow! There
rested the remains of my boyhood
sweetheart! 1 grew weak and sal
down. 1 thought of life until my
mind seemed to roar in tumultuous
protests at my almless career. Hence
forth all was to be different. would
start anew. My first act was to re-
visit my sister. l did SO. Alas! she
laughed at my claiming to he hel
brother, stating it to be her belief that
l was an imposter trying to claim part
of the fortune she had inherited. Ii
disgust departed.
"As the train bore me away from
J my native village 1 relived the past
| reviewed my errors and planned ~!
future. Arriving at big city wa
soon employed in factory. AT thi
J place l casually met a girl who us
, sured me that life is what we make it
l had sowed and reaped of failure
crop. But now 1 worked and studied
l was doing well and then-the factor.
closed. was out of work, but receivet
! an offer to work at similar factor,
l in another city. went, leaving tn
!, girl behind-yet, to prepare home fo
!, two. A year passed and then cam
, another blow-she had married. Il
: despair begin to drink. thought
had received my share of trouble, AM
: started downward-at last the prison
r door opened and closed-I was ushere
: into the Hall of Silence. l glance
. about me from day to day and finall
: concluded that within one lies all pos
t sibilities for accomplishing anything
/ Therefore, with time, solitude an
i thought 1 communed. 1 tried frowr
y ing at life's troubles; tried tear
|, when things seemed to 60 wrong-ye
o tried various emotional indulgence
(. but, after all, smile accomplishe
r more; because it does as much goo
Is as giving way to tears. And yet, th
I hiding tear with smile is the sig
II of great self-battle. It may be
8 conquering of self, but at what cos
r. smile because every blow, misfo
" tune, trouble, or disappointment is, ,
% life itself, fleeting."
s "WelI, Blake" ilsterpolsted, "yc
ID are accounted rich and charitable
10 fact. your name is often mentioned