The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1907-04-13
HEAVY BURDEN.
BY HENRY s. BosTwIcK.

the speaker. Clarence was young
man--not more than five and twenty
and he was bookkeeper to Mr..
Solomon Wardle, a pleasant-faced,
keen eyed man Of fifty who had
spoken.
"a heavy burden, isn't it Clar
ence?" the merchant repeared.
And still the young mau was 81
lent. His looks indicated that he die
not comprehend. He had been for
some time bending over the ledger,
with his thoughts far away and that
his thoughts were not pleasant ones,
was evident enough from the gloom
on his handsome face.
"My dear boy, the burden is not
only heavy but. it will grow heavier
and heavier, the longer you carry il" !"
"Mr. Wardle, I do not comprehend
you."
"Ah, Clarence p
''I certainly do not.''
Didn't I call at your house for
you this morning 7"
Clarence nodded assent.
"And didn't see and hear enough
to reveal to me the burden that you
took with you when you left? You
must remember, my boy, that l am
older than you are, and that I have
been through the mill. You find
your burden heavy; and I've no
doubt that Sarah's heart is as heavy
as your own"
And then Clarence Spencer under
stood, and the mornings scene was
present with him since leaving home.
On that morning he had a dispute
with his wife. It had occurred at
the breakfast table there is no need
of reproducing the scene, suffice to
say that it came of a mere nothing,
and had grown cause of anger.
The first had been look and tone !;
then a flash of impatience then a
rising of the voice then another
look the voice grew higher the
reason was unhinged passion gained
sway, and the twain lost sight of the
warm, enduring love that lay smitten
and aching down deep in their
hearts, and felt for the time only the
passing tornado. And Clarence re-
membered that Mr.. Wardle had en-
tered the house and caught sight OF
the storm.
And Clarence Spencer thought of
one thing more; he thought how
miserably unhappy he had been all
the morning and he knew not how
long his burden of unhappiness was
to be borne.
Honestly, Clarence, isn't it a heavy
and thankless burden 20
The bookkeeper knew that his
employer was his friend, and that he
was true-hearted, Christian man,
and, after a pause, he answered
eyes, Mr.. Wardle, it is heavy bur-
den."
"My boy, am a going to venture
upon bit of fatherly counsel.
hope 1 shall not offend" !"
s'Not at ALL" said Clarence. He
WINGED little, as though the probing
gave him new pain.
SIN the first place." pursued the
old man, with culver of emotion II
his voice, "you love your wife
"Love her? Yes, passionately." "
"Ard do you think she loves yor
in return p
IT do not think anything about il
Il know %
"You know she loves you p
eyes"
"Then you must admit that th'
trouble this morning came from ne
i'll feeling of the heart"
"Of course not"
cit was but surface squall, TO
which you at least are very sorry"
A moments hesitation, and then
eyes, yes, am heartily sorry"
"Now mark me, Clarence, and an
swer honestly: Don't you think tha
your wife is as sorry as you areF'
"I can not doubt it."
"And don't you think she is suf
fering all this timer"
Perhaps.
every we'll. Let that pass. Yo1
know she is bearing that part of th'
heavy burden ?"
eyes, 1 know that"
"And now, by boy, do you com
prehend where the heaviest part c
this burden is lodged ?"
Clarence looked upon his interlc
cutor wonderingly.
''If the storm had all blown over
and YOU knew that the sun woul
shine when you next entered you
home, you would not feel so IN
happy?"
Clarence assented.
"But," continued Mr.. Wardlt
"you fear that there will be a glooi
in your home when you return"
The young man bowed his head &
he replied in tine affirmative.
Because" the merchant addet
with a touch of personal sternness
his tone, "you are resolved to carr
it there p
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