Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1907-03-14
CHAPTER Nj.
From Light to Darkness

From Light to Darkness
"Wally"
Eyes, dad"
"Ive been thinking lately that the
sunshine of life Is very unequally
spread. Some bask in it from birth to
death. while others are condemned to
walk in shadow the whole of their
days. Doubtless it is for some wise
purpose that the Great Disposer Of
events has so ordained, but there are
times when one is inclined-I say it
reverently-to doubt the wisdom Of it.
Perhaps it is also ordained that these
disturbing reflections should come to
us when we see stretched before us the
valley of Eternal Light"
I'VE disagree so seldom, dad, that
am not so sure whether it is distressing
or not to hit upon a subject in which
our ideas do not run in the same
grove. You are growing melancholy
again, and by so doing are breaking
the contract We entered into to look
only on the bright side. Not that l
have the slightest notion, dad, except
in a general way, why you should al
low yourself to relapse into sadness. l
have very strong disposition not to
allow 1t, and to order you-just as if
our positions were reversed, as II l
were your father and you my son-in-
stantly to put on more cheerful hab-
1t. Now have something to say upon
the theme you have started, and which
apparently has suggested itself to you
by the sight Of Little Make-BeNieve
and Saranne in the garden there gath
erng the pease for dinner"
'It was partly suggested by those
two Wally, and partly also by what Is
In my mind concerning ourselves"
Concerning you and me, dad?"
"Yes, Waly. Go on, love to hear
you talk. l travel back to the days Of
your childhood, and reflect upon the
Joy your innocent, artless little ways
brought to me. The contrast between
you as you were then and you as you
are now-for do you know, Wally, that
within even the last few days great
change seems to have come over you?
the contrast between the child and
the man-my child and my man-is
source of the most surprising delight
to me; delight, my boy, which has its
deep anxieties, too"
II can imagine 1t, dad, though I
cannot reciprocate your feelings in
what experience by the change which
has come over you. 1t is true that,
to myself as well as to you, a change
seems to have come over me, change
/ can hardly describe; but I think
that in a very short time have grown
much older; years seem to have taken
the place of days. know that have
not lost your confidence"
mo, Wally, no; never think that"
II don't think it, dad; If l did I
should not be able to hid my grief
from you. And know that, some time
or other, you will confide in me, and
give me an insight into the sorrow
which weighs upon you. Bear this in
mind, dad; have been schooling my
self, and am prepared for news that
Is not entirely good, for were it 80 l
should, before to-day, have been par
ticipator in 1t. Putting ourselves out
Of the question, can you, in your whole
experience, find two human creatures
who have been more thoroughly con-
demned to walk in shadow-your own
words, dad-than Little Make-Believe
and Saranne"
"No, Wally, don't think can; nay,
am sure cannot"
"Look at them now. dad. Are they
In shadow"
ITO all appearance they are in full
sunlight, body and SOUL"