The Washington herald., 1909-08-21
A LITTLE WHILE AGO.


Frum the Dayton News.
And. you remember, it was only a
little whole ago that we were all dis
putting as TO who saw the first robin or
spring time ?''-( Newspaper paragraph
Yes. we remember; 1t was just a little
while ago. Only yesterday, 1t seems.
Months ago. the almanac says2 Well
almanacs do not know everything. No. It
cannot have been months since we com
plained Of the late spring, and wondered
what was the matter with the seasons.
and sighed that q would never get warm.
and fretted about the chilly winds Of
March. Surely. Il has not been months
since the small boy counted upon his
fingers how long It would be until school
was out. and figured what he would do
with the long summers holiday.
The almanac must be wrong Did we
not promise ourselves that this summer
we would accomplish much2 And has
not the much remained unaccompllshed?
Were we not certain that we would have
abundant time. after II got warm. 70 at
tend to all of the things we had been
putting of because IL was cold? And
have they been accomplished? Hardly.
Look at that head. There do not seem
to be any more gray hairs IN Il than
there were when the SHOWS were flying.
Time brings the gray hairs you know.
but where are those il has brought since
the first robin Of springtime was seen?
You cannot see them, Of course You
are offended II your friends point them
out and tell you that they can note
you are a little grayer than you we're
last spring The wrinkles are no deeper
OF course. not. Happy delusion. Wrinkles
do not come IN a night, and Il has been
but a ftful dream since we quarreled
about the first robin. You do not feel a
day older than you did last February. DO
you? Why should you? Does one age
so quickly that a season makes a differ
ence In the joints or the disposition?
Yes. II was only a little while ago that
VIC were all dlsputing about the first robin
- springtime But this little while and
the others that went before II, and the
few more that VIII follow Il as rapidly,
is ali there IS TO this brief span we call
life. little while ago the earth was
young. Adam and Eve walked hand in
hand in the Garden OF Eden. the first dew
of heaven still upon the leaves and flow
trs, the first blossoms unfolding for them,
the first robin singing 10 them. the first
futter OF a lOvesick heart felt IN the
breast OF man. a little while ago and
TIE clouds were just assuming their mys-
tic shapes, the earth was new painted
in her gorgeous colors; the sea had just
been tinted and the sky stained with the
eternal blue. The rainbow was glowing
IN hs freshness. and the rivers and
streams were only getting acquainted with
their channels. The waves had not
carved the shores OF the oceans. nor the
elements dug the valleys. The noun
tains had not been plshed UP into place.
and there was no dead thing upon the
earth. IL was a new wOrid-only a little
while ago, fresh and sweet and pure
and sinless.
A little while ago. and hopes were first
unfOlded The heart was strong and
brave. Ambition burned like a coal Of
fire IN the human breast Worlds waited
but 10 be conquered. castles were every
where-nOw thev are mostly in Spain.
The fancy led one through a maze Of
dense delight and love spoke OF glorious
rewards 20 be had for the asking Only a
little while ago, and that ragged fellow
across the street was In his mothers
arms, even as the mother now lies in the
embrace Of death. A little while ago.
and there were not so many mounds IN
tho cemetery, nor so MANY precious mem-
ories Of the past A little while longer,
and we shall again be dlsputing as 20
who saw the first robin Of springtime.
for another springtime and other robins
will he here an = LITTLE while