The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-02-05
Hy No1val Richardson

back in grove Of trees 1t looked very aged and sadly
in need of paint yet about it was air of comfort and
soildly.
Vain boaStcr," it called to me, 1t IS all very well
to be proud OF your beauty You young now; you
talk OF the spirit Of love and beauty but that only
the beginning. I have had that, too. and something
still greater for have the depths of suffering and
know that the only real nobility comes when has
passed through these shadows, and still hold himself
erect and smiling"
At this l only laughed, for knew that old houses
always grumblcd
It was in midsummer when evening he was late
in returning home She waiting for him the
garden When he came read in his face that great
trouble had fallen upon them He whispered the words
her gently and afterward she wcpt through that long,
miserable night A week later they locked tho door
and walked away, the child between them.
At the crest OF the hill she stopped and looked back
at longingy; her eyes embraced in their great
love, and heard her murmur, Don't forget u.s. DEAR
dear Haven We are coming back-some day"
Then alone, utterly alone with my blinds
closed tight and my darkened so that the walls
with dust But this was nothing to me in my grief
their departure. I felt that I was deserted and
left to the mercy OF those who thought worthy be
bought
Each morning l bathed my gables in the carly sum-
would glow with the hope that perhaps that day they
might return, but the lonely shadows of the twilight
clustered about me-. knew it not to be.
In my grief and loneliness | believe I aged more in
those few months that empty than in the many
years spent with them AT the end of three dreary
months, awakened from my lcthargy by the sound
OF heavy carriage rolling up to my gate The anghng
OF the chains, the restless prancing of the horses the
glitter of tho carriagc-a told me that the new
rich They were accompanied BY the
heartcss who had bought me- and as he unlocked
the door and showed tho strangers in ono ray Of happ
passed mc-thc hope that l might pass from
his hands forever.
The womcn-thcy were mother and daughter
learned when / had to know thcm-hed their
dainty gowns high they stepped lightly over my
dusty floors and criticized me-deail by detail
A brick Aoor-how absurd mamaI We must have
wood floor laid here at And how plain the
walls arc They will have to be papercd And all this
white woodwork is tiresome but we can have it
stained mahogany, Yes believe we can make il pre-
scntablc BY spending money. Papa do send for deco
at once
Finally they took possession Of me, and with them
came horde of workmcn. l rcverberatcd with ham,
merlng, my walls were hung with heavy, dust-catching
cloths, massive, unsuitable furniture was cramn,ed all
me, until felt that was myself no longer-that
done. rang with the sound of music of laughter, of
endless friyoitics There peace nor quiet self
communion left me any longer All was hubbub and
careless merrirnent
Thus l lived for decade There were alternate
periods Of rest when the daughter and mother would
leave their tours and visits. At such times ] felt
almost happy agan-and the old man, the husband and
father. almost his way into my heart by his lonci-
and homelcssncss In way he represented some
thing similar to myself. for at heart hc craved real
home, and yet continually forced to live in what
was nothing but tln imitation But the friendship
between grew for he did know how to be-
gin to love me- and before he learned tho daughter was
married. and they moved away Again found myself
alone
Years and years of Misunderstanding out into an
eternity of drcarncss. An endless changing Of faces
and forms, remaining with me for several years
others only few months. Some OF them were sweet
children, particularly little girl with soft brown
hair and gentle eyes who sat in my garden on summer
afternoons, reading fairy tales and naming the flowers
after her many dream friends She seemed TO feel my
in such moments and the only happy expert
cnee IN the desert OF my years-and that moment
was the happiness of sorow-was when they took her
away The others were oallirg her TO follow them and
she slipped out into the garden before leaving and laid
her head against tho big door kissing the broad panel
which the weather had blis,cred and cracked