The Washington herald., 1912-05-12
IP FOLKS THOUGHT
OF LITTLE THINGS
Life Would Be Relieved of Half Its
WEAKNESS.
BY FRANCES sHAFFER.

II is Just q story, one OF the kind one
sometimes runs across in the highways
or the byways. as it happens. the kind
that carries hint between its hnes-this
time a hint 70 remember.
Ten years ago man and q maid were
married. They were plain farmer-folk'
and a wedding trip was quite out Of their
reckoning, except as they took It In the
one heavy rig that constituted their an
for pleasure and for work.
But they were young, happy, and the
future looked big with promise
And So as they drove from her home 70
the little cottage back in the clearing,
they were content And the moonlight
that flooded every bit OF the road was no
brighter than were her hopes.
Perhaps a bride, even II she happens
TO be dowerless and unlettered, has more
OF romance tucked away in her heart
than the new husband dreams OF.
At any rate. as they logged along. past
the familiar scenes made beautiful
through the eyes of love, she thought II
would be a very pleasant reminder OF
their wedding day, If they Travelled over
that safe road each year, as the ami
versary rolled around. And when she
voiced her thought, he agreed that II
NoulQ De a ulllnB way "
day Of days.
No Time for Pleasure.
The year went by, but when IL came
TO that particular day, they could not
70. She spoke of their anniversary, he
answered with a smile-and there 1t
ended. Time passed along. the ami
yersaries came and went. without
sign that he remembered, and she, too
became silent
Money was not plentiful, little foot
steps and voices filled the home and
brought added cares, and there was no
time for pleasure trips.
But she never forgot the day that
had promised so much, and when It
happened that the morning OF their
tenth anniversary was at hand, she felt
a bit more wistful than usual. a bit
more longing for the old feeling OF con-
tentment. And the familiar desire was
upon her to travel over the old road,
that il might somehow bring back the
sentiment and the promise that salts
fed her heart on that moonlight night
was it only ten years ago?
And so, when ''he' came in the house,
bristling with eargerness to be on for
a days holiday, she thought she under
stood.
He suggested that she get up a big
lunch, and, with the anniversary in mind,
she hurried the children OF to school
and set about her preparations for a
little dinner in the open that would
bring back the SAVIOR of the old days.
Ard the very happiest feature was that
he had not forgotten, after all, and that
this tenth anniversary would beautifully
atone for all the weary days at home.
a Bitter DisaPPOintment.
All was in readiness; she heard the
horse stop at the door and then her hus-
bands voice called out. But he did not
call her. He only wanted to know IL the
lunch was ready. And when she looked
out of the window, at his side was a
man who had been asked to share the
days treat. He had never thought Of
her.
She understood. and her song ended.
She still remembers when the day
comes around. but she no longer hopes.
As for him, it never occurs to him;
that is all.
And it never will occur to him unless
il happens that death robs him of her
patient ministrations. For death some
times opens eyes that would remain
closed forever but for the clearer vision,
the deeper understanding IL brings. 1t is
then that the mind goes back over the
long way that has passed, and 1t Is then
that realization comes of the happiness
that might have been
There are country folk and there are
city folk, poor folk and rich folk whose
way Of life is hard and dreary just be-
cause it is unillumined with love and the
little tricks Of remembering that take
the edge on hardships.
And it seems such an easy way Of
bridging the wide distance between hap
piness and weariness of spirit
If folk would only remember,