The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1913-01-09
A WRESTLE
WITH HOPE

Rufsh the stitches her face did not
betray her emotion. She listened
silently heretofore while her hus
band aired his views (which was
pretty often lately on the vicissitudes
Of fortune and crouched behind the
shield OF his own argument. She
simply sewed faster and later. with q
set determination to hold on. TO
what purpose she had no clear idea.
Hope deferred maketh the heart
sick" The thought had crowded into
her tired mind and. unconsciously, she
voiced It.
"Bosh and fool talk" exclaimed
her lord. In a disguised tone
Hope. my son." began her hus-
band. before she could rally her
senses ard reply to the child's cues.
Elusive. mythical creature' In
youth II takes on many shapes and
colors and fiutters about until we are
hypnotized with its glistening pro-
misses. scintillating before us. We
lift our heads and bray at the
and give chase. II is always just q
little bit out OF our reach but well
soon eaten up, SO on we go. over
hill and through dale; catching our
breath In short gasps: getting stuck
In mud. sometimes wading through
water. often losing our footing; diving
in the shadows OF a forest, getting
scratched and entangled by the under
brush; but with our eyes ever on
hope we struggle on. until exhausted
we fall by the wayside. striking with
a force that dispels the illusion. and
we find we're just where We started
from-old and tired out by the ex-
ercise and also with the realization
that we did not quite overtake what
we had spent cur strength and time
in chasing. That, my boy. is 'hopeI
But We can't escape II! 1t comes
early In life. like the measles and
chicken pox, and a desire 20 foster II
is instilled into our minds with the
other fairy tales told us 1T bedtime
We outgrow the Others Jack. the
Giant Killer and Cinderella and such
trash, but hope is s;i"ker-and the
only way to get rid d II is TO ran
her down"
ma, what Is hope. snyway? Pa
didn't mean what he said did. he,"
The mother finished staking Gut
her little sons garments and hung
them in place, before seating herself
BY his bedside for their usual bedtime
chat
Ma. please; you tell me all bout
hope"
Hope. my dear, is a great light that
helps us to see our way when II other
wise would seem too dark to go on"
els there hills and mud and bushes
and everything pa said7"
Yes, and hope helps US to make
the top and helps to guide us through
the bushes and over the rough places;
but We must put on seven-leasued
boots and do the climbing and feel
for the brambles and make the rough
places smooth ourselves. Hope can
only light the way-but it's a great
help-a very great help. II keeps u
from getting discouraged and"
What's getting discouraged mar
"Oh. fists losing heart. and CIV
ing up"
rs It the same a. getting down
on your luck'!"
why. | think so. Where did you
hear that"
The Kidderzes said IL They
meant pa. But was there. so they
didn't say so. right out. But know
they was talking bout him. They
said his pants bagged and his shoes
wasn't shined and he looked like he
was down on his luck; and came
right home and looked at him and I
know they meant him. What makes
him so. mar"
"Oh. son. you mustn't listen to such
talk, Your papa 10 all right. He's
a good, brave mani There's no such
thing as luck: II there were papa
could take care OF IT, You mustn't
loss faith in your papa. son! Now.
you 60 to sleep"
What was that you said bout hope
made you sickI"
'TIl tell you when you're old
enough to understand-good night"
Tell me now, mamma"
Hope deferred maketh the heart
sick"
"Is that ail!"
But when the desire cometh. II 10
tree OF life Now go to sleep:
mamma must go back to her sewing"
She returned TO the sitting room
and resumed her work. while the
silence was broken only by the rustic
OF her husbands paper. Finally he
spoke: You better put by that sewing
you're tired. I've concluded to take
up with Wilson's offer-it isn't much.
but it's a starter. Come. Mary. come.
put that up. I'm going to see him In
the morning and begin the chase
again. There. there. Mary. I'll tell
you something more-I heard what
you said TO the boy and I'm going to
wear 'seyen-leagued boots this tripl-
Lena Spalding