The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1926-08-12
SMILIN' THU
RY GORDON COOPER
ION, GRACE THAT WILL NOT LET ME cor


The shadows were engthening into oblivion across
Mercer University campus; benign kissed the far
horizon in tender good night; and dusk settled the
land in peaceful benediction.
In the hush that ushers in the darkness a dusky
figure emerged from the cellar stairs of of the
college buildings and stood drinking in the beauty Of
| the evening. The knky old head bared the wrink
led old face upfted if in prayer; the great
wor-hardened hands hung loosely, if lost without
task to perform,
From the far side of the campus lights CLEANED
from dormitories which swarned with restless youth
but voices reached the spot where the giant darky
stood like communing sentinel of the night, reverent
and worshipfu the barrel-ke chest and fell if
with emotion the kindly old lips moved silently One
felt that this holy ground.
The clear call of whippoorwi came .fute-ke from
distant wood that fanked the college grounds and
| again there silence And them if the call had
found response agonzing sob broke the Stiffness
throbbed in the silence like tragedy stalking forbidden
grounds.
The lifted head of old Doc Bloom moved in
listening alertness the loosey-hung hands became
tense The sob repeated-long drawn-out bitter in
its intenseness. Doc moved cautiously toward the
sound, which from dense cump of shrubbery.
And there PROSTATE his face, lay young student
in a pose of tortured grief.
Doc had knelt beside him before he aware of
his presence gnarled hand stroked the prone head
as tenderly that of mother. "Whuts de mattah,
honey?" he crooned softly.
The sobbing choked off abruptly that Doc
knew he holding his breath "Tan't no call fer
go agin nature, he whispered "Jes' let yosef go,
chile! Jes let yosef go An tell OF Doc all bout hit
| There was balm in the rumbng old voice. and the
body relaxed beneath his hand, while pent-up sob
escaped in a gulp
| 81 can't stand it, Doc!" came the reply between
clenched teeth There agony in the tone, and the
words half smothered in the grass, made sound like
tearing flesh "Im ashamed of myself, Doc but can't
stand it, It's killing mel"
Hits KILN yo' ter hol' hit in, honey" Doc re-
piled gently "but htll up wen yo gifts hit often
yo chest. Jes' tell Doc all bout hit"
And then came the age-old story of youth-youth
infatuated with beauty of maturer the reverent
worship that blinded with its glory; the first love of
youth-more intense for its srangeness and wonder;
feeding youthful optimism, and then shattered with
the devastating cruelty of being laughed at!
"She led on, Doc! She led me encouraged
me- made me think she loved me; Away telling me how
handsome | and how smart l am; it made me
want to do big things she could be proud OF
me- And like a fool l believed she would wait for me
until after I've finished college.
81 didn't intend to tell her!' His voice was the
bitterness of despair But this afternoon while she was
serving tea she beautiful that couldn't help it!
blurted it before knew it. And she laughed at
mel"
Again the nerve-strained body was racked with
sobs. "She laughed at and turned to the guests
and brazenIy Dragged about her latest conques-brag
ged and laughed. And they all laughed" And the
dry sobs shook him if with ague.
Doc gently caught his shoulder 'lurn oVah money
Turn ovah an look at de stars" Obedently the boy
turned upon his back, and Doc began to talktalked in
a soothing flow of husky tones that were like the
eadences of lullaby.
"De stars is de eyes o. Gawd; dey everything
De sun is de eye in the daytime, but hit takes mo
eyes in de night; kind eyes, eyes whut unerstan S;
eyes whu an heals at de same time, honey an yo
trubbles es like de rubbes whut thousands o other
! folks done been havn' all thru de
"Dey amt no sight whut de Lawd can't see; dey
amt no trubble whut de Lawd can't feel Wen Jesus
wrasted wild sorrow in de Garden o. Gethsemenc e
done took nah place an Il done take yo place; e
know all bout hit An doan know hit, but trubbes
| is blessins in disguise.
"De Lawd in de Garden o Gethsemene like
metal in de furnace-metal whuts' ben tempered fer
ter git sharp edge ter cut thru de trials life Yo
is havin yo' Gethsemene honey, an hits gwine do
yo' good
"Wise folks say dat no man evan succeed in life
widout dey's a oman whut spurs i'm OATS right
Only hit amt alus cause de oman try ter help i'm
Nawsuh Mo times dan not de oman try ter hurt I'M
| stead o. helpin' i'm But de Lawd in myster-
ious ways Is wonders ter perfawm. Yassuh OATS
whit de Good Book say!
"De mostest ways how oman helps is ter
break is heart Yassuh! Break is heart an tempers
i'm stir up de ightn' blood an prod i'm ter do
lis best An dats whut 20 gotta do-yo gotta fight an
make dat cal sorry dat she treat yo bad! Can't yo
see dat, honey"
A shuddering sigh broke from the boy. And then
"Yes" He took several breaths deep into his lungs
'Yes Doc, | it. I've got to be all the things she
kdded into believing l was" Then silence while his
face pale in the dim light worked convulsvely Silence
while Doe watched with bated breath and prayed in
his great generous old heart prayed silently while
his voice camored for expression to resound in the
kindly night.
"Doc!" This time the voice firm and clear
there tmbre in it that told Doc his prayers were
answered doc, I'm all right now And I'm not ashamed
for breaking down; | know you understand. You are
a wise old man, Doc!"
Doc chuckled to hide the tremor in his voice
"Understandin is de on'y thing All amt got nothin
else but honey he said and he covered the white hand
that crept into his big black paw. Then he looked up
and winked at the stars