Evening star., 1927-11-03

nAtn Oppressive mo0dlness. perhaps parity
eaused by the influence of New England
Known novel. The Scarlet Letter. Haw;
Action in American literature.)
In the Notch of the White Noun
tains of New Hampshire, one Septem'
ber night, a family had gathered
around the hearth. Up the chimney
roared the fire and Frightened the
room with its broad blaze. The faces
of the father and mother had a sober
gladness: the children laughed; the
eldest daughter was the image of
happiness at Il; the aged grandmother
was the image of happiness grown
old. They dwelt in cold spot and
q dangerous one, for the mountain
lowered above their heads, so steep
that the stones would often rumble
down it's side and startle them at mid
night.
The daughter had just uttered some
simple Jest that filled them all with
snirth, when the wind came through
the Notch and seemed to pause be-
fore their cottage-rattling the door,
with sound of wailing and lamenta-
ton, before Ii passed into the valley.
For a moment it saddened them.
though there was nothing unusual in
the tones. But the family were glad
when they perceived that the latch
was lifted by some traveller, whose
footsteps had been unheard amid the
dreary blast which heralded his ap.
proach, and walled as he was enter
ing. and went moaning away from
the door.
The door was opened by a young
man. His face at first wore the
melancholy expression, almost despon.
aency of one who travels a wild and
bleak road, at nightfall and alone. but
soon frightened up when he saw the
kindly warmth of his reception. He
eelt his heart spring forward to meet
them all, from the old woman, who
wiped a chair with an apron. to the
little child that held out its arms to
him. One glance and smile placed
the stranger on footing of innocent
familiarity with the eldest daughter.
The stranger had just drawn his
chair to the fire when something like
q heavy footstep was heard without
rushing down the steep side of the
mountain, as with long and rapid
strides. and taking such a leap in
passing the cottage as to strike the
opposite preeipice. The family held
their breaths, because they knew the
sornd, and their guest held his by in
sdnct.
"The old mountain has thrown a
stone at us, for fear we should for
get him." said the host, recovering
himself.
The young man rapidly won the
hearts of his new found friends. The
secret of his character. it seemed, was
high and abstracted ambition. He
could have borne to lead an undis
tinguished life, but not to be forgotten
in the grave.
'As' yet" cried the stranger-hi.
cheek glowing and his eye flashing
with enthusiasm-'as yet, have
done nothing. Were l to vanish from
the earth tomorrow, none would know
30 much of me as you; that nameles:
youth came up at nightfall and opened
his heart to you in the evening, ant
passed through the Notch by sunrise
and was seen no more. Not "A sou
would ask, Who was he? Whittier
did the wanderer go? But ] cannot
die till / have achieved my destiny
Then, let death come. ] shall have
!, built my monument"
And the host caught the spirit, and
spoke of quiet ambitions he had Ions
cherished.
There now"' exclaimed the stran
ger. .'it is our nature to desire q
Monument, be it slate or marble, OF
glorious memory in the universe
heart OF man."
We're in strange way. tonight,
said the hostess, with tears in hel
eyes. They say it's a sign of some
thing when folks minds go a wan
dering SO. Hark to the children"
The children, too. seemed to hav,
caught the infection from the fire
side circle, and were expressing viii,
wishes and desires.
I'll tell you what wish, mother
cried one little boy above the others
Il want you and father and grand
ma am, and all OF US, and the stranger
too, to start right away. and go an
take a drink out Of the basin Of tn
Plume
Nobody could help laughing at tn
childs notion OF leaving a warm bee
and dragging them from a cheerfu
fire, to visit the F'lume-a brook
which tumbles over the precipice. dee
within the Notch.
But as they laughed light clou
passed over the daughters spirit; sh
looked gravely into the fire and dre'
a breath that was almost a sigh.
forced its way, in spite of a littl
struggle TO repress il. Then, startin
and blushing, she looked quickl
round the circle. as IL they had caugh
q glimpse into her bosom. The strar
ger asked what she had been think
ing of.
Nothing" answered she. with
Gow,lcast smile. only ] felt lone
just then"
on. | have always rad gift o
feeling what is in other perple'
hAAkTA CAi bA hn CI
''ehail tell the secrets of yours?
yOg ] know what to think when
younE girl shivers by war;
hearth. and complains of lonesome
00ao at her mothers side. Shall
Ut 1hess feelings into words"