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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 1884)
14 THE WEST SHORE. Ami if, when a glowing thought cornea into your bruin, quick imuI hikMi-ii, you could lull it over as to a second self, to that sweet creature, who in not away because she loves to 1 there; and if you could watch the thought Hitching that J,'ii!i"h mind, illuming tlint fair brow, spark ling in those plcasantcst of eyes-how far better than to feel it Hlumlcriiig,and going out, heavy, lifeless and dead, in your own Hellish fancy. And if a generous emotion steal over you, coining you know not whither, would there, not lxi n richer charm in lavishing it in caress, or endearing word, Uhii that fondest and most dear one, than in patting your glossy-coated dog or sinking lonely to mailing hIiiimImts? How would not iH'iievolenco ripen with Buch monitor to Uik it! How would not HelfishneHU grow faint and dull, leaning over to that second self, which is tho loved on! How would not guile shiver and grow weak before that girl-brow and eye of innocence! How would not all that boyhood prized of enthusiasm, and quick blood, and life, renew itself in such presence! The (ir was getting hotter, and I moved into the mid tile of the room. The shadows the Haines made wore playing like fairy forms over floor, and wall, and ceiling. My fancy would surely quicken, thought I, if such Wing were, in attendance. Kurcly imagination would be stronger and purer, if it could have tho playful fancies of dawning womanhood to delight it All toil would be torn from miml-laW, if but another heart grew into this present Koul, quickening it, warming it, cheering it, bid ding it ever (lod-sMed! Ihr face .would make a halo, rich as a rainlx.w, atop of nil such noisome things as we lonely houIs call trouble. Her smile would illumine the blackest of crowdiig cares; and darkness tlmt now seats you desiondent in your Koli tery chair for days together, weaving bitter fancies, dream ing bitter dreams, would grow light ,1 thin, ,! B,)mul and ll.Hit away, chased by that Wlovod smile. Your friend -,KH,r fellow! -dies; never mind, that gentle clasp of h,r lingers, s she steals behind you tell nig you not to we,.,, - it jH (u frj,mjHi Vour sister, sweet one, is .lead -buried. Tho worms re msy;,,,;i,,,,,rfllirmw JIow it makes you S .mi ll, nolh.ug but a s,H,t to dig graves ,,! ' It is mora, Shr, she says, will Ik, sister; and the waving curls, as she leans u.ku, your shoulder, to cl y ... . d your wet eye turns to meet those other ey . ! (bxl lliui sent his nngel, surely! J Your m..ther. h.s for it, she is i-oiie' 1 i1M '"":;nr """";' ""-U ii n . . . . "'"K yours, her smile liehtii " h "iiis, i.-r grief kiiH, vour.r,;,,.. ::' nKl,ui1 n.atkimU.m.wofhcrx m assunjre 1 1 "'. '"' rh.ldr,.,,, rosy, fair-haiml; no thev d . . ... yo lhl.ir , ;r , V Ut jr there on the grsward; Iu.v,r nfi.wl l V th siiowdn,, vil..t if 1 ' . ..,m,U, ,e '.""".tils, fume of .ir he.hl.f. .; ' C " ?" T Um m ..ri.L x. ,i ,, r um at the ' "",,,H',,(llelstoloVemu, cherish; flower, tree, gun, are all dead tilings; things livelier hold your soul. And she, the mother, sweetest and fairest of all, watch ing, tending, caressing, loving, till your own heart grows pained with tenderest jealousy and cures itself with loving. You have no need now of any cold lecture to teach thankfulness; your heart is full of it. No need now, as once, of bursting blossoms, of trees taking leaf and green ness, to turn thought kindly and thankfully; for ever be side you there is bloom, and ever beside you there is fruit, for which eye, heart and soul are full of unknown and unspoken, because unspeakable, thank-offering. And if sickness catches you, binds you, lays you down; no lonely moanings and wicked curses at careless stepping nurses. The step is noiseless and yet distinct beside you. The white curtains are drawn, or withdrawn, by the magic of that other presence, and the soft, cool hand is upon your brow. No cold comfortings of friend-watchers, merely come in to steal a word away from that outer world which is pulling at their skirts; but ever the sad, shaded brow of her, whose lightest sorrow for your sake is your greatest griof, if it were not a greater joy. The blaze was leaping light and high, and the wood falling under the growing heat. So, continued I, this heart would be at length itself; striving with everything gross, even now as it clings to grossness. Love would make its strength native and progressive. Earth's cares would fly. Joys would double. Susceptibilities be quickened; Love master self, and, having made the mastery, stretch onward and upward toward Infinitude. And if the end came, and sickness brought that follower-Great Follower which sooner or later is sure to come after, then the heart, and the hand of Love, ever near, are giving to your tired soul, daily and hourly, les sons of that love which consoles, which triumphs, which circleth all and centreth in all-Love infinite and divine! . Kind hands-none but hers will smooth the hair upon your brow as the chill grows damp and heavy on it; and her fingers-none but hers will lie in yours as the wasted flesh stiffens and hardens for the ground. Her teare-you could feel no others if oceans fell will warm your draping features once more to life; once more your oye, lighted in joyous triumph, kindle in her smile, and thou The fire fell upon the hearth; the blaze gave a last eap, a flicker, then another, caught a little remaining twig, blazed up, wavered, went out There was nothing but a bed of glowing embers, over , th? wlllte B1 gathered fast. I was alone, with dy my dog for company. III. , ASHES SIOMFYING DESOLATION. Deiwi'l11' " TUKht 1 mhes '"How blaze, inevitably as XnZ wT8 Mi8ery tre,lds on l keels of Joy; A"gmsh rules swift after Pleasure. U)1Ue 10 ,ue "Bain, Carlo," said I to my dog, and I