The Wingham Times, 1889-03-08, Page 64
cos, meek torn from humanity, and tl
ngoeCD11,0 wolfish uature, the hyeett inetine
clearly evot1ed.
Not upon the battlefield
FRIDAY, MA11011 8. 1888,, facing cannon, ehot, shell* or steel,
tbe greatest bravery to be found at
the stars of a glorious manhood to b
wen uot there is the highest our
age found. The eteq of war,
lightlug witlitlie many, falling in
ditches eurrounded by companion
starving in a besieged city ; &Vie
wie's heart's blood to the parehe
tongue and famished lips of anothe
upon arid plain or ealtsett wave
thrills us in the telling, and we gladl
applaudingly bestow the wreath o
fame. Yet it all dwindles ins° nett
ingness compared to both the mora
and physical courage required to silent
ly and alone face pestilence, an
wrestle with the skeletons of woo
1' death for the unloved and unknow
without fee, without hope of earthl
reward.
Back to God, as white as the
came, the kingliest warriors bon,
shall all suoli go, and upon the tomb
stones of immortality in the garden
of Eternity their names shall be carve
by the fingers of angels 1
Engrossed in the duties assigned
him, the young physician endeavored
to obtain something of forgetfulness
of his lost love. With skilful diagnois,
f with tender hands and bleeding heart,
he attended the stricken and smoothed
the path,of the dying. With the" God
bees you " of many ringing in his ears,
he daily toiled until his own strong
physical nature and mental Onergy
gave away,. then he sought the rest
necessary to resume the fearful battle
of the at errow.
Passing from the denseness of the
city to where he bad fonnci a tempor-
ary home; from thick polluted air to
where the perfume of flower and
orange blossoms were not yet strangled
by foul odors and deadly exhalations;
from yawning graves, from suffering
that cannot bo described, and deaths
that came as mercy, he was suddenly
confronted by an object that caused
him to iminediately pouse.
From out the misty moonlight
loomed a cross, tall, masive, and
spectral. The hands that had erected
it had mouldered in the dust for more
than a century; They had icing been
forgotten and the bourgeon of their
reverence been found in heaven. The
stones of which it was buil t were stained
and blackened by the weather, covered
by lichen and moss, and froin the
tangle of vines that clung to it
flashed the blood red flowers of some
parasite plant.
These things he had seen before and
passed them .by scarcely noticing
them. Now another and sterility.:
attraction appeared to his tired, wav
ering sight. That the cross was solid
he had ever been satisfied ; he knew
that the work of early Spauish monks
and laymen had been built to resist
decay, to almost defy time, to stand
firm when the earth trembled and
rooked. Aye, bolid from corner to
cap stone, .as the foundation of the
mountains whose snowewreathed crests
pierced the clouds. •
And yet as he paused in awe and
doubt. he was as certain as of his own
existence that a form, white -robed,
with hair as tangled floss of gold, .
issued from the cold, unbroken stone.
'Merciful heaven 1 he inwardly
groaned as he strained his eyes to
catch a glimpse of the shadowy and
averted face, aro I already stricken
with fever ; already gong mad ? Or
—oh, God, that it may not be—has
Laura, my life, my darling, fallen a
victim by the wayside and has •her
loving spirit hastened to tell me she
s waiting in heaven for the union
denied upon earth ?
As one in a trance, one robbed of
alma:lent; of speech; as a statue
having locked within its stony bosom
swiftly beating helmat). heart, he
remained unable to reveal his pros -
mace.
The figure, perfect in all that mor-
al conception idealizes as graceful I
roportion, sank, as a spirit wandering yr
o earth would, at the foot a the tress
ieekly bowed her head ageing the t
nrespontling stone, and reverently a
loped the white hands in preyen 1
a prayer it intuit have been—that the , s
ings of the destroying angel might f
e utradumed ; poison be battiehed a
rem the cup; the unstricken spared ; t
he sick made well ; the dying re -
etched with ; the dead be par- .li
tined and blessed. ,
Through the the thickness of clouds w
den with the germs.- of destroying t
leer, a quivering ray tif moonlight g
ame--touehed with sili%or radiance e
re top of the cross, and wove around t
le bonded head a wreath is of im. m
orality.
Wes it a token and a sign feotn w
eVell that the prayer angelic, even if 0.
heel by hureee tips, had boon humaii
The Honest Farmer.
(ro M on MR.)
HWY X *aunt the feezner'a life.
Its various round 0 wholesome toil ;
An honest roan with iced)* wife,
And offspring native to the soil.
Thrice happy, surely 1 in his breast
1)10,in wisdom and the trust in God;
His path more straight from eaeCi to west
Than politician ever trod,
This gein's no loss to other men ;
His stalwart blows inflict no wound;
Not busy with his tongue or pen,
He questions truthful sky and ground.
13artrier with seasons and the sun,
Nature's co-worker; all his skill
Obedience, ev'u as waters run,
Winds blow, herb, beasts theirlaws fuld
.a vigorous youthood, cleap and bold.;
4, manly manhood; cheerful age ;
His comely children. proudly hold
Their parentage best heritage.
Unhealthy work, false mirth, chicane,
Guilte—n godless woe, and useless strife,—
f) cities, vain, insane, insane,—
Row happy is the farmer's life I
m had been heard and would
t, answered ? The epell.houndi
thought so, and was struggling to
himself, to hasten forward and p
is trate himself before the presence
Id of another world, to worship,.
e mortal, to clasp it 1I1 his arms, w
it slowly arose, and the fact tur
of toward him was fully revealed.
to Laura I
es Charles 1
In the name of heaven what brou
d you back here? he questioned as
✓ quivered upon lips, arms were tai
e, around eaen other, and heart
against heart,
To be with you, darling. 001.1
1. not stay away ; I could not leave yo
! 'the horror of thethougt
d —you have conte back—
k To die with you, if it must b
, You are giving your life for other
v why should I not mine for the oa
' dear above all others ?—dearer tha
w all of earth combined ?
*7,, But you—are a wornan, and th
straining clasp told more. than. word
could have done.
a And, think you, women are les
breve, less self-sacrilioing thee men
We 'may not face the sliook of war
but our hands can staunch the ebbin
Id breath, for,the rushing down o
u clad warriors to slay the hot-lipi
noisome fiends of Southern pestile
tt Days, nights, weeles they prayed w
out an au e weI. The great All fat
e, seemed to !eve shut Ilia eyes to
s, human sutierings, His ears to but
e petitions.
n Physicians were worn out, nui
fell into exhaustion, and both sinks
e and died. Where took their place
s berm veld heroines—but to share
saute fate. The fell dittoes° was
s stayed ; the icy blasts that would 11
? been the salvation of the living, lig
, ered afar,
g Worn to ri hadows, feeble, breaki
yet resolate, the lovers offered th
u selves upon the altar of huniani ty w
e all of earthly desire dwindled t
e single thought—to die together, to
laid in the same grave; hancl in hi
f to pass upwnrd to love and reward.
WW1 ibis longing, with a ferw
f prayer for eaoli other, they separe
e one niebt. Without the sligh
promise of a brighter 'miaow rL
kisses were given,. and they son
their pillows to be haunted by hot
shapes, by groans of pain, by 8110
. of despair. Long seep was den
and before her eyelids wore elo
they were startled by loud, etre,
shouts breaking the dreadful„ liepel
!silence.
THN FROST 1 iTHE BLESSED PRO
came as tetnneet blasts front ev
side, and raised a - thankful, jubil.
anthem to heave.
It was true, The prayers
- thousands had been answered U
icy breath had come ; the frost
white on tree and •flower, and
demons of the yellow flag felt'
, power, shnddereci, and retreat .
The pestilence was stayed. The s
were restored ; the top of the old cr
silvered with the healing halm
heaven. '
Agin the orange flowered s
dropped -perfume as ae w . Ag,
human love was born and bore .goo'
fruit. Again the young physician a
his seen to be bride walked peaeefu
itappi:y as they who have pas:
through Haines utiecathed, throe
pitch unsoiled. And when for - th
the wedding bells rang, it came ' -
their ears amid the sweets of oral
bud and bloom, as the peal front 1
thousand hearts—the benediction
an appreciative world.
I
Advice to a Young man.
Don't worry, my son, don't wor
Don't worry about something that
think may happen to -morrow, becat
you may die to -night, and to•morr
may find you beyond the reach
•worry. Don't worry over. a thing tl
happened yesterday, because yesterd
is a ..hundred years away. If y
don't believe it just try to reach al
it and bring it back. Don't wor
about anything that is happening t
day,because to -day will onlylaet fifte
or twenty minutes. If you don't 1
Neve it, tell your creditors you'll
ready to settle in full , with them
sunset. Don't worry about things y(
can't help, because worry only mak
them worse. Don't worry at all.
you want to be penitent tow and tie
it won't hurt you a bit to go into tl
saekeloth. and ashes business a littl
It will . do you good. If you wai
to cry ouce inat long while, that isi
a. bad thing. If you feel like gait
out and clubbing yourself oecasionall_
I think you need it and will lend se-
a helping hand at it, and put a plast
on you afterwards. All those thin
will do you good. But worry, worr
worry, fret, fret* fret,—why there
neither; sorrow, penitence, strengt 1
penance reformation, hope nor resol •
tion in it. It's just worry.— Burdets
Aimos TO MOTHER3.—ArayOu disturbed at ni&
and broken of your rest by a sick child suffering
trying with pain of Cutting Teeth 2 If so send
enee and got a bottle of "Mos. Winslow's Soothh
Syrup" for Children Teething. Its value is ineolzi
s.ble. It will relieve the poor little suffer
immediately. Depend upon it, mothers; there is
mistake about it. It cures Dysentery and Diarrh
rep Mates the Stomach and Dowels, cures WindColi
softens the Duras, reduces Inflammation, and giv
tone and energy to the whole system. " Mrs. Wi
inw s Soothing Syrup" for children teething
!want to the taste and hi the prescription of one
he oldest and best female physicians and nurses
kr6eUutchliteitStiteen:smirYili is If?orfenvebtiy-allIlvediel
14:
ottle, Ile aura afir) ask for "Mas, VluffilA
cooraffm Sraerrand take no other kind. , pi
Telt ana eoffee are well callea "In
ries of the grocers Mud," liaipe
THE BLASTING OF ORANGE
BLOSSOMS. '
(A STORY IN On centerate)
The alternative is dreadful. All o
i esterday, all through the long night,
1 have battled to make the wrong
teem right, But beside me have
walked aceusing spirits ; horribly clis-
gritted faces have stared at me from
the black darkness ; piteous orys have
ceaselessly rung in ray ears ; the
hitherto kindly feces of heaven bend-
ing above my pillow, and even your
dear face, Laura, have been turned
away in sorrowing Anger.
But too well the girl elingine. to
Ilim in the abandon of despair, "'clew
hie meaning and shuddered. Yet with
tearless eyes—weeping had exhausted
itself --she looked upon the sad, reso
lute face.
Next week we were to be married,
she murmured icily,—with nothing of
the warmth of love or glow of passion
in her words, and now separation, if
not—oh, God spare us—death!
Laura, darling, now, and even in
this world and the text, you could
paint no picture brighter thanthe one
,my heart has drawn; none blacker,
more hopeless, more utterly desolate
than that before us. But would you,
could you love a miserable poltroon
and coward ; a man who ran away
from danger, turned a deaf ear to
suffering—ay, even of your own sex,
and left them to agony and death
when he might have saved ?
I could not, Heaven help ine, pin
must go ; she answered hoarsely, and
then with wild heart -breaking em-
phasis, go a. sacrifice* go to die 1
The parting was terrible; was long.
Each looked upon the face of the
other as for time last titne. She, the
idol of his heart, beloved with the
stronged nt . aefection, was to flee
While yet thiee was opportunity, and
le was te remain and brave the sick-
entug horrors and dangers of yellow
lever, of hinek vomit() : to do what he
,eould for the already stricken, to give
his life as a willhig, offering upon the
altar of professional honor.
The young physician saw the
,heautifiti fort who was- to have been
.his bride before the passing of another
meek depart, and then. returned to face
danger, to almost cou • death.
If we do not meet a, In in this life
were her last words, we shall in heaven i
for 1 shall know no other earthly
And I, darling3ione in heaven.
From the little 'country station i
whither he had journeyed to see his
beloved start upon her northern
journey, Charles Douglass hastened. te
the fever-steicken city. Ile knew the
Imperative need, the Imminent danger, : a
the hopeless chance of surviving. The' r
air was heavy with contagion; the
very sue was obscured by murky
waves tit mirisreatio pestilence; day t
and night .orere alike hideous with the p
'roans of sufferiug and lamentations t
0 fear, ail who possibly could were u
let. , .. ,
, ng ;A11'01110 remained trerabliugly. n
t acereeloo ei
high 61 , ret, sustain, ed by a e
himself- bsli ,purpose, he nerved /
die with ki\ ttth worst, to at least
wings
\
leavn beh .tita‘ined. manhood and b
tvould not b reP!melnilittes ildarlingengft
been 80 nettrlY be).
The yellow flag i". t
Upon aimed every fel „ everPthere. ''s1
he met Men, WOnlell; the read he
' n disordered heal children la
blood and bind the gaping wounds
We may not prescribe; but we ea
hold the cooling draueht, close th
glazing eyes, wriisper hope anchbreath
the last prayer.
Hush, darling. Yrni know not 0
what you are speaking; you know
very little of the horrible scenes o
this afflicted city—the loathsons
sickening' deaths.
I have thought of all. Seemly
hoping to find you, L knelt down by
this ancient cross --
A woman and arose a saint he in
ten. u ptecl admiringly.
Nut so. Simply a wonrian to whom
love has taught duty. Where you go,
I will go ; with you I will do tny tit-
- mot t to succor and to stge; with you,
darling, I will live or die.
It must not, shoal not, be, he persist-
' ed, his soul revolting at the thought of
ene so young, so heautifnl, ad tenderly
rehred, mingling with men that stood
appalled amid the.carnival of destruc-
tion and shrank dismayed front the
swift -coming doom. '
Put me from you and tread the
fearful paths alone, she .answered'
firmly.- By the cross I have made My
vow, and will keep it -to the bitter
end. . Are there not already in the
stricken city brave wotneu who have
devoted their entire lives to deeds of
charity, of. mercy ?—to• nursing the
sick and caring for the dead 7
Yes—hut—he answered hesitating.
ly.
Do not shame my womanhood • by
insinuating am better than they. I
am not; I will never be one half as
good. They are faithful to their duty
and to the' greet Father of all.
Would be true to mine did 1 hesi-
tate or falter ? If it is your duty is
mine as well. In my inner soul I
heard' the cry for help. It thrilled me
as,a voice from heaven, and --
Brave, noble, glorious woman 1 But
I can hear no more now. Come with
me. We will talk farther of this when
wy twain is not in a whirl, when my'
pale() is not leaping as a spring•time
flood, and my heart not beating as an
anvil beneath heavy hanimera.
The iron entered her soul with the
words. She looked with wild °despair
upon his face, his eyes, , but with
strength that could. Only come from
above she kept back her tears, choked
down her sobs, and combatted the
intense beating of her pulse.
Darling, he questioned, as he saw
her trembling lips and ashy cheeks„
what is theanatter ?
was thinking, she answered evasi-
vely, as she reached up and plunked
braueh, how the orange blossoms are
blasted.
As out orange blossoms, darling.
Will they ever again bloom fresh and,
perfumed for us ? he respo ecl sadly.
If not here, then in the dens of
leaven beside the fountain of eternal
outh.
Sic inbut not front the dread scottrage
hat blasted the life -flowers of Flordia
nd made a bitter mockery of the
egend of the spring Ponce de Leon
ought vain, Cearles Douglas was
arced to idleness. But sweeter than
11 other days of his life were they, for
he woman he loved was constantly by
is side, and made a heaven of the
ttle eottage.
But with returning strength— it
as almost( unknown in the pdstile*-
lat went out to -
ether to light the most holy battle of
arth ; to ease suffering and smooth
he pillow of death ; he doing all that
edieal skill could do, mut she reveal- Lt
g bow 'touch d the hoot lies bidden
Rhin the depths of a in" loving,
!mistimes %volumes hoart,
wing l fortible Vague. 1
nyong
saw them sink. to never ,often he fe
saw gain deserted, loft to again ; e
.. tended ; to fester, decay, an that 14
the horot and danger by riti'ase ti
unburied ler heere. Love, ei/ag m
iSiell, we
s blotted out by fear t
jultq9 !..,r9ishippit% hearts i ‘,110