THE SYMBOLIZED WEDDING-DAY
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��and bowing his head upon his office ta- ble he groaned aloud :
"Poor, dear Kate and the children !"
So, lost in his own sad meditations, he heard not the soft footsteps of a loving presence — knew not that an earthly an- gel was kneeling beside him, overshad- owing him with her wings of love and sympathy, until a well-known voice, sweeter than flute notes in that hour of his great need, fell upon his ear, and a tender hand parted back the locks from his cold, damp brow.
"What, dear Harry, troubles you? Have you fallen asleep and dreaming?"
"Would to God it were a dream, pre- cious Kittie ! But oh ! it is a reality that has nearly killed mo ! To-day I am a ruined man— all, all is gone !"
With that keen conception which formed a striking feature in her charac- ter, she seemed to gather in at a glance the fearful meaning of his words ; while those stronger elements which had so long lain dormant for want of a proper stimulus aroused themselves, rushing to the rescue and saving her from that sloth of despondency into which those of a weaker nature must inevitably have fallen.
"I know it is hard, dear Harry," she said, "to have your bright prospects swept away by a breath of misfortune, yet if we do not lose our trust in the Father we may see something, even in the darkness of this hour, to give us con- solation, — it may be au angel's visit, al- though we can not behold her sweet face from the thick veil of mystery which cov- ers it! Let us peep beyond the dark, gloomy cloud which overshadows us, and perchance we may catch a glimpse of the Father's goodness written upon its silver lining ! Is it not a comfort to you to know tbat it is not a work of your own hands that is crumbling at your feet ; and that it was beyond your power to stay the tide which has seemingly engulfed you, sweeping away your all? And yet it is not all gone, my husband, have you not me and little Bessie and baby left to love and live for?"
"Oh, yes, for which, God knows, I am thankful ! But how can I care for you,
��when every dollar has been swept from my grasp?"
"Have we not strong hearts and wil- ling hands, dear Harry? We must not falter by the wayside— let us work to- gether!"
"You, Kittie, who was reared in such wealth and luxury? You work to help gain a livelihood, with a husband strong and capable? God forbid ! Oh. no, no !" and again he bowed his head and groaned aloud.
"You do not know me, dear Harry, if you think I would falter in any duty in life's pathway. It is praiseworthy to labor when our own circumstances de- mand it. It we accept the mission our Heavenly Father giveth, performing cheerfully its every duty, we shall, in His own blessed time, receive as our re- ward a crown sparkling with many jew- els! Then oh, do not, for your great hope of heaven and your love for wife and children, let this blow, however heavy it may rest upon you, crush out all that is good and noble ! Rise up, my husband," she said, tenderly lifting his head from its resting place and carefully smoothing out the wrinkles from his troubled brow, "rise up, dear Harry, and promise me that you will be brave and meet it manfully I"
Brave and manfully ! How those words thrilled his very being ! Like a shock from an electric battery, they sent the blood whirling through his veins — every nerve dancing with new life, while his lips gathered up the cherries which had fallen off, and his eyes grew bright and sparkling again.
"You have saved me, precious wife !" he answered, springing up from his seat and clasping her to his bosom, "those were the words of my beautiful mother on my wedding day! I had forgotten my sacred promise to her — I will renew it to you, my own dear Kittie ! I can see it all, now— I have passed by the lovely morning with its happy sunshine, and now the clouds have lowered and the de- structive rains are upon me ! Yet I will not forget that I am a man, a husband and a father, bravely struggling to stem the tide of adversity, trusting if I am but faithful in answering the Master's call,
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