Barriers Burned Away

nd that the sun, emerging from a single dark cloud, was shining, full-orbed, into the apartment with a light that, reflected from myriads of snowy crystals, was doubly luminous. Nevertheless it seeme

me the long-absent, erring, but fo

rs he had filled the greater part of time, thought, and heart. As she saw her first and only love, the companion of a life which, though hard, still had the light and solace of mutual affection-as she saw him so still, and realized that she would h

ilently, believing that unspoken sympathy w

g: "Mother, father is not lost to us. He himself said good-by only for a little whil

She at once arose and said: "Dennis, you are right. It is indeed wrong for me to give way thus, when I have so much to be thankful for-so much to live for. But, O Dennis! you cannot understand this sep

owns entered. At first they looked in shy wonder and perplexity at their tall brother, whom they had not seen for m

oached, he seemed so still that awe began to creep over their little faces. A dim recollection

about five), "we want to g

ones and gave them a warm embrace, that did him more good than he realized. The influence of trus

step nearer, and looked into his wasted, yet peaceful face, with its closed eyes and motionless repose, and th

again she gave way to a burst of sorrow. But her son, true to his resolution to be the stay and strength of the family, hastened to the children, and, taking them by the hand, said gently: "Yes, little ones

tenor voice that seemed to the little girls sweeter than a bird's. A moment later the w

Jesus! bl

one ever wak

m down by the fire, telling stories in the meantime to div

ould not understand, but which would have a sinister effect for life. Gradually they would learn the truth, but still the first impressi

ccasion required. As proof of his skill, a tempting meal from the simplest materials was placed smoking on the table, and the little girls were soon chatting contentedly over their breakfast. In the meantime the wife within had drawn near her dead husband and taken his cold hand. For a while she dwelt on the past in strong and tearful agony, then, in accordance with long-established habit, her thoughts went forward into the future. In imagination she was present at her husband's reception in heaven. The narrow, meagre room melted away, and her feet seemed to stand on the "golden pavement." The jubilant clash of heavenly cymbals thrilled her heart. She seemed taking part in a triumphal march led by celestial minstrelsy toward the throne. She saw her husband mount its white, glist

These are old, familiar scenes, acted over and over every day, and yet in the little households where they occur there is a terrible sense of novelty as if they then happened for the first time.

rented as their future residence. A very small annuity from some property in the East, left by Mrs

e him, and Chicago, the young and giant city of the West, seemed an Eldorado, where fortune, and perhaps f

nd barriers that to the world are more impassable than those of ignorance, stupidity, and even gross immorality. He would learn, to his infinite surprise, that even in a Western democratic city men would be welcomed in society whose hand no pure woman or honorable man ought to touch, while he, a gentleman by birth, education, and especially charact

ntained the best of all wisdom, profitable for this life and the life to come. But she sent him forth to seek his fortune and theirs with less solicitude than most mothers have just cause to feel, for she knew that he had Christian principle, and had passed through discipline that had sobered and matured him far beyond his years. She saw, however, in every

ngly into any path of success he might choose. Had not many won the victory? and who ever felt braver and more determined than he, with the needs of the dear ones at home added to his own incentives and ambitions? So, with many embraces, lingering kisses, and farewel

destined to live no tame, colorless life, but would either enjoy much, or else suffer much. To his young heart, swelling with hopes, burning with zeal to