A PEEP INTO ODD CORNERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2240, 4 February 1897, Page 44

A PEEP INTO ODD CORNERS.

By. Myrtle Tainb.

There comes a time to almost everyone when some valuable object very much piizsd, not because of its intrinsic value, bufc because it was a symbol of love and friendship from a dear and loyal comrade who has crossed tbe bourne whence no traveller returns, is come across quite unexpectedly, and awakins memories of a past epoch in our life which is full of tender reminiHcences. As long as life lasts tbe hope is fondly cherished that some time in the distant future our dear friend will meet ns again, but the message of death ba« snatched that hope away, and in fancy we bridge tbe chasm o& the backward years, and see as in a dream the face of our lost friend. Or perhaps a parting gift has been pus carefully away somewhere — fond memories are awakened that have long slumbered — and teat parting gift muet be fooni forthwith. The search begins. We open the door of a lumber closet and discover an old box stuff -d with many odds and ends. We life the lid : a heap of confusion only meets our view. We proceed to examine tbe heterogeneous contents.

After " rummaging " for some time without any success, we are about to give up the search when our attention is attracted to an old faded envelope. Something in the faded and antiquated writing fascinates our gaz?, and reverently we lift the old faded relic of a dear mother's love. Our eves are dim with unshed tears as we try to decipher the writing that was with much difficulty penned by a dying mother many years ago. Backward, as the receding tide, flow the intervening years, and, as in the sunny days of happy childhood, we are once more basking In tbe Bunshine of mother's presence, and listening with fixed attention to Home fairy tale which has been created for our especial benefit. Our pleasant memories are dimmed with regret when we think of the many times we vexed the dear mother whose chief objeot in life was our happiness. Our regrets are vain, for we cannot tell her ; our youthful follies are buried among the irrevocable things of the past ; but in the light of advancing years and clearer knowledge, and holding the old faded envelope in our hand, bow sincerely we wish we bad never vexed mother 1 Carefully we put away the old faded relic and renew our search.

A parcel tied up in brown paper is carefully laid away at the bottom of the box. Our search has been successful, we think. The string is carefully untied, and we have revealed — not the objeot of our search, bufc a tiny pair of baby shoes that have never been worn. The darling that waa to have worn them only stayed on earth for a brief period, and then left us, and went to bloom in the Paradise of God. The sight of the baby shoes vividly recalls every incident of that painful time, when our hearts were sore with anguish because our cberinhed flower was so early transplanted to the heavenly home. With tearful eyes we carefully wrap up tbe little parcel and put it hurriedly away, throw all the other articles in tho box, and shut it up. Not so easily can tha half-forgotten memories that a brief sight of its contents have revived be banished. Few indeed would wish that such a thing could be done. Past events, even though intermingled with pain and sorrow, often help by recalling them to banish the worry and anxiety of the present. We look back to some period of our life when all seemed, dark and hopeless ; by-and-bye tha clouds dispersed and tbe sun shone bright and clear. Thinking over our happy delivsrance at that time Inspires ns with faith and hope in the future. We live only one day at a time— or rather one second— and ib is one of tbe

greatest pleasures we an joy to dream and moralise over past joys and anticipations; yes, and past sorrows too. So long as our feelfngs ran in healthy channels of thought there is little danger of them becoming morbid. A peep into odd corners may sometimes open and enlarge the latent sympathy in oar nature whioh the hurry-scurry of every- day life may have partially obscured.