The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1842-05-24
sT. JoHINsBURY, VIZ, MAYsA ls4s.

The stern hud bitter relations OF ms ITO cams WI"
their heavy weight upon him, and there was no
balm in the future, for the endurance of present
evils.
lie turned and left the room; Lucy's eye follow
ed him, and as he door closed she murmured-
''not forgotten On, Cliflon how little reason
have TO believe you!" Lucy absorbed in her
own thoughts so long to BIO unconscious Of the
flight oil time. Whom she reused, she thought she
would go down stairs and see what to be done
but her little boy asked her some questions, which
she stopped to answer; half an hour more elapsed !
before she got 10 tho kitchen. She told Betty she
meant hire cook for the morrow-thought she
hap better go at once and engage one--yet, no, on
second thoughts, she might come with her TO the
parlors and assist in arranging them; it would be
quite time enough to engage the cook when they !
were completed. TO the parlors they went, and
Lucy was well satisfied with the result Of their la
bor-but mark her comment: ''What great while
we have boen detained here; well, l sure |
have meant this three weeks TO clean the parors,
but never could find time. III could but manage
to attend them every day, they would never get so
out of order"
The next morning came, the cook not engaged |
yet. Betty was despatched in haste, but un
successful all engaged for the day So Betty must
be trusted, who sometimes did well, and at others
signay failed. Lucy spent the morning in the
kitchen assisting Betty and arranging every thing
she could do, but matters above were in the mean
time sadly neglected, her children dirty, and i'll
dressed the nursery in confusion, and Lucy almost
bewildered in deciding what had better be done, !
and what left undone She concluded to keep The
children In the nursery without changing their
Dress and tho IN FASTENED to arrange her own, and
20 down stairs, as her husband and his friend had
by this time arrived. Her face was flushed, and !
| her coun,enancc anxious; she was conscious that
Mi Eustace noticed IT. and her uncomfortable feel
ings Increased. The dinner, the dinner-h 1t were
| only over she thought hundred times. 1T came
at last and all other notifications were as nothing
| in comparison There was not dish really well
| cooked, and every thing was served up IN SLOW
! only manner. Lucy's checks tinged with shame
Oh, il she had only sent in time for cook. 1t
was her btterest thought even them When the
dinner was over AIR Eustace asked for the child
ren ex pressing strong desire to see them Lucy
colored, aud in evident confuson evaded the re.
quest. Her husband silent, having suspicion
| how matters stood.
| Just then a roar came from the hall, and Tho old
est boy rushed INTO tho Smother, mother
Hannah shut me up she did" A word from his
| la,her slenced him, and Lucy took her dirty I'll
dressed boy by tho hand and LEFT tho ROOM She
! could restrain her tears, but her keen sense oil
! zig hit prevented her pvnshing the child, as she
was fully aware, had he been properly dressed,sho
would not have objected to his presence, and that
! he was only claimed accorded privilege. MIR
Eustace left very soon, and as the door
closed on him, Clifton thought, ~ can never hope
to see friend in comfort until can afford to keep
! house keeper Was there such curse in
mans house as procraslinating spirit" With
| e may hn sunnOSed he cuuld
his wife with any degree of cordially Lucy
said ''there help for it, she had done her
very best" Clifton answered contempuously; |
weariod and exhausted with the ihgues OF tho
day, she made reply, but rose up and retired TO
rest to seek in sleep forgctfulness OF the weary
life she led Clifton had been unusually irritaed;
when the morrow cae it still manifested itself in
many ways that bore hard on Lucy; she did not
reply to any angry word that tell from his lips, but
she felt none the less deeply. Some misconduct !
in the child induced him to reflect with bitterness
on her maternal management She drew her band !
her eyes to keep back the tears her lip quiv-
cred, and her voice tremblGd she spoke
sDo not speak harshly to me Clifton, if the
fault is all NINE certainly the misery is also.
"Of what avail is it to speak otherwise? he said
sternly s'you deserve wreichedness and it is only
the sure result of your precious system"
tDid you encourage me TO reform or pom
out the way?" urged Lucy very gently.
81 married a woman for companon,uot child
to instruct her, he answered bitterly.
Gay, but was a child! happy-so happy in that
olden time, with all to love, and none to chide me
child even years, when you took mo for wife
too soon a mother, shrinking from my respcnsl
bties, and without courage TO meet my trials.
found no sympathy to enc ourage memo advice
when most | needed tho tenderness when my
heart was nearly breaking 1t is thelst time ClIiton,i
ever re proached you; but tho worm will turn lift
is trodden upon, 'and Lucy left the room 1t was
strange even to herself, that she had spoken SO
freely yet it seemed of relief TO the anguish
of her heart That he had allowed her TO depart i
without a reply did not surprise her; 1t may be
doubted although her heart pinned for it, II ever she
expected tender ness from Clifton more 1t was
,erhaps an hour after her conversation with Clifton
Lucy sat alone in tho nursery; her baby was asleep
. ~, xr,di, beside her tley alone together,