Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-07-24

surprise and chargrin, he saw that Clara was not
the faultless creature he had supposed. An inn
patient temper had more than once aazed it.
SELF also fretfulness. Things did not always go
on right at home Domestics were careless,
wasteful, irregular, Indifferent; or possessed of
other annoying faults. Having no orderly habits
herself, and possessing no frmness and decision
of character, Clara permitted these to fret her
sorely.
One day, about six months after their mar
riage, Bedding suffered good deal of anxiety on
account of business matters that did not go on
right An operation that promised fairly had
turned out dsastrously. A creditor who owed
him two thousand dollars had failed and two or
three other things occurred to disturb his mind
At dnner-time he was silent and thoughtful; nor
did his wife seem inclined for conversation. Du-
ring the afternoon he was closely engaged in adj
justng several accounts As the day began to
close in, he shut the books, over which he had
been toiling, and leaned his head, with feeling
of sadness, upon his hand He felt oppressed
and dispirited. The profits of whole year had
been swept away and, in the mood he then was,
he suffered doubt as to the ultimate success of
business to steal over his mind.
In this unhappy frame he turned his steps
homeward, with feeling such as the WORKOUT
mariner may be supposed to have on approach
ing pleasant port The thoughts of its quiet
repose and of the smiling angel who made all
bright there with her presence, warmed his Boz
som.
"Away these gloomy thoughts and this sad
countenance," he said, as he approached his
door. "Let not my presence bring with it a
shadow"
The dinner, it so happened, had been badly
cooked that day Mrs Beldng had complained
of this to the cook before it was served and the
cook replied with i-concealed anger After her
husband, whose manner at the table she attribu-
ted to the badly served meal had gone out, Clara
went into the kitchen and scolded the cock round
ly for her carelessness, and in so doing evinced
: a good share of ill-regulated temper The lady
ofthe culinary department had as much spirit as
her mistress and retorted coarsely. She was TOLD
that she might quit on the instant A demand
for her wages followed promptly, they were paid
and Mrs Bedding was without cook. -
"Was ever woman so triedl" she exclaimed, or
retiring to her chamber and shuttngahersef in
A good crying spell followed. Att this came
thoughts of the troubles that were 70 follow
She knew enough of the charastalApf the cham
bermad to know that she would 81 Once Object
to going into the kitchen, even as temporary
measure, until new cook could be found. She
could not do the cooking herself and the meals
must be got ready. To add to the uncomforta
bleness of her situation, the excitement of mine
under which she was laboring brought on nerv
GUS headache the effect ofwhich compelled he
to go to bed and lie greater part of the after
noon. Toward evening, the violence Of the pair
having subsidized she arose and called Margaret
the chambermad; Margaret came into her pres
ence with grave face She knew what was com
E ing
"Margaret Hetty has gone away, and you
E will have to cook until get some one in he
place | will attend to the chambers. To-mor
row will try to supply her place"
Margaret looked displeased She made nj
reply, but retired slowly.
"Wretched creatures, all !' said Mrs Beldin!
in an impatient voice, "No principle-no feel
g., ing"
Chatting herself by such thoughts, the wifi
sat in her chamber until night fall. No lamp wal
brought to her, as was usual This fretted he
still more
Il don't believe there is light in the pass
age or parlor," she murmured, as she heard tn,
street door opened and her husbands step below
Slowly rising, she CROPPED her way out of he
room, for it was now quite dark, and along tn
passage until she reached the stairway. A din
= light shone from the kitchen; that was ALL
= "Margaret, why in the world havn't you light
i, ed the passage lamp!" she called down in fret
- full voice That voice fell harshaly upon the ca
= of her husband and sent cold feeling to hi
heart
J. The chambermaid came from the kitchen
muttering to herself, and lit the hall lamp
"There is no light either in the parlor or din
: ing room," Mrs Bedding sad still more impa
tiently, as Margaret turned to go back to tn
kitchen.
! These omissions were supplied, but with sucl
E bad grace that it was only by an effort tina
- Clara kept her feelings from boiling over,
Poor Bedding all his sweet hopes of SUNSHINE
" quiet and the soothing influence of home, fee
in an instant. He did not take into considera
; ton, for moment, that his wife might have he
: trials as severe to her as were his trials to him
He only saw an exhibition of ill-temper becaus
the lamps were not lit. Moodily he set down up
on sofa, Clara sinking into chair near him.
=, 81 am tired beyond all patience p the wifi
: said
i No "why or wherefore" was asked Mr. Beld
ing did not even look into her face There wa
a brief silence. Then, in fretful tone, all tn
dsagreeable occurrences of the day were related
by Clara. They were contrasted, in his owl
mind by the husband, with what he had under
: gone, and were pronounced trihes light as air il
comparison. Clara was mentally blamed AM
with much severity, for making the home wher
he had looked for sweet peace spot in whicl