The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-03-13

/
feet that was produced in deeper depression
of mind aud Il more perfect Indifference to all
the attractions of home, when the cause Of
excitement was removed
few years more ofsuch life, made Mrs.
Nlnonee wretched woman. She had
become nervous, freuhl and DISCONTINUED
In gay company, she was among the gayest
otthe gay, but at home,h her spirits were down
! TO zero.
Thus stood matters, when like n crash of
thunder from clear sky, fell upon her, with
out moment OF warning, the distressing in
diligence that her husband had failed in bust
ness. His paper had been dishonored for Il
large amount, and all his effects placed i'm
medately in the hands of an assignee for the
benefit otllis creditors. For more than q
month previous TO this event, Mr. Malonee had
been unusually silent ut home, aud had an
peared thoughtful aud depressed But, al
though his wife had been led to notice this
change, she was suffering too much from her
own meunl disorders to think of cnquiring
INTO It, or TO consider it of much account
| When he announced, with pale face and
trembling lips the disaster that had befallen
him, she was stunned as from n blow. This
was real trouble. Under imaginary trouble
the mind sinks and becomes palsied, while
against real trouble it reacts with healthy
energy. Such was the case now. But n
short time elapsed before Mrs. Malonee be-
gan 10 think out Of herself; he gan To feel for
her husband in this great disaster that had
hethcn him. She saw that he was suffer
/ ing intensely, and the desire to relieve this
intensity of suffering took possession of her
mind. Notnu hour had elapsed from the
time she received the startling announcement
before her tears were dried up. and she was
by her husbands side, making of him many
earnest enquiries.
"Whut troubles me most" he said, in an
wer to some other questions, ais the effect Of
all this upon my family"
"What will he its effect?" calmly asked Mrs.
Malonce, as she looked earnestly into her
/ husbands face. 'sDo not fear to tell me"
''Ihis beautiful house will have to be sold"
A shadow fitted over the countenunce of
Mrs. Malonee; but it was gone in moment.
''We can he just as comfortable in another
| house," said she.
And not only the house. Emily" resumed
the husband, call ofour rich furniture and
costly plate must be given up. We will not
he permitted to retain them"
"Nlust that really be?" As the wife asked
this question in voice that trembed slight
~, she lifted her eyes again to her husbands
face, and with look that troubled her spirit
deeply.
at must, Emily" he said, firmly. at will
take all the goods in my store, all the debts
due me, aud all my real and personal proper
~ in the city TO pay of my creditors dollar
for dollar. Would you have me withhold
this costly furniture and wrong other men out
of what is Justly their due''
"Oh, no, dear husband, mol" was the quick
reply To this. III value your honor and good
name far above all earthly possessions
| Give up every thing if it must be done.
value your honor aud good name far above
all earthly possessions Give up every thing
| lift must he done. shall not murmur."
My heart blesses you, Emily" replied Mr.
! MaIonee, ''tor these precious words. ] ste
that ] can rely upon you. That you
are ready to stand by me through good and
| III report. That whatever may he my lot in
| lille, You are ready and willing to share it,"
ayes. ready and willing to walk in any
/ path that you may be called upon TO walk in"
| said Mrs. 0lalonce, with enthusiasm. Were
this not SO, should he unworthy the name
| OF your wife"
For years she had not looked so beautiful
| in the eyes other husband us now. Her spr-
! it of generous selt-devotion, by which she was
| moved thus to speak, gave Il brightness and
/ an elevation 10 her countenancc which had
! long been strangers there.
"The good and the evil 90 side hy SIDE"
said Mr. Malonee, in low voice and with cvi-
dent emotion. ain close compunionship
with what we feared MS the greatest evil that
could belhll us, we often find the greatest
good we could desire. Thus it is now. To
see Your face bright, and to know that You
feel cheerful aud happy, are more to me than
all rhc riches of earth; and if poverty will
bring these, welcome its approaches with
pleasure"
Blu the mere rclinquishment ola splendid
house and elegant furniture was not ali the
sacrifice Mrs. Malonee was called upon to
make. Immediate preparations were enter
ed upon for moving, in order to surrender TO
the assignccs full possession ofevervthing.-
First Of all house was to he procured. Mr.
Nlalonce, after looking about for two or three
days. succeeded in finding neat little house
that he thought would suit them, and asked
his wife to go and see it.
"Not this house. surely?" she sale, speaking
huskily, as her husband paused and placed
his foot upon the step of small house in the
suburbs of the city, upon which was bill
Mr. Mnlonee did not reply until nc had opened
the door, and stood in one of the small par
lors with his wife. He then sad:--
even for this small house Emily, we must
pay rent of two hundred dollars. | am all
broken up in business, and shall have to seek
employment as n clerk. If so fortunate us to
be successful, l can not expect more than
eight hundred or thousand dollars wear:
and, out of this pittance, two hundred dollars
for rent will be the utmost we ought to paw"
The response of Mrs. Malonee to this was
a gush of tears. She leaned sobbing against
one of the walls ofthe room in which they
were standing, while tremor ran through
her whole frame. This was coming down
and giving up far beyond what she had
dreamed Of How it was possible for her to
I IL