The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1849-06-01

N~T-~
Of others; and at home. with her children.
she strove to be the same. Bot oil! what
a weary, hopeless life she ledj aud but
for the love of her little ones, she could
not have lived.
Mary Graham was united to Mr. Frs
kline, shortly after the union Of Edith
with Mr. Ashton-and it was true mar
riage. A just appreciation Of internal
qualities had drawn them together and
these proved, as they ever do, permanent
bonds.
Mary and Edith had retained ten
der regard for each other, and met fire.
quentIy. But in all their intercourse,
with true womanly delcacy, Edith avoid.
ed all allusion to her own unhappy state,
although there we're times when her heart
longed to unburden itself to one so truly
a sympathizing friend.
Que evening it was ten years from the
time of Edilh's marriage-her husband
came home in his usual cold and indiffer-
ent way; and while they sat at the tea
table, something that she said excited his
anger, and he replied in most harsh and
cutting words. This was no unusual
thing. But it so happened that Edilh's
feelings were less under her control than
usual, and she answered the unkindness
with gush of tears. This only tended
to irritate her unfeeling husband, who
said in sneering tome
"a woman's tears don't lie very deep,
But it's lost time to use them on me, III
go where can meet cheerful faces"
And then rising from the table, he put
on his hat and left the house to spend
his evening, as usual, in more congenial
society.
Edith dried her tears as best she conid,
and going to her chamber, sought by an
effort of reason, to calm her agitated feel
ings. But such an effort by woman,
under such circumstances. must as in this
case. ever be fruitess. Camness ofspir
it comes after more passionate overflow
of grief. When this had subsidized, E
dith remembered that she promised Mrs
Erskine, who lived only two or three
doors away. TO come in and speud the e
vening. Had she consulted herown feel
Iings now, she would have remained al
home, but as she would he expected, she
rallied her spirits as much as was in heI
power, and then went in to join hel
friend
How different was the home of Mary
to that of Edith. Mutual love reigned
there. The very atmosphere was redo
lent of domestic bliss. Mr.. Erskiue was
away when Edith joined Mary, and they
sat and talked together for an hour before
he returned. A short time before Edith
intended going home, he came in, with
his ever cheerful face, and after greeting
her cordially, turned to his wife, and
spoke in voice so full oftenderness and
affection, that Edith felt her heart flutter
and the tears steal unforbidden to hel
eyes. 1t was so different from the way
her husband spoke. The contrast caus
ed her to feel more deeply, if possible
f than ever, her own sad, heart wrung lot
r Rising suddenly, for she was loosinI
the control other feelings, Edith excused
herself. and hastily retired. Mary saw
that something had affected her friend
and, with look, made her husband com
prehend the fact also. He remained il
the drawing room, while Mary passed
with Edith into the hall, where they paus
: ed for moment, looking into each other
faces.-Neither said word, but Edit
, laid her face down upon the bosom of he
: friend, and sobbed passionately.
/. "What is it that pains you, Edith?
Mary asked, in low, tender voice, a
soon as her friend had wept herself int
, calmness.
, Edith raised her face, now pale AM
r composed, and pushed back with he
hand stray rnglet that had fallen owe
, her cheek, and said with forced but sal
smile
Forgive my weakness, dear-I coul
r not help it. A full heart will at times ru
over. But good night-good night"
: And Edith hurried away.
a A few years more, and the history O
, ahopeless. weary life was closed. Is thu
, moral of this history hard to read} No
, all NAV comprehend il.