The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1851-10-02
Domestic Happiness

settled now, aud eau begin to enjoy our
home."
! "And you will spend your evenings at
home now. won't youl" inquired Mrs
Hervey, with animation.
"Oh, yesl must be gone fpr an hour
or so after tea sometimes; but the long
winter evenings shall spend at home.
Home sweet that word sounds. Ii
is long. long time since have had
home;" and now Hervey's emotion pre-
vented his completing the sentence.
Thoughts Of his long years of0rpbsnage,
his struggles with the world. and his heart
loneliness, contrasted with the present
fruition Of all his fond DAY dreams. chok.
ed his ulterance-the crystal tear drop
bedimmed bis eye-and, rising abruptly.
he left the room.
The object Of his choice, the gentle
Mary, was wOmsn of warm sffr ctinns;
and not one of the varying shades Of
thought which passed quickly. but elo.
lqueutly, over her husbands countenance.
had escaped her notice; and her heart
swelled with the thought that she was
'has permitted TO bless him whom she
loved most devoledly. She knew she
was we'll instructed in those domestic do
ties which are Indispensable To home
Happiness; she hoked around on her lit
tie domain with the satisfaction and pride
Of an empress. T.
An hour later. aud the shaded lamp.
the easy chair aud slippers, the brightly
hlizlng FIRE. the work basket, and the
smiling wife, presented, tn the returning
husband, the fac simile Of his ideal of a
domestic Eden.
Now for the book" said Hervey. when
fairly enSconced among the cushions of
his luxurious chair; and he Proceeded to
remove the wrapper from an elegantly
bound volume.
"What have you lherel" said his wife,
attracted by the beautiful appearance Of
the book. "Let me look at it for a mo.
ment. 'Cowper's Poems. We'll. it is
very handsomely bound;" aud, a,.er care.
lessly turning over the leaves a moment
she returned il to her husband.
Hervey took the look with an uude
firable feeling of disappoirtment-a hall
conviction that he ought TO apolos re for
he knew not what.
IL am anxious to possess the works OF
all the standard poets" he at length said,
land thought we would read them to.
gether this winter; and it seemed to me
Cowper's Task would be an appropr.
ate beginning. believe you like poe.
try-do you nntl"
"Oh, yes! very much" was the reply;
"but why don't you begin to read2"
Hervey commenced reading, and. for a
time, his wife seemed interested, and her
approaching glance. as he commented on
the Poets fancies, banished all feelings
Of disappointment. But an hour passed
and Mary became more absent minded
and so deeply absorbed in her work, thai
she heard not the reading; and, when hel
husbands corments reused her, hal
vacant look. and half uttered response
plainly told that her thoughts were else
where. At length he paused.
what would you like for breakfast
, Edwardl"
, All! how that question destroyed every
/. vestige of one scene in his ideal pano
! rama Of married mans existencel
y "She's fooll" was his first thought
but the second, cooler reflection was"
D have read too long; have wearied her
Q aud twas her very love for me that promp
y ted that question"
A few more attempts on succeedin
= evenings, and the standard poets wer
g read in silence. and without commen
y Mary had discovered that she did not lik
y poetry.
Time had passed on. Mrs. Herve
. . was pattern housekeeper, good wifi
. and an excellent mother, so far as a
q things relating to physical well bein
were concerned. The home of the Hel
J veys was quiet. we'll ordered house; b.
the husband and wife were not happ,
D. They never quarreled; but there was n
: congeniality of feeling. Mrs. Hervey wa
good housekeeper, aud nothing else.
Did her husband spend an evening {
home, he was entertained with the De
C tails ofdomestic management aud domet
:, tic troubles; and, if a more ennobling toE
!, ic of conversation was introduced, Mr.
"A Hervey was too busy, or too much Fl
Il tigued, to listen.
~ Gradually, Edward Hervey withdre
b from home TO spend his hours alone in h
a, office. With too much principle to ia
!. into vice, he became stern, cold ma
;r j. burying his warm affections so deep in h
Il own bosom, that none would drea
u Judge Hervey could ever love. And
ot believed woman mentally inferior to ma
as II took years to effect this change;
nv took years to convince the fond husbar
re- that, for his sake, and tor the sake Of h
ch children, his wife would not spend h
n. leisure hours in developing, discipliniu
r- and strengthening her mind; that s
n. would not seek higher aim in life tn
he the daily answer to the question-."Wi
he shall we eatl what shall we drinkl a
a. where withal shall we be clothedl"
lr. But she was bound to her idols.
IS, be mistress of a well ordered house,
We keep her children neatly clothed, and
is prepare excellent dinners for her b
he band and friends was to her the sine q
non of existence. Yet, in the very p
lily session ofthese things, she was uuhapI
sry She knew nothing of that progress t
the world was making. beyond the gossip
the the day. or the chance remark OF her h'
the band, or his guests; nor did she care
|, CL Lno,y tba unconoeni