Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-08-22


along to his store for there came across his
mind DIM recollection Of having heard the
baby fretting and crying during the night !;
and also Of having seen the form of his wife
moving to and fro in the chamber, while he
lay snugly reposing in bed.
But these were unpleasant images, and
Mr. BAN thrust them from his mind.
While Mr.. Balm took his morning walk to
his store, his lungs freely and pleasantly .ex-
panding IN thepure, invigoratiilg air, his wife,
to whose throbbing temples the anguish had
returned, and whose relaxed muscles had
scarcely enough tension tosapport the weight
9f her splender frame, slowly and painfully
eegan the work Of getting her two oldest
Eehlldren ready for school. This done, the
baby had to be washed ard dressed. Ii
seramed during the whole operation, and
when at last it fell asleep upon. her bosom,
sAe Nas 50 completely exhausted. that she
had e lle feEn, Tears wet her pillow as
she lay With Der babe upon her arm. He.
to whom alone sbe had right b look for
sympathy. for suppofl NJ for strength in her
many trials, did not appear 70 sympathize with
her N the least Kshe looked sober from
the pressure, Of pain, fatigue, or domestic
Eilais, he became impatient, aud sometimes
said, with cruel th0ughtIessness that he was
tired Of clouds and rain, and wouldsgive the
world for wife that would smile now and
then. If amid her household cares and du-
ties, she happened to neglect some little mat
ter that affected his comfort, he failed not to
express his annoyance, and not always in care
tully chosen words. No wonder that her
woman's heart melted-no wonder that hot
tears were on her cheeks. .. -
Mr.. Balm had, as we have said, an excel
lent appetite and he took especial pleasure
m its qualification. He liked his dinner
particularly and his dinners were always good
dinners. He went to market himself. On
his way to his store he passed, through the
market, and his butcher sent home what he
purchased.
The marketing has come /" said the cook
to Mrs Balm, about teno'clock arousing her
from brief slunber into which she had fall
len-slumber that exhausted nature demand.
ed, and which would have done far more
than medicine for the restoration of healthy
tone to her system.
Very we'll Twill come down IN 4. Iiftle
while, returned Mrs. Bain,raising herself on
her elbow, and see about dinner. What
has Mr. BAN sent home?
a calfis head =
What r
A calf's head
Very we'll win be down to see about
II Ms Balm repressed any further re-
MAJ n
Sick and exhausted as she felt she must
spend at least twohours in the kitchen in ma
1ng soup, and dressing the calf's head for
her husbands dinner. Nothing Of th;s. .co,,ld
pc trusted to the cook, for to trust any part
otlts preparation to her was to have it spoil
ed. .
With a sigh, Mrs. BAN arose. from the bed.
\ At first she staggered across the room like
one intoxicated, and the pain, which had sub
SIDED during her brief slumber, returned
again with added violence. But. really sick
as she felt, she went down to the kitchen and
passed fully two hours there in the prepara-
ton of deEeaeies for her husbands dinner.
And what was her reward
This IS the worst calfs head SOM Won
ever made. What have YOU done to L h,
sad Mr.. Balm, pushing the plate Of soup
from before him, with an expression Of dis
gust on his face.
There were tears in the eve of the suffer
ing wife, and she lifted them to her husz
bands eountenance. Steadily she looked at
INN for few moments; then her lips euiy-
cred, and the tears fell over her cheek..-
Hastily rising, she left the dining room.
1t IS rather hard thatI can't sneak with.
out having scene" murrnured Mr.Bain. IS
be tried his soup once more. It did not
suit his taste at all; 50 he pushed il from
him, and made his dinner Of something else.
And his wife had been pleased to goofF up
stars IN huff, just at word, Mr.. BAN did
not feel inelind to humor her. So, after I'm
! ishihg his dinner, he took his hat and left the
, house, without so much as seeking to ofief
soothing word.
Docs the reader wonder that when Nh. Balm
returned in the evening, he found his wife 50
seriously i'll as to make it necessary to send
for their family physician? No, the. reader
will not wonder at this. But Mr.. BAN felt a
little surprised. He had not anticipated anY-
thing of the kind.
Mrs. Balm was not only III, but deliriolls.
! Her feeble frame, exhausted By maternal 1u-
ties, and eyer-begining, neyer-ending hous-
hold cares, had yielded under The aecumnla-
! ton Of burdens too heavy to bear.
For awhile after Mr. BAN returned. his
wife talked much but incohefentIg then she
: became quiet. But her fever remained high
and Inflammation tended strongly towards lie
brain. He was sitting by the bedside about
ten O'Clock alone with her, when she began t.
talk in her wandering way again, but hel
words were distinct and coherent
Il tried to do right" said she, sadly; q but
] my head aehed, so that | did not know
/ what Was doinor All ma I ,,a,,s, ,.lsosI