Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1853-04-28

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when she had nothing TO give them; and
for her babyish belief in The possibility
of any other robber than her husband. -
AT the same time, she gave the babies
food and clothing, and set up Janet as a
green grocer in the ncighboring town;
Tor which business her apprenticeship in
her husbands marke.-gardon peculiarly
fitted her.
Time wore on, and fortune gave good
gifts to Janet. BY steadinsss to her bu-
siness she gathered large trade ,oge,h-
er. Her children were her pride. They
were sweet children, and she might
well be proud, and not unwisely anchor
her whole cargo of future happiness on
their well.being and good conduct.
The children had just been put TO bed,
and Janet was working in the back par
lor. The shop was shut, and all was
silent; only the hurried tread of few
passers-by was heard, mingled with the
shrlll laughter of idle boys and girls con-
gregased in the lanes by the scan,y gas
lights Of the town. -
A knock came TO the street door,
Who could it be at this time of night
The widow led quiet and respectable
lite, and was not accustomed TO visitors
so late as this-and was not fond of them
either. However, it nigh, b. a neigh
Dor wanting assistance in some way;
so she rose and went to the door, which
she opened with kind of quake, feeling
that presence of evil which sensitive ma
lures do feel, even while undiscovered.
who is there!' she said, shading the
candle with her hand. so that all the light
flared upon her own face. s..........
Janet, do you not know mel said a
voice she knew too well. A mans hand
touched her arm, and her husband strobe
into the shop. .a 80. .l
He was paler than when she saw him
last, thinner. a nifie bald, and his hair
was s2rinkled with gray. His eyes
were bloodshot, perhaps with travelling,
and his whole appearance was worn and
SHABBY. janet sat down the candle
and stood for moment irresolute. She
neither screamed nor tainted; bu, she
looked ghastly by the flickering light,
aud she could scarcely breath.
Janet said her husband, 10 his gen.
Hest tone, taking her hand lightly be.
tween his own, as one holding by ST fer
ance. no, by right, ARE you glad to see
me again, or have behaved 80 badly,
and you have been too angry ever to for
give me! Shall 60 back, Janet, to all
the misery of my self-reproaches. feel.
ing that you have not forgiven me, and
that God has not excepted my repent
ance, or will you live with me again, a
peniten, and reformed man! | have re-
pen.ed, wife, most bitterly OF all | have
done wong against you. Will you no,
allow my peniience to produce my par
don! Eth, Janet! a+#
Janet was overcome. After all he
was her own husband, lawfully married
oy the creed OF her childhood, and bound
by ties that no man was to pu, assunder
the minister had said so-and he was
the father of her children. If she her
sell still nourished feelings OF bitterness
agains, him, had she the right to deprive
her lilile ones of father! Poor Janet!
She gave ceep sob, and then flung her
arms around the mans neck, and mur-
INJURED some misquoted passage abou. a
prodigal son. which seemed to relieve her
soul nightly, though they were not
quite correct.
Robert was taken to see her children
as they lay sleeping in their little cots by
the eide of their mothers bed. And the
sight affected him much, to Judge by
his tears and upturheG eyes, his low
breathed blessings, and tender caresses.
BY the side Of those little cots he told
Janet how guilty he had been. but only
for leaving her; he stoutly denied all
knowledge OF, or participation in the rob-
berry, occasionee, he suggested. by her
leaving the cottage door ajar: how deep.
ly ne felthis wickedness; and how resolv-
ed he was that future of untirlng good
should wash out his past of evil. Janet
naturally credulous woman-because
a fond one--was doubly convinced and
doubly happy. She had received back.
not only her husband, but saint as well,
and henceforth might except sanc,ifica-
tion OF heart together with happiness of
life in her renewed wedlock. She kiss
ed her husband tenderly, and welcomed
him anew, Il always believed you inno-
cent?
Janet's friends were all displeased
when il was noised abroad that Robert
had returned, and had been received by
her. Miss. Harrington withdrew her
custom, and denied her her house: and
many of her old supporters grumbled at
her loudly, and called her fool for her
pains. Janet let them grumble. Too
happy in her love, and too confident in
her happiness. she was indifferent to the
storm without; and thought not ungrea.-
ful for all that had been done to her, abe
felt tha, she had taken better par, by
reconciliation so fully, tha, these mur-
murs sank into insignificance before the
weigh, Of her spiritual convictions. II
she had been foolish, yet she had been
also morally right; and conscientious
person can well bare up against the
charge Of folly, when backed with this
conviction of right.
Janet. said Robert, after he had been
with her about a month. syour custom