The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1853-03-30


but these were withheld, and the charm ,
life was gone.
Gradual was the change. Bitter tear
were shed and earnest endeavors to pro
duce happier state of things were some
times made, but in vain. Oh could tn
husband but have known how wistfull
that young creature often gazed upon hin
as he sat at the evening meal upon his re
turn from business, and partook of luxu
ries which her hand had prepared in tn,
hope OF eliciting some token of approba
tion-could he have seen the anxious car,
with which domestic duties were superin
tended, the attention paid to the toilette
the constant regard to his most CASUAL,
expressed wishes, surely, surely he woulc
have renounced for ever that cold ,repuIsiy,
manner, and clasped to his bosom III,
gentle being whom he had so lately VOW
ed to love and cherish.
But he saw it not-felt it not Still
proud of her beauty and talents. he loved
70 exhibit her to an admiring world, but
the fond endearments of home were want.
ing; He knew nothing of the warnings
OF that devoted heart; and while the
slightest deviation from his wishes was
noticed and reprimanded, the eager and
intense desire to please was unheeded-
the earnestly desired word of praise was
never spoken.
The first year Of welded life passed
away, and n new chord was awakened.
Mary had become n mother; and as she
pressed the babe to her bosom, new hopes
were aroused. The clouds which had
gathered around her seemed passing away,
and the cheering sunbearns again broke
forth. The manifest solicitude of her
husband in the hour Of danger, the affec-
ton with which he had gazed on the coun-
tenance of his first.born, were promises of
happy days to come.
But, alas! these hopes were but illuso-
ry. All that father could do for the
welfare Of an infant was scrupulously per .
lST%s@l GSs it, ssPasaoaing so ,nssIsst il
marked-apparently uncared for.
ais he not lovelyl' exclaimed the fond
mother, as the babe stretched his little
hands and crowed welcome as the father
entered.
"He seems to be good, healthy child"
was the quiet reply. "a see nothing par
ticularly lovely in an infant six months
old, and il did would not tell it so.-
Praise is very injurious to children, and
you should school yourself from the first,
Mary, to restrain your feelings, and utter
no expressions which will have tendency
to foster the self.esteem comrcon to us
all. Teach your children to perform their
duties from higher motive than the hope
Of praise"
A chill like that Of mid-winter came
over the heart Of the wife as she listened
to the grave rebuke.
There was truth in the words. Our
duties should be per formed from higher
motives than the appreciation of our fel-
low-men; but that little word of praise
from those we love-surely, surely It can
not be hurtful. 1t is one oflifes brightest
sunbeams, encouraging the weak, sooth-
ing the long suffering, bringing rest to
the weary and hope to the despond-
ing.
Something Of this Mary longed to urge,
but her husband had already turned away
and the words died on her lips.
Time passed on. Another and anoth.
er child had been added to the number,
until four bright little faces were seen
around the family table. The father SEEM
ed unchanged. Increasing years had al
tered neither the outer or the inner man,
but in the wife and mother few would
have recognized the warm-hearted, impul-
sive girl, who ten years before had left her
fathers home, with bright visions Of
the future floating before her youthful
mind.
Whence came that perfect calmness o.
demeanor, that almost stoical indifference
to al! that was passing around heri Tc
husband, children and servants she was
the same. Their comfort was cared for
the routine Of daily duties strictly perform.
ed, but always with that cold, lifeless man
ner, strangely at variance with her natu.
raj disposition.
But the change had come gradually,
and the husband noticed it not. To him
Mary had only grown more matronIy
and, wisely laying aside the frivolity o.
girlhood, had acquired the sedateness Of
riper years. True, there were moment,
when his indifference was somewhat an.
noying. Although he never praised, he
often blamed, and his lightest word Of re.
buke was at first always met with gush
Of tears, but now there was no sign Of emo
tion; the placid countenance remained
unchanged, and quietly he was told that
his wisbes should be attended to. Ger
tainly this was all that he could desire
but he would haye liked to feel that hi
pleasure or displeasure was matter o
more Consequence than It now sppearet
to be.
| And yet the warm affections Of th,
heart were not al dead They slumber
ed--wers chilled, pArAIysed starving 70
want Of their proper and natural Dousish
mcnt, but there wass still lie, and ther,
were times when the spirit again thriiIc,
with rapture, as the loving arms OF child
hood were twined Ground the mothef'
neck. or tho early head rested upon he
bosom.