Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1853-08-26
The Test Of Love.
BY FANNY FERN.

BY FANNY FERN.
4 "For charity's sake, take me in
said the lively little Mrs. Gray. with 6
look of mock distress, as she peeped hel
brigh, face into my room. :" If you'll
credit it, my husband hasn't spoken five
lconsecuti words since tea-time, and
/, I'm quite undecided whether TO lave the
fraised, so that | can breathe freer,
.oo. into a violent fit Of Mysteries.
Me- "said she, with ludicrously
soIsron [ o;,,, "I shouldn't be surprised il
7 had had MARI, cd he wrong man. Now,
Edwsrd ;s y, ,e Of the bss, creatures in
the world-th, ,re, that is just T.! said
che nm,;na up. shes too good. ]
can't think of a fault ne has; he's aw-
fnlIv correct "a living reproof to me.
Do comnassio nate me. Matty. | have
wba, The old lad,, IS call model husband
Now. isn't il pi. ~ that goodness and
s,un;d;tv oenerslly - together9" said
she. laughing. ..Neo' is SO matter. Of.
fact. Now if I'm read.'l's q oook ana
come across a passage tn, a. oelisn's me
J always want to put mya rln around 'he !
authors neck and kiss hi M wen,
read IT to Ned. and says ne, quietly
5(without looking up from HI ne"spa'
per,) yes, it's pretty good On uea'
he never gets up enthusiasm al 'ont an.
thing. He lacks feeling. It's reali.
pitiable, Matty," (.hrowing hers eli on
the sofa with a suppressed yawn.,
"All isn't gold that glitters. MAJ Y
and there are gems, too, Of whose va 'u'
the possessor is sometimes ignoran y
These butterflies that dazzle in society
are mostly mere moths at home. Abroad !
they are refined, polished, graceful, full
Of repartee and wit; but at their own
hearlh-stone silent, moody, selfish, ex.
acting, uninteresting., You'd never re.
cognize them You remember Vivian
-? Well, that's his mental daguer-
reotype; in private he's the most un.
loveable Of mortals."
"Well, this worlds humbug, then"
said Mary, cor I'm one Of its restless,
dissatisfied ones and, by-the-way, Mat.
ty. how came you to be an old maid 2"
Simply, because you appropria ted
the only man | ever wanted," was Mat
tvs quiet reply.
The blood rushed to Mary's temples
she was at Matty's side in an instant,
urging her 10 full confession.
"Ah, | see, my little lady. your heart
is in the right place after ali, else you
wouldn', be jealous. Eve great hopes
OF you! blessings eften brighten when
we imagine they are about 10 take fghl.
Your husband never spoke word Of
love to me in his life-I only wish he
had. | shan't enioin secrecy upon you
as TO my preference, because know you
would not have him know it for king.
dom; SO Pm safe. But, seriously,
Mary, you don't know how to value
Edward. A few more years over your
sunny head, and little more expert
ence Of the world, and you would not
barter him Tor the most brilliant idol
your Imagination ever set up for your
heart to worship"
That day was nearer than Matly proph
esied Mary. shortly after, was taken
i'll. For weeks she was
balanced between life and death. Whose
supplicating eye caught the physicians
with such fearful anxiety? whose hand,
with more than woman's tenderness,
smoOthed her pillow and shaded her eye
balls who, with uplif,ed finger, crept
softly about the house, hushing every
noisy football? who surrounded her with |
every comfort and luxury that ade ection
could think of. or money (hardly earned)
could procure? Who, when wearied
with business cares. still kept tireless
vigil ill the stars faded away, at the
bedside Of the poor suferer9 Who
grasped the physicians hand, saying,
"Save her! 1t is life or death with me
as well as Mary!" Who but the matter.
of-fact Edward7
One day. after Mary was GONZALES
cent, called to see her. "Thank God,
you are spared TO us!" said |, touching
my lips to her forehead.
After him. thank my husband" said
Mary. with eyes liquid with feeling.-
"ln this sick room have learned les
son shall never forget. Oh, Matty!
there may be deep, strong love in the
heart, where deeds, not words, are the
interpreters Please God 10 spare my
life, my poor love shall be his reward"
Mary kept her word.