Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-10-18
THE WEEKLY STAR.

out ere II was half done, and TO finish, as
she said, her trouble, two friends returned
with her husband.
Very dear friends they were to be sure.
and at another time glad enough would
she have been to see them. but then
oh. she wished them further. She was
Obliged to suspend her labors and comb
her hair and change her dress ere she
could give the greeting, and then only
moment could she tarry, for dinner must
be prepared, and as there was company,
everything must be III perfect order. Ii
was nice, 1t was excellent, but somehow
no one enjoyed it. The guests felt in
stinctively that they had intruded. Mr..
Grey knowing the condition of affairs,
was i'll at case, while his wife-but all
women similarly situated will guess her
! feelings, and no one can describe them.
i here was no time after the repast to
clear the table and dress the younger
children, so leaving both in the care of
! Julia, she set out for church, not to wor-
ship, for she was in no frame Of mind To
do that, but TO perform a Sabbath day
duty. We will pass over the doing the
work on her return, the getting tea, and
putting children, (croSS, not because they
! in the least wanted to be, but because
they could not help it, into their beds,
/ and see her enter the sitting-room at eight
o'clock, throw herself on a lounge and
hear her cXclaim, II am tired to death"
" don't wonder at it, wife, said her
husband, compaSSionately, two hours of
( quiet with his fire and books having Ie-
stored his good humor, somewhat, it must
he confessed. out the way Of the annoy
anccs of the day. Il was sorry TO bring
those folks to dinner, but could not avoid
/ it without being very rude"
! Never mind that-if | had things as
/ they should have been, it would have been
well enough, but somehow nothing goes
right any more on Sunday. | actually
! dread TO have it come"
But it was not always so, wife. Don't
you remember how happy you used TO be
when we were first married! All, it was
halycon day then. W
Yes, | remember it we'll" she muir
INJURED. and leaning her head on her hand
she grew thoughtful. Memory held up
beauteouS pictures to her.. the happy
Sundays of child and girlhoOd, and of
carly married life were lived ever again,
and indeed it was golden age.
Then in the vile contrast came up the
Sundays of the last two or three years.
and then spake conscience in terrible
voice, and uttered the cause: and tears
hot and many rolled down her checks
The only day of the week which her hus-
band could spend with his family was
despoiled of comfort by herself; she was
bringing her children up to dread and
hate even the day sacred to worship and
homes purest joy; she was learning her.
self to look upon it as day of trial,
day of toil-and why Because mostly
of little more sleep and little more
slumber."
No words passed between husband and
wife till they rose to retire. Then taking
her hand he said, half seriously, half jo-
coscly, suppose, Julia, we turn over a
new leaf This is the last Sunday in the
year. Shall we begin anew and right on
the first Of the next!"
"We'll try" was the brief answer. in
voice choked with emotion.
And she did try Let us see the result.
1t is beauteouS Sunday morning, a
smile upon heaven and earth. and smile
on the countenance of each member of
the family, as they gather at half-past
seven around the neat breakfast table COW
cred with cloth rivalling the snow in
whiteness and set with Shaker like pre-
cision. And the viands, not costly are
they, and vet king might relish them
steaks broilod to a turn, potatoes bursting
into flakes, coffee clear as rare old wine,
and-pancakes as light as feather.
And what a beautiful group, discuss
the meal, father in his Sunday suit, in the
best of humor, mother in neat morning
dress, every braid in place, and children
with plated and curled tresses, and white
foreheads open to view, and all in church
dress too-ah, it is home picture,
beautiful to the eye and cheering to the
heart.
The day was well begun and half the
race was run. Everything went easy for
there was plenty Of time and every one
was good natured in the use of it. The
mother did get out in the morning and
had the pleasure not only Of listening to
an eminent preacher, she had long yearn-
ed to hear, but enjoyed the devotions with
heart in its right place. Theold friends
long absent from the place, were met, and
cordially invited home, and to seat be-
side her table, spread ere she had left for
church. The tea table was joyous
place, and the time spent in the sitting
room with husband and little ones, was
in truth as foretaste of heaven, while
the quiet evening was full of bliss. My
cup is FULL" was her language as she
pressed her pillow, "this has been indeed
blessed day; thank God that He gave
me strength of will to turn over new
leaf"
n = Mr.. Redblossom drank rather more
than his usual allowance of rum and
water, one cold night last week the con-