Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-03-23
CbuirE TitRratnrR.
An Original story in HonelY Frame.


George Clayton was as good tempered and
wel.conducted young man-taking the
worldly average of temper and morals-as
one would meet with among a thousand.-
He had served respectable apre reRticeship as
q cabinet maker to an old established firm,
and at the age of twenty five, found himself |
foreman of the workshop, and in condition
to "marry and settle in life." Gorge had |
been born of the humblest Of the middle
classes, left an orphan at fourteen, and had |
been put out in the world by the united
means Of a few kind hearted relatives, who
wisely thought that pity and Christian sym
pathy would be much moro valuable if ren.
dered practical, by giving the lad little
moral looking after, and a trade-and
George we'll repaid them. He grew into
sober and industrious man, and managed to
save hundred pounds during the four
years he was courting Emma Searl, very
nice looking, fine hearted girl, and the sister
OF one Of his shOpmates, who seemed to pos
sess all the qualities most desirable in the
wife Of an artisan. They seemed we'll suit
cd to each other, but George had failing.
1t was that Of being somewhat overbearing
and exacting where lie could control; and
Emma had a spot in her disc, it was in be-
ing apt to become silent and sensitivelv re-
served If any mortifying incident iostled a.
gainst her spirit; but there seemed every
probability of their forming very contented
couple; and when he stood at the altar, one
fine July morning, in his blue surtout. with
Emma beside him, in her neat gray silk the
clergyman had Il private opinion that they
were \ remarkable good looking pair. A
pleasant little dinner at the brides fathers,
and ramble in the shrubs filled mp the sun
shiny hours, and that day two months we
saw him snugly ensconced in pretty, four
roomed house, in the neighborhood Of Cam
den town. Cleanliness and comfort peryad-
ed the domiciIe, with Emma as the sole pre-
siding spirit, blending in her own proper
person, cook, housemaid, and page. Eve
rything went on smoothly for some few
months her whole attention was gven to
George, for she loved him truly and fondly.
Emma was perfectly happy, but is the long
winter nights came on. and George some.
times staid at his Mechanics Institute, or
had chat with a friend until ten o'clock
why, Emma began to find it little dull i;
and as her husband had entreated that she
would form no gossping intimacy with her
neighbOrs, sewing, scrubbiLg, aud washing
became somewhat monotonouS.
George belonged to an amateur musical
society, and when he did come home soon,
generally sat down to practice a quartette
part on the violin; unfortunately, his wife
had no great love for music but she bore
his scraping and sQueaking bravely, and ever
managed to appear delighted with his ef
forts, though she would often have prefer
red game at crbbage, or q walk or littl
riding; however, she never intertcred Will
his will and pleasure, and George fGdled a
way to his heart heart ; content. 1t 50 hap
pened that Emma's brother Harry droppe
in two or three times when his sister WAS a
lOno, he found her rather mopy; and tn
next time he came, he brought under his arm
very pretty spaniel. Here, Emma sal
he, you are a good deal by yourself, and
thought that this little fellow would serve I
amuse you, and be a sort of company whe
George is out; | know how fond you are
dogs, and I'm sure you'll soon like this one
Emma was, Of course, pleased and gratiic
with the gift, and gave her brother ext
kiss as NAY tupnt Co. ';,aas 49, '-'.O''5l' Il
evening did pass much more cheerful
though she had ouIy stupid little lon
cared 'bow-wow' to talk to, and she sat wi
glistening eyes, expecting George, being su
that he would be rs pleased with Tiney
she was.
When the young husband came home,
was received with the accustomed kind wor
and comfortable meal, and due presentati,
Of riney; but George frowued on the tt
animal with a look Of supreme contempt, al
angrily sand, What do YOU want with I'll
beast; haven't YOU got enough to empl
you without dog! you had better give
back to Harry to-morrow-I won't have
here These few words turned poor Fl
mas heart into an icicle; and, if We mig
reveal the secret thoughts that flashed acre
her brain, we should ;cll Of Il momentary il
preston that George was unkind and SON
what tyraunical, but she smothered her fe
ing', aud said nothing. Tinev WAS kept
day or two, but when George saw Emu
careSs it, or give it foil, he BETRAYED sym
toms Of ridiculous and petti>h jealousy, win
rendered her unhappy and, at last, Tin
WAS gwen DICK 10 Larry. We'll, SalG i
brother, as he took the animal, [ did 1
think that George was 50 selfish; you {
all day long by yourself, and he goes 10
club, and Mechanics three or four times
week, and does everything he likes, and ,
he won't let you have little dog to lie
you company. | think he is very unkil
Emma, but YOU mustn't mind it,
Emma did mind it though, and had
good cry by herself not that she chi
much about the relic of King Charles, |
Georges selfshness in denying her such
innoccut Indulgence; aud it is hardly to
wondered at that when he returned no
that night, and sat down to his music, L
ma went up stairs and commenced neeC
work in Ler bedroom. She had no IA
for music, and if George would not toler
her little spaniel, why should she DC plarr
with his scraping. DAYS went on, and n
ters did not mend. George saw be |
panied his young wife but he was too pr,
to give way, and rathprincreased in dict
rial supremacy and adopted sort Of {
distance towards her