Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1854-03-17
stranger, before trying to regulate things
at home?' II was good, saving thought
"a third person should never know these biek-

sTdnger, DeIore brylng 70 regulate tnlne
at home? p II was q good, saving though
"a third person should neper hnow these bieA
ings.
| Vernon went home at an earlier hour tha
usual, and found his wife alone The chill
dren were at the opera, and he was great
interrupted in the thoughts he had resolve
to utter, by the vehement expressions Of hi
wife, that "he kept no better eye over hi
boy" Mutual recriminations passed, an,
as the tempest lulled, Vernon began to sug
gest the propriety of adopting some new
mode Of arrssting these petty irritatisna.
"You remember, wife," said he chow ",
used to live when we were frst married ?,
| "To be sure do" replied Mrs. Vernon
"and often think of that little east wir.
dow in our sitting room where used Il
look over to the widow Aliens, and fancy
almost knew all they were doing. And
then We used to have a principle about
things; We had meal times, and working
times, and prayer times, and go-to- meeting
times but now it's all changed. There
no life in those buildings opposite to me :.
nothing is right here. The sun rises in the
wrong place, and the stars don't look hall
as bright As then, and to my eye there has
been gradual change going on ever since
We gave up the old fashioned notion that
~orhing upon moral; conscientious grounds wa
all moonshine- since then oLr children hsve
run at random, and do believe these new
ways only choke up the truth, and cloud,
rather than brighten, our way. | have
been bothering over new-fangled schemes
about "woman's rights" and you have
been fussing about anti-chureh, iHdspsnd-
snt, free inquiry; and, husband, date our
unhappinass away back to surrendering
our frs principles; it has vexsd me 4 great
while: but have thought in time we might
become recenciled to living 50 bat we can
not feel it-i know it,
Vernon's conscience was first awakened.
and you may be sure ii did not slumber
until he had reviewed his life and attempted
a reform, and that he knew, must begin
with himself, before be could affect others.
The next morning the children were not re.
proved, as formerly, but some gentle words
were uttered, unheard by others, which had
an astonishing influence upon their happi-
ness through the day. Mrs. Vernon's brow,
too, began, to clear; not all at once was
she made happy, nor yet quiet, but gradu-
ally a softened manner took the place of the
former peevlsh one, and there was many
proof that the upbraiding conscience made
her susceptible to her own sins, instead of
dwelling upon others; and no surer evidence
Of repentance could be furnished.
The next Sabbath the family were at
church; this day seemed to pass more hap
ply than usual. Each one was Mt pe.ce
with self, and tb 1t made halo around the
circle.
That home is now model one. Two
years have passe since the regeneratinz
process began there is now no difference
6.f're oisitors, petty annoyances are borne
patiently, and the children delight in pass
ing their evenings at home, where pleasant
amusements, or the appearance of . friend
gives new zest to the conversation. To be
sure, life is not all = perfect sunshine; the
Vernons have their cloudy days and stormy
days, as we'll as calm, sunshiny ones, but
tho principle with which they meet these
events, is what made the overturn. Life to
them is now viewed as n scene Of discipline,
which, if faithfully acted out, will events
ate in higher and better one; this gives q
new coloring to the whole surface, and
makes all the rough and uneven places 90
mingls with the smooth and pleasant ones,
that there Is no discord, a. ell finally tend
to mako a perfect home.
ssI'LL DO 1T WE'LL '-Therelires in Nav