Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1855-03-09
MIS- Ell A N Y.
THE DARK HOUR.
ny Krv. II. nurNos WELD.

and yet not alone for, Although.tbere were
none with whom she could exchange thought
the basket cradle at her feet sheltered a liz.
lie being, which made Mary Irvine feel that
whatever the world might think, still she
was not alone. Nor was she eompanionlcss;
what mother is? To the stranger and the
Indifferent, the infant may scch, IL not
cyphcr, trouble, aud wcari,ome charge.
llnt she whose own blood How in it, vcin-
never iorgcts, and neyer s,--.
We have said Mary was still in theblcom
or youth. But the bloom was sadly faded
Carc, suffering, want, had blAnehcd the
ro.cs on her checks \ few DAYS before you
might di.crncd fcyrrish anxiety there, hut
now, all that had pas,.,l The expression Of
her face was thoughtful but still il spakc
rcst. She lad drank of the cup of bitter
nc-s to it, very drcgs but He who hears the
sorrowful signing ofthc wrctched, had COM
fortcl her. The ori,i. had pas-el, and she
rclt that natural composure which steals on
the soul, when all i, done, and all j. suffer
cd,-thc rcst with which Heaven rewards
the patient and the duiihl.
Her story was not rcmarkable one if
hy remarkable We moan To .ay unusual.
The appearance IT the house indicated some
thing n IL; for We imagine there !. always
a significance in the aspect u a dwelling
which one of it, late inmate. has just len,
to 90 IN the marrow house" Mary's hus-
hand had l~rn consigned to the grave. The
ncishlors aud friend. who had aiicd in the
melancholy hustle Of the last oifccs, had r.
turned to their homes, and Mary at with
her lalc in the silent rnom
The husband whom she had buried out of
her sight wa. her choicr,-- wilhl choice
made in spite of the rcmonstAncc-, the OBJ
p'ctions and the forrhoiing, of her RELATIVES.
For short tine after hcr union, it sccmci
as If hi life AMI prosperity were to prove
her triumphant answer to their objections.
hll was sunny. cheerful, promising. Aud
tho ycry friends who had warned anil cNp1s-
iulatrl with her, wcrc willing to believe that
they had ls'n wrong. and Mary right and
that affection hadnot uncrrincly pointed out
tp her cycrllcncic- or character which they
hai not perceived ~ IL willing 10 atone
fur past cnmi'y by warm Friendship, thov
cruwlcd advantage. aud facilities upon
him and literally opcnc,l the way IN wealth.
For time an succcolcl that hc undertook f,
ani M young man in the city s'nmci more
certainly ASSURED II the competence than be-
And Mary, how happy she was We can
pardon her short period of czultation, for
,lr bitterly suffered for IL.
Spme men cannot bear prosperity and
Henry Irvine was one Of thc-c Give them
lissouusrmcnt. to meet, and unpropitious
circumstances IN combat, and they hcw their
way with a silent pride and rr,olute por-c-
yrrrurc which conquer. all ol-tlrlcs. But
lct the Nn shine ou them, then pride soon
finds outrageous utterancr, and their r,llu-
ton drcrncratc- into opinionatci ohstinacy.
They take pleasure in contcmning good al
yicc. and will 10 wilfully wrong. and against
their own conviction 10 mark their indopcn-
dsuc'.
Henry Irvine took early occasion Ia retail
late upon hi. wife. friends, frr whathc at
f,ctryl 20 regard as their unwarrantablc op-
position. IIcaccusrd them, while they were
in no small degree the authors Of hi' pros
rcrity. us being drawn 10 him by il and in
timat,l that sclfshnc-s was the origin Of
their tardy friendship, no lc-' than it had
been Of their former cnmity.
Mary was true wife. She saw the in
Justice of her husband, but declined tq ac-
knowlslgr il, even 20 herself At length,
the cpolncSs became more and more chilling,
until it resulted in irrcpanblc cstransmcnt
between Irvine and the friends of his wife
lie gloried in what be considered a complete
and cndeavorcd to persuade himself was
righteous revenge. lie made his former OPP
ponents suitors for his friendship, and proud
ly spurnel them. Such was his impression.
Theirs was that they had overlooked the
disagrenable character oftheir fayorite's hus'
hand, and striycn To befricnd him; but that
true 10 his natural low instincts, he had re-
fused Neither party was entirely right.
When the breech became final, Mary lr-
vine deserted father aud mother, and kim
drcl, for her husband, and identified her.
selr with him, - Ear as lingering tirst aiTec.
tions would permit. But, ifher heart ycarn-
cd over the dear fret friends Of her youth,
she never suffered hcr conduct TO betray what
she accounted weakness but clung to her
husband with madness Of affection, which
deserved better return than she received.
Henry Irvine, as We have said, could not
bear prosperity. Asccret reason, hardly ac'
knowlclgcd To himself, why he dislikcd his
wifc's connections, was because they perceiy-
ell his dangers, and yen,urcd to warn him.
Ills sentative pride took captious ALARM and
he gloricd in mocking rcproOf, by persistins
in indiscrction.
The end Of such course is easily prophe-
sled. lie fell among thieves, and for wounds
Of friends exchanged the selfish hattery of
knavos. Plucked Of money, and bankrupt
in credit and character; he awaked at last to
find himself ruined man, with meek un-
complaining wife dependent on him, and
feeling twice as keenly as he did, all his ruin
.l I..l.,;,- Tho ,cmnta,ion which has