Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1855-06-06
1.-rHE GOOD HoUsEKEEPER.

preparation.
I.-THE GOOD HoUsEKEEPER.
al have brought home new book to
read to you this evening, dear Mary"
said Edward Hervey to his young wife,
as they rose from the table; eve are
fairly settled now and begin to enjoy our
home"
40, l shall 5e so glad if you can only
spend your evenings at home," exclaim-
ed Mrs. Hervey.
Her husband smiled at her enthusi'
asm-it nearly, if not quite, equalled his
own.
81 must sometimes be gone an hour
or two after tea," he said ''but most of
these long winter evenings l hope to
spend at home. HOME how sweet the
word sounds. 1t is a long, long time
since 1 had home, and now"
Hervey's emotion prevented his COM
pleting the sentence. Thoughts of his
long years of orphanage-his struggles
with the world-his heart loneliness,
contrasted with the present blissful frui
ton of all his fond day-dreams, choked
his utterance. the crystal tear-drop
bedimmed his eye, and turning abruptly
awav, he left the room.
Mary Ellsworth, the object of Her,
vey's choice, his gentle Mary as he
fondly called her, was woman of warm
affections, and not one of the varying
sades of thought that passed quickly,
but eloquently, over her husbands face
had escaped her notice, and heart throb-
bed joyously at the thought that it was
TO be her delightful life task to bless him
whom she loved SO devotedly.
She knew she was well instructed in
those domestic duties which are indis-
pensable to home-happiness, and she
looked around on her little domain with
the satisfaction aad pride of young en-
press.
Half an hour later, and the shaded
lamp, the easy chair and slippers, the
brightly blazing FIRE, and the smiling
wife with her work basket, presented to
the eyes of the returning husband the
fac simile of his ideal domestic Eden.
"Now, for the book" said Hervey,
when fairly ensconced amongthe cushions
of his luxurious chair; and he proceeded
to remove the wrapper from an elegantly
bound volume.
"What have you there asked his
wife, attracted by the beautiful appear
ance of the book. ''Let me see it a mo-
ment. Cowper's Poems. Well, it is
handsomely bound" and after turning
over the leaves few moments, she re-
turned the book to her husband.
Hervey took it with an indefnable leel-
ing Of disappointment-a half conviction
that he ought to apologize for-he knew
not what
81 am anxious to possess the works of
all the standard poets," he said at length,
''and thought we could read them to-
gether this winter; and it seemed to me
that Cowper's Task would be an appro-
pirate beginning. 1 believe you like
poetry, do you not ?''
"oh, yes, very much" was the re-
ply; "why don't you commence read
ing ?"
Hervey commenced reading, and for
time his wife seemed interested, and
her appreciating glance, as he comment
ed on the poets fancies, banished all
feelings Of disappointment. But an hour
passed away, and Mary became more
absent-minded, and SO deeply absorbed
in her own thoughts that she heard not
the reading and when a remark from
her husband reused her, half vacant
look, and half uttered response plainly
told that her mind was otherwise occu-
pied.
AT length he paused.
What would you like for breakfast,
Edward 90
All! how that question destroyed ev
cry vestige of one scene in his ideal
panorama of married mans existence.
"She's fool p" was his first indig-
nant thought; but the second, cooler
reflection, was, 81 have read to long l
have wearried her; and it was her love
for me that prompted that question"
A few more attempts on succeeding
evenings, and the standard poets were
read in silence, and without comment.
/ Mary had discovered that she did not
like poetry.
Time passed on.
Mrs. Hervey was pattern housekeep-
er, good wife, and an excellent mother,
SO far as all things relating to physical
well-being were concerned. The home
of the Herveys was quiet, well-ordered
house, but the husband and wife were
not happy. They never quarrelled, but
there was no congeniality of feeling. Mrs.
HerTey was a good housekeeper, and
nothing else
Did her husband seat himself for qui-
ct evening at home, he was entertained
with the details of domestic management