Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-04-04
MisrrllanfnllH.
AN EVENING Ar HOME.

| Little fanAtln stove, ana the pollShed Drasscs
reflected its bright light. Not . shred was to
be be seen on the rag carpet. The plain table
was covered with aneat cloth and strcwed with
books. The muslin curtains were snowy white,
and the plants that stood on the little stand
were thrifty and well cared FOR. On a small
| lounge. covered with curtain calico, sat LADY
who might have been twenty-five. She was
not beautiful, but her soft chestnut hair was
| braided so becomingly, there was so much ex-
preston in her dark eye, with its long lashes,
such simplicity and ncatnes in her attire,
| that one could scarce behold her without pro-
nouncing her a lovely woman. BY her side
sat plain but intellectual looking man, some
| five years her senior. One arm encirclcd her
| waist, and his brown hand clasped hers as he
| bent towards her, and his tones were low and
and tender while ever and anon those eyes
| looked up to his confdingly.
The twilight decpencd, and the Pickering
flames cast bat a faint light; still the lovers.
(for such they really were, though twice twelve
months had passed since they took the VOWS
that united theinA noted not the coming
shadows.
q. s.It is sQpleasant to be at our own home
again. said Ellen.
''And it is quite n pleasant to have you
hepeS once rssEe,' ansWssed ber husband 81
can neser consent ta ahave. you leave home for
a whole week again. there has been a
shadow upon everything. Ah. Ellen, You are
the light of mS homcS But say dearest and
slight shade passedSoyer his open brow,
''did you not sometimes Asigh amid the
splendor Of your coasihs tfwcshng, when you
thought Of your plain home, and still palmer
hush md And whenyou reflected that her
splendid mansion might have been yours, but
for your girlish recklcssness, to prefer plod-
ing farmer TO 4 city merchant?''
sob, Edward!'' answered his wife, a tear
dimming her eye, show can you speak so p
You know l never loved William Spence
you know gave you my whole heart and
have never rcpcnted it,
."No, my love- answered her husband,
soothingly; 81 did not mean that; L have meyer
for a moment doubted your affection sBut
when you saw your cousin surrounded with all
the luxuries and elegance of life, with servants
TO do her bidding, and her husband dressed to
the best advantage and then thought Of yoar
only your own sell 10 be the maid of all work,
when you saw Isabella always at leisure. or
only employed about some pretty piece of fl
! nery did yen not think of the scrubhng the
cooking, the patching, the darnihg, and allthe
etceteras that cngrossed your tiy5e? F? Aad then
your laborious husband with his work-days at
tire-.lid not one sigh escapsao9 and he looked
half playful, half earnestly fii76 her face.
/ emo, Edward, never. never loved Will
lam, and OF course could not have been happy
with him in any situation. Isabella does love
him dearly, ard her husband dctes on her, yet
/ 1 doubt whether they have half the real happi-
ness we enjoy. Isabella is a little, vc~y lit
! tie fretful, and her servants often vcx her.
| Then cousin Willianlis SO particular about his
/ food, and an overdonc bccfSteak is no more
palltable from a silver fork, and heavy cake is
no nicer from silver basket am glad you
are not annoyed at tribes, Edward. shall
know how TO appreciate you now
ssAntl ara. YOU quite sure that I am notannoy-
! ed By htaes? ~ asked her husband archly.
| ..Certainly, have I not proved it by two
years experence?7
! 81 am not so sure of that Ellen. You have new
! er tried me with sWch trifes. Let me have my
/ food half cooked and ill-seasoned from the
hands of satterniy girl instead of the plain,
well cooked dishes prepared by m y neat hand.
] ed wifl, and sec then--but l intcrrdpeti you
| uuinteationalv. lam sure Isabella, must be
very happy all the day, in the splendid parlor
! with a carpet so dainty that it seems a breach
! ofpropriety to step on it, those enormous mir.
rors that betTax all one s awkward movements
then those 'antique chairs, II believe YOU cal
them-coyercd with Itch velvet, and the loun-
ges, the sofas, the wrought ottomans, and the
other elegant things Of which your humble
husband does not even know the nam esp s. 3
E'No, no, Edward, y said Ellen, ..yon are not
4 quite ignorant as you profess; but it is ofnc
consequence, for it viii be but a little while be-
| fore the fashionable world will be obliged K
havea new style offurniture, because we coun
try people have learnedthe names. and are be
/ ginning to initiate the stylc--but we were speak
i ing Of Isabella. think she isnotas happy in tht
midst Of splendor as 1 am because am alway
busy. 1t is not necessary for Isabella TO Ia
/ Dor, and it requires considerable decision o
character to keep one self employed wher,
/, there is no INCENTIVE. s d ia s.-sfra Z
s'If | set my pantry in order, ] have no on
to dis arrange ii, and am more than repaid b.
the pleasure take in seeing it tidy If
! stitch the wristband, or darn the stocking,
know that this will add to the comfort of hin
, l loye-if I weed and water my flowers, the
always smile upon me in return. Even i