Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1855-06-02
MISCELLANEOUS.
An Evening at Home

An Evening at Home.
| The wood fire burned cheerfully on tn.
little Franklin stove, and the pclishec
brasses reflected its bright light. Not +,
shred was to be seen on the rug carpet
The plain table was covered with a nea
cloth, and.strewea with cooks. The mus
liz curtains were snowy white, and tn e
plants that stood on the little stand were
thrifty and well cared for On small
lounge, covered with curtain calico, sat a
lady who might have been twenty five
she was not beautiful, but her soft chssnut
halr was braided so becomingly, there was
SO much expression in her dark eye, with
its long ashes. such simplicity and neat
ness IN her attire, that one could scarce oe-
hold her without pronouncing her love
ly woman. BY her side sat a plain but
intellectual looking man, some five years
her senior. One arm encirced her waist
and his hand cIasped hers as he bent to-
wards her, and his tones were low and
tender. while ever and anon those eyes
looked up to his confding.y.
The twilight deepened, and the flicker
lug flame cast but, faint light; still the low
ers (ior such they really were, though
twice twelve mouths had passed since they
took the vow that united them) noted not
the coming shadows.
al " so pleasant to be at our home
again. said Ellen.
And it is quite as pleasant to have you
here once more" answered her husband;
"' can never consent TO have you leave
home for whole week again. Why there
has been shadow upon everything. All
Ellen, you are the light of my home
But say, dearest, and flight shade pass
ed over his brow "did you not sometimes
sigh amid the splendor OF your cousins
dwelling, when you though: Of your plain
home, and still palmer husband' And
when you reflected that her splendid man
sion might have been yours but for your
girlish recklessness, to prefer Plodding
farmer to city merchant"
ooh Ed wardi" answered his wife,
tear dimming her eye, chow can you speak
.sos You know | never loved William
Spencer-you know ! gave you my whole
heart aud have never repented it,"
"No, my love" answered her husband.
soothingly; 81 did not mean that; have
never for moment doubted your affection
But when you saw your cousin surroun-
ded by all The Injuries and elegance of life
with servants to do her bidding, and her
husband dressed 10 the best adva ntage-
and then thought Of your own low roof,
with Its simple furniture, with only your
own self to be maid OF all work, VIXEN you
saw Isabella always at leisure, or only en-
ployed about some pretty piece of tinery,
did you not think OF the scrubbing, the
cooking, the patching, the darning, and
all the etceteras that engrossed your time?
And then your laborious husbands work.
a.day attire did not one sigh escaped" and
he looked half playfully, half earnestly in-
to Der face.
No, Edward. never. never loved
William, and Of course could moi. have
been happy with him in any situation.-
Isabella does love him dearly, and her hus-
band does on her, yet doubt whether they
have half the real happiness that we Ell.
joy. Isabella isa little, very little fret
iul, and her servants often vex her. Then
cousin William is SO particular about his
food, and an overdone 5eefsteak is no more
palatable from silver fork, and heavy
cake is no nicer from silver basket.
am glad you are not annoyed by trihes,
Edward. shall know how to aPpreci-
ate you now
"And are you quite sure that am not
annoyed by triiles?" asked her husband
archly.
"Certainly. have not proved it by two
years experience"
Il am not sure of that Ellen You have
never tried me with such trifes. Let me
have my food half cooked and i'll seasoned
from the hands of satteInly girl, instead
OF the plain, well cooked dishes prepared
by my neat handed wife, and see then
but interrupted you. am sure Isabella
must be very happy all the day, in that
splendid parlor, with carpet SO dainty
that itseems breach OF proprie,y to step
on it, those enormous mirrors that betray
all ones awkward movements, then those
antique chairs. IL believe you call them
covered with rich velvet, and the
lounges, the sofas, the wrought ottomans,
and the other elegant things of which
your humble husband does not even know
their names"
mo, no, Edward" said Ellen, "You
are not quite so ignorant as you profess;
but it is Of no consequence, for it will be
little while before the fashionable world
will be obliged to have new style offur-
niture, because we country people have
learned the names, and are beginning to
initiate the style-but we were speaking
OF Isabella. | think VIE is not as happy in
the midst Of this splendor as am because
am always busy. 1t is not necessary TO:
me to labor, aud it requires considerable