The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1856-10-23

o,1 oil Fneling for the latch of the door, he groaneu
audibIv, and as by magic, the door few OPEN an9 nS
wife stood beside him, smiling and orgnt c1eeAeu,
and with such sweet words OF We!conie "s Ae %.
heard her speak till then. The oaoy sat GROWING ns
r1odnass in the cradle, and the fire threw Its bright
CLEAN over the pretty china OF the tapIe-al was neat
and orderly, even tastefully arranged and as Mr..
Dexter looked around, he felt all the pride and happi-
ness Of a young husband on coming into his own
house for the first time.
To the plain, but good and sufficient ST PIPER both
did ample justice the husband had not eaten the
accustomed luncheon that day, and the wife had been
busy and earned what she seldom had before-an
appetite.
The next day came a trial-some trifing articles
must be bought. and Mr.. Dexter must drive the small
open carriage himself
81 will wear nv mourning dress and VEIL said
Mrs. Dexter, for she saw that her husband was NOR
tilted for her sake; so they set forth together. The sun
shone brightly, and the fresh air and various shows
Of the streets and windows were so celebrating in
their effect, that Mrs. Dexter threw back her veil,
quite regardless Of the astonished looks Of the ladies
she might meet. 1t was q new sensation Of delight
to the husband to manage the horses, and both 1elt
what superfuities coach and coachmen had been:
Affairs went on very well for a time they felt as If
rid Of a great burden, and IN earnest and hopeful
labor experienced no depression and 10 pain. But so
deeply involved were they that even another coming
down must be made. Horses and carriages must be
sold, and themselves be left nothing III the world but
their hearts and hands.
NJ dear, sweet wife, what can I say to comfort
you - said Mr.. Dexter, when he had made a confess
sion Of their extreme poverty. And he added, signing
and sinking down helplesay, ~"things could not be
worse than they are"
81 am glad to hear it, said Mrs. Dexter laughing
outright -" for as nothing remains stationery IN this
world, our affairs must grow better from nece sity.''
But my dear, what can we do" sorroWfully
calculated the husband.
"Why,'' she replied, g begin to live Independent
Of burdens and restrictions. For my part L just begin
to see something to live for"
And 0TlyiOU the p9SV chair to the ire. and placing
the baby on his knee, she proposed to make for her
husband a cup of tea and a piece of toast, in the hgpe
of reyiying his spirits.
There was no bread nor tea IN the house, and worse
than all, no money.
"Surely them said Mrs. Dexter, looking earn
estly in the sad face Of her husband, there IS 10
time to be lost - and putting on her shawl and bon
net she was presently gone from the house. When
she returned it was with a glow on her cheek that
heightened her beauty far more than paint and pow
der had ever done. She had been selling her dla-
monds, and had brought home money enough to buy
Il cottage and ten acres of land withIna few mules OF
the city where they had always lived.
4 year went by, and as MIR. Dexter looked about
his neat, weIl-ordered house; as he sat before the
blazing hickory logs, a pitcher Of milk and a basin OF
shining apples on the table beside him, and saw his
wife in a pretty chintz, making the tea, and his boy,
bright-eyed and healthy, rocking himself IN the era
die with a look Of pride that he was already able to
do something for himself, he was surprised at his own
happiness, and exclaimed, ( Really, my dear, [ should
AAS'NA iACNS AShiA Ci AhAN 80
consequently, never have loved you half SO well, but
for our coming down"
Coming down, indeed - she replied, and putting
down the smoking teapot, she wiped the happy tears
from her eyes 81 Wasneycr so happy III my LIE.
1t is as if we had removed q great heap of rubbish,
and had struck a vein Of gold for what were all
our useless forms, all our servants and cquipage, but
so many obstacles in the way OF our knowing each
other? Then there was nothing l could do for you
now [ can do everything - and almost sobbiGg, she
continued, elf you call this coming down, [ thank
God for it, for it has, III truth, been coming down to
usefulness and Happiness. With what our friends call
ed misfortunes. we were the gamers every time. Was
it not pleasanter to ride in the open carriage, to see
what was about us, ana feel the air and sunshine,
than to be shut up in the oldlumbering coach? And
then to walk and have the advantage OF exercise as
well as air, was better still and now to work, and
so get air and exercise, and be useful at the same
time, is best Of all. One room darkened another
when we had a great house now the light and sun
shine come in all round. Our expensive furniture
required careful keeping so [ had the care both Of
furniture and servants now [ can keep the little we
require myself, and what was before wearisome is
pleasure. L have no ceremonious calls to use the
time which [ can pass in friendly interchange OF
thought and feeling, with ~neighbors who come to see
me, and not my house or dress. Believe me, my
husband, a house to shelter us, and one that is withal
tasteful and pretty, and ground that gives US bread
and fruit, and water and foWers-all for a little
work and that is the blessedest of our provisions for
through no other means can we obtain rest"
"1ou are the best and noblest woman in the
world" exclaimed the husband, lnterrupting her,
g and but for you I should come down in verify.
Now / am convinced that while we maintain honesty
and selfrespect, coming down is impossible
1t is sad to think of the great fine rooms, piled one
over another, and darkcning one against another
too costly for use, and too elegant for the free tread
and merry laughter Of inartifcial joy-growing damp
and mouldy, and sending to the hearts of their in
mates heayiness or stupidity, when we know they
might be set up separately in bright green spots here
and there, and make such little worlds of comforts.
Pity it is that false notions at all, are so enfecbling
and degenerating our men and women. How shall [
spend the time and by what process shall [ beat out
my little gold so that it shall display the most glitter
ing surface? are the first questions of the day.
nNCtJw4nwn. Drwo- "