The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1856-01-24

MS hrst chiiu nilnselI Mrs. CROSBY had
selected very pretty name, but her
husband was determined that he should
be y0umg I0m,' and tho wife gave
in; but the rest of the children she
named herself, and we can see that her
tastes diff red somewhat from Toms
He had wanted to call the second boy
Peter, in honor of his grandfather and
then he suggested the name of Hannah
for the first girl, but bis 'plebean (such
was the term Mrs. G. used, names were
not quite up to the mark. But these
children were good. They were, in
fact, the best children in the neighbor-
hood, for their father took great pains
in the formation of their characters, and
their mother felt no greater pride than
to have them appear we'll.
People pointed to Tom Crosby as a
pattern of happiness and peace and
yet he was not always happy. An evil
genius had crept into his houss-into
his home-and he was growing more
unhappy every day; for Tom had never
been happy only when he could make
those around him happy. The pain or
disquiet of single individual in bis
family was sure to upset bis own cup Of
Joy.
Now the truth is, the sweet angel Of
content, which had for so long time
kept guard over Toms household, had
flown away, and another spirit had come
in. Mrs. Crosby had become diScon-
tented and unhappy. She had allowed
the spirit of envy to gain possession Of
her soul, and from the moment she le,
the demon in, her peace of mind va:
gone,
Tom Crosby she said, after the
children had goue to bed, one evening
what is the use of living SOP
Living low p uttered Tom, shaking
the ashes from bis pipe, and putting it
away.
'Why-living as We do now. Plod-
ding along year after year in this same
old train. 1 declare, I'm almost fit to
70 crazy when think ofitp
But, Hannah, l thought you used to
he very happy here
And so l did; but what does that
signify Because was happy when |
was child, does that prove that !
shsuld always want to be a child l
used to be happy here when | thought
we were on the road to something bet
ter. l didn't think when you married
mo, that was to live stuck down here
in this place, and that l was to grow old
and die with the everlasting thumpety
thump of your old hammer dinging in
my ears
But what would you have Hannah'
the husband asked, with tone and ex-
preston of pain.
'What = uttered the woman, ener-
getioally. Why'd have some high
er place in the world than mere COB
BLER's wife !!
'Ab, Hannah, we were once the hap
piest couple in town, and you wsre then
only what you are now. You only want
what you have lost
Lost, Mr., Crosbyi
'Yes, Hannah. lou only want back
that ola spirit Of contentment.'
There it is again, Tom Crosby
Because l would hold my head up lit
tie higher in the world, and be some
bo,ly, | am not contentcd Mercy on
me, would you have soul contented to
see everybody else getting up, and me
be obliged to dig and burrow here p
But who is getting up, Hannah ?
'Who1 Why--tbere's Sarah Brown
that was--now Sarah wilkins just look
at her. She was where was once, but
now she has her coach and servants
and dresses in silks and satins And
then look at Thompson, and Cowley,
aud Nathans. All Of 'em building new
houses, and keeping their horses and
servants. Look at 'em, I say-and
then look at u.s.
But, my love, where shall 1 find
money to do such things p
Find it where other folks find it,
Shup up your little, nasty shop, and 20
! into some business more promising. -