The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-12-03
II LOVE YOU"
Who do you suppose said it9

No! Not that bright creature, by whose
side stands lover, looking SO tenderly in
those glorious eyes. She is very beauti.
tul, with her cheek Of rosy hue, and the
curling auburn tresses that the wind
sports with SO gallantIy but she did not
say it. Nor yet the dimpled babe, with
the cherub face, lifted to the more mature
but not less innocenuy sweet features,
with the holy light Of mother glorifying
every smile.
Then who doyou suppose said it
Wrong again. Not that newl y welded
husband, whose home for few teeting
months he has aptly called heaven-fulI
OF smiles and tenderness, and OFT repeated
VOWS fitting like bird of paradise in
rainbow plumage; where n pretty, white
rohed being with girlish, matronly air,
giides aGou, the neat kitchen making with
her own hands the snowy bread. Where,
when the sdious shop is closed, he can
come home with a bounding heart, and
sitting with her hand in his, rove with a
pair ot brown eyes over his "Daily," every
little while STOPPING to snatch a kiss from
the red lips so close TO his cheek. Altho'
he whispers many titles of love, yet this
Il love YOU" WAS not spoken then and
;hcrc.
a tired woman sits hushing 10 sleep
her nesting babe. Beauty once made
that face radiant, perhaps, but all that
beauty has gone now. The blue eye is
dim and !aded-thc wEole expression is
full-the pale brow covered with
lines Of care. Perhaps, with that far.oif
look Of hers, she sees three little graves
! green with AS many summers. Her home
is very humblc--all day she has toiled,
and the faintng spirit ALMOST surrcnders
to fatigue, tho downcas, eyes tremble in
| tears--shc is SO weary. And every nerve
tingles when the boys come hungry from
school, some with weeping and tales Of
sorrow that mother must hear.
And after they are hushed with kisses
or chidings, it is time to get supper for
seven hungry mouths, and then tho ac-
customed never.ending routine of putting
away aud clearing up, till the worn. out
creature wonders with sigh if there
really will come rest to her--an cter-
nal rest.
At last she can seat her weary limb, in
the old corner rocking, chair. The babe,
whose eyes close titiuIly to low lullaby,
lies in his fathers lap. He is a PLAIN
man, that good father, with an honest
face, and great heart, that would if it
could, take in all the care and sorrow
of the household.
The babe sleeps. With rude gentle.
ness he lays it on its mothers bosom, and
rs the ruddy hre-light plays over her
care-worn features, he looks upon her
with eyes suddenly grown lustrous and
beautiful. lie lifts his great hand soft
| ly, till it rests on her shoulders, as he
says:
Il love you, dear Mary"
How the poor heart leaps into love
light, and rest How vanish the cares
that trod upon her very soul. She no
more remembers that toisomc washing.
She reflects not that the pretty babe
its pink flushed check against her breast
has worn her patience thread bare with
its constant tears and unrest. She for
gets that the broth was burnt-that the
children teased her--that the line broke,
and that every limb in her frame ached
with fatigue.
What were these in comparison with
the steadiast love that had burned for
eighteen years in the sunlight Of happi
ness, through the clouds Of despair when
beauty made her winning, and when her
charm Of loneliness had gone, and the
freshness of her youth departed forever.
Whs: cared she for aught outside her
home, though she had made sorrows,
whilo such words thrilled her whole
being
81 love you, dear Mary"
All you long.married husbands, who
exact every attention as duty-how
much would it cost you 10 make your
home thus beautiful with all its cares
tell you one word of love viii loosen
great burdens from the shoulder OF the
toil0g woman you call wife. Try it. Go
home some night, and look upon her
heart when she married you. Then ten
derly clasp her hand, and she looks with
wonder-opened eyes, say to her in low
and steady voice, not carelessly nor spor-
lively, but earnestly:
Il love you."
Trust me, it will be to her and to you
both "betier than diamonds"