Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-09-09
MISCELL A N Y
The Two Faces.

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The Two Faces.
s@ TIE ONE FOR HONE, TIE OTHER FOR COMPANY.
OF course, we never mean to be personal, but
yet know that the following life-lesson must
find application somewhere, else it would never
have been written. Or, like the preparations
of the universal physician it may be laid up for
use in case of disease, or even taken as a pre-
ventive. s,@.E H. Nt'"
Mrs. Abby Leeman was thirty years old, and
had been married about ten years. She had an
excellent husband, and three good children
She was naturally a kind, excellent woman, and
meant to do right; she had one fault ; and small
as it seemed to her it occasioned much unhappi-
ness in the family circle. She was not always
pleasant, though for the life of her she could
not tell what had occurred to rufle her feelings.
She had everything about her calculated to be-
get Joy, and her every reasonable wish was an
swered. But after all, she often wore a sour
face, and her tongue would often run on in
strains far from sweet or accordant.
'sWhat is the matter, AbbyG" asked her hus-
band, as he returned one evening from the store,
and found his wife with sour face on.
Nothing" was the answer, given rather
moodily.
never look so when you are happy"
'fIow can help my looks2 Can't look as
I feel without disturbing you2"
"Pshaw Abby-don't talk SO" said the hus-
band, at the same time placing his arms about
her neck and kissing her. snow tell me what
has happened2"
"Nothing has happened more than usual, ut
tered the wife, still unpleasantly. "Who wouldn't
be sober, I'd like to know, stuck up here from
morning until night, with two squalling young
ones to look out for all the time"
Signalling young ones" repeated Albert Lee
man while an expression Of pain passed over his
features.
''There look at that !" cried the wife, point
ing to where her youngest chile, girl of four
years of age, was just climbing up to the tea ta-
BILE after the sugar bowl. "Get out of that you
little brat There-take that, and let me catch
you up there again. Stop that crying-stop it,
say. Touch that sugar again, and Ill give you
such licking as you won't want"
The poor child tried in vain to hush its Sob
bing and instinctively crept by its fathers side
He placed his arm around the little one and rails
ed it to his knees, and in moment more its red
dened, inhamed cheek, where the mothers blow
had fallen, was pillowed upon the fathers bo-
som.
"Oh, yes" said the wife "now you'll pet the
brat. I'd like to have you have charge of 'em
all day; we'd see how much patience you'd
have I"
81 would at least remember she was my
child" said he, somewhat reproachfully, "and
also bear in mind the single TACT that the young
disposition may gain all its impulses from the
example it receives at the hand ofits guardian" +"
30 yes, that's it. Of course, am always
wrong" and then Abby LeeInan put her apron
to her eyes and began to cry.
OF course the husband could say no more
He had often, very often, suffered all this be-
fore, and he had often tried to make his wife
see how much real unhappness she was making
for herself; but she would not listen; or, if she
did, the impression was not lasting. In fact,
she had no patience with her children, and the
single ruffle of moment was sure to make un-
happiness for her. She loved her husband fond
" and her children she loved too. She was
proud OF them, and for their comfort she would
sacrifice any amount of personal convenience.
Many and many an hour of blissful joy did she
pass with her husband when the sky was clear,
but cloud was sure to bring the storm. For
years not day passed that had not seen some
unpleasant passages between herself and chill
dren, and she would not understand that her
very mode of treatment-the position she mani
tested, and the language she used-was surely
warping the minds of her little ones. In pain
and anguish her husband he'd tried to show her
this, but she would not listen; and then when
she was calm and reasonable, Albert could not
find in his heart to destroy her peace by such
illusions.
On the present occasion, supper was eaten in
silence. The husband was panied, the wife an
cry. The child once cried tor q LUMP of sugar,
and the mother jerked piece upon her plate
with the words
"There, take i'll You want everything you
set your eyes on"
The little one ate the sugar in silence, while
the mother felt more dismal still from this new
outburst And thus matters went on for an
hour and at the end of that time the door bell
rang, and some company was introduced. 1t
was neghbor and his wife, In moment the
whole expression of Abby's face was changed.
Smiles took the place of frowns, and her words
were as sweet as could be and during the whole
evening she was happy and gay as though a
cloud had never rested upon her brow.
"Abby," said tine husband after the visiters
had gone, "since we were married have / not
done all in my power to make you happy q
Have you ever expressed an earnest, heartfelt
wish that have not gratifedG"
81 don't know" replied the wife rather reluct-
antly.
"Yes, you do know" replied Albert; 'and
what l wish to know is this. Why could you
not strive as much to make me happy, as you will
to make those who are not dependent on you
for happiness When came home this even
ing worn and fatigued with the labors of the
lav, why could you not have met me with a
smile and happy welcome?'
Because don't feel like smiling" was the
answer. Il 4
''But you smiled the moment Mr. Bixbee and
MS wife came in; and that, too, when your feel
ngs were anything but pleasant moment be-
ore. Can you do for their comfort what you
ire unwilling to do for mine2"
81 do the best can, am sure" sobbed Mrs.
-eeman, beginning to cry. ~ wish you'd found
. wife who could have suited you better than |
10. never can suit-never
Abby was in tears and her husband could say
10 more. He could only wish that she could
him. Oh! how often when she was
sind and good, did he wish she could always be
10; and again when she was making company
70 happy, how fervently did he pray that she
would always do the same for him. She was q
heat, tidy, industrious woman, and only her own
amily knew of this dark trait in her character.
In the same town with Abby lived her only
lister, who was married to young man named
Charles Frye. Charles was some eight and twen-
y, and Lydia his wife, Abby's sister, three years
Iounger. This young man was carpenter byl
rade; strong, healthy, generous and of superior
Intellect and intelligence. His business was
;ood, and though he wore cap and apron ten