The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-04-10
BIDDEFoRD NAME FRIDAY, APRIL 49, 1857

you happy Have you ever expressed IN
an earnest wish that have not gntified7
Il don't know replied the wife, rather
reluctantly. '''. .,.o..,i5 .f.. ,.f.'-
Yes, you do know replied Albert -
and what wish to know Is this: Why
you cannot strive rs much to make me hap
py as you do to make those happy who arc
not dependent upon you for happiness
When came home this evening. worn and
fatigued with the labors Of the day, why
could you not have met me with smile ana
cheerful welcome?' -.-g ..
Because didn't feel like smiling, was
the answer. Hu, DEL.
But you smiled The moment Mr.. Rixbee
and his wife came in; and that, too
swhcn your feelings were anything but pleas
kIant moment before. Can you do for their
Icomiort what you are not willing to do for
mine = ..... ...,
Il do the best can. an sure sobbed
Mrs. Leeman, beginning to cry. Il wish
you'd found wife who could have suited
you better than do. can never suit you
-never?' .... ...s
Abby was in tears, and her husband could
say no more. He could only wish that she
would understand him. Oh! how often,
when she was kind and good, did he wish
she would always bc 80 and again when
she was making company 50 happy, how
fervently did he pray that she would always
do the same for him. She was neat, tidy,
industrious woman, and only her family
knew of this dark trait in her character.
In the same town with Abby lived her
only listers, who married young man nam.
ed Charles Frye. Charles was some eight
and.twcnty and Lydia, hi. wife, Abby's Sis
ter, three years younger. The young man
was a carpenter by trade; strong, healthy,
generous, and Of superior intellect and intel
ligencc. His business was good, and though
he wore paper cap and apron ten or twelve
hours day, yet he was laying up money.
Lydia Frye was unlike her sister in one re-
spect. The sweet smile which visitors found
upon her face never faded in her husbands 5
presence, and tho words which the stranger
heard her speak to her child were never more
harsh when alone with her little one. She
loved her husband and she loved her child /;
and never did she knowingly speak word
which could bring cloud upon member
of her household.
And between these two sisters there was
an estrangement. Several times Lydia had
expostulatcd with Abby on account Of her
fractiOus treatment Of her children, and once
she had even gone 50 far as to put her arms
about her sisters child and protect it from
the mothers rage; and 1t unfortunately
happened that on that evening Mr.. Lceman
asked his wife why could not she be Us kind
and mild always as her sister was. Then
added to this, Abby shortly afterwards
learned through meddlcsome ncighbor,
that her sister had given her husband, Al
bert, some advice us how he might best pun
ish his fractions wife. This clapped the eli
max in Abbys mind, aud from that time
there was no intercourse between the two
sisters.
One day Albert came home with tho pleas
in; intelligence for his wife, that her father
" ,uld be thcrc tho next morning, and he
,l;cnded to settle down and find home
.itby was in cxtacies. She loved her father,
81 hc was good man, and had ever been
k nd to his children. And he was wealthy,
to-.
On tho following day Moses Gorham
came. lie was an old man now. past sixty,
with white hair, and mild, benevolent look
and Abby was very happy. Her father told
her he had finished his travels, and meant to
settle down with one Of his children for the
remainder Of his days.
'Oh. Of course you'll come and stay with
u.s. Abby said, We've 60. the most room,
and are the best able to keep you.'
'Ah, my child returned the old man,
with smile, Il am better able to keep my.
self. But can tell you better about that
after have been here spell.
At the end ofa week, Mr.. Gorham in
formed Abby and her husband that he had
that day dep sited in the bank twenty thou.
sand dollors in their name, and that they
might draw it rs they pleased. lie thus
wished them to enjoy q part, at least, o!
their patrimony, while he lived. or course
the reader can imagine how this announce
mcnt was received. But tho old man did
not stop long to hear their thanks, for he
had the same errand to Lydia and her hus.
band.
lie found Charles Frye and wife both oc-
cupying one chair when no entered, Lydia
sitting in Charles lap, and tho child in
hers lie told them What he had done, and
1t was some time before one Of them could
speak. But Charles was the first to break
the silence. ..e7s'N .ar -'.F1
"Mr. Gorham, he said in low, tremu.
lous voice, Il accept your generous offer,
and the more readily, too, because know it
comes from the hand Of love. But, sir,
could not have asked-I could not have ex.
pcctod it-on the ground that I am your
son.in.law. Fo, no, for in this noble wo-
man you have given me a treasure such as
few men can possess. Oh, you cannot
know what heaven and earth my homo is
whiic-while-my wife f- ,1 a}lat -E
But Charles had undertaken o work he
i N u A. IL.