Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-08-08
THE TWO FACES.

-, that the following life-lesson must find aPpI
aa.;on somewhere, else it would never have oeen
written. Or like the pleparsuons Of ~" c.sa of dis
~ NJ even taken as preventive.
Mrs Abby Leeman was thirty years oid' ana nao
,.an married about ten years She had an excel
lent husband, and three good children. one was
naturally kind, excellent woman, ana meant 70 10
rioht. she had one fault and small as 1t seemed TO
he- !, occasioned much unhappiness in the family
circle She was not always pleasant though for the
liz If ber she could not tell what had occurred to
ruff3e her feelings. She had everything about her
calculated to beget joy, and her every reasonable
wish was answered. But after all, she often wore o
sour face, and her tongue would often run on IN
strains tar from sweet or accordant
What is the matter, Abby?" asked her husband,
&C he returned one evening from the store, and found
his wife with sour face on.
"Nothing, was the answer, given rather modify.
"But something must be the matter. You never
look so when you are happy"
"How can help my lcoksf Can't l look as
feel without disturbing your"
"Pshaw Abby-don't talk so, /" said the husband,
at the same time placing his arms about her neck
and kissing her. SHOW tell me what has hap
pened."
Nothing has happened more than usual " utter
ed the wife, still unplcasantly. " Who wouldn't De
until night with two squaling young ones to look
out for all the time"
"Soualling young ones" repeated Albert Leeman,
while an expression of pain passed over his features
ssThere look at that!" cried the wife, pointing
to where her youngest child, girl OF tour years OF
age was lust climbing up to the tea table 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, l say. Touch that sugar
again. and I'll give you such licking as you won't
want"
The Door child tried in vain to hush its sobbing,
&C. <horsc ,;Io uo
placed his arm around the little and raised it to
his knees, and in moment more its Redeemed IN
famed cheek, where the mothers blow had fallen,
was pillowed upon the fathers BOSOM
"Oh, yes" said the wife; "now you'll pet the
brat Ia like to have you have charge of 'em all
day we'd see how much patience you'd have"
{" would at least remember she was my child"
said he somewhat reproachfuly, land also bear in
mind the single fact that the young disposition may
gain all its impulses from the example it receives at
the hand of its guardian"
30 yes, that's it Ofcourse, am always wrong"
and then Abby Leeman 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 before, and he
had often tried to make his wife see how much real
unhappiness 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
band fondy; 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 die she pass
with her husband when the sky clear but a
cloud was sure to bring the storm. For years not a
day passed that had not seen some unpleasant pas
sages between herself and children, and she would
not understand that her very mode of treatment
the disposition she manifested and the language she
used-was surely warpng the minds of her little
ones. In pain and anguish her husband had 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 the peace by such
illusions.
On the present occasion, supper was eaten in ST.
lence The husband pained the wife angry
The child once cried for lump of sugar. and the
mother jerked piece upon her plate with the
words
'There, take it! 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 outburst
And thus matters went on for hour, and at the
end of that time the door bell rang, and CON.
pany was introduced. 1t neghbor and his
wife. In a moment the whole expression of Ahby's
face was changed. Smiles took the place Of frowns,
and her words were as sweet could be; and du-
ring the whole evening she happy and gay as
though cloud had never rested upon her brow.
abby" said the husband after the visitors had
gone, since were married have not done all in
my power to make you happy? Have you ever ex-
pressed an earnest, heartfelt wish that have not
grati6ed?"
Il don't know" replied the wife rather reluc-
family.
"Yes, you do know" replied Albert; "and what
wish to know is this. Why could you not strive
so much to make me happy, as you will to make
those who are not dependent on you for happiness?
When l came home this evening, worn and fatigued
with the ia6ors of the day, why could you not have
met me with smile and happy welcome?"
because l didn't feel like smiling" was the
answer.
But you smiled the moment Mr. Bixbee and his
wife came in; and that too, when your feelings were
anything but pleasant moment before Can you
do for their comfort what you are unwilling to do
for mne?"
81 do the best can, 1 am sure" sobbed Mrs.
Leeman, beginning to cry 81 wish you'd found
wife who could have suited vou better than do T
never can suit-never!"
Abby was in tears and her husband could saw no
more. He could only wish that she could under
stand him. Oh how often when she was kind and
good, did he wish she could always be so and again
when she was making company so happy, how fer
vently did he pray that she would always do the
same for him. She was neat tidy, industrious
woman, and only her own family knew of this dark
trait in her character.
In the same town with Abby lived her only sister
who was married to young man named Charles
Frye. Charles was some eight and twenty, and
Lydia, his wife, Abbys sister, three years younger
This young man was a carpenter by trade: strong
healthy, generous and of superior intellect and ;n
telgence. His business was good, and though he
wore cap and apron ten or twelve hours day. vet
he was laying up money.
Lydia Frye was like her sister in one respect
That sweet smile which visitors found upon her
face never faded in her husbands presence and the
words which the stranges heard her speak to her chill
dren 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 a word which
could bring cloud upon member of the house.
hold.