The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1857-07-04

had been drawn Tor personal expenses. Ole
half of that sum. added to his capital, would
have made all safe.
This will never do" he said to himself
We are living too extravaSant. There must
be change"
But what would his fashionable wife say to
this Would she be willing to give up her
fashionable home and retire from her gay po-
sition9 \ feeling of Encouragement came
over him as these questions arosein his mind.
"She must give it up-she must retire.
he said to himself, with some warmth. But
he did not wish to make known the fact OF
his deep embarrassment for he had no conf
dcncc in her power to endure rcvcrses. If
she sunk down in weak distress. the burdens
re had 70 bear would be - much the heavier; !;
and they were quite heavy enough already.
After viewing the matter on all sides. and
pondering it deeply. Williams came to the con-
clusion that the only economical change like
lv to meet his wifc's approval. was a change
from their own home to fashionable board
ing house. A close calculation satisfied him.
that. to do so, would lessen their annual cx-
penses about one thousand dollars.
Anna" he said to her. one evening break
ing through his cold, distracted silence, we
are living at too costly Il rate"
Mrs Williams turned her eyes upon his
face. with the manner of one who had heard
unpleasant words. but did not fully compre-
hend their meaning.
1T would cost us less to board; and you
would be freed from household cares. he
added
Don't think of ii. Leonard" was her
prompt reply. spoken in very decided tone.
Il cannot he induced to give up my elegant
home. As to household cares, l am not
troubled by them"
1T is question Of economy" said Viii
l;am>.
"lf that is all. the question may as well
Sleep replied his wife. almost inditfcrcntly ::
for it costs quite as much to live in first
class hotel or boarding rs in Your own
home"
Williams had no more to say \ deep sigh
tiuttercd on his lips; his gaze withdrew itself
from the countcnancc of his wife and fell TO
the floor his head sunk low upon his bosom.
and thought went from his home. to wander
among the scvthins breakers. toward which
his vessel was driving. hoping to find some
narrow passage through which he might steer
in safety to a smooth haven. lie felt colder
toward his wife after that: and she was con-
Scious of the coldness. without imagining
the cause
No change in the style or cost of living
took place. That heavy burden he had to
carry in addition to his other heavy burdens
and it required all his strength.
During the two wears that elapsed before
his feet were on firm ground again. he ap-
pcarcd TO have lost ali interest in his home
his wife. or his children. Mrs. Williams frc-
qucntlv said lightly. speaking to friends or
aCqunintancr>. tnat she had no husband now
-Mr. Williams having united himself to
business ina second marriage. If she spoke
thus in his presence. he would part his lips in
forced smile; or. perhaps. say. jocosely. that
she had better have him before the courts for
biSamv
Fashion. show. pleasure. filled up all the
time of Mrs. Leonard. which was not devoted
to maternal duties and household cares. and
business was the Mooch at which Mr.. Leon
ard sacrificed all social and home affections.
At forty. with family of inter, >,.ng chill
drcn springnS up around them. they were
but coldlv tolerant of each other. Never
having seen. from the beginning Of her mar
RED htc any good reason for economy OF
scf-dcnial. Mrs. Williams had failed to prac-
ticc these virtues: but had suffered the oppo-
site vices of Extravaganza and vain sclfindul-
gencc to grow ranklv as offensive weeds
Her demands upon her husbands purse had.
therefore. always been large. and they stcadi-
ly increased. until he was learning to hold
the strings more tightly. and to question and
object whenever she made. what he thought.
large rcqui>itions. Thus alterations were
constantly engcndcred: and at times. there
was strife between them. Roughness on hi,
part. and petulence on hers. often came in to
help the work of cstrangemcnt.
Twenty years of false life-twentv wears
III which two married partners. warm and
loving at the first. went on steadily growing
cold toward each other through the inferno
sitlon of sordid and worldly thinss-twenty
years of a home intercourse but rarely bright
cncd bylovc swarm sunshine breaking through
the lcadcncd cloud of care and folly, what a
sad hcart-history Is here. And is it not the
history of thousands of over-carnrst business
men. and their thoughtlcss. unsvmpathizinr
wives. who seek outside of hearts and homes
what they can never iind-that tranquility of
soul after which all aspire. but to which SC
few attain /? Alas. that it is So:
Ah. that We could write. from hepccfortb
better record of Leonard Williams and hi.
wife, That We could tell YOU. how. growing
at last weary of their vain existence. the,
turned back. athirst for the pure waters whose
sweetness had once refreshed them. finding
again the fountain of youth. But it was no,
SO. Habits of thought and feeling were
hardened into that second nature which i,
rarely broken up. If. occasionally. the rest.
less heart returned along its life-iourncv
seeking for some of the lost flowers and van.
ished fragrance. their sweetness was pcrceiy-
ed only as the dim delight of dream; moi
real enough to inspire an effort to seek thci,
restoration. And SO they moved on in the
coldncss of twilight. Age found him a .or.
did. irritable, unhappy man-and she a ner.
vons, restless. vain, disappointed woman.
There are such, reader, all around you.-
But keep your heart warm Do not suffer i,
to grow cold toward your wife or husband
Shut out the vain things of the world. The
home-lovcs are warmest, the home-lisht,
brightest; and they will grow warmer and
brightest with years if YOU feed them with
pure oil of unsel6sh observation-disclosures,
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