Mountain Democrat., 1857-08-01

instead of being the most happy. for.
got that my own happiness depended on
the happiness Of my husband, and that
he could not be happy unless too was
happy. A very small amount Of cool re-
Election would have shown me all this,
but gave it little heed. did not re.
member that the wife's dominion was the
home Of her husband. and that HoME
should be her earthly heaven. only
looked upon the surface of the marriage
relation, and when entered upon its du-
ties, only felt that was freed from all
restraint, and that had nothing to do
but to grasp at the transient pleasures as
they flew past.
'Of course the first few months of our
married life were happy, but clouds flew
across our way that should never have
gathered there. At length came to al.
low myself to forget some of my duties.
In the presence Of my husband / was
sometimes morosc and sulcn. He gently
chided me; but was governed by false
wilful pride, and would not own that
had been wrong, and often accused him
of unfeeling towards inc. lie was never
harsh, never unkind, and though / have
seen the big veins in his temple swell
with internal emotions, yet he never for.
got himself SO far as to use a word that he
would wish to recall. o, God how nv
heart sinks within inc as l think how
blindly l trifled with the mans feelings.
He did all in his power to make my home
comfortable-my every wish was answer.
cd so far as it could be justly done, and
he was as careful of my health and peace
as he could have been Of his own.
"At length you were born. called
God to witness that l loved you most
dearly, but yet your innocent cries and
your tax upon my time and care allowed
to sometimes worry me, and when my
husband would beg of me to remember
the precious charge Of my infant, and on
ly smile upon the care, met him with
sullen looks and bitter words. Not long
after you were born, my husband took a
stand in the political field, and his talents
soon placed him firmly in the respect and
good will of the people. Nc was chosen
a member of the State Assembly, and he
began to devote much of his time to the
duties which his fellow citizens had placed
upon him. Instead Of taking q pride in
the talent Of my husband, and lending
him my aid, l only found fault that he
was away from home so much.-He told
ofthc duty he owed to his country, and
spoke of the trust his fellows had confided
to him, and that while we owed our free.
dom and social happiness 10 the Just laws
of the land, it behOoved all citizens to do
what they consistently could to maintain
those laws and provide for their execu-s
ton. But l understood nothing Of the
matter, and / did not sympathize with
my husband in his patriotic sentiments.
This was to him the unkindest cut Of all.
Once when we were in company, q
gentleman spoke to me of the high posi-
tion my husband had gained, but even
then treated the idea Of my husband
neglecting his business for such things
with sneer. lie heard me. He knew
that James had never neglected his bust
ness, and yet said so. When we re-
turned home he rcprovcd me for what
had done. was only angry. He beg
ged me to remember his feelings. He
told me was making him miserable. l
didn't care. Then he assured me that he
would not live with me ifI continued to
behave as had done. allowed this to
make me more angry than ever, and de-
termined not to give up that I had been
wrong, and bade him leave me as soon as
he pleased. :,
Laura, cannot tell you all that fol-
lowed ;-how taunted that noble.heart-
ed man, how l trihed with his feelings,
and how blindly, rccklessly unrivited the
ctwopfp IinLc that honnA Ltn Ana~k - .-.o
l saw that change had come over his
countenance-thati it was deadly pale, and
that his lips quivered. He went, to the
cradle where you were lying, and took
you up in his arms. He pressed you to
his bosom and kissed you. Then he laid
you back in the cradle and left the room.
He came not back to me that night. The
next day received letter from him, in
which he informed me that he had placed
ten thousand dollars in the hands of
trustworthy person, and that could
draw the interest semi-annaully for my
support. l was frantic with grief; my
heart was almost broken my head whiri-
ed in agony, but could obtain no iptelli-
gence further. From that moment, Lau-
ra, I-I-nevers saw-my husband again ~
As Mrs. Burke ceased speaking her
head sank upon the bosom Of her daugh-
ter, and she wept aloud.
"And you saw him not when he died."
murmured Laura, winding her arms about
her mothers neck, and sobbing with grief.
II know not that he is dead, my child"
returned Mrs. Burke, and as she spoke
she sank upon her knees and prayed that
her child might be saved.
With her whole soul in the word, Lau-
ra uttered "Amcn."
Laura Burke stood by the side of VIII.
liam Wilmington, and her right hand
rested within that Of the young man. 1t
Aas evening, and she stood there to be
married. There was a deep happiness
upon her features, but it was q happi.
ness calm and serene. Thought reigned
over her cOuntenance, and even the bride
groom gazed wOndcringly upon her as
she appeared so deeply impressed with
the solemnity of the occasion.
The clergyman who had come to per.
form the ceremony, was . stranger in the
place, having come from distant part Of
the country, and at that time had assum.
ed the duties of the pulpit for one Sab
bath, while the regular clergyman was
absent from the town.
The magic words that made William
and Laura man and wife werC spoken,
and the couple awaited the parting advice
and counsel Of the minister. He spoke
Of the important duties they had taken
p1UOm - A. nv.~sA s1s A -