The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1857-03-04
The Two Faces.

Of course We never mean to be personal, but
yet We know chat the following life lesson must
find application somewhere else it would never
bave 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 pre-
ventive. '-~=>~.1
Mrs. Abby Leeman was thirty years old, and
had been married just ten years. She had an
excellent husband, and three good children
Size was naturally a kind, excellent woman, and
meant to do right. She had one fault, and small
at ii seemed 10 her, it occasioned much unhap-
pines in The family circle. She was not always
happy at home nor was she always pleasant,
though for the life of her she could not tell What
had occurred to rufflt her feelings. She had
everything about her calculated to beyet joy.
and her every reasonable wish WAS answered
But after all, she often wore sour face, and
her tongue would run on in strains far from
sweet or accordant. fir
"WAat is che matter, Abby?" asked her hus
band, AS hereturncd one evening from the store
and found his wife with sour face on.
"Nothiny," was the answer, given rather
modify. .. ~
But something must be the matter You
never look so when you are happy
How can | help my looks? Can't look
as | feel without disturbing you?"
"Pshaw, Abby-don't talk so,' the husband
said, at the same time placing his arms about
her neck, and kissing her. 'Now tell me what
has happened?'
"No'niny has happened more than usual, -
uttered the wife, sill unpleasantly. who
wouldn't be sober, I'd like to know, stuck up
here from morning until night, with two squalI-
lny young ones to look out for all the ,ime?"
Signalling young ones" repeated Albert
Leeman, while all expression OF pain passed
over his features
"Tncre! Look at that!' cried the wife, point
ing to where her youngest child, a girl OF four
years, was just climbing up to the tea table af
ter the sugar bowl. "Gct out of that, YOU lit
tie brat! There, take that! Now, let me catch
you up there again. Stop that crying-stop it,
| say You touch that sugar again, and LII
give you such licking as You won t want
The poor child tried in vain to hush its sob
biDy. and instinctiveIy crept to its fathers side
He placed lis arm round the little one and raised
ii to his knee, and in a moment more its redden-
el inhamed cheek. where the mothers blow had
fallen, WAS pIowed upon the fathers bosom.
brat. Id like TO have you have charge of en-
! all day; we'd see how much patience YOU d
have!"
Il would at least tremember slsss vas my child. "
said he somewhat reproachtulIy, land also bean
in mind the simple fact that.the young DISPOSE
ton may gain al its impulse from The example
it receives at the hands Of its yuarIian.'
oh, yes, that's it. Of course, am always
wrony.'' And then Abby Leeman put hen
apront 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 bad tried TO make his wife see how
much real unbapplness she was making foI
HERSELF but she would not listen; or, it she did
the impression was not lasting. In fact, she
had no patience with her children, and the sin
gle ruffc ol moment was sure to make un
happlncs for her. She loved her husband fond
ly, aud her children she loved, and her chill
dren loved her too. She was proud of them
and Tor their comfort she would sacrifice any
amount of personal convenience Many an,
many an hour Of bIisstuI joy did she pass Will
her husband when The sky was clear, but a cIouC
was sure To bring the storm. For Years not
day passed that had not seen some urpIeasan
passages between herself and children, and she
would not understand that her very mode 0
treatmcnt-lhe disposition she manifested anc
the language she natI--was surely warpn.
the minds OF the little ones. In lin and an
yuisIi her husband had tried to show her this
but She would not listen; and then, when sh,
was calm and reasonable Albert could not hnt
it IN his heart to destroy the peace Of such al
luslon>
On The present occasion, supper WAS eaten al
most Ill silence. The husband was panied anl
tie wife angry. The child once cried for IA lumt
OF sugar, ANA the mother jerked ii piece upos
her pIate with the words:
"There, take ii! You want everything you
set Your eyes on
Tine ttle one ate the sugar in silence Will,
the mother felt more dismal still from this new
outburst. And thus matters went on for Al
hour. and at the end of that time the door bel
rang, and some company was Introduced.
was ntiy iyhbor and his wife In moment, tn,
WHOLE expression Of Abby's face was changed
Smiles took the place OF lrowns, and her word:
were as sweet AS scoulI be; and during the
whole evening she was happy and gay as
! though cloud had never rested upon her brow
ABBY" said her husband, after her visit
ors had gone, ''since we have been married
have not done all in my power to make yov
happy? Have you ever expressed an earnest
heartfelt wish that | ave not gratified?"
{ i don't know, - replied wife, rather reIuct
antly.
/ t'.Yes, you do know" replied Albert, ''anc
what | wish to know is this: Why could vot
not strive SO much to make me happy, as yo,
will to make those who not dependent upol
you for happiness. When | came home Jh
Eeveniny worn and fatiyued with the sbors o
the day, why could you not have met me viii
a smile md cheerful weIcome?''
Because did mt feel like smiIiny," was TIT
answer 81
/ But you smiled the moment Mr. Bixbpe anf
Ibis wife came in; and that, too, when your feel
inss were anything but pleasant moment be
fore. Can you do for their comfort what yo,
are unwilling to do for mIne?''
Il do best can. am sure" sobbed Mrs
Leeman. tsslnrlns TO cry. II wish YOU d founl
4 wife WHO could have suited You better than
! do. 1 never can suit you.,-ncver!"
/ Abby was in tears and her husband coul,
say no more. He could only wish that she
WullI understand himl ON Enr off,n ,rh,.,