The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1857-11-11

eAPcnses ABOUT Onc UlhuSand uOllars. An
ma" he said to her one evening, breaking
through his cold, distracted silence, we are
living at ton costly rate"
Mrs. Williams turned her ewes upon his
lace 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 it, Leonard" was her
prompt reply, spoken in very decided tones.
P" i cannot be induced to give up my elegant
home. As to household cares, am not troub.
led by them"
IL is question Of economy" said VIII.
liams.
eff that is all, the question may as well
Sleep" replied his wife, almost indilTerently;
for it costs quite as much to live in first,
class hotel Or boarding house as in your own
home"
Williams had no more to say. A deep
SIGH illttered on his lips; his gaze drew itself
from the counternance Of his vile, and fell to
the floor; his head sunk low upon his bosom,
and thought went from his home, to wander
among the seething breakers towards which
his vessel was driving, hoping TO ind some
narrow passage through which he might steer
in safety 10 a smooth haven. He felt colder
towards his wife after that; and she was con-
scous Of the GOODNESS, 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
il required all his strength.
During the two years that elapsed before
hls feet were on firm ground again, he appears
ed 10 have lost all interest in his home, his
wife or his children. Mrs. Williams frequent
ly said, lightly, speaking to her friends or
acqusintances, that she had no husband now
Mr.. Williams had united himself to business
in second marriage. II she spoke thus in
his presence, he would part his lips in a
forced smile, or, perhaps, say. jocosely, that
she had better have him before the courts for
bigamy.
Fashion. show, pleasure. filled up all the
time Of Mrs. Williams which was not devoted
70 maternal duties and household cares and
business was the Moloch al which Mr.. Viii,
liams sacrificed all social and home affections.
At forty, with family Of interesting chill
dren springing up around them, they were
but coldly tolerant Of each other. Never
having seen, IRON the beginning oil her mar
ried life, any good reason for economy or
sell,denial. Mrs. Williams had failed to
practice these virtues, but had suffered the
opposite vices Of extravagance and self-in.
diligence to grow rankly as offensive weeds.
Her demands upon her husbands purse had,
therefore, always been large, and they steadi-
ly increased, until he was learning to hold
the strings more tightly, and to question aud
object whenever she made what he thought
large acquisitions. Thus, alterations were
constantly engendered aud. a. times, there
was strife, between them. Ronghness on his
part, and petulance on hers, often came in TO
help the work Of arrangement.
Twenty years ofa false iiie-twenty years
in which two married partners, warm, and
loving al the first, went on steadily growing
cold toward each other through the interposi.
ton Of sordid and worldly things-twenty
years Of home intercourse but rarely bright-
encd by loves warm sunshine breaking
through the leaden clouds Of care and folly
what sad heart-history il here! And is il
not the history of thousands Of over.earnest
business men, and their thoughtless, unsym.
pathizing wives, who seek outside OF hearts
and homes what they can never hnd-that
tranquility Of soul after which all aspire,
but 10 which SO few attains Alas, that il
So.
All, that we could write. from hcnceforth,a q
better record Of Leonard Williams and his
wife! That We coald tell you, how, growing
at last weary Of their vain existence, they
turned back, athirst for the pure waters
whose sweetness had once refreshed them.
finding again lilo fountain Of eternal youth!
But twas not SO. Habits Of thought and
feeling were hardened into that second nature
which is rarely broken up. II, occasionally.
the restless heart returned along its life jour-
ney, seeking for some Of the lost flowers and
vanished fragrance, their sweetness was per-
ceiyed only as the dim delight Of dream;
not real enough 70 inspire an effort TO seek
restoration. Aud 50 they moved on 10 the
GOODNESS Of twilight. Age found him a sor.
did, irritable, unhappy man--and she a ner.
yous, restless. vain, disappointed woman.
There are such, reader, all around you.
But keep your heart warm. DO not suffer It
to grow cold towards your wife or husband.
shut out tie vain things q the world. The
home.loses are varmest, the honc.lights
brightest; and they will grow warmer and
brighter with years. IL YOU feed them with the
pure oil VI uusrltish affections.