Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-11-03
THE TWO HOMES.

Two men on their way home, met at street.
crossing, and then walked on together. They
were neighbors and friends.
"This has been u very hard day." said Mr..
Freeman in q gloomy voice. And as they
walked homeward they discouraged each other,
and made darker the clouds that Obscured their
whole horizon.
GOOD evening"" was at last said hurriedly
and the two men passed into their homes.
Mr. Walcott entered the loom where his wife
and children were gathered, and without speak
ing to any one, seated himself in a chair, and
leaning his head back, closed his eyes. His
countenanee wore a sad, weary, exhausted look.
He had been seated thus for only few minutes,
when his wife said in a fearful voice.
"AIore trouble again"
'What is the matter now :" asked Mr.. Wal
colt, almost starting
John has been sent home from school"
"What!" Mr. Wacott partly rose from his
chair
HE has been suspended for bad conduct"
"Oh dear" groaned Mr.. Walcott, ''where is
he!
oUp in his room; l sent him there as soon as
he came home. You'll have to do something
with him. He'll be ruined if he goes on in this
way. I'm out of all heart with him"
Mr.. Walcott, excited as much by the manner
in which his wife conveyed unpleasant inlor-
nation as by the information itself. started up,
under the blind impulse of the moment, and
going TO the room where John had been sent on
coming home from school, punished the boy
severely, and this without listening to the ex-
plantations which the poor child tried to make
| him hear.
Father" slid the boy, with forced calmness,
after the cruel stripes had ceased 81 wasn't to
blame, and if you will 90 with me to the teach
er, can prove myself innocent"
Mr. Walcott had never known his son to tell
an untruth, and the words fell with rebuke
upon his heart.
-"Very well, we will see about that" he an
swered, with forced sternness; and leaving the
room he went down stairs, feeling much more
uncomfortable than when lie went up. Again
! ne seated himself in his large chair, and again
leaned back his weary head and closed his heavy
eyelids. Sadler was his face than before. AS
he sat thus, the eldest daughter, in her sixteenth
year, came and stood by him. She held paper
in her hand.
.-Father," he opened his eyes " here's my
quarters bill. Cau't have the money to take
to school with me in the morning I"
al am afraid not" answered Mr. Waicott
half in despair. .,
"Nearly all the girls will bring in then
hind the others" The daughter spoke fretfu
". Mr.. Walcott waived her aside with hi;
hand. and she went off muttering and PoutIng
sit is mortifying," said Mrs. Walcott, little
sbarDIy: land | don't wonder that Helen teel'
annoyed about it. The bill has to be paid, ant
l don't see why it may not be done first al
last"
To this Mr. Walcoit made no answer. Th'
words but added another pressure to the heavy
burden under which he was already staggering
After silence of some moments, Mrs. Walcot
said:
'.The Goals are all gone"
'.Impossible :" Nj WaleOtt raised his hea
and looked incredulOus. Il laid IN siIteel
tons"
81 can't help it, if there were sixty tons in
stead Of sixteen; they are all gone. The gIrl
] had hard work to-day to seraPe up enough t
keep the fire IN"
/ sThere's been shameful waste somewhere,
. said Mr.. Walcott, with strong emphasis, start
. ing up and moving about the room with yer
disturbed manner
$50 YOU always say, when anything run
. out" answered Mrs Walcott, rather tartly.-
i THE barrel of flour is gone also; but supPOs
: YOU have done your part, with the rest, in usin
y tup."
> Mr. Walcott returned to his chair, and, agai
q SEATING himself leaned back his head and close
his ewes, as at first. How sad, and weary, an
homeless he felt The burdens Of the day ba
: seemed almost too heavy for him; but he ha
: borne up bravely. To gather strength for n
o newed struggle with adverse circumstances, b
had come home Alas that the process of e!
Il haustion should still 90 on-that where onl
:. strength could be looked for on earth, 1
strength was given.
g When the tea bell was rung, blr. Walco
lie made no movement to obey the summons.
8, "Come to supper" said his wife, cOldly.
sr But he did not stir.
le care you not coming to supper" she CALF
>. to him, as he was leaving the room.
= 81 don't wish for anything this evening. n
= ;, head aches very much, he answered.
u "In the dumps again." mutteTed Mrs. Wa
colt to herself. ats much as ones life
j. worth to ask for money, or to say anything
wanted And she kept on her way to q
n. dining-room When she returned her husbar
was still sitting where she had left him.
"Shall bring you cup of tea y she aske
"No, don't wish for anything"
u "What is the matter, Mr.. WaicOtt VIII
n. do YOU look 50 troubled about, as if yC
hadn't friend in the world What have
done to you! /"
III There was no answer, for there was not
D. shade of real sympathy in the voice that MAJ
IT the queries, but rather of querulous dssatisia
a ton A few moments Mrs. WalcOtt stood b
y side her husband, but as he did not seem
- clined to answer questions, she turned aw;
le from him, and resumed the emplOymel
o. which had been interrupted by the ringing
be the tea bell.
ey The whole evening passed off without Il
occurrence of single incident that gave
heslthful pulsation to the sick heart Of Mr.. Wa
=, colt. No thoughtful kindness was manilest'
to to by any member of the family; but on the eontr
n ry, narrow regard for self and looking to hi
z only that he might supply the means OF Sc
of qualification.
er No wonder, from the pressure which was
On him, that Mr.. Walcott felt utterly discourage
Is Is lie retired early, and sought to find that rel
~ ~ from mental disquietude 10 sleep which he b
be vainly hoped for in the bosom Of his iamll
n But the whole night passed in broken sumb
Fn and disturbing dreams, From the cheeTle
re morning meal, at which he vas reminded OF {
as quarters bill that must be paid, of the Goals
a -four that were out, and of the necessity of So
"a plying Mrs. Walcott's empty purse, he we
To forth to meet the difficulties Cf another da
he faint at heart, almost hopeless Of success.
confident spirit, sustained by home affection