Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-02-25
Smiles for Home.

ment's impulse, and already partly regretted
her remark.
take what home,?" repeated her husband. !
" | don't understand you.''
"That smiling face you turned upon Mr..
Edwards when you answered his question
just now"
Mr.. Lewis slightly averted his head, and
walked on in silence. They had called in at
the store of Mr.. Edwards to purchase a few
articles, and were now on their way home.
There was no smile on the face of MIR. Lewis
now, but a very grave expression instead
grave almost to sternness. The words of his
wife had taken him altogether by surprise:
and, though, spoken lightly, had Jared upon
his ears.
The truth was, Mr. Lewis, like great
many other men who have their own business
cares and troubles, was in the habit of bring.
ing home a sober, and, too often, clouded
face. 1t was in vain that his wife and chill
dren looked into that face for sunshine, or
listened to his words for tones of cheerful
ness.
"Take that home with you, DEAR Mrs.
Lewis was already repenting this suggestion,
made on the moments impulse Her hus-
band was sensitive to fault. He could not
bear even an implied censure from his wife.
And so she had learned to be very guarded
in this particular.
Take that home with you, dear! All mel
I wish the words had not been said. There
will be darker clouds now, and gracious
knows they were dark enough before! Why
can't Mr. Lewis leave his cares and business
behind him, and let us see the old, pleasant,
smiling face again. | thought this morning
that he had forgotten how to smile; but l
see he can smile, if he tries. All g.! why don't
he try at home.
So Mrs. Lewis talked to herself, as she
moved along by the side of her husband,
who had not spoken since her reply to his que
ry, Take what homer" Block after block
was passed, aid street after street crossed,
and still there was silence between them
"Of course" said Mrs. Lewis, speaking
in her own thoughts. "Of course he is Of
Tended He won't bear word from me. I
might have known, beforehand, that talking
out in this way would only make things worse.
Oh, DEAR Pm getting out of all heart!"
"What then, Caddy"
Mrs. Lewis almost started at the sound of
her husbands voice, breaking unexpectedly,
upon her ear in a softened tone.
"What then ?" he repeated turning to-
wards her, and looking down into her shyly
upturned face.
cit would send warmth and radiance
through the whole house," said Mrs. Lewis,
her tones all a-tremble with feeling.
"You think sol"
81 know so Only try it, dear, for this
evening"
1T isn't so easy thing to put on smi-
ling face, Caddy. when thought is oppressed
with care"
" 1t didn't seem to require much effort just
now" said Mrs. Lewis glancing up at her
husband wi something of archness in her
look.
Again shadow dropped down upon the
face of Mr.. Lewis, which again partly turn
ed away; and again they walked on in ST.
lence.
He is SO sensitiven' Mrs. Lewis said to
herself, the shadow on her husbands face
darkening her own. 81 have to be as care
full of my words as if talking to a spoiled
child"
No, it did not require much effort on the
part Of Mr.. Lewis to smile, as ho passed a
few words lightly, with Mr.. Edwards. The
remark Of his wife had not really displeased
him; it had only set him to thinking. After
remaining gravely silent, because he was ull-
dergoing brief determination, Mr.. Lewis
said:
"You thought the smiles given to Mr.. Ed
wards came easily enoughF'
cit did not seem to require an effort" re,
piled Mrs. Lewis.
"No, not much effort was required" said
Mr. Lewis. His tones were slightly depress-
ed But this must be taken into the ac-
count; my mind was in certain state of ex-
citement, or activity, that repressed sober
feelings, and made smiling an easy thing. So
we smile and are gay in company, at cost of
little effort, because all are smiling and gay,
and VIC feel the common sphere Of excite
ment. How different it often is when we are
alone, need not say. You, Caddy, are
guilty Of the sober face at home as well as
your husband Mr.. Lewis spoke with a ten
der reproof in his voice.
"But the sober face is caught from yours
oftener than you imagine, my husband" re-
piled Mrs. Lewis.
care you certain of that, Caddy ?"
" Very certain. You make the sunlight
and the shadow of your home. Smile upon
US; give us cheerful words enter into our
feelings and interests, and there will be nc
brighter home in all the land. A shadow on
your countenance is a veil for my heart and
the same is true as respects our children
Our pulses strike too nearly in unison not to
be disturbed when yourshas lost its even beat.
Again, Mr.. Lewis walked on in silence
his face partly averted and again his wife
began to fear that she had spoken too freely
But he soon dispelled this impression, for he
said:
81 am glad, Caddy, that you have spoken
thus plainly. [ only wish that you had done
SO before see how it is. My smiles
have been for the outside world-the world
that neither loved nor regarded me-and my
clouded brow for the dear ones at home, fol
whom thought and care are everything activ
tiles"
Mr.. and Mrs. Lewis were now at their owl
door, where they paused moment, and ther
went in. Instantly on passing his threshold
Mr.. Lewis felt the pressure upon him of his
old usual state. The cheerful interested ex
terror put on for those he met in business in
tercourse, began rapidly to change, and so
Der hue to succeed. Like most business men
his desire for profitable results was even fal
in advance of the slow evolutions of trade
and his daily history was history of disap