Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1858-02-11

spoiled child"
No, it did not require much effort on the
part of Mr.. Lewis TO smile, as he passed a
| few words lightly, with Mr.. Edwards. The
remark of his wife had not really disspleas-
ed him; it had only set him to thinking.
After remaining gravely silent, because he
was undergoing a brief selfexamination,
Mr.. Lewis said:
"You thought the smile given to Mr..
Edwards come easy enough?"
at did not seem to require an effort, y
replied Mrs. Lewis.
"No, not much effort was required" said
Mr.. Lewis. His tones were slightly de-
pressed. @But this must be taken into
the account, my mind was in certain state
of excitement, or activity, that repressed
sober feelings, and made smiling an easy
thing. So we smile and are gay in COM
pany, al cost of little effort, because all are
smiling and gay, and we feel the common
sphere of excitement. How different it Of
ten is when We are alone. need not say.
You, Caddy, are guilty of the sober face at
home as well as your husband" Mr.. Lew
is sspoke with tender reproof in his sweet
voice. n
"But the sober face is caught from yours
oftener than you Imagine, my husband"
replied Mrs. Lewis.
''Are you certain of that Caddyg"
"Very certain. You make the sunlight
and shadows of your home. Smile upon
US; give us cheerful words; enter into our
feelings and interests, and there will be no
brighter home in all the land A shadow
on your countenance is veil for my heart,
and the same is true as respects our chill
dren. Our pulses strike too near in unison
not to be disturbed when yours has 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 free
ly. But he soon dispelled this impression,
for he said:
II am glad, Caddy, that you have spo
ken thus plainly. I only wish you had
done so before. see how it is. My
smiles have been for the outside world
the world that neither cared nor regarded
me-and my clouded brow for the dear
ones st home, for whom thought and care
are ever living activities"
Mr.. and Mrs. Lewis were now at their
own door, where they paused q moment
and then went in. Instantly, on passing
his threshold, Mr.. Lewis felt the pressure
upon him of his usual state. The hue Of
his feelings began TO change. The cheer
full, interested exterior put on for those he
met in business intercourse, began rapidly
to change, and sober hue to succeed
Like most business men, his desire for prof.
table results was even far in advance Of the
slow evolutions of trade: and his daily his
tory was history of disappointments, in
some measure dependent upon his restless
anticipations. He was not willing to work
and wait as he should be; and, like many
of his class, neglected the pearls that lay
here and there along his fe-patbs, because
they were inferior in value to those he
hoped to find just little way in advance.
The consequence was thai, when one days
business excitement was over, his mind fell
into brooding state, and lingering over
its disappointments, or looked forward with
failing hope in the future-for hope, in
many things, had beed long deferred. And
so he rarely had smiles at home.
'.Take that home with you, DEAR" whis-
pered Mrs. Lewis as they moved along the
passage, and before they had joined the
family. She had an instructive conscious
ness that her husband was in danger of re-
lapsing into his usual state.
The warning was just in time.
"Thank you for the words" said he, II
will not forget them."
And he did not; butat once rallied him.
self, and TO the glad surprise of Jenny.
Will, and Mary, met them with new
face, covered with fatherly smiles, and with
pleasant questions, in pleasant tones, of the
days empIoyments. The feelings of the
children move in quick transitions. They
had not expected a greeting like this; but
the response was instant. Little Jenny
climbed into her fathers arms. Will come
and stood BY his chair, answering in lively
tones his questions while Mary, older by a
few years Than the rest, leaned against her
fathers shoulder, and laid her white hand
softly upon his head, smoothing back the
dark hair, just showing a little frost, from
his broad manly temples.
A pleasant group was this for the eyes
of Mrs. Lewis, as she came forth from the
chamber to the sitting room, where she
had gone to lay off her bonnet and shawl
and change her dress. Well did her has
band understand the meaning look she gave
him; and warmly did her heart respond to
the smile he threw back upon her.
aWords fi,ly spoken are like apples of
gold in pictures of silver,' said Mr.. Lewis,
speaking to her as she came in.
"What do you mean by that!" asked
Mary. looking curiously into her fathers
face.
"Mother understands" replied Mr.. Lew
is, smiling tenderly upon his wife.
Something pleasant must have happen
ed, said Mary. a.
"Something pleasant Why do you say
that?' asked Mr.. Lewis.
"You and mother look SO happy" re-
piled the child.
"And we have cause to be happy" an
swered the father, as he drew his arms
tightly around her, sin having three such
children"
Mary laid her check to his,and whispered
"If you are smiling and happy, dear father
home will be like heaven"
Mr.. Lewis kissed her, but did not reply. |
He felt a rebuke in her words. But the