Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1858-06-17
From Pete-son's National Magazine.
THE MAGIC OF WORDS.

Peter Crandall was not an ll-natured, cap
tious, or fault-fnding man, and yet tie home of
Peter Crandall was not happy home. Very
little sunshine streamed in across the threshold.
Was it his wife's fault A visitor, who saw
her in her usual mood, might, if his conclusions
were made from first impressions, lean to this
opinion. She inclined to fretfulness and inpa-
thence i; and often scolded the children when
her husband could see little in them to blame.
The Crandalls were poor. MI. Crandll was
a m chanic, and earned only mechanics wages.
Mrs. CrandaIl was the mother Of five children,
the oldest of them thirteen years old but
their narrow income left nothing to spare for
the hire of domestic and so all tie work fell
upon her. She was toilworn and tol-weary at
the dying Of each and the same, although
not to all equal extent, might he said of her
husband. He had more strength for his work,
and, therefore, could endure greater fatigue
He had the advantage, too, which was most
important one--of freedom from causes of ncr-
;vous excitement, and the inyitable exhaustion
that followed. He labored ON at one kind of
Of work. uninterrupted, all day long while
she was subject to perpetual and annoying in
terruptions incident to her position Of mother
and housekeeper.
Between Peter Crandall and his wife there
did not seem to exist much affection. They
never spoke loving words, nor manifested, ex-
cept on rare occasions, any pleasure at meet
ing, or any mutual interest The little court
essies of life were something unknown in their
cherries dwelling. Rude, boisterous, quarrel
some, the children grew up, bringing discord
into the house that was uncomfortable enough
without that disagreeable inmate. The moth
err scolded aud punished in anger but saw no
good result of her discipline. The father some
times scolded in concert but always felt an
unpleasant sensation afterward, Us if he had
beer doing something wrong.
And so the years went on, and the snnbeams
came not across the threshold into their dwell
ing, Occasionally Mr.. Crandall obtained a
brief glance into some other homes /; and as
the pleasant vision passed, sigh would dis
turb bis bosom Light and warmth were there
|, Something was wrong in his own home
that he had felt for great while-and he did
not wholly blame his wife. But the exact 10
cation of the wrong he could never clearly per
ceive. In the beginning it was different. Ther
there was warmth in the heart, and sunshine il
! the face of his wife. But it was in his memory
marked day after day as dial records the ad
vancing shadow, how the brightness OF her face
diminished steadily, until allw cclipsed. All
| If lie had dreamed CT the cause But Mr.
| Crandal was not man who looked inward up
on his own life--not man who considered hi
actions in their effects upon Others. He wal
moreover, a silent, administrative man rare
| y expressing his feelings. He gave few out
ward signs by which any one could read hi
heart. Here lay the origin of the trouble a
honie--tle beginning of the eclipse that lief
1 his little world in almost total darkness, whel
it should have, been broad MONDAY. 1t wa
not enough for Mrs. Crandall, in the earle
years of their welded life, to know that he
husband loved her. Her heart asked for more
She wanted loving looks and loving words also
and for lack Of these, its green things witheret
and its blossoms faded Having told her il
the beginning that he loved her having after
ward married her in proof of bis declaration
and having ever since worked daily for the sus
tanning OF his home, and keeping her as ia
above want as it was possible for him to do
Mr.. Crandah saw no reason why he should b
at all the time passing compliments, II
couldn't do it. 1t wasn't in him. He wouls
have felt ashamed Of it as weakness
And SO, almost from the beginning, he falet
to give those little outward signs of affection
Those pleasant tokens of kindness SO crate
snl to all When his wife said. as was ofte
the ease, during the first year that succeeded
their marriage, : Thank you, Peter" an
smiled gratefully in return ferrsome little acto
kindness--or expressed pleasure when he cam
home frem his work at evening, drawing he
arm around his neck and kissing hm--or toll
him how lonesome she felt all day and what
/ light his coming brought into their little HON
1 Peter Crandalf felt glow of pleasure in hi
heart. But it did not come within the rang
of his Imagination at best Ito conceiy
that like words from him would be TO the spil
|. it of bis wife like dew to the thirsty ground
], And so he never expressed pleasure at NEE
ing but rather affected, from kind Of falls