The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1858-01-28
NOT APPRECIATED.
ny T. 8. ARTHUR.

wv IN
ny T. 8. ARTHUR.
The last sad rights were over. She had fallen
nv the way, ere life's meridian was reached, and
i.f, husband and children to a sorrow that mocks
for time at consolation. Seven years she had
been a wifs-six years mother-and now, a
lionel he arted man and three little motherless
ones were left in the dwelling where the sun
shine of her loving presence would never again
appear. 49,,
Mr. Newcomb was a sadder man, now, than
when he followed, grieving, the paled coffin to
its final resting place. An there were reasons
,vby his heart should feel deeper depression.
A few friends and neighOors had returned with
h,m from the place of graves, and they had lin
oered for a short time in the desolate rooms,
sneaking together in mufflsd tones of the depart
ed and of those she had left behind her. Two
women talked in this wise and it SO happencd
that Mr.. Newcomb heard every word. They
thought him in one Of the upper chambers, but
he was sitting in an adjoining room, and their
voices came in through an open WINDOW, anu
smo,e bis ears with pain.
Poor Alice !" said one tits blessed re-
lease to her" n.
,s"But dreadful loss to her children was
answered. "Dear little babes {! My heart
aches for them. And pity Mr.. Neweomo also
Il is a great loss, though he never did rightly
appreciate her. poor thing| i.
90 can't get up much sympathy ior MN.
said the other" andi isn't much use to try. HIS
wife was not appccated. as you say. he did
not understand her disposition, nor give her
credit for the virtues she possessed. She was
faithful and loving but sensitive so sensitive
that the lightest word of unkindness was felt as
a painful stroke"
v And that reminds me-" said the neighbor,
]" o. one OF the bad habits he inlulged in, of
banterng her in company, and showing oil her
ltte faults or psculiarities. ! have been pro-
voked with him that could with difficulty keep
my tongue from reproach.
ne," She was plain; and think that annoyed
him, sometimes"
"Plain! The beauty Of her pure spirit was
ever shining through her face, and it his eyes
were not clear enough to see it, he was unwor-
:.She, was not as bright as some other women;
and it always struck me that he INDUCED in de-
preciating contrasts.
"She was good, true. faithful, loving was
answered, =" and these are better qualities IN a
wife than mere brilliancy, Do you remember
that evening at Mrs. Bottoms, abouta year
ago?""eN. So -,
very well.'
~ "She was there, you know"
sea" yes. recollect it,
-s7"H He fiirted with pretty Miss Gar'ner, who
has only her face to recommend her,
-, :. remember. It lowered him in my good
lopinion | don't like to see married men toe
Sparticular in their attentions to snowy youns
girls"
z "NorL Well happened to catcl, the ex
apression Of Mrs. Newcombs face when her hus
band was standing at the piano, turning th'
music while Miss GIrdner sung. She was look
ing at him. Oh it was inexpressbly sad! a
little while afterwards | turned again to tht
place where she had been sitting all alon,; bu
/; she was not there What ails Mrs. Newcomb?
l heard lady ask some minutes later. Dea
knows! was the almost psltIsh reply
Z She's gone off up stairs to have cry all to her
4 rsself-something's gone wrong suppose. She's
8 "a hard body to get on with, pity her husband
II pitied her, poor child for could understand
her heart
'"f q He wenta great deal into company withou
his wife,"
.I''rYes aud if you asked for her, there wa
ALWAYS an air, or tone or expression in his face
that made you feel us if he did not regard her o
much consequences Where is Mrs. Newcombf
syou would inquire. She dosen't go out or she
a queer little home body, or 'the babys sick, OF
.she doesn't enjoy company These were tn
reasons he would give. L has been on my lip
dozen times to answer, why don't you stay a
home and keep her company?' And l wis
now that had. 1t might have quickened il
him a perception of duty, and caused a few
more rays of light to fall on the not always sun
my pathway"
Mr.. Newcomb heard no more. But WASH
that enough to give him the heart-ache for years
No, he had not appreciated his wife, now lost t
him forever. She was neithera brilliant no
handsome woman bat, true as steel to duty
Love Tor her husband was passion that invol
ed ali the elements of her life. But the delicac
of her perceptions too soon revealed the sad trut
that for some cause she had failed 10 win from
her husband love in any degree answering t
her own. This so shadowsd her feelings tha
4, she often appeared unamiable in his eyes, whe
- she was only in strife with hidden anguish
Gradually he grew Indifferent aud simply b.
cause he did not understand her. He imaginad he
incapable of deep affection, when evry cord i
her soul was thrilling in too painful sensibilty
al, And 80 the darkening years went on, and tn
; teSered pulses began to take slower beat
Mr. Newcomb grew mere and more indlfferen
to his nervous, and at times fretful, but dali
4 wife Others saw that her days were numbered
but he did no; take the alarm. Mrs. New
comb looks very thin and feeble" remarked
friend. "She isn't quite so strong as she wa
but she's tough,' replied the husband Tough
.0At the very moment her over-stretched hear
strings were begining to yield And he was !