Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1858-04-29
With what tender concern was the question

l =
asked
"Very WELL"
He might be in body, but not in mind ;
that was plain for his voice was far from be-
ling cheerful.
She played and sang her favorite pieces,
hoping to restore by the charm of music,
brightness to his spirit. But she was con-
scious of only partial success. There was
before. At tea-time she smiled upon him so
4 sweetly across the table, and talked to him on
such attractive themes, that the right express
sion returned to bis counteDance and he
looked as happy as she could desire.
From the tea-table, they returned to their
pheasant parlor. And noY the time has eoind
for Offering herg gift, and receiving the coveted
reward Of glad surprise, followed by sweet kiss
es and loving words. Was she selfish Did
she think more of her reward than of the
pleasure she would bestow But that is ques-
tioniug too closely.
will be back in q moment" she saidg
and, passing from the roem she went lightly
up the stairs. Both tone and manner betrayal
her secret, or rather the possession of secrH
with which her husband was to be surprised.
Scarcely had her loving face faded from befoSc
his eyes, when thought returned, with single
bound. to an unpleasant event of the day :;
and the waters Of his spirit were again trouo-
led. He had actually arisen, and crossed the
| floor once or twice, moved by restless COZ
Germ when his wife came down with the dress-
ing gown and slippers. She was trying to
force her countenance into a grave expression
to hold back the smiles that were continually
striving to break in truant circles around her
lips, when single glance at her husbands
/ face told her that the spirit driven away by
the eyorcism of her love, had returned again
to his BOSOM He looked at her soberly, as
she came forward.
"What are these 2" he asked, almost coldly
depressing surprise, and affecting an Ignorance
| in regard to the beautiful present she held in
her hands, that be did not feel.
"They are for you, dear. I made them.n'
"For me? Nonsense | What do want
with such jimcrackcry? This, is woman's
wear. Do you think would disfgure my feet
with embroidered slippers, or dress up in cal.
leo gown? Put them away, dear. Your hus-
! band is too much of man to robe himself in
gay colors, like a clown Or an actor" And
he waved his hand with an air of contempt
| There was cod sncering manner about him,
partly affected and partly rcal-thc real born
| of his uncomfortable state Of mind. Yet lie
loved his sweet wife, and would not of set
PURPOSE, have wounded her for the world
/ This unexpected rHa1sethis a.aels feeep-
tioa of her present, sovdr which she had wrought
patiently in golden hope, for many days-ihis
dashing to the earth of his brimful cup of joy,
just as it touched her lips, was more than the
fond young wife ceuld bear. To hide the
tears that came rushing to her eyes, she turned
away from her husband and, to conceal the
sobs she had no power to repress, she went al
most hurriedly from the room and, going
back to the chamber from whence she had
brought the present, she laid it away out of
sight in closet. Then covering her face with
her hands, she sat down and strove with her.
self to be calm. But that shadow was too
deep--the heartache too heavy.
In a little while her husband followed her,
and discovering, something to his surprise, that
she was weeping, said, in slightly reproving
voice :: Why, bless me not in tears What
silly little puss you are Why didn't you
tell me you thought of making dressing
gown and pair of slippers, and would have
vetoed the matter at once? You couldn't
hire me to wear such Haunting things. Come
back to the parlor"--h took hold of her arm
and lifted her from the chair" and sing and
play for me. "The Dream Waltz" or the
Tremolo," dearest May" or "The Silly
Night" are worth more to me than forty dres-
sing gowns, OR cargo of embroidered slippers"
Almost by force, he led her back to the
parlor, and placed her on the music stool. He
selected favorite piece, ard laid it before
her. But tears were in her eyes ; and she
could not see note. Over the keys her fin
gers passed in skillful touches but, when she
tried to keep up the song, utt rance failed :;
and sobs broke forth instead of words
How foolish p said the husband, in q
yexed tone " I'm surprised at you y And
he turned from the piano, and walked across
the room.
A little while the sad young wife remained
where she was left thus alone, and in partial
anger. Then, rising, she went slowly from the
room-her husband not seeking to restrain her
and, going back to her chamber, sat down
in darkness.
The shadow which had been cast upon her
spirit was very deep; and, although the hid
den sun came ont again right early,,it was a
( long time before his beams had power 10 scat
ter the clouds that foated in loves horizon.
Inc SHADOWS we cast Father, husband,
wife, sister, brother, son, neighbor-are we not
all casting shadows daily, on some hearts that
are pining for the sunlight of our faces We
J have given you two pictures, not as mirror,
but as kaleidoscope. In all their infinitely
varied relations, men and women sel6shly OF
i thoughtlessly-from design, weakness, Or igno
rance ARE casting their shadows upon hearts
that are pining for sunlight. A word, a look
. tone, on act will cast shadow, and sadder
q spirit for hours and days. Speak kindly, ac1
kindly, be forgetters of self, and you will cas-
q but few shadows along the path of life
The true gentleman is always tender Of thu
4 feelings Of others always watchful, lest hi
wound enthusiastically always thinking, wbel
| with Others, Of their pleasure instead of hi