Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1858-11-10

interrupted BY the ringing Of the teal bell
The whole evening passed of without
the occurrence Of single incident lba
gave heahhfu pulsation to the sidk hear
Of Mr.. WaeOtt. EOlhoughtful kindDes,
was manifested by any member Of th,
family, but on the contrary, narrow re
gard for sell, and looking 10 him only
that be might supply the means Of self.
qualification.
No wonder, from The pressure that wa,
on him, that Mr. WsIeoll felt utterly dis.
eouraged. He retired early, aud sought
to find that relief from mental Gisquietude
in sleep which be had vainly hoped for in
the bosom Of bis family. But the whole
night passed in b'oksn slumber and dis.
turbing dreams. From the cherries morn.
ing meal, at which be was reminded ofthe
quarters bill that must be paid, Of the
Goals aud -four that were out, and Of the
necessity Of supplying Mrs. WaIeott's emp.
ty purse, be went forth 10 meet the diff
culties Of another day, faint at heart, al.
most hopeless Of success. A confident
spirit, sustained by home affections, would
have carried him through; but unsupport.
ed as be was, the burden was too heavy
for him. and he sunk under it. The day
that opened SO unpropitiously closed upon
him a ruined man!
Let US look in for few moments upon
Mr.. Freeman, friend and neighbOr Of Mr..
Walcott. He also had come home weary,
dispirited, and almost sick. The trials Of
the day had been unusually severe, and
wren be looked anxiously forward to scan
the future, not even a CLEAN Of light was
seen along the black horizon.
As he stepped across the thresh. hold Of
bis dwelling, a pang shot through bis
heart, for the thought came-'how slight
the presen: hold upon all these comforts
Not for hipself, but for bis wife and chill
dren, was the pain.
Fathers eomsp cried a glad little voice
on the stairs, the moment his footballs SCUM.
ded in the passage; then quick, pattering
feet were heard-and then a tiny form was
spriuging into bis arms. Before reaching
the sitting room above, Alice, the eldest
daughter, was by bis side, her arm drawn
fondly within his, and her loving eyes lift.
ed to bis face.
Are you not late, dearF 1t was the
gertle voice of Mrs. Freeman.
Mt. Freeman could not trust himself to
answer. He was too deeply troubled in
spirit TO assume at the moment cheerful
tone, and ha had no wish to sadden the
hearts that loved him, by letting the de.
preston from which he was suffering be.
come too deeply apparent. But the eyes
of Mrs. Freeman saw quickly below the
surface.
Are you not well, RobertG 2 she inquired
ten1erly, as she drew bis large arm chair
toward the centre of the room.
"A little headache, be answered with
slight evasion.
Scarcely was Mrs. Freeman seated ere
pair of hands was busy with each foot, re.
moving gaiter and shoes and supplying
their place with soft slipper. There was
not one in the household who did uot feel
happier for bis return, nor one who did hot
seek to render him some kind office.
1t was impossible, under such a burst
Of heart sunshine, for the spirit of Mr.. F.
long to re main shrouIed. Almost impre-
ceptIbly to himself. gloomy thoughts gave
place 10 nore cheerful ones, and BY the
time tea was ready, he had half forgotten
The fears which had so haunted him thro'
The day.
But they could not be held back alto
ge.her, and theil existence was marked du.
ring the evening by an unusual silence aud
abstraction of mind This was observed
by Mrs. freeman, who more than half sus>
pecting tie cause, kept back from her hus-
band the knowledge of certain matters
about which she had intended to speak to
him, for she feared they would add to bis
mental disquietude.
During the evening she CLEANED from
something be had said the real cause of
his changed aspect. At once her thoughts
commenced running in new channe.-I
BY few remarks, she drew her husband
iito conversation on the subject of home
expenses and tue propriety of restriction
in various points. Many things were mu.
tually pronounced supsIfucus and easily
10 be dispensed with, and before sleep fell
soothinglY on the heavy eyelids of Mr.. F.
that night, an entire change in their style
of living bad been determined upon--a
change that would reduce their expenses
one>half. l arn
4 see light ahead were the hopeful
words of Mr.. f., as he resigned himself
to slumber. f
With renewed strength Of mind and
body, and confident spirit, he went forth
the next day-a day that be had looked
forward to with fear and trembling. And
it was only through this renewed strength
and confident spirit that be was enabled to
overcome the difficulties that doomed up
high befgre him. Weak deS-
pondency would have ruined all. Home
had proved his tower of strength-his
walled city. Strengthened for the conflict
be had gone forth again into the world
and conquered in the struggle. L
III see light ahead" gave place to 'the