Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-05-06

Vile CGlHt uUWu Will IHC uIcSef1g gown
and slippers. She was trying to force
her c%ountenance into a grave expression,
to hold back the smiles that were con
t%inually striving to break in truant circles
around her lips, when a single glance at
her husbands face told her that the spirit
driven away by the exorcism of her love,
had returned again to his bosom. He
looked at her soberly, as she came for
ward.
What are these?n he asked, almost
coldly depressing surprise, and affecting
an ignorance in regard to the beautiful
present she held in her hand, bat he did
not feel.
"They are for you, dear. | made them
For me ? Nonsense! What do | want
with such ~jimcrackery? This is woman's
wear. Do you think / would disfgare
my feet with embroidered slippers. or
dress up in q calico gown Put them
away, dear. Your husband is too much
of a 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 a cold, sneering manner about him
partly affected and partly real-the real
born of his uncomfortable state of mind.
Yet he loved his sweet wife, and would
net, of set purpose, have wounded her fol-
the world.
This unexpected repulse-the cruel re
ception of her present, over which she
had wrought patiently in golden hope
for many days-this dashing to the earth
of his brimful cup of joy, just as it touch
ed her lips, was more than she could bear.
To hide the tears that came rushing te
her eyes, she turned away from her hus
band and, to conceal the sobs she had
no. power to repress, she went almost
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 the closet. Then cover
ing her face with her hands, she sal
down and strove with herself to be calm
But that shadow was too deep-the heart
ache too, heavy.
In a little while her husband followed
her, discovering, something to his sur
prise, that she was weeping, said, in g
slightly ~reproving voice "Why, bless
me! not in tears! What. a silly little
puss you are! Why didn't you tell me
you thought of making a dressing-gown
and a pairIof slippers, and | would have
vetoed the matter at once? You couldn't
hire me to wear such Haunting things.
Come back to the parlor"-he took hold
of her arm and lifted her from the chair
-"and sing and play for me. 1.-THE
Dream Waltz" or the "Tremolo" Dear
est May" or ."The Silly Night" are
worth more to me than forty dressing
gowns, or a cargo Of embroidered slip
pers."
Almost by force, he led her back to
the parlor, and placed her On the music
stool. He selected a favorite piece, and
laid it before her. But tears were in her
eyes and she could net see a note. Over
the keys her fingers passed in skillful
touches but, when she tried to keep
up the song, uttranee failed and sobs
broke instead of words.
"How foolish p said the husband, in
a vexed tone. "Im surprised at you II
And he turned from the piano, and walk
ed across the room.
A little while the sad young wife re.
manned where she was left thus alone, and
in partial anger. Then, rising, she went
slowly from the room-her husband moi
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 hidden sun came out again right
early, it was a long time before his beams
had power to scatter the clouds thai
aoated in loves horizon.
The 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 have given you two pic
lures, not as a mirror, but as a kaledio.
scope. In all their infinitely varied re.
%lations, men and women selfshly or
thoughtlessly-froA design, weakness, or
ignorance-are casting their shadows
upon hearts that are pining for sunlight.
A word, a look, a tone, an act will cast
a shadow, and sadden a spirit for hours
and days. Speak kindly, act kindly, be
forgetters Of self, and you will east but a
few shadows along the path Of life. The
true gentleman is always tender of the
feelings Of others-always watchful, lest
he..wound unintentionally-always think
ing, when with others, Of their pleasure
instead of his own He casts but few
shadows. Be gentlemen-ladies, or-in
a word, that which includes all graces
and Observation-Disclosures for it is
the Christian who casts fewest shadows
Of all.