Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1858-08-20
vol. XII.
THE MAGIC on WORDS


BY T. 8. AKTHUK.
Peter CrsndaIi was not an ill-nafured
ca2tious, or faals- finding man, and yet the
home Of Peter Crandaii was not ha2py
home. Very little sunshine streamed in a.
cross the threshold. Was IL his wife's fault.
A visitor who saw her in her usual mood
might, Il his conclusions were made from
first impressions, lean to this opinion. Sh.
inclined 10 fretfnliness and impatience; ana
often scoIded the chilhren when her hus
band could see little in them to blame.
The GrandaIls were poor. Mr.. G randall
was mechanic, and earned only sReehaB-
les wages. Mrs. Erandaif was the mothei
of 1--WE children, the oldest of them thirteeI
years old; but their narrow income lefl moth
TO spare for the hire Of domestic. and 81
ali the work fell upon her. She was toll
worn and toiI-ssearj II the dying of eacf
day. and lhe same. although not TO an e.
quai e4tehs. might be said Of her husband
kfe had more strength for his work, AID
therefore. could endate greater fatigue. lie
had the aaFanlage. too, which was most
Important one--of freedom fr6iii' eatse9 d
neraeas excitement, and the ineeitabis ex.
haustion that followed. Efs labosef on al
one Find Of work, uniaterrdpted,> all daJ
long; while she was subject to perpetual
and anaoying isferrapiionf iaeiieit 70 hei
posikior Of mother atiil htbdsegeeper.
Between Peter Crandall and his wife
there did not seem TO exist much affection.
They never spoke ioying words, nor mani
tested, except ON rare occasions, ady pleas.
IRE At meeting. or any MUTUAL interest,"
The little codftes.es of life were something
unknown in their cheerless dwelling. Rude
boisterous, quarrelsome, the childFe1 grew
UP, bringing discord into the house that was
uncomfortable enough without that disagree
able inmafe. The mother seoldedaHd pun:
ished id anger; but saw no good result OF
her iiscipline. The father sometimes scol-
dei IN concert: but always felt an uhpEeas-
ant sensation afterward. as it he had been
doing something wrong.
And SO the years went on, and the sim
Beams came not across the threshold inte
.s.!!eeif dweiiing. Occasionally Mr.. crandall
obtaiaed o bfief glance into some other
homes;' alala as tie p,gasaat vision passed. a
sigh. would disturb bis bosom. Light aad
warmth werc there.
Something was wrong Id his own home /;
that he had felt for great while--and he
did not wholly blame his wife. But the ex-
act location Of the wrong he Could never
Clearly perceive. In the beginning it Was
different. Then there was warmth in the
heafa, and ssashine in the face of his wife.
But it was in his memory, marking day
after ny as dial records the advan-
cling shadow, how The brightness fiber face
diminished steadily, until all was eclipsed.
An. If he had dreamed Of The causet But
MIR. crandalf Vas not a titan who looked in :
ward tipon his own lsfe--Ees q E1an whe
considered his actions IN their effects upon.
others. He was, moreover, silent, undem-
oistrative man. rarely expressing his feel
lhgs. He gave few ost@asd signs by which
any che could see bis heart. Here lay the orr
gin Of the irosibie at home--the beginning g
of the eclipse that left his little world in al-
most total darkness, wien il should have
been broad monday. Il was uoi enough
for Mrs. Crandall in the earlier Years al
their welded life, to know that her husband
loved her. Her heart asked for more. She
wanted loving looks and loving words also;
snd for lack of these, its green things with
cred, and its blossoms faded. Having told
her in the beginning that he loved her; hav-
ing afterwards married her in proof of his
declaration; and having ever since worked
daily for the sustaining of his home. and
and keeping her as far above want as it was
possible for him to do, Mr. crandall saw no
reason why he should be all the time pass
ing compliments He couldn't do it. It
wasn't IN him. He would have felt asham-
ed Of it as weakness.
And SO almost from the beginning, he fail.
cd to give those IittIefoutward signs of af-
fectior--sbose pleasant tokens of kindness
SO grateful to ALL When his wife said. du-
the FIRST year that that succeeded their mar
rage. !. Thank you Peter" and smiled CRATE
fully In return fos some little act Of kind
ness--or expressed pleasure when be came
home from his work as eseniagr drawing hes
arm around his neck and kissing hiIB-os
ssid how lonesome she felt all day, and
what light his coming brought into their
little holne--Peter Crandall felt glow ol
pleasure in his heart. But il did not come
within range of his imaginatieR--dall Q. best
Ito conceive that like words from him
would be to spirit of his wife like the dew to
the thirsty ground.
And 80 be never expressed pleasure at
meeting: but rather affected. from kind OF
| false pride,a . certain coldness, as though it
were q lack Of nanliness to act differently
No matter how many E..le attentions hi:
| wife might show him-no matter what she
/ prepared for his return, nor with what daia-
~ skill she cooked the evening and noon
day meals, he never praised; and rarely gave
even the meagre rewsrd of expressed
qualification. But if things went wrong
/ if the coffee was bad or the aFead sour Il
speak out; and not always in oTer choice
words.
AS Mrs. Crandall began to fail in outwart
signs Of Of affection, Peter perceived theii
withdruwal as The gradual failing Of sunshin.
vstsen clouds gather over the sky ia fiImy
ueats- ,Ien deepen into obscuring curtains
Bui the cause was to him a mystery HI
/ felt as Of old to his wife; and worked fo
] her as cheerfuliy as in the beginning. Til,
home feehag was as strong as ever; and
after withdrawing fron the outer world
when The night shadows fell. he had no
i the beginning OF desire 60 60 abroad from
his halnbie sanctuary, shorH as It was of
efief attraction--the smiles and loving tone
and wuzds Of his changing wife.
From this iDanspicious beginning wen
on, steadily the unhappy change. The com
ing Of children, which. on their advent, wu
I; like the falling down upon them of sun
beams through suddenly rifted clouds, rath
er increased instead Of diminishing the On
pleasant aspec. OF things in the house OF re
ter crandall. e the mothers heart had besl