The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1858-11-10
THE TWO HOMES.

77E "a lg EGi- - --at p y-51f-
! Two men on their way home, met at q
a street crossing, and then walked or
together. They were neighbors and
friends 5+ tiHc
This has been very hard day said
Mr. Freeman, in gloomy voice. Aud
as they walked homewara they dis
couraged each other and made darker
the clouds that obscured their whole
; horizon. 1L-t1l
Good evening" was at last said hur-
riedly; and the two men passed into
their homes. .Ml ea
Mr.. Walcolt entered the room where
his wife aud children we're gathered, and
without speaking to any one, seated
him self in chair, and leaning his bead
back, closed his eyes His countenance
wore sad, weary, exhausted look. He
had Been seated thus for only few min
utes, when his wife said in a fearful
voice:
More trouble again CA
What is the matter now?' asked Mr..
Walcott, almost starting.
John has been sent home from school
| 'What?' Mr.. Walcott partly rose from
his chair. ~
He has been suspended for bad con-
duct
'Oh, dearr groaned Mr.. Walcott,
4 where is hep
| up in his room; sent him there as
soon as be came home. You'll have to
do something with him. He'll be ruined
if he goes on in this way. I'm out OF
all heart with him.
| Mr.. Walcott, excited as much by the
manner in which his wife conveyed un-
4 pleasant information as by the informa-
tion itself, started up, under the blind
impulse of the moment, and going to the
room where John had been sent on com
ing home from school, punished the boy,
severely, and this without listening to
the explanations which the poor child
tried to make him hear.
Father said the boy, with forced
calmness, after the cruel stripes had
ceased; Il wasn't to blame, and if you
will 90 With me to the teacher, [ can
prove myself Innocent ssf..
MIR. Walcott had never known his son
to tell an untruth, and the words fell
with rebuke upon his heart. 4..F
.Very we'll, we will see about that,
he answered with forced sternness; aud
leaving the room he went down stairs,
feeling much more uDcomfort table than
when he went up. Again he seated
himself in his large chair, and again
leaned back his weary head aud closed
his heavy eyelids. Sadder was his face
than before. AS he sat thus, the eldest
daughter, in her sixteenth year, came
and stood by him. She held paper in
her hand.
sFather,' he sopcued his eyes; there's
nv quarters bill. Can't have the
money to take to school with me in the
morning.
Il am afraid not,' answered Waicott,
half in despair.
Nearly. all the girls will bring in
their money TO morrow, and II mortifes
me to be behind the others The
daughter spoke freifully. Dir. Walcott
waived her aside with his hand, and she
went off muttering and pouting.
1t is mortifying, said Mrs. Walcott,
little sharply; and I don't wonder
that Helen feels annoyed about it, The
bill has to be paid, and don't see why
it may not be paid first as last
| To this Mr. Walcott made no answer.
The words but added another pressure
to the heavy burden under which he was
already staggering. After silence of
some moments, Mrs Walcott said:
The Goals are all gone
.Impossiblei' Mr. Walcott raised his
head and looked incredulous. Il laid In
sixteen tons
Il can't help it, if there we're sixty
tons instead of sixteen; they are all
gone. The girls had hard work to-day
to scrape up enough TO keep the fire IN.
| There's been shameful waste some
where said Mr.. Wslcott, with strong
emphasis, starting up aud moving about
the room with very disturbed manner.
so you always say, when anything
runs out answered Mrs. Walcott. rather
tartly. The barrel of -four is gone al;
so; but Suppose you have done your
part, with the rest, in using it up.
Mr.. Walcott returned to his chair,
and again seating himself, leaned back
his head, and closed his eyes as at first.
How sad, and weary, and hopeless he
! felti The burdens of the day had seem
ed almost too heavy for him; but he
had borne up bravely. To gather the
strength for a renewed struggle with ad-
verse circumstances, be had come home.
! Alas! that the process of exhaustion
should still go on-that where only
| strength could be looked for on earth,
no strength was givon.
| When the tea bell was rung, Mr.. Wal
colt made no movement TO obey the
summons. - il-5
| Como to supper said his wife coidly.
But he did not STIR
Are you not coming to supper? she
called to him as she was leaving the
room.
4 don't wish for anything this eve
ming My head aches very much, be
answered.
In the dumps again. muttered Mrs.
| Walcott to herself. ITS as much as
ones life is worth to ask for money. or
to say anything is wanted And she
kept on her way to the dining room
When she returned, her husband was
still sitting where she had left him.
Shall bring you cup of tear she
asked. E
No, ]. don't wish for any thing
| What's the matter, NJ. Walcott?-
What do you look so troubled about, as if
| Won had NJ n friend In the world :?