The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1858-12-30

in one, and surveys the quiet scene, his
/ heart goes out in thankfulness that hC
/ has peaceful home, loving wife, and
sweet children to comfort him when tho
cares of the day are over. The gentle
. wife reads aloud to her husband.
The little ones amuse themselves. re-
ceiving. ever and anon an approving
smile from their loving father. When
their bedtime has come, they kiss him
good night, then kneeling at their moth
er's knee, repeat "Our Father who art
lin Heaven" Precious babe. in long
years after, when that father and moth
er arc cold in death, perohance the mem
ory of that evening prayer and homes
hallowed associations may save thee in
the hour of temptation.
To home still more humble comes
the weary laborer Toll may have hard
enod his hands, but love has softened
his heart
Parlor, dining-room and kitchen are
comprised in one. But wOmans inge-
nuity, when guided by love, often brings
order out of chaos. The cooking-stove
is brightly polished. The chairs stand
round the wall in solemn dignity. At
one side of the room the table is drawn
out; on a neat white cloth the evening
meal is spread. In the center burns a
tall candle, displaying, to the best ad-
vantage, the housewives proficiency in
the culinary department
Perched on a chair, up at the window,
are two little ones, peering into the
darkness, to see if papa is coming. In
the cradle, baby is growing, and strok-
ing the kitten, which lies sleeping in
her lap.
A little while, the welcome step is
heard, the door opens to receive the ex
pectcd one; smiles and kisses greet
his entrance.
After tea, while mother clears away
the table, and puts things in order, the
little ones entertain their father with an
account Of habys cunning ways, and |
pussy S playful capers.
When the little ones are hushod to
sleep, the careful mother seats herself, !
work basket in hand, that she may eth
or make new or repair the old clothing
for her children. Her husband reads |
aloud, either from a weekly newspaper
or a book from the circulating library. |
Their joys are simple, but to them sin
cere and satisfying.
Perhaps no time is more trying to the
widowed heart, than the long winter
evenings. The glowing hearth, the
bright lamp, the easy chairs, and inter
esting books, bring wildly to the mind
the loved one now no more.
One other th1re is for whom the long
evening is naught but a renewal Of
heart aches, the neglected wife.
At the ea-table she cxerts herself to
entertain her husband, and tries also to
interest him in her plans for her chill
dren. But in vain; the moment the
meal is swallowed, he seizes his hat to
rush down street.
His wife lays her hand coressingly up
on his arm; says timidly but lovingly,
'won't my husband rest upon the sofa
this evening, and let his wife read to
him2" He carelessly shakes off her
hand, and says he has an engagement. !
She stills the tumultuous beating of her
heart, and follows him to the front Z
door, AS he goes out into the dark /
ness, she lays her gentle arms about his ]
neck, rests her head upon his shoulder, !
md with deep thoughts yelling up in
her throat, says, "Come home early, my
lear husband" IF he is not very hard
hearted, he will give her a cold kiss, and
jay, "my dear, the night air makes you
jhiver" Then he will walk off, think
ng how hard it is for a man to have a
wife who has herOics.
When mamma comes back to the par
or, the little ones think her eyes must =;
,e weak. She soon perceives that she
S watched
Then comes the agonizing thought,
hat, though her heart may break, she
must conceal it from her children. In
to their happiness she for
time forgets her own wretchedness.-
But when they have gone to their slum- il
,ers, the consciousness of her desola- "
ion and desertion unnerves her quite;
nd in the bitterness of her heart, she
ries aloud, IF my husband cannot
make a companion for me, why did he il
marry me?"