Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1858-02-17
From Arthu's Home Magazine" for Feb
Not Appreciated. ~ .s-

FROM ArthurS home magazine" tor Feb.
Not Appreciated. ta
The last rites were over She had
fallen by the way, ere Hfe's- meridian
was reached, and left her husband and
children to a sorrow that mocks for a
time at consolation. Seven years she
had been q wife-six years another
and now, q lone-hearted man and three
little motherless ones were left il ElE
dwelling where the sunshine d Ter
loving presence would never aga an
pear. aa as5-~
Mr.. Newcomb was a saddle
now, than when he followed, gl e.
the palled coffin to it's final resting
And there were reasons why his @hda
should feel a deeper depression. A few
friends and neighbors had returned with
him from the place Of graves, and they
had fingered for q short time in the des-
olate rooms, speaking together in muf-
fled tones of the departed, and of those
she had lett behind her. Two women
talked insshis wise !; and it SO happened
that Mr.. Newcomb heard every word.
They thought him in one of the upper
chambers, but he was sitting in an ad-
joining room, and their voices came in
through an open window, and smote his
ears with intolerable pain. SD
"Poor Alice! p said one. "It is a
blessed release to her.
''But dreadful loss to her children" !"
was answered. sDear little babies (!
My heart aches for them And I pity
Mr.. Mr. n NNeYco!lh, also. It t;s q great loss,
though he never did rightly appreciate
her, poor thing!''
Il can't get up much sympathy for
him. said the other, esand it isn't much
use to try. His wife was not apprecia-
ted, as you say. lie did not under
stand her disposition, nor give her cred
it for the virtues she possessed. She
was faithful and loving, but sensitive
SO sensitive that the lightest word Of IN
kindness was felt as painful stroke -
<sAnd that reminds me,' said the
leighbor, s'of one Of the bad habits he
INDUCED in, Of bantering her in com
pany, and showing off her little faults
or pecliliaiities. I have been 50 pro-
voked with him that could with Diff
Guilty keep my tongue from reproach. y
'sShe was plain; and | think that an
nOyed him, sometimes"
"Plam! The beauty of her pure
spirit was ever shining through her face,
and if his eyes were not clear enough
to see it, he was unworthy of her,"
ssSie was not as bright as some oih-
er women; and it always struck me that
he INDUCED in depreciating contrasts. -
"She was good, true, faithful, loving y
was answered; s'and these sre better
qualities in wife than mere briliiancy.
Do you remember that evening at Mrs.
Bottoms, about year ago?"
every we'll"
"She was there, you know"
eyes, recollect it,
Gle firted with pretty Miss Gard
ner, who has only her face to recom-
mend her."
s'I remember. Itlowered him in my
good opinion. I don't like to see mar.
ried men too particular III their atten.
tions to snowy young girls. y VIE
s'Nor i. Wei, I happened to catch
the expression Of Mrs. Newcomb's face
when her husband was standing 81 tile
piano, turning the music while Mis-.
Gardner sung. She was looking q.
him. Oh! it was mexpressibly sad !
! 4 little while afterwards [ turned agai,
to tie place where she had been sittiIie
I all alone; but she was not there " ha
! ails Mrs. Newcolnb?:' / heard a lad,
ask some minutes later. Dear knnws
/ was the almost pettish reply. She
i gone off up stairs to have cry all t.
hersef-something' gone wrong, [ sup
pose. She's hard BODY TO get oi
with. | pity her husband Z pitiet
her, poor child. for I could understand
J her heart"
'tHe went q great deal into ce,npan,
without his wife,
s'Yes! and if You asked for her, ther'
was always an air, or tone, Or expires
| sion IN his face, that made you feel a
; If he did not regard her as of mucl
| consequence. where is Mrs. New
t comb:' youwould inquire. she doesn'
go out or, she's a queer little hom
body or, the baby's sick 'or, sh
doesn't enjoy company These wer
: the reasons he would give. Ithas bee
on my lip dozen times to, answer
Why don't you stay at home and kee
| her eompany?' And wish now that
: had. 1t might have quickened in hir
| a perception of duty, and caused a fey
more rays Of light to fall ON her not a
t ways sunny pathway -.
+ Mr. Newcomb heard no more. Bu