The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1858-04-06

| ing brief self-examination, Mr.. Lewil
said
"You thought the smile given to Mr.
Edwards came easily enough P"
'.It did not seem to require an effort,
replied Mrs. Lewis.
"He, not much effort was required,
said Mr.. Lewis His tones were slight
II depressed. "But this must be taker
into the account: my mind was in 9
certain state Of excitement or activity
that represented sober feelings, and
made smiling an easy thing. So we
smile and are gay in company, at cost
of little effort, because all are smiling
and. gay, and we feel the common sphere
of excitement. How different it often
is when we are alone, 1 need not say
You, Caddy, are guilty of the sober
face at home as we'll as your husband"
Mr.. Lewis spoke with tender re-
proof in his voice.
"But the sober face is caught from
yours oftener than you imagine, my hus-
band )" replied Mrs. Lewis.
care you certain of that, Caddy 2"
every certain. You make the sun
shine and the shadow of your home
Smile upon us give us cheerful words ;
euter into our feelings and interests,
and there will be no brighter hcme in
all the land. A shadow on your coun-
tenance ia veil for my heart; and the
same is true az it respects our children.
Our pulses strike too nearly in unison
not to be disturbed when yours has lost
its even beat"
Again Mr.. Lewis walked on in silence,
his face partly averted and again his
wife began to fear she had spoken too
freely. But he soon dispellsd this i'm
preston, for he said.
II am CAD, Caddy, that you have
spoken thus plainly. I only wish you
had done SO before. I see how it is
My smiles have been for the outside
world-the world that neither loved or
regarded me-and my c1ouded brow for
those at home, for whom thought and
care are everything activities
Mr.. and Mrs. Lewis were now at
their own door, when they paused a mo-
ment, aud then went in. Instantly, on
passing his Threshold, Mr.. Lewis felt
the pressure upon him of a usual state.
The hue of his feelings began to change.
The cheerful, interested exterior he put
on for those he met in business inter-
course began rapidly to change, and
sober hue to succeed. Like most bust
ness men, his desire for profitable re-
suits was even far in advance of the
slow evolutions of trade; and his daily
history was a history of disappointments,
in some measure dependent upon his
restless anticipations. He was not as
willing to work and to wait as he should
be; and, like many others of his class,
neglected the pearls that lay here and
there along his life-path, because they
were inferior in value to those he hoped
to find just little way in advance
The consequence was that when the days
business excitement was over, his mind
fell into brooding state, and fingered
over its disappointments, or looked for
ward with failing hope to the future
for hope, in many things, had been long
deferred And SO he rarely had smiles
for his home.
"Take that home with you, DEAR"
whispered Mrs. Lewis, as they moved
along the passage, and before they had
Joined the family. She had an instinc-
tive consciousness that her husband was
in danger of relapsing into his usual
state.
The warning was just in time.
"Thank you for the words |" said he,
'tI will not forget them.'
And he did not; but at once rallied
himself, and to the glad surprise of Jen-
ny, Will and Mary, met them with
new face, covered with fatherly smiles,
and with pleasant questions, in pleasant
tones, of their days employment. The
feelings of children move in quick tran
sitions. They had notexpected greet
ing like this, but the response was in
slant. Little Jenny climbed into her
fathers arms. Will came and stood by
his chair, answering in lively tones his
questions, while Mary, older by few
years than the rest, leaned against her
fathers shoulder, and laid her white
hand softly upon his head, smoothing
back the dark hair, just showing some
frost, from his broad temples.
A pleasant group was this for the
eyes of Mrs Lewis, as she came iorth
from her chamber to the sitting room,
where she had gone to lay off her bon
net and shawl, and change her dress
Well did her husband understand the
meaning look she gave him and warmly
did her heart respond to the smile he
threw back upon her.
"Words 6tly spoken are like apples
of gold in pictures ofsilver," said Mr..
Lewis, speaking to her as she came in.
.What do you mean by thata" asked
Mary, looking into her fathers face.
eMother understands, said Mr.. Lew
is, smiling tenderly upon his wife.
HSomething pleasant must have hap
pened," said Mary.
ASemeth;pg pleasant Why do you