Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-12-23
famiLp GirtIt.
THE ROSE IND THE NETTLE.

tween the tWo--there rose u lhiSo anu Houi-
ishing city. Its manufactures were noted for
their extent, aud the merchant princes OF that
place revelled in the wealth those man.
ufactories produced. On the outskirts OF
the town were built two h~ouses--alike
in form, in extent in value. Two peas"
or 1.-TWO nuts,p or two pins" had
frequently described their similarity. Now,
in these two houses lived two brothers-twins
the only sons of the builder of those two
houses. 1t had been a fancy of the old man
to have " the boys" as he called them, lodged
alike; and his means being ample, he had the
tpower of indulging his fancy. "The boys''
married, and OF the wedding day the first
stone Of either home was laid.
"Time enough to get them finished said
the old gentleman, as he rubbed his hands in
glee; E won't want a nursery for a twelve
month, at any rate. Small house will do till
then"
The young brides were present when that
remark was made. One blushed, and smiled;
the other bIushed-and frowned. 1t was
the nettle and the rose again standing side by
lside
Six months passed, and the houses were
half up--the old gentleman himself directing
all the arrangements of the building.
at is good indeed of your father, now an
old man, to take an interest in our comfort
said one of the young wives to her husband.
&c Ralph"-that was the husbands name
I" you can never repay him for his kind feeling
and his generosity to u.s."
" 1t is an absurdity for your father to play
the architect, and almost ~bricklayer," remark
ed the other wife to her spouse, Boydell--his
name. "You should tell him that it is incon-
~Isistent with his calling and his station"
at is consistent with his pleasure" re-
marked the husband, and therefore | am
content.n
Twelve months passed, and the houses were
finished.
Nursery ready in time" said the good old
.man-4ready in time"
The houses were occupied, in course of
twelve-months the nurseries were occupied also.
There are unceasing a~nxieties in a moth
er's lot" said the good wife of Ralph, " but
unceasing pleasures too" And she smiled at
the innocent face of her sleeping babe.
"How woman can like the bore of children,
| cannot imagine" remarked her sister-inlaw,
as her child was hastily given to its nurse.
Years passed on-as they always do--and
the young wives became middle aged women.
Sons and daughters clustered round them, and
the grandfather, old and feeble, now leant on
these young things for support,
Time had worked q wondrous change in the
two brothers-Ralph's told of a homestock of
happiness, from which he drew largely, while
Boydell looked as if content and happiness
were not in the world at all.
At the same time when the families of each
were springing up, and needed money to be
spent on them, in education, maintenance, and
fthe different adjuncts of their station, one of
those panics Of the commercial world, which
ruin thousands, took place. Unfortunately,
Ralph and his brother had entered into large
speculations, which failing, they were involved
in the prevailing ruin, and found themselves
verging on bankruptcy.
"Be of good heart, Ralph,p said his -
" there is bread in this great Il.
Our fine large house, our serV% Sur
carriages, are not absolutely necea Our
happiness; we can do as others do with
out them; and the children, Ralph - lesson
of adversely may be Tor their welfare. Take
comfort, Ralph; there is plenty of that left
for us in the world, if our wealth has flown
away"
eyes," answered her husband, as he clasped
her hand, and drew her to him-"Yes! there
is never failing comfort here, Lucy. God be
praised for having given me one SO meet to
help me, both in joy and sorrow, wealth or
poverty
You should have forseen this c~risis,n re-
marked the wife of Boydell, "and not allowed
your children to be brought to beggary at
their age, when just entering on life. Expen-
ses are unavoidable, unless indeed, they be ed
ucated as the laboring classes-which idea
may be worth your wise consideration"
She ceased with a sneer on her face.
"Other men would not have been so ven
tursome with their money" she remarked
"The Brownings, for instance, and the Smiths,
withdrew in time, and Lionel Blagdon told
me that your children, might thank you, and
you only, if starvation were their fate"
I'm mercy cease" replied the husband, "or
you will drive me mad.n
~ must put your conduct fairly before
your eyes-it is my duty" she replied.
"Then reserve it until / am likely to ap-
preciate your efforts at the performance of the
duty" he replied.
Poor !" Dutyl" how ~dreadfully is she mis-
handled by these ascetic danes. alt is a
dutyW and under that plea many a harsh
truth is uttered. at is a duty!"-so says
the eVer-strict disciplinarian, and Geld stern
words are driven forth to tremble on an over
worked and wearled brain at is a dutylo
covers the cruel rebnke and severe reioinder.
1t may be a duty" to speak plainly and bold
ly sometimes-but it is a duty to choose the
opportunity when the speech may be accepta-
BILE, and not fret and chafe the wounded heart
by a repetition of the very truth which, silent
" recognised, are calling it already.
Boydell knew quite well that he might have
~forseen and partially have provided for the
melancholy event which had taken place. His
conscience reproachcd him bitterly for care
~lessness and r~ashness, and his wife's words
were not needed to add to the self-re-
proach, which left to itself, might have work
ed some good producing a quiet determination
to abide by the more sober councils of Ralph
in future, for Ralph's voice had been lifted
against the very speculation which had caused
the joint failure Of the brothers.
Fretted and CALLED, and wearied Of life and
life's struggles, Boydell knew not whittier to
turn for comfort and consolation. His father
had been gathered to the dead; his brother,
Boydell, was too proud to betray his lack Of
domestic peace to him; his children, initiating
the bad example of the mother, turned against
him, and instead Of clustering round him in
the hour OF woe, openly blamed him for the
course he had adopted.
At last his mind, torn by a thousand con
hicting sorrows, gave way; a lunatic asylum
became his home, while his wife and children
dragged on a life of misery, supported by the
mere charity of relations.
Far differently Jared Ralnh IN tba hmm.