Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1858-10-22
w'bistFhsd been Interrupted BY ctbe ring.

Il "uieu hao oeeu interrupted by the STing-
ing ofithetea.bells 3 s1ie'uoa b1A ts.S
j The wbels, evening passed off without
the occurrence Of single incident that
gave healthful pulsation to the Sick
heart Of Mr.. Walcott. No ihoughtful
kindness was manifested by any member
Of the family i: but on the contrary, a mar
row regard for self and a looking TO, him
only that he nigh. supply the means of
self-grati6casion. : '.'Gf' e .
i No wonder from the pressure which
was on him. that Mr. Walcott. felt utterly
discouraged. He retired early and
sought to find that relief from mental
disquietude in sleep. which he had vainly
hoped for in the bosom of his family
But the whole night passed in broken
slumber aud disturbing Dreams From
the cherries morning meal. al, which be
was reminded Of the quarter bill that
must be paid. Of the Goals aud -four that
were out. and Of the necessity Of supply
ing Mrs. Wslcott's empty purse. he went
forth TO meet the difficulties of another
day. faint at heart, and almost hopeless
of success. A confident spirit. sustained
by home affections. would have carried
him through; but. unsupported as he was.
the burden was. too heavy for him. and
he sank under it. The day that opened,
SO unpropitously, closed upon him ruin
ed man
Let US look in for few moments upon
Mr.. Freeman. friend and neighbor OF
Mr.. Walcott. He,l also. had come home
weary. dispirited. and almost sick. The
trials of the day had been unusually Sc
we're. and when he looked anxiously for |
ward to scan the future. not even q CLEAN
OF light was seen along the black horizon
AS he stepped across the, threshold Of
his dwelling "a pang shot through his
heart, for the thought come, .How
slight The present hold upon all these
comforts ?" Not for himself. but, for his
wife and children was the pain.
Fathers come J. cried a glad little
voice on the stairs. the moment his foot>
fall sounded 10 the passage then quick
Patteling feet were heard-and then a
tiny form was springing into his arms
Before reaching the sitting room above.
Alice. the eldest daughter. was sitting by
his side, her arm drawn fondly within his,
and her loving eyes lifted to his face.
Are you not late de"r?' II was the
gentle voice OF Mrs. Freeman.
| MIR. Freeman could not trust himself to
answer. He was too deeply troubled in
spirit to assume at the moment. cheer
iul tone. and he had no wish to sahden
the hearts that loved him, by letting the
depression from which he was suffering,
become too closely apparent. But the
eyes of MIS-. Freeman saw quickly below
the surface.
Are you not we'll, Roberl?' she inquir.
ed. tenderly. as she drew his large, arm
chair toward the centre Of the room.
a little headache. he answered. with
a slight evasion. =ta 81
Scarcely was Mr.. Freeman seated, ere
pair OF hands were busy with each foot.
removing gaiter and shoe. aud supplying
their place with soft slipper. There
was not one in The household who did not
feel happier for his return. nor one who
did not seek 10 render him some kind
Office.
1t was impossible, under such burst
OF sunshine for the spirit Of Mr. Freeman
long to remain shrouded. Almost i'm.
perceptiblY to herself gloomy thoughts
gave place to more cheerful ones and by
the time tea was ready. he had half for
gotten the fears Of the day.
But they could not be held back alto.
Get5er. and their existence was marked
during the evening. by an unusual silence
and abstraction Of mind. This was OBJ
served by Mrs. freeman, who more than
half suspecting the cause. kept back from
her husband the knowledge Of certain
matters about which she had intended TO
speak to him. for she feared they would
add to his mental disquietude. During
the evening she CLEANED from something
he said :he real cause Of his changed as
pect. Al once her thoughts commenced
running in a new channel. By few
leading remarks she drew her husband
into conversation on the subject OF home
expenses. and the propriety Of restriction
in various points Many things were
mutually pronounced superfiuous. and
easily to be dispensed with; and before
eep fell sootbingly on the hSary eyeiids
Of Mr.. Freeman shat night. an entire
change in their style Of living had been
determined upon-a change that would
| reduce their expenses at least one half
Il see light ahead we're the hopeful
words of Mr. F.. as hs resigned himself
10 slumber.
With renewed strength OF mind and bo
W. anu cohnuent sp'IH, ne went 'orLh
the next day-a day Ihnt be bad looked
forward to with fear and trembling
And it was only through this renewed
strength and confident sPiri. that he was
able 10 overcome the difficulties that
loomed up. mountain high. before him
Weak despondrncy would have ruined
sll. Home had proved his tower Of
strength his walled city. Strengthened
| for the conflict. he had gone forth again
into the world aud conquered in the