Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1858-07-08

kind of false pride, certain coldness
as though it were a lack of manlines:
to act differently. No matter how
many little attentions his wife might
show him-no matter what she pre-
pared for his return, nor with what
dainty skill she cooked the evening
and MONDAY meals, he never praised
and rarely gave even the meagre re-
ward of expressed qualification. But
if things went wrong, if the coffee was
bad or the bread sour, or the meat
burnt in cooking, he was sure to speak
out; and not always in over choice
words.
As Mrs. Crandall began to fail in
outward signs of affection, Peter per-
ceived their withdrawal as the gradual
failing of sunshine, when clouds gather
over the sky in filmy wells, that deep
en- into obscuring curtains. But the
cause was to him mystery. He felt
as of old to his wife; and worked for
her as cheerfully as in the beginning
The home feeling was as strong as
ever; and, after Withdrawing from the
outer world, when the night shadows
fell, he had not the beginning of de-
sire to go abroad from his humble
sanctuary, shorn as it was of chief at
traction-the smiles and loving tones,
and words of his changing wife.
From this inauspicious beginning
went on, steadily, the unhappy change.
The coming Of children, which, on
their advent, was like the falling down
upon them of sunbeams through sud-
denly rifted clouds, rather increased
instead of diminishing the unpleasant
aspect of things in the house of Peter
Crandall. If the mothers heart had
been cheerful and strong-if her hus-
band had not shut out the light it
needed to keep its green things un-
withered and its flowers in bloom
this would not have been so. The
cheerful spirit would have given life
to the body-would have filled every
nerve with vital force, and every mus
Gle with strength for daily toll. But
the children proved more a burden
than a comfort. There was, in their
home, so little sunshine that few green
things hourished in their hearts; and
the opening of flower was a rare oc-
currence. But thorns to wound and
weeds to offend were there, and hourly
they seemed to gain a ranker growth.
How it was in the home of Peter
Crandall will be clear to every one
now. There are around us thousands
and thousands of such homes, all the
chambers of which are made dark and
cheerless, for lack of the "small, sweet
courtesies" of life, so cheaply given,
and so magical in their effect.
One day Peter Crandall was sent by
his employer to do some work in the
house of customer. This work hap
pened to be in the family sitting-room,
in which were four children with their
mother The lady spoke to him po-
litely when he came in, and the chill
dren treated him respectfully. He had
been at work only little while, when
his attention was attracted by a re-
quest from the mother to one of the
children, to 60 up stairs and bring her
some article she named. We say re-
quest, for this was the form of words
uttered. The child went instantly,
and was back in few minutes.
Thank you, dear" said the mother.
Crandall turned and looked at the
child. Her countenance was tranquil
and happy.
Jane, l will take those scissors, if
you pleasel'
Crandall looked again. 1t was the
mother who had spoken. One Of the
children was sitting on the floor busily
engaged in cutting out pictures. But
she started up instantly and brought
the scissors to her mother.
Thank you, DEAR" was the moth
er's acknowledgment of the service, as
in the former case.
"Will you want them long?'' asked
the child.
mo, dear-only few minutes
Then you shall have them again"
The child stood patiently by heI
mothers side till the scissors were ou
of service, and then received them.
Thank you," she said, as she tool
them from her mothers hand, and ther
danced back, singing, to her place OF
the floor where the pictures lay.
All this struck Crandall as beauti
ful, and he sighed as the harsher i'm
age of his own home intruded itself
While yet at work, the husband an'
father came home. His presence wa
hailed with delight. Every child ha'
something to show or tell him, and h
entered into the feelings Of each, prais
ing their little achievements, and ap