Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-05-20
From the National Era.
The Wife s Mistake.

4
absorbed in poring over day-books and led
gers.
"Those tiresome accounts still" she ex.
claimed. "Will you ever find time for any.
thing but business, Ralph! Have you nc
taste for anything beyond igures!"
"Margaret!" but the sadness in the tone
was unheeded, as she continued
"We had such charming evening al
Mrs. C.'s. Capt. Hill related many inter.
esting incidents of his residence in Egypt
and Mr.. Warrer, the famous young poet,
read "Maud," and soma of the most beauti-
full passages in "Aurora Leigh" must
read you some of Romney's "Greai
Thoughts on Duty"
She went hastily to her chamber for the
volume. When she returned, her quiet en-
trance was unheard by her husband, whose
pen was rapidly moving over the almost in
terminable columns of figures. With an
expression of impa,ience, almost of scorn.
resting on her face, she hastily turned away.
"And this is the end of all my dreams of
marriage" said she, as she reached her
room. ale has taste for drudgery. His
pursuits and tastes are all commonplace,
and must 60 from home to find the sympa-
thy need, to find those who will apprec late
with me, the books l love, and the beautiful
in art, for which he has neither eye nor ear.
Why did he not marry woman who had
nei,he. heart nor mind to be continually
unsatis6ed!"
In the room she had left, Ralph Hale sat,
hour after hour, till his brain was weary,
and his eyelds dropped. Then. laying aside
his books, he remained long time in deep
thought.
"God bless my Margaret" he prayed
sand give me strength to bear all things
Give me power to make her happy"
Putting far away all thoughts of her hus-
bands real nobleness of character, jealousy
preserving the memory of every slight diff
ference in their tastes and pursuits, Marga-
ret cherished the spirit of discomfort, till it
embittered every hour OF her life, and sent
suffering she never dreamed of to the heart
OF ner husband, who would gladly have sac
ri6ced every earthly good for her happiness.
A sudden and severe sickness came to
her, while Ralph was in distant city. One
day during her slow recovery,the aged min
lister, who had baptized her in infancy, was
sitting by her side.
"Margaret," he said, after steadfastly
watching her troubled face, "you are very
unhappy. have seen 1t a long time. l
should not recognize in you my once happy
cheerful child. May know what grea. sor-
row has come to you!"
TEen, with sobs snd tears, she told him
oil her unhappiness.
After short silence the old man spoke
again, and there was sadness, almost stern
ness in his voice.
"Years ago, Margaret, wealthy New
York merchant became involved in specula-
ton, whose failure suddenly took from him
the accumulated wealth of his years of COM
mercial enterprise, There were few years
OF weary, vain struggling to regain what he
had lost; then deep des pondency, a linger-
ing disease, and death. His wife and tour
children were left penniless. The child,
boy of sixteen. had finished his preparatory
studies, and was about 10 enter college,
By this stroke. he found his prospects for the
future clouded; but with noble self-foIget-
fulness, he turned cheerfully into the way
marked out for him, and walked resolutely
in it.
He obtained situation with merchant
who had known his father, where his faith
fulness and untireing devotion TO his duties,
won the confidence of all who knew him.
During the first years of her widowhood,
his mother had .taught private school for
young ladies: ard it was the boys highest
ambition to relieve her of this necessity,
and give her the rest her feeble health re-
quired. cannot tel you all his privations,
his willing sacrifice of every recreation, his
continued self.denial, that he might tighten
the burdens of those SO dear to him.
Year after year, success crowned his ef
forts. In the village where his mother lad
passed the years of her childhood and the
first years of her married life, he purchased
pleasant residence for her, and then lu-
crativs business beginning to rise in the
West, he came here.
At the time of his removal here, accident
revealed to him the fact, that the widow
and invalid daughter of one whose fortune
was, by his fathers advice, risked in that
unfortunate speculation which had so chan
eed his own life, were living in extreme
poverty. To him they are indebted for the
pleasant home that now shelters them, and
for the delicate, thoughtful ministration to
their daily comfort.
Now, when the commercial world is
clouded, and disasters crowd thick and fast
upon him, as upon others, his anxious
thoughts turn to the mother, and suffering
sister, in the little village home whose COM
for. depends upon him, to the other lonely
firesde, TO which his constant thoughtful
ness imparts its only light, and to his own
home, and the young wife whose happiness
is dearer to him than life. For this, Mar
garet, Ralph Hale gives his days to Inces-
SAINT toll, and willingly sacrifices the social
pleasures he is so eminently fitted to en-
joy.
have been in these three homes. With
love that is almost reverence, his mother
and sister speak his name, and with full
hearts thank God for his life-that life so
filled with the beauty of self-renunciation.
The widow and daughter, whose hearts he
has made glad, tell Of his numberiess acts
of kindness, of his delicate and unceasing
watchfu'ness, and daily they ask Gods bles
sing on him whose life is a blessing to 9th.
ers.
In his own home, the wife, whose love