The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1858-06-10
The Shadows We Cast.
BY T. S. ARTHUR.

BY T. S. ARTHUR
A young wife. had busted herself for many
days in preparing pleasant surprise for her
husband The work was finished at last and
now she waited his return, with a heart full ot
warm emotions A dressing gown, pair of
embroidered slippers, wrought by her own skill
ful fingers, were the gifts with which she m" ant
to delight him. What troop OF pleasure fam
ces was in her heart! How impatently did
she wait for the coming twilight, which was to
be drawn, not approaching darkness to her.
At last she heard the step of her husband in
the passage, and her pulse Ieaped with autter-
ing delight Like bird upon the wing, she al
most flew down to meet him, impatient for the
kiss that awaited her.
To men in the world Of business, few days
pass without their disappointments and per.
plexities. 1t is mans business to bear this
manfully. They form but portion of life's
discipline, and should make them stronger gra-
ver and more enduring. Uhwiscly, and we
may say unjustly too many men fail to leave
their business cares and troubles in their stores,
workshops or counting rooms, at the days de-
cline. They wrap them in bundles and carry
them home to shadow their households.
1t was SO with the young husband on this par
ticular occasion. The stream of business had
taken an eddying whir, and thrown his vessel
backward instead of onward for brief space,
and though it was still in the current and gil
ding safely onward against it, the jar and dis
appointment had frettcd his mind severey y
There was no heart warmth in the kisses he gave
his wife, because he had let care overshadow
love He drew his arm round her, but she was
conscious of diminished pressure in that en-
bracing arm.
" Are you not we'll ?"
With what tender concern was the question
asked !
every WE'LL
He might be in body. but not in mind that
was plain, for his voice was far from being
cheerful.
She played and sung her favoritc pieces, ho-
ping to restore, by the charm of music, bright
mess to his spirit. But she was conscious of
only partial success. There was still gravity in
his manner never perceived before At tea. time
she smiled upon him so sweetly across the table,
and talked TO him on such attractive themes, that
the right expression returned TO his coun-
tenance, and he looked as happy as she could
desire.
From the tea-table they returned to their
pleasant parlor. And now the time has come
FOR offsring her gift, and recciving the coveted
reward Of glad surprise, followed by sweet kisses
and loving words. Was she selfish Did she
think more OF her reward than of the pleasure
she would bestow? But that is questioning too
closely.
81 will be back in moment" she said and
passing from the room, she went lightly up the
.crst, or rather the possession of secret of
which her husband WAS to be surprised.
Scarcely had her loving face faded before his
'eyes, when thought returned with single
bound, to an unpleasant event of the day and
the waters OF her spirit were again troubled
He had actually arisen, and crossed the floor
once or twice, moved by a restless concern,
when.his wife came back with the dressing gown
and slippers. She was trying to force her coun-
tenancs into grave expression; to hold back
the smiles that were continually striving to
break in truant circles around her lips, when a
single glance at her husbands face told her that
the spirit driven away by the exercise of love-
had returned to his bosom. He looked at her
soberly, as she came forward.
"What are these T. he asked almost coldly,
rePressing surprise, and affecting ignorance in
regard to the beautiful present she held in her
hands, that he did not feel
They are for you, dear. made them"
For me? Nonsense What do I want
with jimcrackery This is woman's wear. Do
you think would disfgure my feet with en-
broidered slippers, or dress up in calico gown ?
Put them up dear Your husband is too much
OF a man to dress himself up in gay colors, like
clown or an actor" And he waved his hand
with an air of contempt There was cold
sneering manner about him. partly affected and
partly real--the real born of his uncomfortable
state of mind Yet he loved his sweet wife and
would not, of set purpose, have wounded her for
the world
This unexpected repulse-- this cruel reception
OF her present, over which she had wrought pa
tiently, in golden hope, for many days: this
dashing to the earth of her brimful cup of Joy
just as it touched her lips, was more than The
fond mother could bear To hide the tears that
came rushing to her eyes, she turned away from
her husband; and to conceal the sobs she had
no power to repress, she went almost hurriedly
ffon the room; and going back to the chamber
from whence she had brought the present, shs
laid II away out of sight in closet. Then COW
strove within herself TO be calm. But that
was too deep--the heart-ashe too heavy.