Nebraska advertiser., 1859-09-01

ready before Charles comes home" Then
she released her long, dark hair from It's
Imprisonment in a most ungraceful twist,
and carefully brushing its still glossy
waves, she plated it in the broad braids
which Charles used so much to admire in
the days of her girlhood.
The unwonted task brought back many
"reminiscences Of those long vanished years
and tears glistened in her eyes as she
thought of the many changes time had
wrought in those she loved, but she mur-
INJURED, "What hath sadness like the
changes IN ourselves we find 2" In that
hour she realized how an apparently trivial
fault had gained the mastery over her,
and imperceptibly had placed barrier
between her and the one she loved on
earth. True, he never chided her,
never apparently noticed her altered ap-
pearanCe,- but she well knew he no longer
urged her going into society, nor did he
seem to care about receiving his friends
at his own house, although he was a social
man, and had once felt proud to introduce
his young wife to his large circle Of aC-
quaintanCe.
Now, they seldom went out together
excepting church, and even dressing for
that was generally too much of an effort
for Mrs. Thornton,-she would stay at
home "to keep house," after preparing
her little ones to accompany their father,
and the neighbors soon ceased expecting
to meet her at public worship or in their
social gatherings-and so, one by one,
they neglected to call on her until butvery
few of the number continued to exchange
friendly civilities with her. She had
wondered at this, had felt mortified and
panied heretofore f.; now she clearly saw
it was her own fuult, the veil was removed
from her eyes, and the mistake of her life
was revealed in It's true enormity. Sin
cerely did she repent of her past error,
calmly and seriously resolve on future and
immediate amendment.
Meanwhile her hands were not idle,
and at length the metamorphosis was COM
plete The bright pink drapery hung
gracefully about her form, imparting an
unusual brilliancy to her complexion,-her
best wrought collar was fastened with a
costly breach, her husbands wedding gift
which had not seen the light for many a
day. Glancing once more at her mirror,
to be certain her toilette needed no more
finishing touches, she took her sewing
and returned to the sitting room.
Little Nellie had wearied of her picture
book, and was now playing with the kitten.
As Mrs. Thornton entered she Clapped
her hands in childish delight, exclaimed
ooh, Ma, how pretty-pretty" and run
ming to her kissed her again and again
then drew her little chair close to her side,
and eagerly watched her as she piled her
needle, repairing the gingham dress.
Just before it was completed, Nellie's
brothers came from school, and pausing at
the half-opened door, Willie whispered to
Charlie, Il guess we've got company, fol
mothers all dressed up" 1t was with
mingled emotions Of pleasure and pain
that Mrs. Thornton observed her children
were unusually docile and obedient, has
tening to perform their accustomed duties
without being even reminded Of them
Children are natural and unaffected lovers
of the beautiful, and their intuitive per
ceptions will not often suffer from COM
parison with the opinions of mature
worldly wisdom. 1t was with feeling
of admiration that these children now
looked upon their mother, and seemed tC
consider it privilege to do something fol
her. 1t was "let me get the kindlings." "
d will make the fire, and "may
fill the tea-kettle ?''-instead of, as wa:
sometimes the case, "need do it ?''-'1
don't want to, ''-"why can't Willie 2"
Nellie was too small to render much as,
sistance, but she often turned from hel
frolic with her kitten, to look at her moth
er, and utter some childish remark ex
pressive of JOY and love.
At last the clock struck the hour wheI
Mr., Thornton was expected, and his wife
proceeded to lay the table with unusua
care, and to place thereon several choice
viands of which she knew he was par
ticularly fond.
Meanwhile let US form the acquaintance
of the absent husband and father, whom
we find in the neighboring town, just com
pleting his days traffic. He is fne-look
idg, middle-aged man, with an unmis
taxable twinkle of kindly feeling in hi
eve, and the lines of gOod-humor plainly
traced about his mouth-we know at +;
glance that he is cheerful and 1nduIgen
in his family, and are at once prepOssesset
in his favor.
As he is leaving the store, where hr
has made his last purchase for the day, b.
is accosted in familiar manner by tai
gentleman Just entering the door. HI
recognizes an old friend, and exclaims
George Morton, is it you?" The greet
ing is mutually cordial; they were friend
in boyhood and early youth, but since
Mr.. Morton has been practising law IN
distant city, they have seldom met, an
this is no place to exchange their man,
questions and answers. Mr.. Thornton
fine span of horses and light democrat
are standing near by, and it needs bu
little persuasion to induce Mr.. Morton {
accompany his friends to his home whic
he has never yet visited. The converse
ton is lively and spirited-they recall tn
feats of their school days, and the experi
ences of after life, and compare thel
present position in the world, with tn
goldenfuture of which they used to dream