The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1859-07-13

simple eound of the name she bore in her
youth means more TO a wife than all the
pleasing epithets OF dearest and darling.
50 lavishly offered in long past court
ship.
Very pleasant was the retrospect to
Millicent Heath. The picture of the past
had or it some rough places, and some
hard trials, but no domestic strife or dis
oootont lnarre4 ts sunny aspect There
were faces on it happy children's faces,
without which no life picture is beautiful.
Soft blue eyes shone with unclouded glad
ness, aud wavy hair aoated carelessly over
unwritten ioreheads. She forgot, for a
moment, how they were changed, and al
most fanced herselfS again the young
mother, and tiny hands stole lovingly
over her bosom, and young heads nestled
there as of old.
The illusion vanished quickly, and she
signed. She thought Of her youngest born
the reckless boy who had left her three
years before for home on the sea. Only
once had tidings reached her of the wan
derer, The letter spoke of hardships and
home sickness, in that light and careless
way that reached the mothers heart more
surely than repining and complaint. To
know that he suffered with strong heart
with noble and unyieding resolution, gave
her feeling of pleasure, not unminged
with pride
He will surely come back murmured
the affectionate mother to herself; " and
| read the paper so carefully every week,
that if it says anything about the ship
Alfred sailed in, | shall be sure to see
it."
Mrs. Heath" said her husband, inter
rupting her meditations somewhat rudely
I've have spent thirty dollars more than
usual this year; where can it have gone
to ?"
"The new harness" suggested Mrs
Heath "that don't come every year, you
know"
Well there's twenty dollars accounted
for"
We had the carriage fixed up when
you bought the harness. continued his
wife.
"Well, that was eight dollars that's
twenty-eigbt we don't spend every year,
but the other two, where can they have
gone ?"
Glancing his eye over the page of the
memorandum book, he exclaimed
" I'll tell you what It's the newspaper
costs just two dollars, and we can do with
out it 1t isn't anything to eat OF drink,
or wear. [ don't do anything with it,
and you only lay it away up chamber. It
may as well be left out as not, and III
stop my subscription right away"
ooh" said his wife, you don't know
how mnch set by the newspaper. al
ways have a sort of clad feeling when you
take it out of your hat end lay it on the
kitchen mantle-piece, Just as l do when
some of the children come home and
when | am tired sit down with my
knitting work and read--i can knit Just
as well when I'm ieading---and feel 50
contented. l don't believe Queen Victoria
herself takes more solid comfort than do
sitting by the east window, on a summer
afternoon, reading my newspaper"
But you are just as well off without
it," answered her husband for want of
anything else to say.
ct never neglect anything else for
eading, DO ?" asked Mrs Heath,
mildly.
No, [ don't know as you do, answered
her husband but it seems an extra like
i shall stop it," he added in tone
that showed plainly enough he wished to
stop the conversation.
81 shall take the paper" remarked his
wife, "if | have to 60 out washing to pay
for it.
This was not spoken augrily. but SO
firmly that Mr.. Heath noticed it, though
by no means remarkable for discernment
in most matters 1t sounded so different
from her usual quiet " as you think best" a"
that he actually stopped a moment to con-
slider whether 1t was ot all likely she
would do as she said.
Mr.. Heath was a kind husband las that
indefinite description is generally under
stood that is he did not beat his wiie,and
always gave her enough to eat. More
than that he had a certain regard for her
happiness, which already made him feel
half ashamed of his decision, but like
many other men who have more obstinacy