Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1859-12-23
MIS- & T. l. l. A n Y.
A WIPES EXPERIMENT.

lnN Nes VIVIAN sI'Vns
There wasa momentary surprise on Mrs.
Thornton. face. but she answered careless
ly, "Oh, no one cares how I look"
"pon't pa love to sec you look pretty -
persisted th, child. Tho mother did not
reply. but involuntarily she glanced a, her
slo,enly attire. the faded and worn calico
dress and diney apron, both bearing e'l-
deuce Of an intimate acquaintance with the
di,hpan and stove, and she could not help
remembering how she had tha, morning sp.
pcarcd with uncombcd hair, and prepared
her husbands brclkias, before hs left home
for The ncighborlns marke, town. "Sure
enough" unused she, +" how do look 80
And then memory pointed back a few year.
to neatly and ,a-tsfnlly trimmed maiden,
sometime. busy,n her fathers house, again
minsllne with her young companions. never
unIiiy IN her appearance, always fresh and
blooming. and ,hi. she knew full well wa. n
picture Of herself when Chars. Thornton
frs, Won her young heart-sueh was the
bride be had taken 10 his pleasant home (;
bow had maturcd life fulhlsi ,h. prophe.
cy Of youth?
She W. still comey IN features. graceful
IN form, bu, Few would call her hand
some or an accomplished woman Tor alas :
al other charscier.rc- were o'er.hadpwcd
by hi, repul.'s trait. Ys. she liked to
zee other. neat. and hou.e and children did
no, s,cm 10 belong 10 her, 50 will KEEP, aud
tidy did they Away, look. A. house.
keeper she cIcsllcI and her husband va.
long IN acknowledging to himself the IN.
welcome ac. tia, hs had married al ineor.
rigiblO slovcn.
When Like too many other young wives,
On, began To grow nesligcu, in regard to her
drvs.. no readily excused her in hi' own
mind, and thought 4" .hs 1, not we'll" or
she hi. 50 much to do ;; anI pgrcei'ins No
abatement IN hi. kind attentions. she natu.
rally eincluled he w.s p,riec,ly .Ati'isl.
A. her family cares increased. aud she
went less into company, she became still
more clrele,, OF her personal appearance,
aud contsntcd herself with seeing that nth.
inc wa. lacking which could contribute 10
the comfort OF her husband ani children,
never supp),ins thaisp trivial natter a.
her own apparel could aG'ci their hsppi.
nc., Al ihi. chain OF circumstances hith-
erio unthoushi of, pass b,lIro her, a. the
little pral,lcr at her side repeated the quo.
~:
Don't pi love to SEQ You look pretty?"
Yes, my caill .hs answered, aud her
resolve va. taken she would try an eIpc-
rimen, aud prove whether Mr.. Thornton
really was indifferent on the subject or not.
Giving Nellie picturs.bOos with which to
amu.e her.clf, she won't to her Own room,
mentally eKcllining, "Asa any rate, Ill
never put on this rs again, no. even on
washing day"
She proceeded to her clothes.prc,s and
removed one drc. after another some wsre
ragged, other. faded. all out style, and
some unit to wear at length ,hs found one
which had long ago been laid aside as " too
lIsh, 10 wear about the h1as,." !, VISA
nice French print. ro.e.colorel ani white
aud she remembered IL had once been "a
,orite with hcr husband. The old adasc,
" fashion. come round in seven years, -
seemed true in this case, ior the dress Was
made in the then prevailing style.
"Thi. !. jus. the thing, she thought, and
she FASTENED to perform her toilette, saying
to herself, q" mus, alter my dark gins.
ham to wear mornings, and set 1t all ready
before Charles come. home.' Then she re-
leased her long dark hair from IL. lmpr'on.
ment ln most ungraeeful twist, and caru'
fully brushing It's still glossy waves, she
plated It in the brad br,lis which Charles
used 50 much 20 admire ia the days Of her
girlhood.
The unNonted task brought back many
"reminiscences, Us she thought OF the many
change. time had wrought ON those she
loved. but .he murmured, "Wha, hath
sadness like the change that IN ourselves we
find ?" Ia that hour she realized how MI
apparently trivial fault had gained mastery
over her, and imperSep,lbly had placed
barrier between her aud the one she beet
loved on earth. True, he never ehidod
her; never apparently noticed her altered
appearance [; bu, she we'll knew he no long
er urged her going into society. nor did he
seem to care about receiving his friends at
his own house although he was sOcial
man, and had once fcl, proud to introduce
his young wife to his large circle Of &C.
quaintAnces.
Now they seldom went ou. together eI.
cep,ing to church. aud even dressing Tor
that was generally too much OF an effort
for Mrs. Thornton she would stay at home
+" to keep house; !" and the neighbors soon
ceased expecting to meet her a, public wor.
ship or in their social gatherings and 50,
one by one. they neglected to call on her.
until very few Of the number continued TO
exchange friendly ci'ilities with her. She
/ ~ a. h.H II I'll a..l