The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1859-03-16

ABROAD from Ms sanctuary, 0nofb, ~ ~ was,
Of chief attraction--the smiles and loving
tones, and words Of his changing wife.
From this inauspicious beginning went on
steadily, the unhappy change. The coming
OF children, which on their advent, was like
the falling down upon them Of sunbeams
though suddenly rifted clouds increased in
stead of Diminishing the unpleasant aspect Of
things in the house Of Peter Crandall. II
the mothers heart had been cheerful and
strong--if her husband had not shut out the
| light it needed to keep its green things I'M
withered and It's flowers In bloom this would
not have been so. The cheerful spirit would
have given life to the body-would have filled
every nerve with vital force, and every mus
| Gle with strength for daily toll. But the
children proved more of burden than COM
| fort. There was, in their home, so little sun.
shine that few green things hourished in their
hearts, and the opening Of q flower was of
rare occurrence. But thorns to wound and
weeds to offend were there, and hourly they
seemed to gain ranker growth.
How it was in the home OF Peter Gran
dali will be clear to every one now. There
are, around US, thousands and thousands OF
such homes, all the chambers OF which are
made dark and cherries, for the lack Of
"smal sweet courtesies of life," so cheaply
given, and SO magical in theis effects.
One day Peter Crandall was sent by his
employer, to do some work in the house of q
customer. The work happened to be in the
family sitting room, in which were four chill
dren with their mother. The lady spoke to
him politely when he came in, and the chill.
dren treated him respectfully. He had been
at work only little while, when his atten
ton was attracted by request from the
| nf he oh ~ 49,
and bring her some articles she named. We
say requested; for this was the form ofwords
she uttered. The child went instantly. q
"Thank you, DEAR" eaid the mother.
Crandall turned and looked at the child
Her countenance was tranquil and happy.
"Jane, will take those scissors If you
please"
Crandall looked again. Ii was the mother
who had spoken. One Of the children Was
sitting on the floor busily engaged In cutting
| out pictures. But she started UP instantly
| and brought the shears TO her mother.
"Thank you DEAR was the mothers ac-
acknowledgement of the services, as in the for
mer ease.
"Will you want them long?' asked the
child.
"No dear, only few minutes. Then you
shall have them again.
The child stood patiently by the mothers
side until the scissors were out OF service,
and then received them.
"Thank YOU" she said, as she took them
from her mothers hand, and then danced
back, singing to her place on the floor where
her pictures lay.
| Ali this struck Crandall as beautiful and
he sighed as the harsher image of his own
home intruded itself. While at work, the
husband and father came home. His pres
encs was hailed with delight. Every child
had something to show or tell him, and he
entered into the feelings Of each, praised
their little achievements and approving wher
ever there seemed q chance for words of ap-
probation. 1t was tho same towards his
wife. She spoke of some directions she had
l%given to Crandall.
ssThat was right" he answered, adding,
show thoughtful you are"
A pleased smile went over the wife's coun-
tenance.
"You forgot your pocket handkerchief this
morning. said the latter, handing a white
/ linen handkerchief to her husband.
$50 | did. Thank you, DEAR" And he
received the handkerchief with as polite an
acknowledgment in manner as in words.
/ Many other little instances of home cour-
tesies were observed by Crandall, who left
the house when his work was completed, with
a new impression of life enstamped upon his
consciousness. The image of that pleasant
home was fixed upon his mind like a thing Of
beauty. lie had dreamed, family of such
homes-or read Of them in books; but the
reality was now before him. The husband
and father whose presence bad frightened
that home, he knew In general way as a
thriving man Of business, who came frequent
ly to the establishment where he worked
His face wore, generally, grave aspect, a
| little sour, he had not given him any credit
for such kindness of feeling and was, there
fore, tho more impressed for what he had
seen.
The sweet musical way in which "thank
you DEAR" had been said, reciprocally, by
mother and children, many times and on all
occasions of services rendered, no matter no Y
small, had found an echo in his mind, where
it was continually repeated, until "thank you
DEAR as he unused on his work, come most
to his lips in vocal utterance.
When Crandall went home ut nightfall, he
was still dreaming over the picture in his
mind and the words, ssThank you, DEAR
were still echoing there in q kind of low mu
sc. He was very much subdued in feeling,
almost sad !; and there was an air Of languor
about him rs he came into the room where
his wife was at work getting supper ready,
that she observed as something quite unu,
sual
1Jane take your fathers coat and hang it
up said Mrs. Crandall to the eldest daugh-
ter.
The girl obeyed, but there was no affection
in her manner, and she moved in listlese
sort Of way toward her father, and reached
out her hand for his coat. Mr.. Crandall
gave her the garment. saying "Thank you,
DEAR"
The words were spontaneous, not of de.
sign; and spoken with tender utterance
He was but repeating the tone that was still
sounding Ia his memory.
That instant life seemed to quicken through