The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1859-05-26

OF lnuch pure Joy ana Olessedness. In her
daily life she was mild and gentle, perform
ing her various house duties with quiet and
orderly despatch, and presiding with Sc.
rene dignity in the presence of company
And yet she had this one fault. Her hus.
band sougli: to lead her into field of
higher intellect, that she might bear him
company in some of his richer feasts Of rea-
son but she did not readily follow him.
"Flora, to please me, will you not read
this essay 7 You vii! find it very bcauti-
ful and very valuable"
II can't !" was her reply, half poutingly,
and half laughingly
"But, my sweet wife,"
"There-now don't! You know 7 can't
boar such things" Flora cried breaking in
upon her husband.
He cast sad. reproachful glance upon
her, and, when she saw it, she laid her
'lnnd upon his shoulder and looked implor.
ingly up into his face.
"Now, Charles, you shouldn't feel so.
Don't try to please you, and to make you
happy, by every means within my power 2"
"All but this, Flora-al but this. Ifyou
would only please me i'll this-ifyou would
only please me here"
"You would have me able to converse
with your old cottage friends, suppose g
Il would have you able to con, erse un-
derstandingy upon ali topics Lefitling your
station, my love-"
"Well-it's no use, Charles. can't
study those dry themes. am just as you
took me. love you very much, and I
want to make you happy and if you love
me as think you do, you can overlook
this one little fault. Have any other
fault you would wisl, to cure ?"
"No, Flora-only this one.''
"Then,' cried tile young wife, slipping
her arm about her husbands neck, "only
think how foolish it is but You make your
self unhappy for SO slight a caasc. Ter
haps it is a fault Of mine, but can't help
it. Indeed, you ought to feel very thank
fui that have no worse ones"
Il do, Floral do, most assuredly."
'Then kiss me, and say no more about
it.--Therc must go and zee to
baby. lie good Charley, and come home
early to supper"
How could he be offended with sucl, a
joyous, loving creatures Hc could not
And yet he ished she was different in that
one thing. Her unwillingness to learn an
noyed him more than he WAS willing to
own, and still he could not work the change
he sought. lie could not reach her rea.
son. She would not listen long enough.
She would fly off in tangent whenever
he approached the subject. 1t was her on.
ly fault, and she looked upon it as very
slight affair. She did her best to please
him in everything else, and surely he ough,
to bear with her in this.
Charles Temple sat in the parlor for some
time after his wife had gone, and lie pom.
dered deeply upon the subject.
If IcouId only make her see this in its
true light" lie said to hi,nself,"I am sure
she would strive to overcome her repug
nance to reading and study. She Can
learn most rapidly when she is once inter
estcd. See what she is in music She il
the finest singer and player within thu
whole circle Of my acquaintance. Oh, i
che would only try to improve her mind ir
another spherc,-ifsfe would only qualify
herself to entertain my friends in intellec
tual converse. She could do it if she would
and I think if she could only thoroughly
understand the case she would try"
AS Charles arose from his chair his eye
rested upon the piano forte. 1t was su
perb instrument-one which he had pur
chased only few months before, and which
had been pronounced by good judges 10 b
Of the first order in the quality and guam
tity of its tone. Tho young man stopped
and pressed his finger upon his brow. III
had an idea. 1t was curious thought
but he determined to carry it out. He slip
ped quietly up stairs and 60! pair Of hin
eer., and then lie returned and opened th'
piano.forte, and having selected one Of tn
shortest, smallest strings, clear away up i,
the sixth octave;'he let it down just abou
half 4 tone. When he had done this h
shut up the instrument, and went away t
bis store.
In the evening Charles came home early
rs his wife had bidden him, and after tes
they repaired to the parlor. For an hos
or mora they conversed upon various topic
and then the young man asked his com
pnnion to sing to h'm one Of tue songs b
loved 20 well. She gave him kiss, An
when he had opened the piano, she seate
herself at the instrument. She played