Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1859-04-01
TWO FACES;
ONE Ff3R HOME AND ONE FOR CoNPANY@

Mrs. Abby Leeman was thirty years old
and had been married Just ten years. She
had an excellent husband and three goot
children She was naturally kind, excel
lent woman, and meant to do right, but she
had one fault; and small as it seemed to he
it occasioned much unhappiness in the fami
ly circle. She was not always happy a
home, nor was she always pleasant, though
for the life other she could not tell wha
had occurred to ruffie her feelings. She ha
every thing about her calculated to bege
joy, and her every reasonable wish was an
swered. But after all, she often wore
sour face, and her tongue would run on ii
strains far from sweet or accordant.
sWhat is the matter, Abby!" asked he
husband, as he returned one evening from
the store, and found his wife with a sou
face on. 'aa@ y f
Nothing was the answer, given ratbei
moodily. saa sE5
But something must be the matter, yot
never look so when you are happy
How can help my looks! Can't lool
as feel, without disturbing you:'
sPshaw. Abby-don't talk so,' the hus
band said, at the same time placing his arms
about her neck and kissing her. 'Now tel
me what has happened?' a
Nothing has happened more than usual,
uttered the wife, still unpleasantly.
'Squalling young ones''' repeated Albert
Leeman, while an expression of pain passed
over his features.
There! Look at that!' cried the wife,
pointing to her youngest child, girl of four
years, whowas just climbing up to the tea
table after the sugar bowl. Get out of that
you little brat! There, take that! Now
let me catch you up there again. Stop
that crying stop it, say. You touch that
again, and l'lI give you such licking as
youawon't want. III sa3 Ea 80
The poor child tried in vain TO hush it's
sobbing. and instinetively crept to its fathers
side. He placed his arm around the little
one and raised it to his knee, and in a mo-
ment more its redeemed, inf1amed cheek,
where the mothers blow had fallen, was
pillowed upon the fathers bosom.
'Oh, yes saitlsthe wife, 'now you'll pet
the brat. I'd like to have you have charge
of 'em all day; we'd see how much patience
you'd haye!' ya5S sa
i would at least remember she was a
child, said he, somewhat reproachfuily, and
also bear in mind the simple fact that the
young disposition may gain all its impulses
fronlthe example it receives at the hands of
its guardian 4aaei.ls
so yes, that's it, OF course, / am always
wrong.' And then A bby Leeman put her
apron to her eyes and began to cry.
gOf course the husband could say no more.
He had often. very often, suffered all this
before, and he had tried to make his wife
see how much real unhappiness she was
making for herself; but she would not listen;
or, if she did, the Impression was not last
ing. Iu fact, she had no patience with her
children, and the single ruffie of moment
was sure to make unhappiness for her. She
loved her husband fondly; and her children
she loved too. She was proud ofthem, and
for their comfort she would sacrifice any
amount of personal convenience. Many
and many an hour of blIssful joy did she
pass with her husband when the sky was
clear; but cloud was sure to bring a storm.
For years not day passed that had not
seen some unpleasant passages between her
self and children, and she would not under
stand that her very mode of treatment-the
disposition she manifested and the language
she used-mas surely warping the minds of
the little ones. In pain and anguish her
husband had tried to show her this, but she
would not listen; and then when she was
calm and reasonable, Albert could not find
in his heart to destroy the peace by such al
lusions.
On the present occasion supper was eat-
en- almost in silence. The husband was
panied and the wife angry. The child once
cried for lump of sugar, and the mother
jerked piece upon her plate with the
words:
sThere, take it! You want everything
you set your eyes on
The little one ate the sugar in silence,
while the mother felt more dismal still from
this new outburst. And thus matters went
on for an hour, and at the end of that time
the door bell rang, and some company was
introduced. It was neighbor and his wife.
In moment the whole expression of Abby's
face was changed. Smiles took the place
of frowns, and her words were as sweet as
could be; and during the whole of the even-
ing she was as happy and gay as though a
cloud had never rested upon her brow.
abby said her husband, after the visit
ors had gone, ssnce we have been married,
have not done all in my power to make
you happy! Have you ever expressed an
earnest, heartfelt wish that Ihave not graft
fied!' u s4 =
g Il don't know replied the wife, rather
reluctantly. 81 81.
yes, you do know replied Albert;
and what wish to know is this-why you
cannot strive SO much to make me happy, as
you will to make those who are not depen~
dent upon you for happiness. When came
home this evening, worn and fatigued with
the labors of Il Q day, why could you not
have met me with smile and cheerful well
come.' =s4- @
because did not feel like smiIing,' was
the answer.
sBut you smiled the moment Mr.. Blixbee
and his wife came in; and that, TOO, when
your feelings were anything but pleasant a
moment before. Can you do for their CO.
fort what you are not willing to do ior mine?'
Il do the best can, am sure, sobbed
Mrs. Leeman, beginning to cry. / wish
you'd found vile who could have suited
you better lnan 40. never Gun sulL you
-neverp
Abby was in tears and her husband could
say no more. He could only wish that she
would understand him. Oh! how often
when she was kind and good, did he wish
she would always be SO; and again when
she was making company SO happy, how
frequently did he pray that she would al
ways do the same for him. She was neat
tidy, industrious woman, and only her faEsi
ly knew of this dark trait in her character
In the same town with Abby lived he
only sister, who married young man namet
Charles Frye. Charles was some eight AM
twenty, and Lydia his wife, (Abby's sister,
three years younger. This young man wal