The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1859-11-17

cOulu PosSiUiy aHec6 Cnelr happiness.
All this chain of circumstances here
unto unthought of, passed befoee her,
as the little prattler at her side, repeat
ed the query-"Don't pa love to see
you look pretty ?" si ~
eyes, my child" she answered, and
her resolve was taken; she would try
an experiment, and prove whether Mr.
Thornton was really Indifferent on the
subject, or not? Giving Nellie pic
ture-book with which to amuse herself
she went to her own room, mentally
exclaiming, " at any rate, I'll never put
on this rig again, not even washing
day." She proceeded to her clothes
press and removed one dress after
another, some were ragged, others fad
ed. all out of style, and some unfit to
wear; at length she found one which
had long ago been laid aside as too
light to wear about the house." 1t was
nice French print, rose-colored and
white, and she remembered had once
been favorite with her husband. The
old adage, fashions come round in
seven years." seemed true in this case;
for the dress was made in the then pre-
vailing style.
'This is just the thing" she thought
and she fastened to perform her toll
cite, saying to her self, SO / must alter
my dark gingham to wear mornings,
and get it all ready before Charles
comes home" Then she released her
long, dark hair, from its imprisonment
in most ungraceful twist, and careful
ly brushing its still glossy waves, she
plated in the broad braids which
Charles used so much to admire in the
days of her girlhood.
The unwanted task brought back
many "reminiscences as the though of the
many changes time had wrought on
those she loved, but she murmured.
"What hath sadness like the change
that in ourselves we find ?" In that
hour she realized how an apparently
trivial fault had gained the mastery
over her, and imperceptibly had placed
q barrier between her and the one she
best loved on earth. True he never
chided her, never apparently noticed
her altered appearance but she well
knew that he no longer urged her 60
ing into society nor did he seem to care
about receiving his friends at his own
house, although he was social man,
and had once felt proud to introduce
his young wife to his large circle of
acquaintances.
Now they seldom went out together
excepting to church, and even dressing
for that was generally too much of an
effort for Mrs. Thornton, she would
stay at home and ''keep house," pre-
pairing her little ones to accompany
their father and the neighbors soon
ceased expecting to meet her at public
worship or at their social gatherings !;
and so one by one they neglected to
call upon her, until but very few of the
number continued to exchange friendly
civilities with her. She had wondered
at this, had felt mortified and panied
heretofore; now she clearly saw it was
her own fault, the veil was removed
from her eyes, and the mistake of her
lifetime was revealed in its true enor-
nifty. Sincerely did she repent of her
past error calmly and seriouslyresolved
on future and immediate amendment
Meanwhile her hands were not idle,
end at length the metemorphosis was
complete. I.he. .'bt5ii.. bfiis.t.. pink drapery
hung gracefully about her form, iEhPatt-
ing an unusual brilliancy to her COM
plexion; her best wrought collar was
fastened with costly brooch, her hus-
bands wedding gift, which had not
seen the light for many day. Glanc-
ing once more at her mirror, to be GER
tain her toilet needed no more finishing
touches, she took her sewing and re-
turned to the sitting room.
Little Nellie had wearied of her pic
ture book and was now playing with
her kitten. AS Mrs. Thornton entered
she clapped her hands in childish de-
light, "Oh, ma how pretty p and run
ming to her kissed her again and again,
then drew her little chair close by her
side, and eagerly watched her as she
piled her needle, repairing her gingham
dress.
! just before it was completed, Nellie's
brothers came from school, and pausing
at the half opened door, Willy whis-
pered to Charley, and said, 81 guess
we've got company, for mothers all
dressed up" 1t was with mingled
emotions of pain and pleasure that Mrs
Thornton observed her children were
unusually docile and obedient, hasten