The prairie news. [volume] (Okolona, Miss.) 1851-1875, 1859-06-09
OKOLONA, MISS, JUNE 9, 1859.

wounded heart by repetition Of the very
truths which silently recognized, are gall
ing it already.
Boydell knew quite well that he might
have foreseen and partially have provided
for the melancholy event which had taken
place. His conscience reproached him
bitterly for carelessness and rashness, and
his wife's words were not needed to add
to the self.reproach, which, left to itself,
might have worked some good, by produc-
ing quiet determination to abide by the
more sober counsels Of Ralph in future,
for Ralphs voice had been lifted against
the very speculation which had caused
the joint failure of the brothers.
Fretted-and galled-and wearied Of
life and life's struggle, Boydell knew not
whittier to turn for comfort and cOnsOla-
tion. His father had been gathered to
the dead his brother 7 Boydell was too
proud to betray his lack of domestic peace
to him; his children, initiating the bad
example of the mother, turned against
him, and instead of clustering round him
in the hour of woe, openly blamed him for
the course he had adopted.
AT last his mind, torn by thousand
conflicting sorrows. gave way: lunatic
asylum became his home, while bis wife
and children dragged on lifsxpf misery,
supported by the mere charity of rela-
tions. a.
Far differently Jared Ralph. In the
humble cottage on the outskirts of the
town where he now dwet--a smile always
welcomed him when he came home from
the city's toll and din. tired with the bus
mess of the day, heart sick with its disap-
poinlments; rest and peace and happiness
awaited him in that.li little home. His
children--drawing their tone from that
good wife and mother-thought only how
they could soothe the tired wanderer who
had returned to them, and make him for
get in the placid joy of the present, the
misery of the past.
Ralph" said his wife ore day, l
would scarcely exchange our present lot
for the one we held when first became
your wife. There is an earnestness in
this quiet life of strict utility which is lost
in the gilded days Of wealthy splendor.
l am as happy here, Ralph, as if you pla-
ced mein palace-happier indeed
He stopped her as he looked lovingly
into her gentle face.
Not happier, Lucy" he added "not
happier dear wife--your nature would
carry bliss as perfect as this world can
bestow into any phase Of life-not hap
pier Lucy, but as happy either here. or
there, or any where on earth--as happy
as such a.kindly heart as yours can, and
should and will be any where"
Ralph lived to an old age: his hair was
white, and his step tottering-but the
heart and mind were firm still. His child
rem were married or otherwise settled in
the world wealth had fallen to the share
of some, competency only to the lot of
others.
But sorrow-keen sorrow, now fell on
RalpM Lucy died; and as he saw the
mould fall on the lowered coffin until it
was hidden from his view, he whispered,
as if to her who lay here " know what
loss is, now, dear wife. | never felt its
meaning before
Boydell also lived TO an old age. A
partial recovery enabled him to return to
his home-but he was no welcome guest
there. Unkindness and want of care had
the result which might have been expec-
ted, he returned to the asylum, hopeless
ly mad, and died there some years after
wards, to the very evident relief of his
wife and children.
Now in all human probability these two
women worked the sequal to the fate of
their respective husbands. The one by
her gentleness soothed the wounded spirit,
and, in seeking to bless him, sowed a full
harvest of blessings for herself.
And the other truly did she " cast her
seed upon the waters" and "truly did
she find it after many days" 1t was like
the poisoned Upas-berry, taking soot and
springing till the deadly tree casts its de-
strpctive influence on those poor wretches
who sat beneath its branches"