Litchfield enquirer., 1859-05-12
LIrcIlFIELD, THURSDAY, MAY 1s, 1859.

and it needs but little persuasion to induce ] Mr. Morton to accompany his friend to his
 home which he has never yet visited. The conversation is lively and spirited-they recall the feats of their school days, aud the experi- ence of after life, and compare their present ], position in the world, with the golden future
 of which they used to dream. Alr. Morton is bachelor, and very fastidious in his tastes as that class of individuals are prone to be The recollection of this fact flashes on Mr. i Thornton's mind IS they drive along towards their destination. At once his zeal in the di- alogue atates, he becomes thoughtful and si- lent and does not urge his team onward, but seems willing to afford Mr. Morton an oppor- tanty to admire the beautiful scenery on ei- ther hand-the hills and valleys clad in the fresh verdurc of June, while the lofty moun- tain ranges looks blue and dim in the dis tance. He caln,t help wondering if they { will find his wife in the same sorry predica- ment in which he left her that morning, and involuntarily shrinks from introducing so slat- teruly parsonage to his refined and cu,tiva- ted friend
 i But it is now too late to retract his polite
 invitation-they are nearing the old "home- stead" one field more and his fertile farm. with its we'll kept fences, appears in view. Wonder | IS his neat white house, surrounded with elms and naples. They drive through the large | gateway, the man John comes from the barn to put out the horses, and Mir Thornton hur- res up the walk to the piazza, leaving his friend to follow at his leisurc-he must see his wife first, and if possible, hurry her out of sight before his visitor enters. He rushes in- to the sitting room-words cannot express his amazement-there sits the very image of his lovely bride, and selfcohscious blush man. ties her cheeks as he stoops to kiss her with the words of joyful surprise" WAy, Ellen !" He has had time for no more, George Morton has followed him, and he exclaims--" Ha :! Charley, as lover-like as ever ?---hasn't the honey y-moon set yet P and then he is duly pre- sented to Mrs. Thornton, who, under the plea sing excitement of the occasion, appears to lar better advantage than usual. Tea is soon upon the table, and the gentlemen do ample justice to the tempting repast spread before them. A happy meal it is to Charles Thorn ton, who gazes with admiring fondness upon his still beautiful wife. Supper over, Mir. Morton coaxcs little Nellie to sit in his lap, but she soon slides down, and climbing her fathers knee, whispers confdentially, Don't mama look pretty P He kisses her, and an- swers, Yes, my darling"
 The evening passes pleasantly and swiftly away, and many a halfforgotten mile of their life pilgrimage is recalled by some way-mark which still gleams bright in the distance They beth feel younger and better for their inter- view, and determine never more to become so like strangers again. Mir. Morson's solloquy as he retires to his cosy apartment appropra- ted to his use, is" We'll, this is happy fam fly! What lucky fellow Charley is--such a handsome wife and chdren--and she so good housckeeper, too! May be, I'll settle down some day myself," which pleasing idea that night mingled with his visious.
 The next morning Mr. Thornton watched his wifcs movements with some anxiety--he could not bear to have her destroy the favor 1 able impression which he Was certain she had made on his friends mind, and yet some ire sstabe impulse forbade him offering any sug- gestion or a!Iuding in any way to tie delicate subject so long unmentioned between them. But Mrs. Thornton needed no friendly advice ]; with true womany tact she perceived the ad- vantage she had gained, and was not at all in- clncd to re!inquish it. The dark gingham dress, linen collar and snowy apron, formed an appropriate and becoming attire for house. keeper, and the table afforded the guest no oc- casion for altering his opinion in regard to the skill and affability of his amiable hostess. Ear ly in the forenoon, Mir. Morton took leave of his hospitab'e friends, being called away by pressing aff ,irs of business
 Mir. and Mrs. Thornton returned to their ac- customed avocations, but it was with renewed energy, and new sense of qniet happiness, no less deeply felt because unexpressed. A day or two afterwards Mr. Thornton invited his wife to accompany him to town, saying he thought she might like to do some shopping, and she, with no apporent surprise, but with heart felt p!ea,ure acceded to the proposal. The following Sunday the village gossips had ample food for their hungry eyes, (to be diges- ted at the next sewing society," in the appear ance of Mrs. Thornton at church clad in plain but rich costume, an entire new outfit, which they couldanot deny made her look ten years younger"
 This was the beginning of the reform. and it was the dawning of brighter day for the husband and wife of our story. True, habits of such long standing are not, conquered in a week or month and very often was Mrs. Thornton tempted to yield to their long tole- rated sway, but she fought valiantly against their influence, and. in time she vanquished them. An air of taste and elegance now per- vaded their dwelling, and. year after year the links of affection which united them as fami- ly, grew brighter and purer, even radiating the holy light of Christian home.
 But it was not until many yeurs had passed away, and our little Nellie, now lovely maid en, was about to resign her place as pet in her fathers household, and assume g new dignity in another's home, that her mother impartcd to her tue story of her own carly errors and earnestly warned her to beware of that insidi- ous foe to domestic happiness disyegard cf lsttle things-and kissing her daughter with maternal pride and fondness, she thanked her for those simple, child like words which chang ed the whole current of her destiny =" Dort