The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1859-11-09
Misfel1anepns.
A RIFT IN THE CLOUD.
BY t. S. ARTHUR.

IEOui Tic supp WHeI6 HG Hdu WOihO oi
day, tired and out of spirits; cam
home to his wife who was also tree
and out of spirits,
:" A smiling wife, and cheerful hom
what paradise it would be Z" sait
Andrew to himself, as he returned hi
eyes from the clouded face of Mrs. Lee
and sat down, with knitted brow ant
a moody aspect.
Not word was spoken by either
Mrs. Lee was getting supper, and sh'
moved about with weary step.
Come" she said at last, with {
side glance at her husband.
There was an invitation in the wore
only, none in the voice of Mrs. Lee.
Andrew arose and went to the table
Z. He was tempted to speak an angry
word, but controlled himself and kept
silent. He could find no fault with
the chop, nor the sweet homemade
bread, nor the fragrant tea. They
would have cheered his inward man
if there had been only CLEAN of sun.
shine on the face of his wife, lie no
ticed that she did not eat.
Are you not well, Nary" The
words were or his lips, but he did not
utter them, for the face of his wife look
so repellant, that he feared an Irritating
reply, And SO in moody silence, the
poor twain sat together until Andrew
had finished his supper. As he push
ed his chair back, his wife arose, and
commenced clearing off the table.
"This is purgatory |" said Lee, to
himself as he commenced walking the
floor of their little supper room, with
his hands thrust desperately down in
his trousers pockets, and his chin al
most touching his breast.
After removing all the dishes, and
taking them into the kitchen, Mrs. Lee
spread a green cover on the table, and
placing a fresh trimmed lamp thereon,
went out, and shut the door after her,
leaving her husband with his unpleasant
feelings. He took long, deep breath
as she did so, paused his walk, stood
still for some moments, and then draw
ing paper from his pocket, sat down
by the table, opened the sheet, and
commenced to read. Singularly enough
the words upon which his eyes rested
were, "Praise your wife," They ra-
ther tended to increase the disturbance
of mind from which he was suffering.
81 should like to find some occasion
for praising mine" How quickly his
thoughts expressed that ill-natured SEN
timent. But his eyes were on the page
before him, and he read on.
Praise your wife, man; for PHYS
sake, give her little encouragement !;
it won't hurt her." "Haa
Andrew Lee raised his eyes from the
paper and muttered, ooh, yes That's
all very well. Praise is cheap enough.
But praise her for what? For. being
sullen, and making your home the most
disagreeable place in the world ?n-
His eyes fell again to the paper.
| "She has made your home comfort
able, your hearth bright and shining,
and your food agreeable; for PHYS
sake, tell her you thank her, if nothing
more. She don't expect it; it will
make her eyes open wider than they
have for ten years; but it win do her
good for all that, and you, too"
1t seemed to Andrew as if this SEN
tence was written just for him, and
just for the occasion. 1t was the CON-
plete answer to his question. Praise
her for what 2" and he felt it also as a
rebuke.. He read no further, for
thought came too busy, and in a new
direction. Memory was convicting
him of injustice toward his wife. She
had always made his home as comfort
able for him as hands could make it
and had he offered the slightest return
of praise or commentator !? Had ht
ever told her of the satisfaction he haC
known, or the comfort experienced
/ He was not able to recall the time Oh
the occasion. As he thought thus
Mrs. Lee came in from the kitchen
and taking her work basket from {
| closet, placed it On the table, and sit
ting down, without speaking, begar
to sew. Mr.. Lee glanced almost steal
thily at the work in her hands, ant
saw that it was the bosom of a shirt
which she was stitching neatly. I'll,
knew that.it was for him that she wa
at work. eod &
Praise your wife," The word;
were before the eyes of his mind, ant
he could not look away from them. =
But he was not ready for this yet, bu
still felt moody and unforgiying TIL
expression of his wife's face he inter
preted to mean illnature, he had no pa
thence. His eyes fell upon the news
paper that lay spread out before him
and he read the sentence &
"a kind, cheerful word, spoken il
gloomy home, is ike the rift in
cloud that let's the SUNSHINE through
Lee struggled with himself Will
| L. L, - r.