Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1859-08-09


ger urged her gong into society, nor die
he seem to care about receiving his friends
at his own house, although he was socia
man, and had once felt proud to introduce
his young wife to his large circle of ac
quaintances.
Now, they seldom went out together ex.
ceptng to church, and even dressing fol
that was generally too much of an effor
for Mrs. Thornton--she would stay al
home ito keep house, 2 after preparing hel
{ little ones to accompany their father, and
the neighbors soon ceased expecting to
meet her at public worship or in their So
cial gatherings-and so, one by one, they
neglected to call on her until but very few
of the number continued to exchange
friendly civilitles 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 life
was revealed in its true enormity. Sin
cerely did she repent of her past error,
calmly and seriously resolve on future and
immediate amendment.
Meanwhile her hands wete not idle, and
at length the metamorphosis was complete.
The bright pink drapery lung gracefully
about her from, imparting an unusual bril-
liancy to her complexion - her best
wrought collar was fastened with costly
brooch, her husband s wedding gift, which
had not seen the light for many day.
CHANGING once more at. her mirror, to be
certain her toilette needed no more finish
ing touches, she took her sewing, and
went to the sitting room.
Little Nellie had wearied of her picture
book and was now playing with the kitten.
AS Mrs. Thornton entered she clapped her
hands in childish delight, exclailning,
ooh, ma, how pretty-pretty" and run
ming to her kissed her again and again,
then drew her little chair close to her side,
and eagerly watched her as she Piled her
needle, repairing the giugham dress
Just before it was completed, Nellie's
brothers came from school, and pauslng at
the half opened door, Willie whispere d
to Charlie, 81 guess we've got company,
for mothers all dressed up" 1t was with
mingled emotions Of pleasure and pain that
Mrs. Thornton observed her children were
unusually docle and obedient, Fastening
to perform their accustomed duties with
out being even reminded Of them. Chill
dren are natural and unaffected lovers of
the beautiful, and their lntuitive percep
tions will not often suffer from compari-
son with the opinions Of mature worldly
wisdom. 1t was with new feeling of ad
mration that these children now looked
upon their mother and to consider it
privilege to do something for her. 1t was,
''let me get the kindlings''-"l will make
the tire"-and may fill the tea-kettle?"
instead of, as was sometimes the case,
"need l do it?"-"I don't want to-
"why can't Willie?"
Nellie was too small to lender much as
sistance, but she often turned from her
frolic with her kitten, to look at her
mother, and utter some childish remark
expressive Of joy and love. At last the
clock struck the hour when Mr.. Thornton
was expected, and his wife proceeded to
lay the table with unusual care, and 10
place thereon several choice viands of
which she knew he was particularly fond.
Meanwhile let us form the acquaintance
of the absent husband and father, whom
we find in the neighboring town just COM
pleting his days traffic. He is fine
looking, middle-aged man, with an unmis-
taxable twinkle of kindly feeling in his eye,
and the lines Of good humor plainly traced
about his mouth-we know at a glance
that he is cheerful and indulgent in his
family, and are at once prepossessed in his
favor. AS he is leaving the store, where
he has made his last purchase for the day,
he is accosted by tall gentleman just en-
tering the door. He recognizes an old
friend, and exclaims: George Morton, is it
you? The greeting is mutually cordial;
they were friends in boyhood and early
youth, but since Mr.. Morton had been
practicing law in distant city, had sell
dom met, and this is no place to exchange
their many questions and answers. Mr..
Thorton's fine span Of horses and light
democrat are standing near by, 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,
the experience of after life, and compare
their present position in the world, with
the golden future of which they used to
dream. Mr.. Morton is bachelor, and
very fastidious in his taste-as. that class
of individuals are prone be. The recol-
lection of this flashes on Mr.. Thornton's
mind as they drive along towards their
destination. AT once his zeal in the dia-
logue abates, he becomes though and
SILENT and does not urge his team onward,
but seems willing to afford Mr.. Morton an
opportunity to admire the beautiful scenery
on either hand-the hills and valleys clad
in the fresh verdure Of June, while the
lofty mountain ranges look blue and dim
in the distance. He cannot help wonder
ing if they will find his wife in the same
sorry predicament which he left her that
morning, and involuntary shrinks from in
Producing SO slatternly parsonage 10 his
refined and cultivated friend. Il n
But tits now too late to retract his po-
lite invitation they are nearing the old
homestead field more and his fertile
farm with its well kept fences, appears IN
view. Yonder is his neat white house,
surrounded with elms and naples. They
driva m ra,,ub tha l,r,ya ,,o ia,vav tba MAJ,