Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1859-05-20

ged, others faded, all out of style, and
some unfit to wear. Atlength 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 Sc
ven years" seemed true in this case for
the dress was made in the then prevailing
style.
This is just the thing, "'sho thought,
and she fastened to perform her toilette,
saying to herself, Il 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 a most ungraccful twist,
and carefully brushing its still glossy
waves, she plated it in the broad braids
which Charles used so much to admire iu
the days of her girlhood
The unwonted task brought back many
"reminiscences of those long vanished
years, and tears glistened in her eyes as
she thought of the many changes, time
had wrought in those she loved, but she
murmured, ''What hath sadness like the
change in ourselves we find p In that
hour she realized how an apparently tri-
vial fault had gained the mastery over
her, and imperceptibly had placed bar
rier between her and the one she loved
on earth True, he never chided her
never apparently noticed her altered APP
pearance; but she well knew he no lon
ger urged her going into society, nor did
he seem to care about receiving bis friends
at his own house, although he was So
cial man, and had once felt proud to i'm
troduce his young wife to his large circle
of acquaintance.
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 ''to keep house," after pre-
pairing her little ones to accompany their
father, and the neighbors soon ceased ex-
pecting to meet her at public worthip or
in their social gatherings and SO, one
by one, they neglected to call on her,
until very few of the number continued
to exchange friendly civilities with her
She had wondered at this, had felt NOR
tilted and panied heretofore; now, she
clearly saw it was her own fault, the vail
was removed from her eyes, and the mis-
take of her life was revealed in its true
enormity Sincerely did she repent of
her past error, calmly and seriously re-
solve on future and immediate amend
ment.
Meanwhile her hands were not idle,
and at length the metamorphosis was
complete. The bright pink drapery
huug gracefully about her form, impart-
ing an unusual brilliancy to her complex
ion; her best wrought collar was fasten-
ed with a costly brooch, her husbands
wedding gift, which had not seen the
light for many a day. CHANGING once
more at her mirror, to be certain her
toilette needed no more finishing touches,
she took her sewing and returned to the
sitting room.
Little Nellie had wearied of her pie
ture- book, and was now playing with thC
kitten. As Mrs. Thornton entered, she
clapped her hands in childish delight
and exclaimed, "Oh, Ma, how pretty
pretty !" and running to her kissed hel
again and again, then drew her littlC
chair close to her side, ana eagerly watch
ed her as she piled her needle, repairino
the gingham dress
Just before it was completed, Nellie'i
brothers came from school, and pausinl
at the half-opened door, Willie whisper.
ed to Charlie, II guess we've got com.
pany, for mothers all dressed up" i
was with mingled emotions Of pleasure
and pain that Mrs. Thornton observed
her children were unusually docile and
obedient, Fastening to perform their ac
customed duties without being even re
minded Of them. Children are natura
and unaffected lovers Of the beautiful
and their intuitive perceptions viii no
often suffer from comparison with thu
opinions of mature worldly wisdom. i
was with feeling Of admiration tina
these children now looked upon thcil
mother, and seemed to consider it a pri.
vlege to do something for her. 1t wal
"let Inc get the kindlings," 81 will make
the fire" and "may fill the tea-kcttle 2
instead Of, as was sometimes the case
"need | do itP' 81 don't want to-, Or
"why can't Willie Z"
Nellie was too small to render mucf
assistance, but she often turned from hci
frolic with her kitten, to look at her mo.
Their, and utter some childish remark ex.
pressive 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 to place thereon several choice
viands Of which she knew he was par
ticularly fond
Meanwhile, let us form the acquaint-
ance Of the absent husband and father,
whom we find in the neighboring town,
just completing his days traffic. lie is
a fine-looking, middle-aged man, with an
unmistakable twinkle Of kindly feeling
in his eye, and the lines Of good humor
plainly traced about his mouth VIC know
at a glance that he is cheerful and in
dulgcnt in his family, and are at once
preposscssed in his favor.
As he is leaving the store, where he
has made his last purchase for the day,
he is accostcd in familiar manner by a
tall gentleman just entering the door =
lie recognizes an old friend, and OK
claims, George Morton, is it you ~
! The rrcctinq Is mutually cordial: they