Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1859-04-22

minished the unpleasant aspect OF
things in the house Of Peter Crandall.
If the mothers heart had been cheer
full and strong-if the husband had not
shut out The light it needed to keep its
green things unwithered and its flowers
in bloom, this would not have been SO.
The cheerful spirit would have given
life to the body-would have filled ev-
cry nerve with vital force, and every
muscle with strength for daily toll.
But the children proved more of bur-
den than comfort. There was in their
home, so little sunshine that few green
things hourished in their hearts, and
the opening Of flower there was OF
rare occurrence. But thorns to wound
and weeds to offend were there, and
hourly they seemed to gain ranker
growth.
How it was in the home of Peter
Crandall will be clear to every one now.
There are around us, thousands and
thousands of such homes, all the cham
bcrs Of which are made dark and cheer
less, for the lack Of "small sweet cour-
tc>ics of life," SO cheaply given, and
so magical in their effects.
One day Peter Crandall was sent by
his employer to do some work in the
house Of a customer. The work hap
pened to be in the family sitting-room,
in which were four children with their
mother. The lady spoke to him polite
| ly when he came in, and the children
treated him respectfully. tic had been
at work only little while, when his
attention was attracted by request
from the mother to one Of the children
to 60 up stairs and bring some article
she named. We say request; for
that was the form of words she uttered.
The child went instantly.
"Thank you, my DEAR" said the
mother.
Crandall turned and looked at the
child. Its countenance was tranquil
and happy:
"Jane, 1 will take those scissors, if
you please"
Clandall looked again. 1t was the
mother who had spoken. One Of the
children was sitting on the floor, busily
engaged in cutting out pictures, but
started up instantly at the call and de-
livered the scissors.
"Thank you, my dear,'' was the
mothers acknowledgment Of the serv-
ice, as in the former case.
"Please, mother, will you want them
long 20 asked the little girl.
"No, dear only q few minutes.
Then you shall have them again"
The child stood patiently by the
mothers side until the scissors we're out
of service, and then received them.
"Thank you," said she, as she took
them from her mothers hand, and then
danced back, singing to her place on
the floor where her pictures lay.
All this struck Crandall as beautiful,
and he sighed as the harsher image of
his own home intruded itself. While
at work the husband and father came
home. His presence was hailed with
delight. Every child had something to
show or tell him, and he entered into
the feelings Of each, praised their little
achievements and approved wherever
there seemed chance for words of ap-
probation. 1t was the same towards
his wife. She spoke of some directions
she had given to Crandall -
"That was right,'' be answered,
adding-''how thoughtful you are.''
A pleased smile went over the wife's
countenance.
''You forgot your pocket handker-
chief this morning." said the latter,
handing white handkerchief to her
husband.
$50 / did. Thank you, DEAR" said
the husband, receiving the handkerchief
with as polite an acknowledgment in
manner as in words.
Many other instances of home court
estes were observed by Crandall, who
left the house when the work was COM
pleted, with a new impression Of life
enstamped upon his consciousness.
The image Of that pleasant home was
fixed upon his mind like thing of
beauty. He had dreamed, family Of
such homes-or read Of them in books;
but the reality was now before him.
The husband and father whose presence
had frightened that home, he knew in
a general way as thriving man Of bu-
siness, who came frequently to the es-
tablishment where he worked. His face
wore generally grave aspect, little
sour, he had not given him any credit
for such kindness Of feeling and was,
therefore, the more impressed for what
he had seen.
The sweet musical way in which
"thank you, DEAR" had been said, re-
ciprocally, by mother and children,
many times and on all occasions Of
services rendered, no matter how small,
had found an echo in his mind, where
it was continually repeated, until
"thank you, dear,'' as he unused on
his work, came almost to his lips in vo-
cal utterance.
When Crandall went home at night
fall, he was still dreaming over the
picture in his mind, and the words,
"Thank you, DEAR" were still ech-
Ding there in kind Of love music.
He was very much subdued in feeling,
almost sad; and there was an air of
languor about him as he came into the
room where his wife was at work get
ting supper ready, that she observed as
something quite unusual.
"Jane. take your fathers csat and
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