The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1859-01-15

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ing. When the hour of work is over,
Harry sat down in his little parlor, but
his wife was seldom with him. 1t was
true that the floors of his House were
cleaner than the floor of his peighbors
that the saucepans of his kitchen shonc
with brightness which all the good
housewives of the parish envied, and that
not cndcr deformcd the neatness of his
hearth without calling forth the brush
! and the shovel for its instant removal. -
But then it was also true that he some
times caught cold at his dinner hour,
from the wetness which the floor acquir-
cd from the indefatigable cleanliness of
his mate that he sometimes made a
fatal error when he forgot to clean his
shoes before he crossed the sandcd
Threshold that while his wife was rub
bling the skillets into looking glasses, he
was DESTROYS of the conversation of
friend and companion; and what his well
swept hearth had no charms for his eyes
while he was left alone to enjoy its neat
ness. He was debarrcd, too, of his
favorite and it cannot therefore be Won
dercd that he sometimes said i'll his heart,
{" why did l marryr'
1t was at this juncture that Harry met
with an old companion who had some
thing of the vivacity, but nothing of the
goodness which he himself possessed
lie appeared uneasy and dispirited the
cause Of his discomfort was at length
communicated. His companion told Him,
with the common cant of libertines, that
the way to make wives amiable was to
neglect them that his home was uncom-
Portable because he appeared too fond of
it and that he might find society where
his merits would be properly ratcd.-
Harry was persuaded to fetch his flute
and spend the evening at neighboring
alc-house.
The harmless vanity which had been
so long pcnt up now broke forth beyond
its natural boundaries. Harry played
well, and he played to late hour for he
was ilattelcd and carressed. On his re-
turn home Martha was angry, andhe was
sullcn.
The next night brought with it the
temptation. What was intended to be a
rare indulgence at length became con-
lrncd habit. The public house could
not be visited without diminishing the
capacity fer the performance of ordinary
duties. Harry, too, acquired the prac-
tice of drinking freely aud, as his mind
was Ill at ease, the morning draught
often succeeded the evenings intoxicaton.
He was not as before seen constantly at
his workshop, to receive orders with good
temper, and to execute them with alacri-
ty. He was not distinguished for the
brightest shoes and the cleanest apron of
any mechanic in town his habits were
idle. He skunk. away from public obser-
walton to bury himself in the haunts of
drunkenness and prohigacy. AS his
business failed, he made to himself pre-
fences for employment in vagabond par
ties of anglers or larkshootcrs. One by
one every article offurniture was pawncd
for present support. The fatal flute was
the last thing consigned to the grasp of
the money-lcnder.
Martha did not want sense. She re-
flccted deeply upon the cause of their
misery and she at length perceived the
error which she had committed in on
posing her own fixed habits to the equally
confirmed inclinations of her husband -
She took her resolution. Honestly and
impartially she stated her distrcssos, and
the cause of, them to the vicar of the
parish. He was pious, a sensible pastor.
He pointed out to her what she herself at
length acknowledged, that small por-
ton of time devoted to an innocent
amusement is not incompatible with the
more serious duties of citizen and a
christian that the engagement even of
the most lowly might afford some leisure
for cheerful relaxation and that religion
did not require course of intense excr-
ton and unbending gravity. The wor-
thy clergyman furnished Martha the
means of realizing plan which her own
judgement had devised
Martha expended the pastors's loan in
procuring the restoration of their furni-
ture but she did not as yet bring it
home. Her husband had one evening re-
turned without intoxication, and in a
temper which promised that the succeed
ing day would be one of industry. She
exerted herself to accomplish her plan at
this favorable moment. Before the next
evening arrived her cottage was once
more neat and comfortable and the
flute, which she had redeemed, lay upon
the table. Harry came in detected, but
his detection became astonishment as
Martha threw her arms around him
and pointed to the indications of their
future happiness. She confessed the
error which had been the original cause
Of their misery. He felt her generosity,
and with bitter tears made vow of
amendment. He was too much affected
to take up his flute that evening but on
the next his wife pressed it upon him.
She listened to his performance she
strove to fancy she had taste for music
she praised him. BY this effort of kind
ness on one part, mutual kindness took
the place of mutual discomfort. The
hour of fute-playing was succeeded by
the hour Of serious meditation on the
divine commands, and humble prayer be-
fore the throne Of grace. Their tastes
and their pursuits gradually became
assimilated. y timely concession saved
Martha from hopeless misery, and a
timely reformation saved Harry from
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