The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1859-07-06
The WtFE,s EXPERIMENT.


her clean apron. Til re was a momentary
surprise IN Mrs. Tholnron's face; but she
answered, carelessly, "oh, no one cares how
look
Don't Pa love to see you look pretty" !"
persisted the child The mother did not re-
ply, but invountarily she glanced at her
slovenly attire, the faded and worn calico
dress and dingy apron, both bearing witness
u an intimate acquaintance with the dish.
Ipan and ,tove-the siip.shod shoes, and soi-
ed stockings-and she could not help re.
membering how she had that morning ap.
peared with uncombed hair. and prepared
her husbands breakfast before he left home
for the neighboring market-town. "Snre
ennugh !" mnsed she, how | io look !"
And then memnry painted back few years
TO neatly and tastelully dressed maiden,
sometimes busy in her fathers house, again
mingling with her young companions, but
never untidy in her appearance, always fresh
aud blooming aud this she knew, full we'll,
was picture Of nerself, when Charles Thorn.
| ton first won her heart. Such was the BRIDE
he had taken To his pleasant home.-he had
in mature life fulfilled the prophecy Of
youth
She was still comely in features, graceful
in form. but few would call her handsome or
an accomplished woman for, alass all other
characteristics were nvrrshadowed by this
lrepulsivr trait. Yet sic loved 10 see others
neat. and her house and children did not
seem to belong to her, 50 well KEEP, and tidy
d d they always look. As huusekeeprr
III excaled, and her lsbanI was long in
aeknow lodging 10 himself the unwrlcome
iaet that be had married an inc0rrIglble
20 cn.
Nhrn, Ike too many other young wives,
she 1egau TO grew negligent in regard to her
dress, he readily excused her in his own
n.nl. and thought " she is mt WE'LL" or,
!" .he has - much to do;" aud perceising no
abatement in hi. kind attentions, she natur-
ailY concluded he WAS perfectly satisfied.
A. her family cares increased, and she went
ir,s into company, she became still more
careles, OF her personal appearance, aud
cOntrnted herself with seeing that nothing
was lacking which could contribute to the
CO nfurt Of her husband and children, never
Surprising that 80 trivial matter as her own
apparel caud pass bic affect their happiness.
all ihis cham Of circumstances hitherto un-
thought Of passed bpinre her. as the little
pra,iler at her side repeated the query
f. Don't Pa 1--we to see you lopk pretty Z"
Yes. ms child" she answered. aid her
respl,e was taken she would try an expert.
meut, aud prove whether MIR. ThOrnton
were really Indifferent on the subject or not.
Giving Nellie picture book with which to
amuse herself. she went To her avn room,
mentally exclaimIng. "at any rate, Ill never
pnt nn this rig agatn--nOt even washing day."
She proceeded 10 her clothes-press and re-
navel one after anot.er,-some were ragged,
others iadei, all nut Of style, and some unfit
to wear,--at length she found one which had
long ago been laid aside, as "toO light "a
wear about the house." twas nice French
print. rose colnred and white, and she re-
mrmbcrrd had once heen iavorite with her
husband. The old adage, " fashions come
round 10 seven years" seemed true in this
case for the dress was made in the then pre-
sailing st,le.
- This Is Just the thing" she thought. and
she FASTENED to perform her tpilette, saying
. to herself, :" must alter my lark gingham
to wear NOR lngs. anh get il all ready before
Charles comes hume." Then she released
her long, dark ha,r from its imprisonment ~
no,t ungraceiul twist, and carefully brush.
ing its still glossy waves, she plated il in
the broad braids which Charles used so much
TO admire 10 the DAYS Of her girlhood.
/, The unwonted task brought back many
! "reminiscences nf those long vanished years
and tears glistened in her ewes as she thought
af the many changes time had wrought ia
those she loved but she murmured, . What
hath sadness like the change in ourselves We
find 20 In that hour she realized how an ap.
parehily trivial fault had gained the mastery
over her. aud imprrceptibly had placed q
barrier between her and the One she loved best
an earth True. he never chided her .-neyel
, apparently noticed her altered appearance. =
but ,he we'll knew he no lpnger urged hei
going intn society. nor did he seen TO care
about receiving his friends at his own house
although he was a social man. and had onc,
felt proud TO Introduce his young wife 10 hi,
large circle or acquaintance.
Now. they seldom went nut together cx
cepting to church. aud even dressing fer thai
was generally too mach of an effort for Mrs
ihnrninn.--she would siay II home ito keel
hluse." after preparing her little ones 10 &C,
company their father. aud the nrighbors soor
ceased expecting 10 meet her At public Nor.
. -sttp w " tNttF sNClal EdthtflhHs-dHu 80
oie By onr, they neglected to call on her. IN
81 but yer, lew nf The numbrr continued &
exchange friendly Ci,ilitirs with her. Sh,
had wondered az this. had felt mnrtifcd anI
panied hrrrtuinrc npw she clearly saw !
/ Was her avn fault. The vail was remove,
Z tram her eyes. and the mistake of her lil
b wa revealed 10 is true en0rmiiy. Sincere
/. " dad she repent nf her past error. calml!
aud seriously resolve on future aud immedi
/. ate amendment.
!. Meanahilr her hands were not idle, an,
e ~ length the mciamorphosis was complete
Y 'rhe bright pink drapery hung GRACEFUL,
. about her inrm, Imparting an unusual bril-
!. liancy 10 her complexion. her best wrough
c collar was fastened with a costly brooch. he
= husbands wedding gift. which had not see
. the light ior many day. Glancing one
more al her mirror, TO be certain her toilett