Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1859-04-22
Nj | 5 G. Il l. l. A n Y .
JENNY MANNING IN THE CoUN-
TRY.
nv SARAH HAMILTON.

face with lines of diseontent, while con.
icmp,uous expression robbed the ripe, pou,-
ing lips Of all their usual beauty. " No
Thomas. tell you again. !, Is uncndura-
bic" and she glanced about the room, at
the low ceiling, and impaticn,ly down up.
the oileloth carpet, "ii Is cold here, tho
atmosphere chills me to death. Do you
hear?"
Yes, dear" said the gentleman address
scd, smiling upon the baby boy seated upon
his knee, pulling hi. far ringI,t. nbou, hrs
far little face, and laughing when his child
laughed.
bat You don't care, you never do.
Why don't you plan something better for
the iuture?"
What shall do, Jenny ?"
go to the city and work. There's
enough to do. Rent a hou.c-hrs girls
take boarders-anythipg to relieve mo OF
,hi. cnnui"
"If | only could. Jenny " said the bus.
baud, putting his boy softly down; bu,
this is not bad place. lore the good
country air-it braces me up. The farm is
mine-all that own in the world-onc
from which can earn an honorable and q
good living. In the city was continually
meeting with losses Why no, stay here 80
Stay here? Thomas Manning. look
about you at the coarse plasiering-,hc
cheap vulgar papcr-thc rough wain'co,-
ting. Does this look like home :" Tears
flooded her face, and the poor woman
souch, her mean little chamber overhead
Mr.. Manning got lci'urcly up-wAlked
across the door once or twice with his
hands behind him-looked out Of the high
narrow windows on the broad landscape,
and forgot his momentary trouble for such
showers were common. and it would DO a
severe 'quall to mar br any great length
oftime his usually undi.turbci mind.
Now. might so back years, and spin
long yarn out Of this. might say that,
between the husband and wife. there had
been from the frst, a lack Of eoneenialiIy
in taste, and dispositions. | might say
la, neither possessed sufficient force Of
character to raise and sustain the other. I
might say that he was too easy, that his
goodness was Of a negative s1rt amounting
to nothing but what would cause irritation
To a sensitive companion, who needed and
louged for q support to which she in her
weakness might cling. might say, too
that she had no right 90 be constantly ir.
ri,atcd by the circumstances around her
tha, she had no rish, 60 be- constantly
bringing unhapplness 10 Others, because Of
the few real clouds. and the many imagi-
nary ones that cloudcd her domestic sky.
I might sly mach more, telling the many
why and whcreforcs Of the misery and
darkncs. tha, had settled upon their roof,
and weighed heavily, at least, upon the
heart OF one but wha, would il avail?
lie. the husband. was kindly aFcc,ionate.
She, the wife, had loved him above all 9TH
cr.. was still loving him, would he content,
spite Of all his Shortcomings, had ho wealth
to pave the way.
Was there, then, any real reason that
love should dwell in their midst a silent
song bird-tha, the sunshine should live
only in the outer porch Of their hearts, and
cladness thrive only out OF their dwelling ?
Poor Jenny is to b. pitied - remarked
| | to aun, Hannah, the other day. "rm
sure my heart aches for her"
"Dii you tell her so2" inquired aunt
Hannah, looking kecnly over her spce'a-
clcs.
Yes, | could no, help it. I so often
to see her. She 80 needs sympathy"
llumph 80 che couldn't help saying it,
aunt Hannah, who, when she deigns TO
speak, selects the most expressive words.
She went on, ~ hundred and Gfty dear
friends plying and symPa,hilinc with her
Jenny Manning, Who might DO happier
than queen-lricnds who care not two
coppcrs for all her sorrows-who would
scarcely give that amount to relieve them
but who pity from momentary impulsive-
mes, and out OF sight, either forgcs entirely
or prate of the inconsistency OF her con-
duet"
But aunt Hannah"
! Dom I aunt Hannah me. have lost
all patience with the world. People seem
determined to be miserable, many of them.
I wonder IL anything hut misery would
console them in another world. They
would then find no use for all the fine
phrases about uncongonialities, impressi'
bilities, distressing emotions and sad spent
days. Their ewes would tire with the con.
stan, glory OF heaven. There would be no
rainy tears to wipe away, and cheeriulncss
would be Of no moment, if it went unre.
lievcd by the heavinG sigh. tell you, An
ma Howard. have no patience; here you
are, a great girl Of twenty summers, lending
all the aid IN your power helping your
friend TO BE- miserable. you only tried
half so hard to make her happy l would
be proud Of you"
I I did love Jenny Manning very mneh'
and fell, hurt at aunt ilannah's remarks
| I thought, them over and over on my way
home. and the more | thought, OF them the
moro thought Of them the more thought
she was right, and what she said | felt was
true.
went up stairs to my own handsomely
furnished chamber, excusing myself to the