The Shasta courier., 1859-11-19
A Rift in the Cloud.
By 7. S. ARTHUR.

Andrew Lee came home at evening from the
shop where he had been to work all day, tired
and out of spirits came home to his wife, who
was also tired, and out of spirits.
GA smiling wife, and cheerful home-what
paradise it would bew said Andrew to him
self, as he turned his eyes from the clouded face
of Mrs. Lee, and sat down, with knitted brows
and moody aspect.
Not word was spoken by either Mrs. Lee
was getting supper, and she moved about with
weary step.
"Come," she said at last with a side-glance
at her husband.
There was invitation in the word only, none
in the voice of Mrs. Lee.
Andrew arose and went to the table, He was
tempted to speak an angry word, but controlled
himself, and kept silent. He could find no fault
with the chop, nor the sweet home made bread,
nor the fragrant tea. They would have cheered
his inward man, if there had only been CLEAN
of sunshine on the face of his wife. He noticed
that she did not eat
" Are you not well, Mary?' The words were
on his lips, but he did not utter them, for the
face Of his wife looked so repellsnt that he
feared an irritating reply. And so, in moody
silence the twain sat together until Andrew had
finished his supper. As he pushed his chair
back, his wife arose, and commenced clearing
off the table,
" This is purgatory !" said Lee to hims,lf, rs
he commenced walking the floor of their little
breakfast room, with his hands thrust desper-
atey away down into his trousers pockets, and
his chin almost touching his breast.
After removing the dishes, and taking them
into the kitchen, Mrs. Lee spread a green cover
on the table; and placing fresh trimmed lamp
thereon, went out, and shut the door after her,
leaving her husband alone with his unpleasant
feelings. He took long, deep breath as she
did so, paused in his walk, stood still few mo-
ments, and then drawing a paper from his
pocket, sat down by the table, opened the sheet,
and commenced reading Singulary enough,
the words upon which his eyes rested were,
"Praise your wife, They rather tended to in
crease the disturbance of mind from which he
was suffering.
"a should like to find some occasion for prais-
ing mlne" How quickly his thoughts expressed
that ill-natured sentiment. But his eyes were
on the the page, and he read on.
"Praise your wife, man for PHYS sake, give
her little encouragement it won't hurt her."
Andrew Lee raised his eyes from the paper,
and muttered, Z" oh, yes That's all very we'll
Praise is cheap enough. But praise her for what
For being sullen, and making your home the
most disagreeable place in the world? His eve
fell again to the paper
"She has made your home comfortable your
hearth bright and shining, your food agreeable !;
for PHYS sake, tell her you thank her, if moth
ing more. She don't expect it; it might make
her eyes open wider than they have for ten years;
but it will do her good for all that, aud you,
too"
| seemed to Andrew as if this sentence were
written Just.for him, and just for the occa sion.
1t was the complete answer to his question,
"Praise her for what ?" and he felt it also as a
rebuke. He read no further, for thought came
too busy, and in new direction. Memory was
convicting him of injustice toward his wife
She had always made his home as comfortable
for him as hands could make it, and had he Of
fered the light of praise or commendaton? Had
he told her of the satisfaction he had known, or
the comfort experienced? He was not able to
recall the time or the occasion. As he thought
thus, Mrs. Lee came in from the kitchen, and
taking her work-basket from closet, placed it
on the table, and sitting down, without speak
ing began to sew. Mr.. Lee glanced almost
stealthily at the work in her hands. and saw that
it was the bosom of a shirt, which she was
stitching MEATS He knew that it was for him
that she was as work.
Praise your wife" The words were before
the eyes of his mind, and he could not look away
from them. But he was not ready for this vet.
ne sun leit Woouy ana unfOrglylng- The eX-
preston of his wife's face he interpreted to
mean ill-nature. and with ill-nature he had no
patience. His eye fell upon .he newspaper which
lay spread out before him, and he read the
sentence:
"a kind, cheerful word, spoken in gloomy
home is like the the rift in cloud that lets the
sunshine through"
Mr. Lee struggled with himself while long
er. His own ill-nature had to be conquered first
his moody, accusing spirit had to be subdued.
But he was coming right, and at last got right,
as to Will Next came the question as to how
he should begin He thought of many things to
say, yet feared to say them, lest his wife should
meet bis advances with cold rebuff 1t last,
leaning towards her and taking hold of the linen
bosom upon which she was at work. he said, in
voice carefully modulated with kindness
" You are doing that work very beautifully,
Mary
Mrs. Lee made no reply But her husband
did not fail to observe that she lost, almost in
stantly, that rigid erecsness with which she had
been sitting, nor that the motion Of her needle
hand ceased.
MY shirts are better made, and whittier than
those of any other man in our shop said Lee,
encouraged to go on.
care they?" Mrs. Lees voice was low, and
had in j; a slight huskiness She did not turn
her face, but her husband saw she leaned lit