The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-05-19

through the whole house." said she, her tones
trembling with feeling.
"You think SOP.
81 know so. Only try it, for this one
evening"
1t isn't so easy thing to put on smil-
ing face, Caddy, when thought is oppressed
with care'
at didn't seem to require much effort Just
now" said Mrs. Lewis, glancing up at her
husband with something of archness in her
look.
Again shadow dropped down on the face
of Mr.: Lewis, which was again partly turned
away, and again they walked on in silence
He is so sensitive. have to be as care
full of my words as if talking to a spoiled
child,' said Mrs Lewis to herself the shadow
on her husbands face darkening over her
own.
No, it did not require much effort on the
part of Mr.. Lewis to smile, as he passed a few
words, lightly with Mr. Edwards. The re-
mark of his wife had not really displeased
him, it had only set him to thinking. After
remaining gravely silent, because ne was un-
dergoing brief selfexalnination Mr. Lewis
said
"You thought the smile given to Mr.. Ed
wards came easily enough?"
at did not seem to require an effort" said
Mrs. Lewis.
" No, not much effort was required" said
Mr.. Lewis, his tones slightly depressed
" But this must be taken into account, my
mind was in certain state of excitement or
activity that repressed sober feelings, and
made smiling an easy thing. So we smile
and are gay in company, at cost of little ef-
tort, because all are smiling and gay, and
we feel the common sphere Of excitement
How different it often is when we are alone
| need not say. You, Cadly, are guilty of
the sober face at home as well as your hus-
band" Mr.. Lewis spoke with tender re-
proof in his voice.
" But the sober face is caught from yours
oftcner than you imagine, my husband, said
Mrs. Lewis.
care you certain of that, Caddy?" said
Mr.. Lewis.
Very certain. You make the sunlight and
the shadow Of your no ne. Smile upon Us;
give us cheerful words; enter into our feel
ingS and interests, and there will be no bright
er home in all the land A shadow on yotr
countenancc is veil on my heart and the
same is true as respects our children. Our
pulses strike too nearly in union not to be
disturbed when yours has lost its even beat"
said Mrs. Lewis.
Again Mr. Lewis walked on in silence, his
face partly averted and again his wife began
to fear she had spoken too freely. But he
soon dispelled this impression, for he calmly
said:
'' | am glad, Caddy, that you have spoken
thus plainly. only wish that you had done
so before. see how it is. My smiles have
been for the outside world-the world that
neither loved nor regarded me-and my
clouded brow for the dear ones at home, for
whom thought and care ever living realities"
Mr. and Mrs. Lewis were now at their own
door, where they paused moment and then
went in. Instantly, onpassing his threshold
Mr.. Lewis felt the pressure upon him Of his
usual state. The hue of bis feelings began
to change. The cheerful interested exterior
put on for those he met in business inter-
course, began rapidly to change, and sober
hue 10 succeed. Like most business men,
his desire for profitable results was even far
in advance Of the slow evolutions of trade !;
and his daily history was a history of dis
appointments, in some measure dependent
upon his restless anticipations. He was not
as willing to work and to wait as he should
be; and like many Of this class, neglected
the pearls that lay here and there along his
life-path, because they were inferior in value
to those he hoped to find just little way in
advance. The consequence was that, when
the days business excitement was over his
mind fell into breeding state, and fingered
over its disappointments, or looked forward
with falling hope in the future-for hope, in
many things, had been long deferred. And
so he rarely had smiles Cor his home.
"Take that home with you DEAR" whis-
pered Mrs. Lewis, as they moved along the
passage, and before they had joined the fam
lily. She had an instructive consciousness
that her husband was in danger of relapsing
into his usual state.
The warning was just in time.
Thank you for the words. I will not
forget them," said he.
And he did not, but at once rallied him
self and to the gfM surprise of Jenny, win,
and Mary, met them with a new face, covered
with fatherly smiles, and with pleasant ques-
tons in pleasant tones, of their days en-
ployments. Feelings Of children move in
quick transitions. They had not expected
a greeting like this, but the reponse was in
stant Little Jenny climbed into her faith.
er's arms. Will came and stood by his chair
answering in lively tones his questions, while
Mary, older by few years than the rest,
leaned against her fathers shoulder and laid
her white hand softly upon his head, smooth