Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-10-13
bsy" For City News see Third page.
For Market Reports and Marine News see fourth
A IlFT 1N rmN CLOups.


IA smiling wife and cheerful home-what
a paradise it would be-" said Andrew to him.
self, he TUNED his eve from the clOuded face
Of Mrs. Lee, and sal down with knitted brOws
and moody aspect
Not a word was spoken by either Mrs. Lee
was getting supper, and she moved about with
a weary step
"Come, - she said at last, with a side glance
at her husband.
There was invitation in the word only, none
the voice of Mrs. Lee.
Andrew arose and went 10 the table He
was tempted to speak an angry word, but con
trollcd himself, and kept silence. lie could
mad no fault with the chop, nor the sweet home.
made bread, nor the fragrant tea. They would
have cheeTed his inward man, il there had only
been a CLEAN Of sunshine on the face Of h.s
wife. He noticed that she did not cat
"Aro you not we'll Msry" The words were
on his lips, hut he did not utter them, for the
face of his wife looked so repellant, that he
feared an irritating reply And So, in moody
silence, the tw in sat together until Andrew
had finished his supper. As he pushed his
chair back, his wife arose and commenced
clearing off the table.
~ his is purgatory" said Ice to himself, as
he commenced walking the floor OF their little
breakfast roOm, with his hands thrust desper.
ately away down into his trowsers pockets, aud
his chin almost touching his breast
After removing all the dishes, and taking
them into the kitchen, Mrs Lee spread green
cover on the tab and placing fresh trimmed
lamp thereon, went out, and shut tho door after
her leaving her husband alone with his un-
pleasant feelings. lie took long, deep breath,
she did so, paused in his walk, stood still
for some moments, and then drawing paper
from his pocket, sat down by the table, opened
tl,n gl,nat nj aa1 ra,linr Il.
enough, the words upon which his eyes rested
were, Praise youT wife" They rather tended
to increase, the disturbance ofmind from which
he was suffering.
al should like to find somo occasion for prais-
ing mine" How quickly his thoughts ex-
pressed that i'll natured sentiment But his
eyes were ON the page before him, and he read
on.
Praise your wife, man; for PHYS sake
give her little encouragement; il won't hurt
her"
Andrew Lee raised his eyes from the paper
and muttered, "Oh yes That's all very we'll
what! For being sullen, and making your
home the most disagreeablc place ia the worldl"
His eyes fell again on the paper.
"She has made your home comfortable, your
heath bright and shining, Your food agreeable;
for pity = sake tell her you thank her if moth
ing more. She don't exp, ct il; it will make her
eyes open wider than they have for ten years;
but it will do her good Tor all that and you,
too"
1t feemed TO Andrew as il thia senteuce
were written lust for tho occasion. IL was the
complete an,wer TO his question praise her
for WHAT and he iclt it also as a rehuke. lie
read no further, for thought came too busy, aud
in a new direction. Memory was convcting
him of injustice towards his wife She had al
ways made his home as comfortable for him MS
hands could make it, and had he offered tho
light return OF praise OF cOmmendatonl Had
he ever told her Of the satisfaction he had
known, or the comfort Cxpe fenced! lie was
not able TO recall the time or the occasion. AS
h thought thus, Mrg. Lee came in from the
Kitchen, aud taking her work basket iiom a
closet, placed it on the table, and sitting down,
without speaking, began to sew. Mr. Lee glau
ced almost stcathily at the work in her hands,
and saw that it was the bosom of a shirt which
she was stitching neatly. lie knew that il was
for him that she was at work.
"Pfaise vour vile The words were befora
the eyes OF his mind, and he could not look
away from them. But he was not ready for
this yet lie still felt moo y and unlurgiving
Tho expression of his wile's face he interpreted
to mean i'll nature, he had no psticnce. Ills
eyes fell upon the newspaper that lay spread
out before him, aud he read the sentence:
"A kind cheerful word, spoken in gloomy
hom', is like the rift ia cloud that let's the
suns ine through"
lie, struggled with himself whilo longer.
HIS yn i'll nnturc had to be conquered first,
his m jody accusing spirit had to be subdued.
But he was coming right. ana at last got right,
as TO well. Next came the question as to how
he should begin. lie thought Ot many things
to say, yet feared to say them, lcst his wife
should meet his advances with cold rebuff
At last leaning towards her. and taking hold of
the linen bosom upon which she was at work,
he said, in u voice carefully modulated with
| kindness
! "You are doing that woik vcry beautifully,
Mary"
| Mrs. Lee made no reply But her husband
did not fail to observe that she lost almost in
stantly that rigid erectness with which sho had
been sitting nor that the motion Of her needle
had ceased.
| only shirts are better made and whittier than
those of any other man in our shop" said Lee
encouraged tn go on.
! "Aro theyi" Mrs Lees voice was low, and
had in it slight huskinesp. She did not turn
her face, but her husband saw that she leaned
little towards him lie hnd broken through
the ice OF reserve, and all was easy now. His
hand was among the clouds, and few feeble
rays were already struggling through the rift
| it had made
! 'Nes, Mary" he answered softly; land I've
heard it said more than once, what good wilO
| ApdTlw Lee must have"
Mrs Lee leaned her laco towards her hus-
band. There was light in it, and light in her
eye, But there was something 10 the expires
| sion of the cOuntenance that little puzzled
him.
'Do you think sol" she asker, quito soberly
'Rhat a question:" calculated Andrew Lee,
starting up aud going around to the side o'tho
table where his Wic was sitting "What a
question, Mary" ho repeated, as ho stood DO
| fore her.
"Do youi" IT was all she said.
ayes, darling" was his warmly spoken an.
swor, and he stoope down and kissed her -
slow strange that you should ask mo such
question:"
"If you would only tell ne so now and then,
/ Andrew, It would do me good Aud hrs
Lee arose. leaning her face against the manly
breast OF her husband; stood and wept.
| What a strong light broke in upon the mind
Of Andrew Lee He had novrr given to his
faithful vile even the smallest reward Of
| praise Tor all the loving interest she had mani
tested daily, until doubt Of his love entered
her soul, aud made tho light around her thick
darkn IS. No wonder that her face grew
clouded, nor that what he considered moods
ness and III nature took possession Of her
spirit.
"You are good and true, Mary My own dear
wife am proud Of yOu-l love you--and my
first desire IS for your happiness. Oh, ii
could always See your face in sunshine my
home would be the dearest place on earth"
"Iow precious 10 nie are our words OF love
and praise, Andrew" said Mra. Lee, sIniling
up though her tears into his face "With