The weekly Anglo-African., 1859-10-08
A RIFT IN THE CLOUD.

Andrew Lee came home from the shop,
where he had worked all day, tired and
out of spirits home to his wife, who
was also tired and out of spirits.
"a smiling wife and cheerful home
what paradise it would be p said Andrew
to himself, as he turned his face on 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 wearied step.
"Come," she said at last, with side
glance at her husband.
There was an invitation in the word on
ly--none in the voice of Mrs. Lee.
Andrew arose and went to the stable. He
was tempted to speak an angry word, but
controlled himself. He could find no fault
with the chop, nor with the sweet home
made bead, nor the fragrant tea. They
would have eheered the inner man, if there
had only been CLEAN of sunshine on the
face of his wife. He noticed that she did
not eat.
care you not well, Mary" The words
were ON his lips, but 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 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 p said Lee to him.
self, as he commenced walking the floor of
their little breakfast room, with his hands
thrust desperately away down in his trou-
sers pockets, and his chin almost touching
his breast
After removing all the dishes and taking
them into the kitchen, Mrs. Lee spread
green cover upon 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 a long, deep breath as she did SO,
paused in his walk, stood sill for few
moments, and then drawing paper from
his pocket, sat down by the table, opened
the sheet, and commenced reading. Sin
gular enough, the words on which his eyes
rested were, Praise your wife" They "a
ther tended to increase the disturbance of
mind from which he was suffering.
II should like to find some occasion for
praising mine" How quickly his thoughts
expressed 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; it won't
hurt her.
Andrew Lee raised his eyes from the
paper and muttered, "Oh yes; that's all
very well. Praise is cheap enough; but
praise her for what For being sullen,
and making your home the most disagreed
BILE place in the world2D His eye fell again
on the paper.
"She has made your home comfortable,
its hearth bright and shining, your food
agreeable. For PHYS sake tell her that
you thank her, if nothing more. She don't
expect it; it will make her eyes open wild
er than they have been for ten years; but
it will do her good for all that, and you
too.p
1t seemed to Andrew as if this sentence
were written just for him, and just for the
occasion 1t was the complete answer to
his question, praise her for whatP and
he felt it also as rebuke. He read no
farther. for thought came too busy, and in
a new direction. Memory was convicting
him of injustice towards his wife. She had
always made his home as comfortable as
hands could make it; and had he offered
the light return Of praise or comnendation9
Had he ever told her of the satisfaction he
had known or the comfort he had expert
encedl He was not able to recall the
time nor 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 speaking, began to sew. Mr.. Lee
glanced almost stealthily at the work in
her hands, and saw that it was the bosom
of shirt which she was stitching neatly.
He knew that it was for him she was at
work.
praise your wife" The words were