Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1859-04-22

VI No, was HIS aCcuSLOHeu HuSWer
to nearly all questions.
How lightly did Jane trip. from the
room. In twinkling she returned with
a cool glass Of water for her father,
who as he received it from her hand,
said "Thank you.''
TO the child, unaccustomed to such
an acknowledgment for any service,
those two little words were felt to be a
sweet reward.
The fathers altered manner and,way
of speaking was perceived by the child
rem as we'll as by the mother; and, as
if by some magic, the whole of their
lives seemed changed.
':Shall l bring up your slippers %
asked Jane, returning to her father.
eyes, that's q good girl !; my feet
are aching with these heavy boots.
They were no sooner laid upon the floor
than two little fellows caught hold Of
them, each DESTROYS Of all approving
word as reward for the service rem
dered their father.
81 Will put one in the closet, and
John the other"
"What brave little men," exclaimed
Mr.. c., really pleased at heart, and
manifesting his pleasure in the tone Of
his voice. ''I'm a thousand times
obliged to you"
Jane returned with the slippers in a
few moments and STOPPING drew them
on her fathers feet. When she rose
up, with cheeks glowing, and eyes
dancing in new light, Mr.. G. thought
her face looked really beautiful.
"Thank you, DEAR - the words
came now really from the heart.
Mrs. Crandall looked and listened,
wonderingly, while strange glow per-
vaded her bosom. What could be the
meaning of all this In quiet, pleas
ed way, the children gathered around
their father, one climbing upon his
knee.
"What have you been doing all day,
Jimmy % asked Mr.. G. Of the child.
"Playing," answered the child.
"Have you been a good boy?''
"Not all the time" B..
81 am sorry; Jimmy must try and
be good boy all the time. What
have you been playing.
"Oh, everything. Horses and dogs,
and turning up jack as mother
says.
MIR. Crandall laughed out at the re.
ply, saying:
''You turned up jack most Of the
time, I suppose"
"Well 1 guess I did!'
Mr.. Crandall laughed again. The
spirit of good-nature was transferred
into every heart. Even Mrs. c., who
was usually in a fretted mood, felt its
influence.
"Jimmy's been right good boy to-
day." said she, in an approving tone.
ed to much.''
Mrs. Crandall was moving about all
this time, preparing supper. Jane,
who never willingly gave her mother
any assistance, and who was rarely
called upon because she grumbled when
asked to do anything, now said,
'AMiother, can I help you?'
eyes, DEAR" That "dear" which
had fallen SO unexpectedly from her
husband, had been echoing in the mind
Of Mrs. Crandall quite as spontaneous
ly as in the case Of her husband.
eyes, my dear, you may finish setting
the table while l dish up the SUPPER
Wondering almost as much at her.
self as at her husband, Mrs. Crandall
after seeing Jane move with pleasing
alacrity about the table, went into the
kitchen, and soon all was ready. Quite
enough to satisfy the appetite had
Mrs G. prepared; but her thoughts
turned upon something clse-some-
thing she might consult him about and
receive eyes, DEAR" in reply. How
she was longing for the words, uttered
in the gentle, loving way they had a
little while before been spok en-but for
her ears alone At last she turned
from the fire and going to the door Of
the room, said very kindly
"Shall | boil you couple of fresh
eggs for your supper, Peter?''
eyes, dear, if you please.''
How the wife's poor heart, which for
years had lain almost dead in her bo-
som, leaped with joyous impulse =?
What a light flashed over her counte
nance! making it beautiful as of old,
in the eyes Of her husband. eyes,
dear, if you please" Not even in the
voice Of Grisi or Diana, would her ears
have found such delicious music.
At the suppertable Peter Crandall
praised the coffee and the fried pota-
toes, and said the eggs were just what
he wanted. Mrs. G. looked happy,
and was happy.
With the vanishing of their fathers
usual silence, and their mothers sour
looks and fretful tones, the children's
spirits changing like the chameleon,
and taking the hue Of things around
them, rose into new, better and happier
states. Contention ceased and there
was something like an emulation of
kind Offices amongst them, instead of
a selfish grasping Of whatever the heart
desired.
Suddenly the eyes of Mr.. Crandall
were opened. Even while he was Won
dering at the magical change produced
by few kind words, a full revelation
Of the truth came to his mind. A new
leaf in the book of his life was turned.
Thought turned once in the right d.
Crandall pondered this