Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1859-04-07

step, Peter commenced taking off his shoes.
Xhey we're no sooner laid on the floor, than
b little fellows caught hold Of them, each
2 esirous of an approving word as reward
for service rendered their tired father.
''Tll put one away, and John the other,
said little James.
-"What brave little men?'' exclaimed Mr..
erapdall really pleased at heart, and man
itesting his pleasure in the tones Of his
voice. ''Thank you, my dears."
--Jane returned with the slippers in few
moments and STOPPING down, drew them up
on her fathers feet. When she raised her.
self up, with cheeks glowing and eyes dane
ing in new light, Peter Crandall thought
her face looked really beautiful.
THANK you, dear" The words came
now from his heart.
Mrs. Crandall looked and listened won
deringly, while strange glow pervaded
ker bosom. What could be the meaning of
all this? What new spirit had come over
her husband? In quiet, pleased way, the
children gathered around their father, one
climbing upon his knee.
''What have you been doing all day,
/ jimmy" asked his father.
''Playing," was the simple answer.
"Have you been good boy?''
, ssNot all the time" answered the child.
"Pm sorry for that" said his father ;
"Jimmy must try and be good boy all the
time. What have you been playing?"
ooh, everything. Horses and dogs, and
hunt the cat, as mother says"
Peter laughed out at the reply. saying,
'aHunt the cat chiefly, I suppose"
ooh, yes, like that BEST" replied the
child.
| Peter laughed again. The spirit of good
nature was transfused into every heart
Even Mrs. Crandall, usually in fretted
state of mind, felt it's genial influence.
''Jimmy's been good boy to-day" said
she, in an approving voice. 'His hunting
the cat hasn't amounted to much"
f. Mrs. Crandall was moving hastily about
fsll the time. preparing supper, Jane, who
never willingly gave her mother any assis-
lance. and who, was rarely called upon be-
Ieaeuse she grumbled whenever asked to do
snything, now said, "Mother. can help
you?
Eyes, dear" That "dear," which had
fallen SO unexpectedly from the lips of her
husband, had been echoing in the mind of
Mrs. Crandall ever since, and now it came
into utterance quite as spontaneously as in
the casesof her husband. eyes, dear, you
may finish setting the table, while I dish up
the supper.
Wondering almost as much at herself as
at her husband, Mrs. Crandall, after seeing
Jane move with pleased alacrity about the
table, went into the kitchen and soon had
all ready. Quite enough to satisfy that ap-
petite had Mrs. Crandall prepared but her
thoughts turned upon something else-some-
thing that would give her the opportunity
to ask him if she should not to get it for
his supper. eyes, dear" How she was
longing for the words uttered in the gen.
tie loving way they had a little while be-
fore been spoken-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, ifyou please"
How the wife's poor heart, which, for
years. had lain almost dead in her bosom.
leaped with a joyous impulse! What a
light flashed over her countenance, making
it beautiful, as of old, in the face of her
husband eyes, dear, if you please. -
Not even in the voice of Grisi or Lind would
her ears have found such sweet music.
At the supper-table, Peter Crandall prais-
ed everything his wife had provided, add
ing that the eggs were just what he had
yUIc bod for I'll
and was happy. With the vanishing of
their fathers usual morose silence, and their
mothers sour looks and fetful tones, the
ehildren's spirits, changing like the chame-
leon. 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
among them instead of selfish grasping of
whatever the heart desired.
Suddenly the eyes of Peter Crandall o.
pened. Even while he was wondering at
the magical change produced by few kind
words, 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 direc-
ton, Peter pondered the new fact in his in
ner life history-the magic of kind words
and going back to the very beginning, re-
viewed his own conduct to his wife and in
his family. almost day by day, up to the
evening when by the power almost of sin
gle word. the whole scene changed, and
quite as suddenly as we see it sometimes in
"a pantomime. He saw his error-saw and
felt how unjust he had been; how cold. and
even cruel in his GOODNESS. Very carefully
did he guard himself afterwards: and very
prompt was he in observing all the little So
cial courtesies towards his wife and children
which are so beautiful to see, and so sweet
in all their influences. The green things