The penny press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1859-1860, 1860-01-07

unCOQbOlpu.
Twill be strangest Of all things that ever were told
As happening under the sun
...a... ,'1--' . How strange 1t WILL be
-=.
The Peevish wife's Too-Late Repent
ances
"Siok-sick againl" said the needless
wife, with petulance "I'm so tired OF
seeing q pale face from morning til
night, Of hearing groans, and of mixing
doses. 1t seems to me there is little
need Of this constant giving up. Why
don't ! give up2'
"Mary-Mary," cried quivering
voice.
Coming, coming" replied the
woman. "Oh, dear! how 1 have to run.
He's 80 impatient, and ! must always be
there. Men never ought to be sick, they
make so much trouble"
There was but little tenderness in the
voice that answered the faint queries OF
the sick man, and yet Mrs Nash was not
hard-hearted or an unfeeling woman
Her character leaned somewhat to the
side Of sel6shness, and being in robust
health, she had no knowledge of the
heartwearing that continued pull-baeks
cause to men of the strongest wills.
"Oh, dearl" sighed the man, half
childish, lit SCENE as if my head never
did ache as it does now"
'Tve heard you say that hundred
times" said Mrs. Nash, not in the softest
manner.
"But I'm sure it is worse. If you will
only pull the curtain down-the least
light strikes through my eyes, even when
they are shut"
"Up again" thought the wife, rising
somewhat impatiently, scattering her
work with some noise as she did so; and,
needless Of the groan that followed, she
let the blind fall heavily.
"lm great deal of trouble" said the
aick man, seeing the cloud on his wifc's
brow,
"Oh, mol" her face cleared up--"you
are national, of course-all men are
Men don't know what sickness is, and
they're 80 frightened at the least pain.
But this is terriblel" cried the invalid,
pressing his closed eyelids together.
OH how he longed to have some sooth-
ing hand upon his temples; but he would
not ask his wife, because he saw that she
had snatched up her sewing, and was
again absorbed in its completion.
Hours passed, and the pulse leaped
madly, the eyes grew strained and crossed
with veins, the temples futtered with the
throbbing flesh, and strange words came
thiokly on the stiffness of the chamber.
Mrs. Nash had been down stairs pre-
pairing the supper. She had just laugh
ingly said, in reply to a neighbor's question
concerning her husband
"Oh, going to die, as you men all are, if
you happen to cut your finger"
Little she thought how true was the
prophecy she so unthinkingly uttered!
In another moment her eldest son came
into the room. 4
"lsn't it funny2" he cried, "pa don't
know me. He called me Mr.. Morris, and
asked me if had that will all made
out.
"What do you mean child2" His mother
paused in the midst of her work.
HE don't know me, because | kept
calling pa, and he would look at me Sc 50
strangely, and keep asking me if l had
that will made out"
Her cheek paling little, Mrs. Nash
hurried up to the chamber. Her husband
was talking wildly to himself, and his
appearance had changed frightfully. Now
seriously alarmed, she sent for the phys
lcian, who was all wonder that he had
been called at SO late an hour.
"The man must have shown symptoms
of more than ordinary distress this morn
ng," he said; did be make complaints Of
but an ordinary beadache?'
The wife was forced to confess that the
symptoms had been unusually severe, but
ne was 80 liable to these attacks that she
lidn't think much of it Her heart how
ever condemned her. She was conscious
hat the moans and complaints of her
'ick husband had irritated her to an un-
Usual degree, and that she had borne far
rom patiently with him. Now she was
'eady to make all amends. With tears
md loving thoughts she hovered over that
'ick bed, accusing herself, as every wild
,ry for him rang out and still there was no
Tears, and wild prayers to Heaven,
sweet and fervent words of love availed
nothing. The death hour came, and with
t consciousness. Arrows could not have
pierced that sad heart as did the last
words Of that dying man.
Dearest, you have been a good wife to
ne" -
The meek face looked calm amid the
easements af the grave, but it was
scarcely whittier than the faos that bent
'ver! Oh! what would that wretched
leart have given TO recall those cold
'arcless words that were ringing in her
,wn ears at every step. This was the
hought that gave anguish unparalleled.
i her trembling steps led her to his open
.rave, as she looked her last upon the
lear, manly face that had ever had
'miIe for her!
'lf | had been tender to him that day."
he often sobbed out, as she accused
lerseif, II would give worlds But the
orrow, dreadful - II was, has not been
Ill IL A