The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1860-01-11
A RIFT in THE CLOUDS.
BY T. 5. ARTHUR.

Andrew Lee came homo at evening
from the shop where he had been at
work all day, tired and out of spirits;
came home to his wife, who was also tired,
and out of spirits.
GA smiling wife and cheerful home
what a paradise it would bep said
Andrew to himself, as he turned his eyes
from the clouded face of Mrs. Lee, and
sat down with knitted brows, and q
moody aspect.
Not word was spoken by either
Mrs. Lee was getting supper, and she
moved about with q weary step.
"Come," she said at last, with side
glance at her husband.
Andrew arose and went to the table.
He was tempted to speak an angry word,
but controlled himself and kept silence.
He could find no fault with the chop, nor
the sweet, homemade broad, nor the fra
grant tea. They would have cheered his
inward man, if there had only been gem
of sunshine on the face of his wife. He
noticed that she did not eat.
Are you not well, Maryp The
words were on his lips, but he did not
utter them, for the face of his wife look
ed so repellant that he feared an irritating
reply. And so, in moody silence, the
twain sat together until Andrew had fin
ished his supper. As he pushed his chair
back, his wife arose,and commenced clear
ing off the table.
"This is purgatoryp said Lee to HIM
SELF as he commenced walking the floor
of their little breakfast room, with his
hands thrust desperately away down into
his trowsers pocket, and his chin almost
touching his breast.
After removing all the dishes, and Ia.
king them into the kitchen, Mrs. Lee
spread green cover on the table, and
placed a fresh trimmed lamp thereon,
went out and shut the door after her
leaving her husband alone with his
thoughts. He took long, deep breath
as she did so, paused in bis walk, stood
still for some moments, and then draw.
ing paper from his pocket, sat down by
the table, opened the sheet, aud commen'
ced reading. Singularly enough the
words upon which bis eyes rested were
"Praise your wife," They rather ten
ded to increase the disturbance of mind
from which he was suffering.
al should like to find some occasion
for praising mine." How quickly hi:
mind expressed that ill-natured sentiment
But his eyes were on the page before hin
and he read on.
"Praise your wife, man; for PHYS
sake give her little encouragement; i
wont hurt her,"
Andrew Lee raised his eyes from th,
paper and muttered: Oh yes. That
all very well. Praise is cheap enough
But praise her for what ?-For sullen,ant
making your home the most disagreeabl
place in the world?" His eyes fell agail
on the paper.
"She has made your home comforta
BILE, your hearth bright and shining, you
food agreeable; for PHYS sake tell hel
you thank her, If nothing more. Sh
don't expect it; it will make her eye
open wider than they have for ten years
but il will do her good, and you, too"
1t seemed TO Andrew as IL this sen
tence were written just for him, and jus
for the occasion il was the complete ans
wer TO his question, "Praise her fc
whatp and he felt il also as rebuke.--
He read no further, for thought came to
busy, and in a new direction. Memor
was convincing him of injustice toward
his wife. She had Away made his hon
| as comfortable for him as hands coul
make il. and bad he offered the lirht 2.