The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1860-04-05

you thank her, if nothing more She
don't expect it it will make her eyes
open wider than they have for ten years,
but it will do her good for all that, and
you too"
Ii seemed to Andrew as if this sentence
was written just for him, and just for
the occasion, 1t was the complete an.
swer to his question. g Praise her for
what 2" and he felt it also as rcbuke
lie read no further, for thoughts came too
busy, and in a new direction. Memory
was convicting him OF injustice towards
hls wife. She had always made his home
as comfortable for him as hands could
make, and had lie offered the light return
of praise or commendation Had he
even told her of the satisfaction he had
known, or the comfort experienced ? He
was not able to recall the tire or the oc
casion As he ihonght thus, Mrs. Lee
came from the kitchen, and taking her
work basket from a closet, placed t on
the table, and sitting down, without
speaking, began TO sew. Mr. Lee glanc-
ed 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
before the eyes of his mind, and he could
not look away from them. But he was
not ready for this yet. lie still felt
moody. unforgivirg. The expression of
his wife's face he interpreted to mean ill
nature, and with i'll nature he had not pa
thence. His eyes fell upon the ncwspa-
per that lay spread o2t before him, and
he read the sentence -
"a kind cheerful word spoken in Il
gloomy home, is like rift in a cloud that
let's the sunshine through"
Lee struggled with himself while lon.
yer. His own ill-nature had to be con
CURED first his moody, accusing spirit
to be sabdued. But he was coming
right, ard at last got right, as TO will
Next came the question as to how he
should begin. he thought of many
things tc say. yet feared to say them, lest
his wife should meet his advances with a
cold rebuff. At last, leaning towards
her, end taking held Of the linen bcsoln
.-r,~-----r.- --i------------
voice, carefully modulated with kind
ness
You are doing that work very beauti-
fully, Mary.
Mrs Lee made no reply. But her
husb band did not fail to observe that she
had lost, almost instantly, that rigid
erectness with which she had been sit
ling, nor, that she motion of her needle
had ceased.
NV shirts are better made, and whit
er than those of any o;her man in or
shop" said Lee encouraged to - ~n
Are thew" MrS Ice ; voice w4s los.
anl had in it slight hu,kIness She
did not turn her face, but her husband
saw that she leaned little Forwards
lie had broken through The ice of reserve
and all was easy now. His hand was
among the clouds, and few, feeble rays
were already struggling through the lift
it had made.
"Yes, Mary" he answered. softly
"and I've heard it said more than once,
what good wife Andeew Lee must
have"
Mrs. Lee turned her face toward her
huS5Snd There was light in i. aud
light in her eye. But there was some
thing in the expression Of the counte
nenpe that little puzzled him.
.Do you think So 2 she asked, quite
suberly.
"Whnt a question? p circulated An
drew Lee, starring up, and going round
to the side cf tue table where his wife
was sitting. "What question, Mary y
he repeated, as he stood before her
"Do you?' 1t was all she said.
"Yes, darling" was the warmly spok.
en- answer, and he stopped down and
kissed her.
"iIow strange that ytu should ask NE
such a question:!
'If you would only tell ME SO now and
then, Andrew, it &ou,d do Inc good =
and Mrs. Lee, arose, and leaning her face
against the manly breast Of her husband
stood and wept.
What a strong light broke in upon the
mind of Andrew Lee. He had never
given SO his faithful wife even the small
reward of praise tor all the loving interest
she had manifested daily, until doubt oi
his love had entered her SOU, and made
the light around heI, thick darkness -
No wonder that her face grew ciouded
nor that what he considered meodiness
and Miniature, took possession of her
spirit.
"You are good and true, Mary, my
own dear wife am proud of you-l
love you-and my first desire is for your