Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1860-03-01
ESTABLISHED A. ID. 1861


as "too light to wear about the house"
1t was nice French print, rose-colored
and white, and she remembered had once
been favorite with her husband The
old sdsge,-"fashions come round in
seven years." seemed true in this case,
for the dress was made in the then prevail
ing style.
"This is Just the thing" she thought,
and she hastened to perform her toilette,
saying to herself, 81 must alter my dark
gngham to wear mornings and get it al
ready before Charles comes home" Then
she released her long, dark hair from its
imprisonment in most ungraceful twist,
and carefully brushing its still glossy
waves, she plated it in the broad braids
which Charles used 80 much to admire in
the days of her girlhood.
The unwanted task brought back many
"reminiscences as she thought of changes
Time had wrought on those she loved,
but she murmured, "What hath sadness
like the change that in ourselves we fnd?"
In that hour she realized how an ap-
parently trivial fault had gained the mas
terry over her, and imperceptibly had pla-
ced barrier between her and the one she
best loved on earth. True, he never
chided her, never apparently noticed her
altered appearance but she well knew
he no longer urged her going into socie-
ty, nor did he seem to care about receiv-
ing his friends at his own house, although
he was a social man, and had once felt
proud to introduce his young wife to his
large circle of acquaintances.
Now, they seldom went out together
Excepting to church, and even dressing
for that was generally too much of an eff.
fort for Mrs. Thornton, she would stay
at home "to keep house," preparing the
little ones to accompany their father, and
the neighbors soon ceased expecting to
meet her at public worship or in their so.
cial gatherings; and so, one by one, they
neglected to call on her until but very few
of the number, continued to exchange
friendly civiities with her. She had
wondered at this, had felt mortified and
panied heretofore now she clearly saw
it was her own fault, the veil was removed
from her eyes and the mistake of her life
woo iCNCtiCt III ITO tiuC bll'
cerely she repented of her past error, calm.
ly and seriously resolved in future all i'm.
mediate amendment.
Meanwhile, her hands were not idle
and at length the metamorphss was com.
plete. The bright pink drapery hung
gracefully about her form, imparting an
unusual brilliancy to her complexion
her best wrought collar was fastened with
a costly brooch, her husbands wedding
gift, which had not seen the light for q
many a day. Glancing once more at hel
mirror, to be certain hef toilet needed nc
more finishing touches. she took her sew
ing and returned to the setting room.
Little Nellie had wearied of her picture
book, and was now playing with her kit
ten. AS Mrs. Thornton entered she clap
ped her hands in childish delight, ex
claiming. "Oh, ma, how pretty p ant
running to her, kissed her again and agair
then drew her little chair close by hel
side, and eagerly watched her as she plieG
her needle. repairing her gingham dress
| Just before it was completed, Nellie,
brothers came from school, and pausiue
at the half opened door, Willie whisper
ed to Charlie, 81 guess we have got com
pany, for mothers ali dressed up" Il
was with mingled emotions OF pain ant
pleasure that Mrs. Thornton observed he
children were unusually docile and obedi
ent, Fastening to perform their accus
toned duties without even being remind
, ed of them. Children are naturally anC
unalectedly lovers of the beautiful anc
their intuitive perceptions will not suffel
from comparison with the opinions o
natures wisdom. 1t was with feeling
, of admiration that these children now
looked upon their mother, and seemed tt
consider it a privilege to do something
| for her. 1t was. "Let me get the kindl
ing, I'll will make the fire." and MAY
fill the tea-kettle ?"-instead of, as wa,
sometimes the case-'Need do it ?'-
, II don't want to" "Why can't Willie?'
| Nellie was too small to render mucl
assistance but she often turned from he
, frolic with her kitten and looked at hel
mother, and utter some childish remark
expressive of Joy and love.
AT last the clock struck the hour wher
MIR. Thornton was expected, and the wifi,
proceeded to lay the table with unusual
care, and to place thereon viands of whicl
she knew he was particularly fond.
Meanwhile let us form the acquaintanc,
of the absent husband and father, whom
we find in sneighboring town just com
, pleting his days traffic. He is a fin,
looking, middle-aged man, with an un
mistakable twinkle of kind feeling in hi
eye, and the line of good humor plainly
, traced about his mouth-we know at I
glance that he is cheerful and indulgen
to his family, and are at once proposes
sed in his favor.
AS he was leaving the store where h,
had made his last purchase for the day
, he is familiarly accostod by tall gentle
; man just entering the door. He recog
nizes an old friend, and exclaims, "Georg'
, Morton, is it you?" The greeting is nat
urally cordial /; they were friends in boy
hood and early youth, but since Mr.. Nor
ton has been practising law in distan
city, they have seldom met, and this is nj
place to exchange their many question:
and answers. Mr.. Thornton's fine spal
of horses and light "democrat" are stand
ing near by, and it needed but little pur