Smyrna times., 1860-04-19

hearth bright and shining, your food agreeable.
: For PHYS sake, tell her you thank her. If no.
thing more. She don't expect it; it might
make her eyes opes wider than they have for
ten years but il will do her good for all that,
and you too"
1t seemed TO Andrew as if this sentence was
written just for him, and just for the occasion.
1t was the complete answer to ais question.
"a Praise her for whatl" and he felt it also
rebuke. He read no further, for thought came
too busy, and in new direction. Memory
was convincing him Of injustice toward his wife.
She had always made his home comfortable
for him as hands could make it, and had he Of.
fered the light Of praise or commendation =
He was not able to recall the time or the oeca-
sion. q AS he thought thus. Mrs. Lee came in
from the kitchen, and taking her work-basket
from closet, placed il on the table, and sitting
down without speaking. began TO sew. MIR.
Lee glanced almost stealthily at the work in
her hands, and saw that il was the bosom of
shirt, which she was stitching neatly. He
knew that it was for him that 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 be was not ready for
this yet. He still felt moody and unforgiying.
The expression of his wifs's face he interpreted
to mean ill-nature, and with Immature he had
no patience. His eye fell upcn the newspaper
which lay spread out before him, and he read
the sentence:
ga kind cheerful word, spoken in gloomy
home. is like the riff in cloud that lets the
sunshine through"
E Mr. Lee struggled with hmselfa while lon
lger. His own ill-nsture had TO be conquered
first; his moody, accusing spirit had to be sub
dued. But be was coming right, and at last
got right, as TO will. Next came the question
as to how he should begin He thought o.
many things to say, yet ne feared to say them
lest his wife should meet them with a cold re
buff At last, leaning towards her and taking
hols of the linen bosom upon which she was a
work. he said, in voice carefully modulate'
with kindness
ID "You are doing that work very beautiful
Mary" SE. aifs aaN5sgif l
Mrs. Lee made no reply. But her husban
did not fail to observe that she lost, almost in
ssantly, that rigid erec.ness with which sh
- had been sitting. nor that the motion Of he
needle had ceased.
- "My shirts are better made. and whittier tha
those ofany other man in our shop" said lie,
encouraged to 60 On.
.Are theyf" Mrs. Lees voice was Low
he and had in it slight huskiness. She did q,
md turn her face: but her husband saw she leane
,as a little toward him. He had broken lhroug
the ice of reserve, and all was easy now. III
,a, hand wss among the clouds, and a few feeb
I'M. rays were already struggling through the ri
led il had made.
ia Yes, Mary" hs answered softly, and L,
heard it said more than once what a good wi
lea Andrew Lee must have.
o., Mrs. Lee turned her face toward her hu
S band. There was light in it, aad light in b
nee eye. But there was something in the expire
IA sion Of her eye that puzzled him.
one .Do you think so - she asked. quite soberl
awhat question r. calculated Andre
He Lee, starting up, and going around to the si'
on of the table where his wifs was sitting. VIII
ind question. Maryl'' he repeated, as he sto
me- before her.
'uid aDo youi" II wss all she said.
nly Yes, darling" was the warmIy-spok
his answer, and he stopped down and kissed hsr
. How strange that you should ask me such
'rds question -
for "If you would only tell ms so now and tbs
! he Andrew, il would do me good" And M
ody Lee arose. and leaning her face against
rev manly breast Of her husband. stood and wepI
his What strong light burst 10 upon the mi
iced Of Andrew Lee. He had never given to
faithful wifs even the smallest reward Of pra
|, as for all her loving interest she had manifes
title daily, until doubt OF his love had entered
per- soul. and made the light around her thick da
and ness. No wonder that her face grew cloud
nor that what he considered moodIsssa and
hem nature took possession of her spirit.
COW "You are good and true. Mary. Ny .
med dear wife. | am proud Of you'll love 20
after md my 6rst desire il for your happiness.
leas- if could always see your face 10 sunshine,
y - home would be- the dearest place on earth. "
J few "How precious TO me are your words
. his love aad praise. Andrew" said Mr.. Lee, Q
shest ling up through hsr tears into his face
'ugh, j With them in my ears, my heart can nd
we're, lie in shadow"
ID to How easy had been the work for And
vhich Lee. He had swept his hand around the c
,iy horizon Of his home, and now the bright
, tor sshins was streaming down and iooding
Z az home with Joy and beauty.
It bis ---~.->------
Tns leading men in the oyster busines
sste. Baltimore sssest that thsre are more oysts