The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1861-01-16

washed dishes, and even scrubbed the white
floor OF her aunts neat kitchen. Her small
white hands, now 50 soft and white, had been
red and hard once her transparent cheek
had been sunburnt and brown, but her rustic
beauty had won the heart Of the rich mer-
chant, whom business brought for few
weeks to the neighborhoud Of Mapleton, aud
not many months later she became his wife.
City life was entirely new 70 Maria Durand,
and for few seasons she enjoyed it to the
full. Parties, the opera. aud all sorts Of gay
cites succeeded each other, until suddenly
her health failed. And now. so oyoung, while
life held QUITO her cup over flowing with
delicious aud intoxicating draaght, one cup
Of bitterness had spoiled it all. Il was hard,
indeed, and poor Maria Durand shed many
scaldlng tears, as in the solitude OF her own
room she contrasted the present with the
past.
She had plenty Of time for such reflections,
for the calls of her many friends, and the in
quiries for the health of" Mrs. Durand : had
grown less and less frequent. until they had
almost entirely ceased. and she who had been
at one time reigning bell-admred, latter
ed and enyied-was now forgotten.
The circle in which Mrs. Durand had
moved was not unusually heartess; but sick
ness is test which never fails TO distinguish
the counterfeit from the generous friendship,
and it must be confessed that few human
beings have a fountain d sympathy which
will sustain drain OF four or i've years lu
one direction, without at times running dry.
As if conscious of this, inyalids are very
apt to make up for the defcIencie, oi others
by bestowing all their own sympatines on
themselves, absorbed in their own suierings.
they forget all others. Mrs. DuranJ was NJ
exception to this general rule, or she would
have observed that her husband wac growing
pale, thin, wrlnkled and care-worn. lie was
strangely ent-minded-he came up to her
room after dinner several times, and sat
there silent and moody; il she addressed
him, he replied at random, and she made no
attempt at conversation.
She was lying on her couch one evening,
when Mr.. Durand entered the room. She
did not look up, she hardly spoke--ior she
had felt unusually i'll all day, and her head
was still throbbins painfully. Her husband
approached and stood by her side.
ta'ias sdiu Hcs snOutu IKE 10 laih
with you little. il you are able To bear it. .
Something in his voice startled her; she
looked up. and for the first time saw how
haggard and changed he had grown.
What is it I" she cried. starting up.
" How feariully pale you look. The chill
dren."
!" Are perfectly well. J" he replied.
!" Has anything happened to yuu, Roberts"
she asked.
Maria" he said, hardly needing her
words. " am ruined bankrupt"
He buried his face in his hands, aud his
whole frame shook with emotion. IN an IN
stant his wiie's arms were around his neck
her kisses on his brow, aud her saiee wins.
pered words Of comfort.
But you, dear MARIA" lie said. 4 feeble
as you are, what is 10 become uf ,OU!
could bear it myself. bat to tank of yOI and
the chlldren-it almost unmans me-,
lis all lost? she added.
fear 50. My honour, thank Cod, will
remain unstained; but nothing viii be !cli
after the payment Of debts.
"And how did il happrn:"
Her husband briefly told her Of h- misfar
tunes-they were mainly owing TO LOSES a
sea, for he was largely engaged IA nayi.atina;
he rehearsed his struggles, anI iull IL IL,
sleepless nights aud anxious days, aud Nj,
ria listened with moistened eyes aud pat,e,
lips.
MY own dear husband" she said. ii
last, kissing him fondly, and what are yanl
plans for the future ?"
81 have made none as yet. h,yc been
overwhelmed 10 the present trouble. The
future Looks dark, indeed. When think Il
you 10 III health, requiring every epmtnrl,
and yet feel that | shall be unable ~ supply
\ your wants"
he stopped. for his voice was ehoked With
emotion.
do not speak so sadly, Robert. Tie
future TO me does not look 20 dark. Ynu
made your own fortune--yOu can do II gam,
and as for me, if have lived life u luxu.
~ for many years, do not forget that | aas
once poor lassie, and lived very happy
without the many appliances Of wealth that
you have bestowed on me. Dear Robert. let
Us submit with good grace to uur prrsent
troubles"
Mr.. Durand shook his head sadly, " You
speak lightly Of giving up the luxuries. for.
getting they have grown 70 be neces,aries 20
you. II you we're strong aud we'll. Il would
be different; even then u would be hird to
exchange this house lor ono suited 70 our in
come, Or rather lack u income. aud instead
Of having servants TO do our bidding, to wait
not only upon yourself, but on others"
"It is very pleasant 10 be waited on, ! al.
nit" said Mrs. Durand. " but can do with.
out IL; and have not forgotten TO sweep
aud make up beds. Try me, aud you shall
see that am as good a. your French artistic.
We will be happy yet, Robert. Riches are
comfortable, but poverty shall not make Us
miserable"
Cheered in spite Of himself by his wife's
spirit, Mr.. Durand began TO talk Of the 90.
ture, and the evening, which began gloomy
ended quite pleasantly.
Robert Daiaud felt like a new man his
wifes sympathy ligh,rned The load which
had well'nigh crushed him, and be set abOu,