The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1861-08-03


the great FARM ssse fairly frightened ihs
wits 90. of her.
She raeaa. 20 make il sweet and hsrpy
home for Isaac Parsons. She remembered
a. tAopgh is had all happeued yesterday,
The Lssle plans and consfisances she bad
maie for his surprise, and their mutual
comfort.
But the quarrel csne.. How well she re-
snsusbsrsj il. and bow Clearly she saw nov
the foolish and sinful part she bad borne in
thai. II she lad c,ntrslseS her temper then
lii abe bad oply been gentle and patient,
forhearing and forciving, instead cfproud
and vss.ionafe. fretfa. and stubborn! II
she tad on.v borne Der woman's du,ies.-
Here tie wife ard mother broke down; she
buried her face IN her apron and cried Ike
q ssl..i. ~ ~
Mrs. Parsons was IN energetic determin-
ed woman, sad when abe had once made
Up her mini On any course OF action. she
would not sarssk back from il. What
went on in be sofsened woman's hear, that
morning as sae sat scbing With her apron
at her ewes, and rocking TO sGj fro IN
her lgw chair, ard the sweet sunshine
all about ber-xhat went on 10 the uom-
ans so'tened heart, only God and his an
geis know.
.lire ysu tired. Tsaac -
The farme. was ~iping his face and hsnds
on the browncrash towel which hung near
the window. lie was tall, sialwarr, mus
calar man, sna-browu and weather. bea-
zen. sc. BIZ had keen, kindly eyes, end the
hard features had an honest, intelligent ex-
preston. Mrs. Parsons was cuttiag loaf
OF bread at the kitchen table. Her hus-
band turned and looked at her moment,
Us though he half doubted wha her be had
heard Alright. HIS wife's face .sas bent over
she bread, and be could not STE il; but the
v oriis came second timn:
s.Are you tired Isaac Z"
II was a long time since slr. Parsons bad
heard that soft, quiet voice. II stole over
his heart like wind frov. the land Of bis
youth.
swell. yes, do feel Kind OF tuckered
out. LIS hard work II, get in all that corn
wlth only one man bcs ldes Roger"
81 rcckopsd so; AID thought I'd broil
the chicken for tea, and bake the sweet po-
satoes, a. you d relish them best co."
Nj. Parsons did no. speak word; he
"a. down and io9k the weekly paper out Of
his pocket, bet his thoughts were too busy
to let BIN read one word. lie knew very
we'll bis wife's aversion to broiled chickens,
and ~ 10 , kitchen was her undsturbed
territory, he was obliged to submit and have
his cbies ems stew ed. and his potatoes served
up in a.uce, notwithstanding she was per.
fscrly aware that be preferred the former
broile j, and the latter baked; and this un-
nsua'. Difference to his tastes fairly struck
tho lsrmer dumb with assonishment, and he
sat still and watched his-wife rs she hurried
from the pantry to the table, in her prepar-
nlons for tea and taen there came across
frm the memory of some OF the harsh and
angry words he had spoken during their
quarrel that m orning, and the words smote
the mans heart.
And while Mrs. Parsons was in the midst
Of taking up Der daintily broiled chicken,
Two boys and girl burst into the kitchen.
"llnsh, hush, Children" wound in among
he obstreperous mirth ike silver chime,
The soft voice Of the mother. feathers
yusy reading the paper, and you'll disturb him.
The children silenced ut once, not in fear
Of hereproof, bnt in wonder at it, for the
wife had seldom consulted the husbands
tastes aud convenience in these small every
day matters which make the happiness or
of our lives, as he did hers.
In a few moments the hungry family
gathered around the table. There was little
spoken at The meal, but II softer, kindler
atmosphere seemed to pervads the room.
The children felt, though they did not speak
ofit.s F
'.Are you going out this evening, Isaac ?"
swell, yes, thought Id step round to
the town meetin'. Want anything ut the
store!" continued Mr.. Parsons, us he tried
to button his collar before the small, old.
fashioned looking glass, whose mahogany
frame was mounted with boughs Of ever.
green, arouad which scarlet berries hung
their charm Of rubies.
But the mans large fingers were clumsy,
and after several Intellectual attempts to nc
compli>h hrs purposes, MIR. Parsons drop.
ped uls hand, With an angry grunt, that s.the
thing wouldn't work. r
.'Let me try, father" Mrs. Parsons step
ped quickly to her husbands side, and 10 "A
moment her hand had managed the refrac-
tory button.
Then she smoothed down a lock or two
# black hair, and the touch Of these sof,
fingers felt very pleasant about the farmers
brow, and woke mp about The farmer
hears old, sweet memories Of times when
he used to feel them fuueriug Ike dream
through his hair. ..... .-.
lie looked on his wife with softness ir
his face and softness in bis keen eve thai
she little expected. And the softness ant
tue smile Starred - fountain warm and ten.
der in Mrs. Parsons heart, which not fol
years had yielded drop OF its sweet waters
Size reached up her lips impu!sively, ant
kissed his cheek. Any one who had wit
ness6i that little domestic scene woul,
scarcely have suspected that the marriec
Afe of Isaac Parsons and his wife counte.
three quarters of score.
! ihe waman's comedy face was as full Of sh,
hiu-tes as girl Of slxtesn, and Isaac Par.
sons seiaed his bat aud plunged cut of tn
house without speaking word, but with
mixture Of anaEeinent and something deep
er on his face. rot easily dies cribed.
But a, last he Gle srgd his throat aud nut
terst Ia himself:
.Melissy shan's repent the act; ! say Sd
shan't.''
Aud when Isaac Parson. said . thing
everybody knew be meant i.
ths sunset oil another autnmn day Wa
rolling its vesture Of purple and gol,
about the mountains wnen the wagon o
Isaac Parsons rolled into the farm yard
| lie had been absent all day in the city, an
sur per had been awaiting him nearly Al
hear, and the children had grown bungr
aai impatient.
"oh. father. what hare yoa got there 2
they ali ciamored ~ be came into the house
tagging an immense bundle tied up viii
CORDS.
ia Is something for your mother, chill
dren,s vas the rather unsatisfactory answer
Al this moment Mrs. Parsons entered III
kitchen. Her husband snapped the cords
AMI hresdsh Of ingram carpet rci.ed gu
apsn the goor, through whose dark sree'
GFouGa ~vYs traded russell vine ard sal.i
ca lssvss--a most tasteful aad gracefulpas
ssru.
Isaac Parsons turned to his amased villa
ant sid |.
sTasse, Me.issy. there's the parier carpe
ysa a,ked as Tor. yesterday morning.
rtekaa ,hsrs- sia's many that il will hsa
i. n Wr.s Farms.
A aaisk cssnee went over Mrs. Par