Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-11-10

prey to evil thoughts. She began 10 see az ia,'
that the world was better, as II was, than II
would be if every person could 1--we ior Ills OF
her o,yn selfish happiness. She began 10 haze a
so6d resDect for her husband, that ne could
make hunsplf an honorable name among men,
instead of being satisfied with living on the
smiles Of the woman he loved, as she had once
wished She began 70 feel that She had work
"a do h4rself. and, If her nuly neglect and lis
consequences had untitled her 10 fill her station
uro-arly, that she must now make herself com
pe.ont for it. BY degrees the labor required
of her in experimenting her household which
she had FROM the first performed, because she
despisad slsckuess. assumed a dignity in her
eyes,
As Esther felt new spirit animstc her, she
resolved Yaliantlv 20 throw oil the morbid STATE
Of mind which had so long possessed her; to
strsngle any heartaches she might feel for lack
Of being appreciated; and TO find in doing her
duty her highest pleasure. The Struggle it had
cost her 10 reach this point had been very Sc
we're; but when she had reached &c. she felt that
| she had gained a victory.
Esther had Hsl begun 10 find what great sids
selfknowledge and selfreHance are to tranquil
", when another change came, but not 20 her.
| Her husband, who had always been prosper
ous business man, met with several heavy losses,
some of them being particularly aggravating,
being the result Of misplaced confidence in pro-
! fessed friends.
No man, however firm he may be, no matter
how much he may profess 10 the contrary, Is
abOve the want of sympathy at times, and how
natural and manlike it was in Mr.. Fielding %
turn to Esther for comfort in his troubles con
dent of her being ready to give 1t, as if he had
not turned a deaf ear TO her whenever ne had
chossa.
And Esther, true wife that she was, did moi
| fail him, but so0thed him 70 the best OF hel
ability; and as he had the utmost confidence II
her discretion, il was great relief 10 his feel
ings TO Tehearse TO her his sources of irritation
/ Bnt there was one thing about Esther that b,
now began to perceive for the first time tha
quite disconnected him Although she studiej
1 his wishes in every respect as usual, and sym
pathized with him whenever he opened his hear
to her, vet she seemed TO take his confidence auC
friendiness coolly as if It were no longer nee
essary to her enjoyment Now that it wa
gone, be missed and yearned for the Old pas
sionate warmth with which she used to gree
him. The thought of her becoming indiferen
to him, he had once deemed impossible; bu
now, as be watchod her day by day and saw
that her calm manner was real, not assumed on
of resentment, his heart felt many pang keen
| er than il had ever known before In truth, Is
]
prodigality that the fountain Of her heart wa
dry, and though her mind was active as ever
feeling was dead. If ever Il should revive agail
depended on whether her husband should tax
the right means or not.
Happily for them both, Mr.. Fielding was
man OF warm heart as well as good sense
I whose knowledge OF women was an undeveloF
ed sense, as vet. Ills misunderstanding Of j.
ther had not been so much a wilful disregard @
her feelings as an ignorance Of the workings {
a sensitive heart Now that he was tried, b
found himself az weak as he had once though
her. But he did not stop to mourn over wha
he feared TO be the loss Of her love; earnestly
: yet tenderly, he stroye 70 win it back. lie n
longer thought il a stain on his manhood
manifest his feelings by little kindly acts, an
l he found to his astonishment that women prlz
! these small attentions more than they do impo
tant benefits. With all his care and tenderness
it took him a long time TO win Esther from h'
Indifference but when he did, he priced hr. los
az bis most precious treasure.
! It was true aud generous affection that gre
out OF the wreck Of their former selfish regaI
for each other. Gradually they grew 70 be moi
alike in their tastes; Mr.. Fielding lost some
his wOrldIiness, and came 10 take pleasure
Esther intellectual pursuits, and Esther iesr
ed, moi only 10 love more wisely, but Ia set
proper value on the hOmely virtue Of indu
try.
Now, in the enjoyment Of the FIRST substal
, tial happiness she has ever known, 18th
/ looks back on the past with thoughtful ey
and strives 10 understand and educate h
: own daughters that they may avoid her MI
takes.