Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1861-06-28

I
water her eyes fell on the weekly paper,
which lay on tho table, and thev settled on
thi. passage. which completed sketch
4" Who. when he was reviled revilcd not
again, bu, committed his cause to him ,ha,
judsc,h rish,cou'ly."
And these words stole. in still, serene,
rcbuking voice, through the stormy soul OF
Mrs. Parsons. She had read them Immune
rabls times before. and they had had for her
no special message or meaning, bat now God
had cent his angel to drop them in her
heart; and in a moment something OF the
real wrong and sin Of Der life rose up and
confronted her.
She "a, down in n low chair by her ki,ch.
en- table. and rested her forehead on her
hand. The hard, irc,ful, angry look went
out Of her face. and was succeeded by soft.
,hOugh,ful expression. and the sunshine
lowered in ycarnins, golden, shifting beauty
abou, her.
And the years OF Mrs. Parsons rose MP.
like pale. sorrO~ful faces from the dead,
and looked rcproachlully upon her, aud sud
denly, in sharp, clear. strong features, stood
revealed TO her rousei conscience the heavy
par, she had horne in all the SIN and misery
tba, had blasted her married lic.
And then the womn's memory went
hack TO her frst acquaintance with Isaac
Parsons. lie had chosen her among a score
OF Others who cnyicl her that good fortune,
and how those early days Of their court,hip
came over the sol,encd hear, Of the woman,
a. the frs, winds Of spring come up from
the south, and 20 softly over the bare and
dcspairing earth. Then sho saw herself
once more shy, ,rcmulou', joyiul bride a.
the altar. leaning on the strong arm and
tender heart, 20 whom she gave herself glad.
ly and ,ru',lngly, as woman should.
And che remembered tha, morning. little
later. when her proud and happy young
husband brough, her To the house which
had been his iather's, aud how Tor little
while the though, Of her being mistress Of
the grcs, old farmhouse fairly frightened
the wits ou, Of her.
She mean, 10 make /, a swee, and happy
home Tor Isaac Parsons. She remembered.
as though it had oil happened yesterday.
the little plans and coutrrvauecs she had
made for his surprise. and their mutual
comfort.
Bu, the quarrel came. low well she r.
mcmbcred IL, and bow clearly she saw now
the foolish and sinful par, she had borne in
that II she had controlled her temper
,hen-ii she had only been gentle and pa
,ien,. iorbcarin; and for:iypg, instead OF
being proud aud passionate, fretfui and
stubborn II .ho had only borne her NO.
man, burdens and done her wonan'- do
ties, Here the wife anil mother broke down;
she burici her face in her apron aud cried
like child.
Mrs. Parsons wa. an energetic. dc,crmin-
eI woman. and when .hs had once made up
her mind on any eour-e Of action, she would
no; shrink back from il. What went on ia
the soitcned woman's hear, ,ha, morning as
she "a, with her apron at her eyes. and The
sobs IN her rocking TO and fro in her low
chair, and the sweet. restless sunshine about
her-what went on in the woman's solicnci
heart. only God aud the angels know.
"Ar' YOU tired, Isaac ?"
The farmer was vii ing hi- face and hand.
on the brown crash ,owcl which hung near
the window lie was a tall. stalwar,. mus
cular man. -un.brownod aud wea,her.bcai.
en-, ye, he had kecn, kindly eyes, and the
hard features had an honest, intelligent eS.
preston. Mrs. Parsons was cutting loaf
of rye bread a, the kitchen table. Her
husband turned and look ed a, her moment,
a. though he half doubted whether he had
heard Alright. Iii. wife. face was len,
over the bread, and he could no,see IL. bu.
the words came second time:
"Arc you tired, Isaac"
IL was long time since Mr.. Parsons had
heard tha, soi,, quiet voice. II stole over
hl. hear, like wind from the land Of his
youth.
"wcll. yes. I do ieel kind Of tuckered
out. It's hard work TO GET in oil that corn
with only one hand besides Roger"
- reckoned 80, and thought Ia brcll
the chicken for tea. and bake the swee; po.
,a,o. as you'd relish them best So"
Mr.. Parsons did not say one word he
"a, down and took the weekly paper out Of
his pocket. but hi. thoughts were too busy
TO le, him read one word. lie knew very
well his wiie's aversion to broiled chickens,
and as the kitchen wa, her undisput,d ter.
ri,ory. he wa. obliged to submi, and have
his chickens s,ewed, and his potatoes served
up in sauce. Notwithstanding she was per.
iec,ly aware that he preferred the former
broiled. and tho latter baked (; and this un-
usual Difference to his taste fairly struck the
farmer dumb with as,onishmsn and he sat
.,ill and watched bis wife rs she hurried
IRON the pantry to the table, in her prepa-
ra'ions Tor tea and then there came across
him the memory Of some Of tho harsh, an
cry word. he had spoken during their quar-
rel that morning. and the words smOtc his
heart.
And while Mrs. Parsons was in the midst
Of taking up the dain,lly broilsd chicken.
two boys and girl burst into the kitchen.
4" Hush. hush, children" wound in n.
nops the obs,reperous mir.h like silver