Litchfield enquirer., 1861-07-11

lsh and sinful part she had borne in that. Il she had controlled her temper then-if she haG only been gentle and patient, forbearing and forgivlng. instead of being proud and passion ate, fretful and stubborn! If she had only borne her wonan's burdens and done her wo mans duties Here the wife and mother broke down; she buried her face in her apron, and cried like child.
 I Mrs. Parsons was an energetic, determined woman, and when she had once made up her mind on any course of action, she would not shrink back from it. What went on in the soft ened woman's heart that morning. as she sat with her apron at her eyes, and the sobs in her rocking to and fro in her low chair, and the sweet, restless sunshine all about her-what went on in the womans softened heart only God and the angels know.
 Are you tired Isaac?'
 The farmer was wiping his face and hands on the brown crash towel which hung near the win dow. He was tall, stalwart, muscular man sun-browned and weather-beaten, yet he had keen, kindly eyes. and the hard features had an honest, intelligent expression. Mrs. Parsons was cutting loaf of rye bread at the kitchen table. Her husband turned and looked at her a moment as though he half doubled whether he had heard aright. His wifes face was bent over the bread, and he could not see it i; but the words came a second time:
 i Are you tired, Isaac ?"
 It was a long time since Mir. Parsons had heard that quiet voice. It stole over his heart like wind from the land of his youth.
 Well, yes, do feel kind of tuckered out. It's hard work to get in all that corn with only one hand besides Roger"
 I reckoned so and I thought I'd broil the chicken for tea, and bake the sweet potatoes, as you'd relish them best so.'
 Mr Parsons did mt sov opo bo so+ down and took the weekly paper out of his poe ket but his thoughts were too busy to let him read one word. lie knew very we'll his wife's aversion to broled chickens, and as the kitchen was her undsputed territory, he was obliged to fsubmit and have the chickens stewed, and his 1 potatoes served ill sauce, notwithstanding she was perfectly aware that he preferred the former broiled, and the latter baked and this unusual deference to his taste fairly struck the farmer dumb with astonishment, and he sat still and watched his wife as she hurried from the pantry to the table, in her preparations for tea and then there came across him the memory of some of the harsh, angry words he had spoken during their quarrel that morning, and the words smote the man $ heart.
 And while Mrs. Parsons was in the midst of taking up the daintly broiled chicken, two boys and girl burst into the kitchen.
 | Hush hush, children" wound in among the obstreperous mirth like silver chime, the soft voice of the mother. Fathers busy reading the paper, and you'll disturb him.
 inc children were silenced at once, not in fear of the reproof, but in wonder at it, for the wife as seldom consulted her husbands taste and convenience in these small, everyday matters which make the happiness or irritation of our i l.ves as he did hers.
 in d few moments the hungry family gathered Jp,. fi.n f,t,I H., xl, neal but softer. kindler atmosphere seemed to pervade the room. The children felt though they did not speak of it. =.
 '' Are You going out this evening, Isaac?'' Well. yes. 1 thought Id step round to the town meelIn. Want anything at the store ?'' continued Mr. Parsons, as he tried to button his collar before the old fashioned looking glass, whose mahogany frame was mounted with boughs of vvcryrceli, around which scarlet berries hung their charm of rubbies.
 1 But the mans large fingers were clumsy, and after several intellectual attempts to accomplish his purpose. Mir. Parsons dropped his hand with an angry grunt, that thing would not work
 Let Ii. e try, father.' Mrs. Parsons stepped quickly to her husbands side, and in moment her hand had managed the refractory button. 1 Then she smothered down lock or two of black hair, which had strayed over the sunburnt forehead, and tho touch of those soft fingers felt very pleasant about the farmers brow, and woke up in hls heart old sweet memories of times when he used to feel them hu.tering like dream through his hair.
 He looked on his wife with softness in his keen eye, which he little suspected And the softness and the smile stirred fountain warm and tender III Mrs. Parsons heart which had not for years yielded one drop of it's sweet waters She reached up her lips impulsively, and kissed his check. Any one who had witnessed that lit tie domestic scene would scarcely have suspect ed that the married life of Isaac Parsons and his wife counted three quarters of score of years.
 The woman's comedy face was a, full of shy bushes as girls of sixteen, and Isaac Parsons seized his hat and plunged out of the house with out speaking word, but with mixture of amazement and something deeper on his face, not easily described.
 But at least he cleared his throat, and mutter- ed to himself. "Melissy shant repent that act I-I say she shant !' and when Isaac Parsons said thing everybody knew he meant it.
 
 The sunset of another autumn day was rolling it's vestures of purple and gold about the noun tains when the wagon of Isaac Parsons rolled into the farm yard. He had been absent all day in the city, and the supper had been awaiting i him nearly an hour, and the children had grown hungry and impatient.
 | 70, father, what have you got there ?" they all clamored. as he came into the house tugging along an immense bundle tied with cords.
 "It is something for your mother, children ? was the rather unsatisfactory answer.
 At this moment Mrs. Parsons entered the kit chen. Her husband snapped the cords, and a breadth of ingrain carpet rolled out upon the floor through whose dark green groundwork trailed russet vine and golden leaves-a most graceful and tastful pattern.
 Isaac Parsons turned 10 his amazed wife There, Melissy, there's the parlor carpet you asked me for, yesterday mornin'. Ireckon there ain't many that will beat it in West Farms" i A quick change went over Mrs. Parsons face half of joy, half of something deeper. Il 70. Isaac!' She put her arms around the strong mans neck and burst into tears. Il The trio of children stood still. and looked on in stolid amazement. think the sight of their faces was the thing which recalled Isaac Parsons to himself.
 ;l Come, come, mother" he said, but his voice was not just ready, "dont give away now like this. I'm as hungry as panther, and want my supper before I do anything but put up my horse" and he strode off to that impatient quad sruped in the back yard.
 , So the new carpet proved an olive-branch O : peace to the household of Isaac Parsons. While others admired it's pattern praised its quality It spoke to Mrs. Parsons heart story of al ! that which love and patience may accomplish I Alter many struggles and much prayer, the tri s unlDh Oyar nrido and ,,ooo;on ond ovil hahts