The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-06-27

once made up her mind on any course
of action she would not shrink back
from itadWhat went onin the softened
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 sun
shine all about qher-Awhat went on in
the woman's softened heart, only God
and angels know. 6oao.,o $50, b,,
!" Are you tired Isaac ?"
The farmer was wiping his face and
hands on the brown crash towel which
hung near the window. He was "a tall,
stalwart, muscular man, sun Drowned
and weather beaten, yet he had keen,
kindly eyes, and the hard features had
an honest, intelligent expression. Mrs.
Parsons was cutting "a loaf of rye
bread at the kitchen table. Her hus-
band turned and looked at her, mo-
ment, as though he half doubted wheth-
er he had heard Alright. His wife's face
was bent over the bread and he could
not see it; but the words came asecond
time. .,..... .....-f.,.. 70 ,,-.....-t.,I e
:" Are you tired, Isaac'?" -.
1t was long time since Mr.. Parsons
had heard the soft, quiet voice. 1t
stole ever his heart like wind from the
land of his youth. syod 9di 20 dliea.
"Wen, yes, | do feel kind of tuck
cred out. It's hard work to get in all
that corn with only one hand beside
Roger. eai ui hHHoTn gaiZi oTG modi i'
| ID" reckoned so; and / thought I'd
broil the chicken for tea, and bake the
sweet potatoes, as you'd relish them
best So" ' 40 q ''''
Mr.. Parsons did not say one word,
he sat down and took the weekly paper
out ofchis pocket, but his thoughts were
too busy to let him read one word. He
knew very well his wife's aversion to
broiled chickens, and as the kitchen
was her undisputed territory, he was
obliged to have his chickens stewed,
and his potatoes served up in sauce,
notwithstanding she was perfectly
aware. that he preferred the former
boiled, and the latter baked; and this
unusual Difference to his taste fairly
struck him 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
there came across him the memory OIL
some of the harsh angry words he had
spoken during their quarrel that morn.
ing, and the words smote the mans
heart.
And while Mrs. Parsons was in the
midst of taking up the daintily broiled
chicken, two boys and girl burst into
the kitchen. -o ..-............,.s
"Hush, hush, childran," wound il
among the obstreperous mirth like :
silver chime, the soft voice of The
mother. "Father's busy reading the
! paper, and you'll disturb him.
The children were silenced at once
not in fear of the reproof, but in won
der at it, for the wife as seldom consult
} ed her husbands taste and convenienc,
) inthese small, every day matters which
make the happiness or irritation of ou
lives, as he did hers. basd9.
In few moments the hungry famil,
gathered round the table. There wa
little spoken at the meal, but softer
, kindlier atmosphere seemed to prevails
the room. The children felt, though
they did not speak Of it. assa ~
%" Are you going out this evening
. Isaac ?" ~. ...s1:-7 ,5..r ~
+ swell, yes, thought I'd step roun,
to the town meetin'. Want anything
at the store ?" continued Mr.. Parsons
as he tried to button his collar befor
! the small, old fashioned looking glass
! whose mahogany frame was mounte'
!. with boughs OF evergreens, aroun,
{ which scarlet berries hung their charm
:. of rubies. 'in sE4i1Gi9'i1 't r'dii'
y But the mans large fingers wer
e clumsy, and after several Intellectual al
o tempts to accomplish his purpose, MI
n Parsons dropped his hand with an ar
!. CRY grunt, that "the thing would nc
= work." s51gJ bns .zIsiu2m6t aIIy
e sI"Let me try, father" Mrs. Parson
It stepped quickly to her husbands sid'
and in moment her hand had mar
aged the refractory button. '
Then she smoothed down lock {
. two of black hair, which had straye
: over the sun-burnt forehead, and th
:, touch of those soft fingers felt ver
y pleasant about the farmers brow, an
:, woke up in his heart, old sweet meme
- ries of times when he used to feel the
Z Z fluttering like a dream through his h al
" He looked on his wife with softne'
) in his keen eye which he little suspec
q ed. And the softness and the smi
N stirred fountain warm and tender
' Mrs. Parsons heart, which had not fl
= years yielded one drop of its swe
o. waters. She reached up her lips ir
3, pulsively, and kissed bis cheek. Al
e one who had witnessed that little d
d nestle scene would scarcely have su
n pected that the married life of'Isa'
n Parsons and his wife counted thre
IF quarters of a score Of years. raa o.
=, The woman's comely face was full
d shy bushes as girls of sixteen, ar
le Isaac Parsons seized his hat an
D. plunged out of the house witho
ID speaking one word, but with mlxtu
r. of amazements and something deep
on his face, not easily described. 49,
III But at last he cleared his throat, ar
le muttered to himself, "Melissa shar
,e repent that act-Is saw she sha'n't