Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-12-10
THE DAILY PRESS.
THE DAILY LIFE.
sWell. what now. George p

infer that IL was by no means an unusual
question. The scene was the parsonage sit
ting-room--the speaker fair little woman
anywhere from thirty to forty, neatly
dressed, and wearing smiling face.
"Trouble, as usual, was the reply, and
the Door man, as he spoke, wore an express
sion so woe-begone that one might fancy he
had just come from looking into his own
open grave.
"What is the trouble, GeorgeW
"Salary isn't ready-never is on quarter
day. I'm expected to be ready-people
won't excuse me because Pm the minister
l declare I'm almost tempted at times to
wish had BEEN
"Tbere, there, George, that will do," and
q hand went fitting up to his lips. "Think
of the Master, dear-that's the only way
when trouble comes"
"But to be so dependent, Mary-to have
TO ask-I declare it humiliates O man, puts
all sorts Of things into my head. The best
assurance that l am not a hanger-on here
at Vinewell, would be money, just now, not
words"
"Oh well, George, it will come soon the
tradesmen will not worry now, because we're
day or two behindhand-they have always
had their way"
ayes, but they want it at the right time,
just as do"
"Suppose you step out and have good
cup of teaP' asked Mary, seeing that it was
useless to combat with his mood. George
Weston had not always been fretful man,
but possessing very nice ideas of justice and
propriety, and keen sensitiveness, he had
acquired the habit by being often put off,
sometimes unjustly, until he seemed in a
fair way Of becoming a constant faultfnder.
He was a good man-his sermons were
studied on his knees-his Maker was his
first consideration, but his one pernicious
fault seemed in fair way to overshadow his
many excellencies.
"Mary, your tea is smoky" he said,
with the air of deeply injured man.
"Whyl so it is" replied his wife, smil-
ingly; "the first time it ever happened, too.
III have more made Immediately
~ did hope should find some comfort at
home" he said, ungraciously.
The speech cut Mary to the heart. She
was most devoted wife, and she knew that
at one time he would have overlooked such
trivialities.
"We'll soon have it remedied," she said,
pleasantly.
"Thats what they all tell me-" he NUT
tered, his face 'bye-and-bye,' or
pretty soon.' l wish people would do
right"
His wife was silent-the peace of that
meal was destroyed-it was not the first
time-it was not the second.
Tea over, the minister and wife adjourned
to the sitting-room.
~ wonder where my concordance is ?" he
queried, searching unwillingly. ~ surely
left it here on the table,"
II think you took it up stairs" said his
wife, speaking with pleasant voice, for
she commanded her feelings.
"No didn't; I'm certain left it here.
That is always the way Why can't things
be left as place them? Really, my dear,
like your habits of order, but to put every
thing out of the wayW
"I think you took it to the study,
George"
II knoso I did not" he-said, persistently.
swell, suppose find it there ?" queried
Mary, rising.
"You can't do it," he replied, hurriedly.
She arose with look that tried to be
smiling, and hastily, 50 as to hide the brim-
ming tears, she went out. There, on the
study-table, laid the book. For one moment
only, she threw herself into a chair, leaned
her head on the table, and wept like a
child. Then she hastily removed the traces
of tears as fast as she could, and taking up
the book, strove for composure. She held it
before her face, as she entered the sitting
room; partly TO hide the grief plainly visi-
Bile, and exclaiming, "There you see 1t
was on your study-table"
"Why-then l made q mistake, suppos-
ing left it on your table. Thank you (;
but-Whyl Mary, are you i'll? How pale
you look you have been weeping"
The lily restrained tears broke forth
again, and something very like sob
sounded.
"Mary, what is it? You are unhappy u
he said, almost frightened. "Have p
there he paused-''what have l said or
done ?" he resumed, conscience-smitten.
{. II suppose | ought not to mind it," she
murmured, chokipgly; "but sometimes it
seems so hard !"
"What seems so hard, Mary2 Were you
hurt because l spoke about the tea because
l was so sure about the book ? / am very
sorry"
the habit you have formed, that seriously
threatens the happiness Of our home. Oh!
George, if you would but carry your Chris
tian theories into practice"
"Into practice why Mary, do you not
think am Christian ?"
"Oh George, most surely know you
are; and yet these little habits of fretful-
ness are fast controlling your better judg-
ment I'm afraid you don't look to God fol-
little helps"
At that moment the door-bell rang. One
ofthe deacons of the society had called, ant
from her corner, Mary heard him exclaim
with some warmth:
ats too bad Brother Weston too baG
your salary wasn't paid you promptly a
the moment. When / heard of it, started
right off, and here it is with little present
from my son-in-law, whom you married las
week"
81 thank you, brother" said the young
minister, with full heart.
"And you needn't say told you, in fac
shan't tell you what night it is, but ou
folks are doing greater things, and l sup
pose they want to surprise you; at any rat
look out for something this week. | don
hold TO people being taken in that way
wholly unprepared, myself, so l told then
they needn't count on me for keeping thei
secret but then haven't told on EN-"
After the good brother had gone the min
lister counted the money. Twenty dollars
over the gift of the young man he had
married recently. AS he made an excla
nation of surprise and pleasure, he met the
eyes of his wife. In an instant he remem'