Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1861-09-27


obliged TO submit and have the chickens stew
ed, potatoes served up in sauce, notwithstand
ing she was perfectly aware that he preferre
the former broiled, and the latter baked; an
this unusual Difference to his taste sairiy strHc
the farmer dumb with establishment, as he sa
still aud watched his wife as she hurried from
the pantry to the table, in her preparations fOE
tea; and then there came across him the mem
ory of some of harsh, angry words he hal spok
en- during their quarrel that morning and the
words sal9te the mans heart.
/ And whilst Mrs. Parsons was in the midst
! of taking up the dainty byoiled chicken, two
boys and girl burst into the kitchen.
"Hush, hush, Children wound in among th
! obstreperous mirth like a silver chime, the soi
voice of the mother. Fathers busy reading
the paper, and you'll disturb him.
/ The children were silenced at once, not in
! in faar of the reproof, but in wonder at it, for
the wife as seldom consulted his wishes il
\ the small, everyday matters which make the
happiness or irritation of cur lives, as he did
hers.
In few moments the hungry family gath
cred round the table. There was little spoken
at the meal, but softer, kindlier at mospher'
seemed to pervade the room. The children felt
though they did not speak Of it. f1-.n-
+Are you going ont this evening, Isaac?"
%Well. yes, thought I'd step round to tbe
town meetin.' Want anything at the store?
continued Mr.. Parsons, as he tried to buttOa
his collar before the small, oEd-fashioned look
iBg-glass, whose mahogany frame wa mounted
with boughs Of evergreen, around which scar
let berries hung their charm of rubies.
But the mans large fingers were clumsy and
after several Intellectual attempts to accom-
plish his purpose, Mr.. Parsons dropped his
hands with an angry grunt, that "the thing
would MT work"
LET me try, father" Mrs. Parsons step
ped quickly 70 her husbands's side, and in a
moment her hand had managed the refractory
button. 81 i
Then she spootbed down a lock or two of
black hair which mas sis&yed over the sun
burned forehead, and the touch of those soft
fingers felt very pleasant about the farmers
brow. aud woke up in his heart old sweet mem-
orie of time when he used 10 feel them flultcr
ing through his hair.
Is lie looked on his wife with a softncSs in his
Gace and a sofrness in lis keen eye which he
little suspected And the sortncss and the sigi!eS
stirred Il fountain warm and tender in Mrs.
Parsons heart. which not Tor years yielded one
drop of its sweet waters. She reached up her
lips impulSively, and kissed his cheek. Aiy one
who bad witnessed that little scene would
scarcely have suspected that the married life Of
Isa4e Parsons and his wife counted three guar
terS Of a St.Ore Of wears .....t
The waman's comely face was full of shy
blushes AS girls of sixteen an;l Isaac z arsons
seiz, d his hat and plunged out Of the house
without speaking one word, but with mixture
OF amnzcncnt. ahd samething d2eper on his
face not easily described.
But at last he cleared his throat, and NUT
tered to himself, Melissa shan't repent that
aet-I say she shan'rr' and when Isaac Par
sOns said thing, everybody knew be meant
it,
The sunset Of another autumn day was roll
ing its vestures Of purple and gald about the
mountains, when he wagon of Isaac Parsons
rolled into the farm yard. He had been absent
all day in the city, and the supper had been
waiting him nearly AL hour, and the children
had grown hungry and inpatient.
10, father, what have yuu got there?" they
all clammered, as lie came into the house tug
ging along an immense bundle tied with cords.
1T is something for your mother. children"
was the rather unsatisfactory answer.
At this moment Mrs. Parsons entered the
kitchen. Her husband snapped the cords, and
a breadth Of ingram carpeting rolled upon the 1
floor, through whose dark green ground work
traiIed russet vine and golden leaves-a most
tasteful and graceful pattern.
Isaac Parsons turned TO his amazed wife
''1'here, Melissa, there's the parlor carpet you
asked me for yesterday morning. reckon (
there amt many that will beat it in West
Farms"
A quick change went over Mrs. Parsous'
face, half Of joy. half of something deeper.
~Oh, I<auc!!" She put her arm around the
strong mans neck, and burst into tears.
The trio of children stood still aud looked on
in stolid amazement think the sight Of their
faces was the first thing which recalled Isaac
Parsons to himself. PHI.
Come, come, mother" be said, but his voice
was not just steady, don't give away now like
this. I'm hungry as a panther now, and want
my supper before l do anything but put mp
my horse; aud he strobe on 10 that impatient
qladruped in The back yard.
So the new carpet proved an olive branch
of peace TO the household of Isaac Parsons
While others admired its pattern or praised
its quality, it spoke to Mr.. Parsons heart a
storv of all that nl, ieB love ard IairrIUe may
After many struggles aud much
prayer, the triumph over pride and passion,
and evil habits. was. at last achieved; and this
was not accomplished in day, or a month or
a year, but the small leaven that leaveneth the
whole lump, working silently and surely, com
pleted at last its pure and perfect work, and
in the farm house Of Isaac Parsons reigned the
spirit of forbearance and self-relibqushment,
Of genlleness and love, which was given unto
those ''who fear God and keep his holy com.
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