Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1861-03-14

and placing the child in my arms he
went out to superinted the work of the
arm-laborers.
I sat a long time with my child press
ed to my heart, and thinking of the
past. Not once, during the four years
| had been wife, had my husband spo-
ken harshly or unkindly to me. yet |
was conscious of having tried him until
forbearance ceased to be virtue. |
naturally possessed tantalizing dispo
sition and before mJ marriage often
made hita unhappy, even while | so To-
we'd him that saw n3 one but him and
heard no other voice, though other ad-
mircrs were near me Whispering honey
ed wordsS yet some Of my most intimats
friends did not read tiny secret, and wer6
surprised when they found that l was
about to give my hind to Charles All
ston. was the youngest of family
of children, at once the pet and tC7-
ment of the whole household. When I
removed to that pleasant home upon tie
prairie ihere was 10 one to tease but my
husband, and instead of endcavoring to
correct my evil habit by change Of
practice, was constantly annoying him
by my ill-timed raillery while he would
sometimes say,
Amy, will you never learn to be @o-
manly?'
| | had become somewhat changed, whe-
ther it was becahsc / saw that my tan-
talizing words AID manner grieved my
husband, or that my child claimed more
of my atteutioH-a mothers all-absorb
ing love rcudCsing tie thoughtful
could not tell My husband was grat-
fled and sometimes spoke of the pain
my cutting words had caused, and he
would say it was my one great fault,
and he was very glad | was overcoming
it, and the nobler qualities of my
heart shone with brighter lustre for
having been so long obscured. All this
| thought as sat there that bright, sun
nv afternoon, while little Charles dim
pied hand was playing with the dark
curls that the coquettish breeze was tos-
sing about my face. And while the iEno-
cent prattle ST my child fell upon my ear,
and | answered half abstractedly, | re-
solved that | would entirely overcome
that one evil habit-that the heart of
my noble husband should not again be
panied hy .houghtless words lad
known from my earliest acquaintance with
him, that he was morbidly sensitive, yet
knowing this, how thoughtless had l
been but it shall be so no more; said,
as placing Charlie upon the floor | Went
about my household duties, singing
snatches of songs, and thinking of my
pleasant Journey, wondering meantime
what the grandparents would think of m5
bright-cycd boy, whose little feet came
pattering after me, while he often called
out,
MANN top for Charlie y
My husband came in early, and a5 we
were sitting down to supper we heard
the sound of carriage wheels approach
ing the house, which was some distance
from the main road, and as we kGd for
med but few acquaintances, this was so
unusual ar occurrence that we bota went
to the door. Neither my husb&nd or
myself recognized the handsome young
man who springing from the carriage,
came forward with extended hand until
he raised his hat, saying,
Il foutd myself within three ngiles Of
you and could not resist the temptation
to drive out and spend Il day aud talk
over old times and snlilingly the spea-
ker glanced toward me.
will Chadwick, tou are so changed
[ did not recognize you at first, but you
are welcome to our prairie home,' said
my husband as be warmly pressed the
proffercd hand, aud then stepped aside
that might greet our friend.
Amy, do you think me very much
changed y
Why yes, for the wors, and you
we're only just passable before | replied.
L can't say the same of you, for, if
possible, you are still more beautiful
than when you we're the belle of cur So
cial gatherings
AT your old trick of fattery,' I said,
as the gentlemen followed me into the
parlor.
viii Chadwick was our first visitor
from the old home, and there were so
many questions to be asked aud answer
ed that we fingered around the tea-table
until lights were brought in, then my
husband proposed that we 90 down to
the stream, saying he wished to convince
our friends that a row upon our river
was as pleasant as our sails were former
ly on Lake Champlain. Two hours we
were upon that placid stream, my hns-
band had never been so cheerful nor
had nv spirits been so buoyant in long
time as on that evening. We returned
to the house, and after seeing Charlie
safely in his little cot, / went out where
! the gentlemen were sitting, near the
door in the bright light Of the full-orbed
moon AS | seated myself beside my
husband, Chadwick said,
Il think it must be very painful for q
man to waken to the reality that his
wife accepted him not bscause of her pre-
terrence for him but because he was
richer than the man whom she truly
loved
TO me such knowledge would bring
death" my husband said earnestly.
And do you believe a woman can be so
/ heartless 2 asked.
| Il know instances where if men had not
been rich they would not have won the prize
they did, Chadwick replied.
| Amy. what influenced you to share my
destiny was it love for me, or for the wealth
| chanccd to possess.
Your wealth more than YOURSELF ] said
playfully, forgetting the good resolutions
formed only that afternoon. Why said il
| cannot tell, norldid give the expression an
after thought, but went on in my old tantai-
!izing way answered by our friend, while my
husband listened in silence. Suddenly hs
-, l.