Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1861-06-28
MAINE.
MIS- & Ell A n Y.
CHANCE IN THE HOUSEHOLD.

There's no Use trying any longer to suit
Isaac Parsons" muitcred the aforenamcd
individuals be,icr half, as shc sat in q cor
ner OF the kitchen. rapidly divesting q
chicken OF its feathers "I',e worked and
slaved myself 90 death FOR him and his'n,
and oil the thanks I've had for tho las. ff.
teen wears has been general erowlin'. short
words and iaultfnding. until now. I'm
just determined to stand out and have my
own way. or let things take their own
course. and he'll find. after all. Mclissy Tai.
cot, ha, 90, some spirit in her that can't bo
crushed oat with all his abusin' and agra.
walton
1T, think he should havo the heart TO
refuse me new carpet after hc had such
good luck with hi. whea, crop. and jest
sla,ed myself through harvesting and 30,
along with one girl.
The more a man gets the s,ineier he
grows, and there isn't woman in oil my
acquaintance that would stand such treat.
men,. and won't. III pa, my foo, down
from this moment" setting down most EN-.
phatieally that solid member OF her comely
person on the kitchen noor " IL Isaac Far.
sous won, come to terms, III qui, hun
that's all"
IL was still, serene morning in the early
autumn. The kitchen windows were open.
and through them came, like golden wings.
the sunshine to linger and laugh on tho
white kitchen fOor. and flash along tho
ceiling. and brighten everything into pic,u.
rcsquc beauty in that OLD farm. house ki,eh.
en-. The song OF the birds in their nests
IN the old bell pear tree, came also through
the windows in swee, eidIc- and r,s of mu-
SIC. aud 80 did all those ripe, fragrant, spicy
.ccnts. which belong to autumn, and which
have also whisper OF the tropics, with
their stll, stately splcndor, their groves OF
balm and forests oiorGus with gums. and
bcauuful with all strange aud gorgeous
blooms
But better than all this. that autumn
morning was one to brim the heart with
gratitude AMI love TO God. the ci,er OF per-
feet beauty, % calm the human soul into
peace. and trust IN ihc wisdom aud love
to God, the givcr Of perfect beauty, to calm
the human soul into peace, and ,rus, in
the wisGom and love which had ordained
,hs, day high prie-, to man, and it, robe
wa, like the robe OF AarOn's ephOd, all Of
blue. aud i,s bell. were the early winds
ringing 10 and fro in the still AIR. and on
the forehead Of the morning was written
- ,ha, all eve, nigh, read-"All his works
10 prai., him"
But Mr.. Melissa Parsons heard and saw
none Of the-c ,hircs. Down among the
ioss and darkness Of her own narrow, fret
i1l care. and anrieiic-, she walked With
warped vision and angry ,houcht', which
.ecthei and flashed into rebellion and hatred.
For her there was no beauty in that autumn
day, no token OF Gods love ani care in its
sweet iase-no voice calling her to prayer
and praise IN tho whisper Of the winds or
the song of birds.
Mr.. Melissa Parsons hal been remark.
ably pretty girl in her youth, and full
thIrty.scven years had made her fair and
eonely woman.
Her husband was somewha, phleGmatic
man, stubborn and opiniona,ed, and as his
early life and social atmosphere had no, en-
largel nor sol,enei hi, character, the hari-
est and mos, di.isrecable par, OF II cIpanl.
el with lis years. lie loved money. aud as
the aesthetic part Of his nature had never
been cultivated. he regarded It rs wnstelul'
ness and ,I,ravacarcc to indulge in much
grace or beauty Of surroundings.
Still there was another eide tn the man
hi. affection. were deep and ,end.r, and
iudicious and loving woman could have
have reached and influenced him 10 almost
auy degree through these. But Mrs Par.
sons never understood her husband. She
was an impul.ive, hish.spirited. and really
warm.hearted woman. with good deal Of
pet,y.s)eiil ambition, and she and her hus.
band wern constantly .jarrins each other.
His ob.,inacy always inlamed her anger.
while her imperious temper only hardened
him into fresh s,ubbornne... and 80 the cur.
rent o! their lives ran most inharmoniously.
and was constantly interrupted by jar. and
chickering's. and angry alterations. That
one fair and precious lily Of tenderness,
whose grlcc and bo'u,y filled her youth
with fragrance. cas-, its leaves, and a, last
only the root was left and what dews or
/ sunshine should nourish IL in u soil that
grew morc barren year by year-a soil over.
grown with this,les, rank aud noisome
weeds?
Yet all these years the barns and store.
houses. the land. and gold OF Isaac Parsons
increased. and God sent children-two boys
end a girl-to soften tho hearts OF the ia
ther and mother, and to be to them angels
Of a new covenant Of household peace snd
tenderness. But alas alas! the sweet ia.
ccs. aud al tho beautiful. mini',ra'ions OF
childhood never accomplished their mission;
and. with hearts and ,empers iretted, and
.oured. and worn. Mr.. and Mrs. Parsons
counted the years going over them. and
both .olt tba, their marriage bad been q
mistake and misery, and with blind eyes
,ha, would no, understand, each blamed
the other aud mutual recrimination only
produced fresh bitterness.
Al las, crisis came. Ms. Parsons had