The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1861-01-16
THE POVERTY CURE.

| Mrs. Durand was an invalid. For many
years she had been victim to a complicated
( and battling disease, which, for want of bet
ter name, was christened by her physicians
and friends. " nervous debility"
The slightest excitement or exertion left
her utterly prostrated and weary, and every
nerve and muscle 10 her system kept her
painfully conscious Of their existence. The
luYuries that surrounded her, we're only to
her realization Of the fable Of the cup Of
rantalus. True, she had an elegant carriage,
fine horses. and many servants, but the la
tigue of riding out was far greater than the
pleasure Of drive, and she rarely attempted.
She had library, but books she had not
cared much for; and il she had loved read.
ing, her eyes we're so weak as 10 put that a.
musement out OF the question. An exten-
sive and choicely kept observatory was part
Of Mr.. Durand's establishment, but the odours
/ OF the flowers made his invalid wife faint and
sick; she had no taste for fancy work-that
busy idleness which saves so many women
frum enaui. Embroidery, crochet, knitting
/ and netting. she had tried 10 vain, and each
Y tired her and made her head ache. Her three
/ children generally made her a visit once a
day but Il would be difficult to decide which
enjuyed il least, or was pleased 10 have il
o,er-ihe bows or their mother. The chill
dren we're glad TO escape from the hushed,
gloomy chamber, where everything that they
did seemed TO be out Of place and wrong, 50
constantly we're they checked Tor being bois-
terous aud troublesome; and Mrs. Dursnd
experienced sensation Of relief when she
kissed them alt, aud saw them safely mar
shaled out Of the rouin by their nurse-ioi
she had no comfortable consciousness that
she had done her duty. and that she had seer
the last Of them for one day at least.
After this morning visit she had nothing
10 do but lean her aching head YEARLY bach
on the pillnwed easy chair until her physi-
clans coming aroused her from her lIstless'
ness lor few moments. This call, and the
still brieler one from her husband, just be.
fore dinner, we're all that varied the monUt.
ony Of her life.
Mr.. Durand was kind man, and reasona-
bis fond Of his wife; he had spared no pains
or expense 10 restore her 10 health he had
made no objection to her trial Il the pafhis,
--allopathy, homeopathy, dydropathy-and
had only shrugged his shoulders when, as a
the rescue. lie had gratilied her every
whm; had taken her to every variety Of cit
mate; without word Of remonstrance, had
visited all the springs Car aud near in search
Of that health which was nowhere TO be found.
until al last, after going round the whole cir
Gle OF remedies IN vain, il had been Mrs. Du-
rand's own proposal 10 remain al home under
the care Of her own family physician.
4 Meanwhile, as his wle's malady, though
incarable, seemed not al all likely TO pruye
fatal. Mr.. Durand's anxiety, which al FIRST
had been extreme, gradually died away. IL
grew to be a matter Of course that Maria
should be sick, and his daily call and these
s,ereOiyped dialogues became equally habit
ual.
Well. how do you feel to-day, Maria =
No better" with sigh. Ny head is
as bad as ever"
"SOrry TO hear it,
A pause-then glance al his watch. "ll
is now dinner time. Good night, Maria.
wish you could sit at the table with me-"
This conversation, almost without yaria.
tion, had been repeated day after day, until
il was as much part Of Mr.. Durand's life as
his dinner aud the cigar, the evenings paper,
and the quiet rubber Of whist with lew Gro.
nies that followed Il.
The lonely evenings Mrs Durand spent al
she did her lonely days. reclining on chaii
or Oh lounge--her thin, white hands, shad.
cd by exquisites and costly lace, folded and
lying idle 10 her lap. while with half shu
eyes she gave herself up to sad reyeries.