Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-02-01

pride 81 the altar, leaning on the btrOng
erp Rpd The tender heart, 10 whom she gave
bOfSslt 6iAaly and itfdstingly, as . woman
should.
And ehs remsmbered that morning O IT.
tIe lktef, when her proud and happy young
husband brought her to the house which
had hQl1 alaH fathart4REu nov for little
Whils thb Thought 'of Ger being mistress Of
ths great old farm house fairly frightened
ths WitE out Of heg5T ltW g.E#FF
I 'Sbe meant 70 make It Q sweet and happy
home for Isaac Parsons. She remembered
Aslte0aghtt had all hAppensd yesterday,
the little plans and contrivanoes she had
made, for his surprise end their mutual
comtDTk CtHHH IN HHlHs san
Z But the quarrel came. How well she
remembered It. and how clearly she saw
now the foolish and sinful part she had
borne in that. If she had controlled her
temper th6n-if she had only been gentle
and patient, forbeaTing and fOrgiVing, in
stead Of being proud and passionate, fretful
and stubborn II she had only borne her
Woman,s burdens and done her Noman's
dutiesl Here the wife and mother broke
down; she buried her face in her apron,
and cried like child
( Mrs. Parsons vas an energetic, deter
mined woman, and when she had once
made up her mind on any course Of action,
she would not shrink baok from it What
went on in the softened Womsn's heart
that morning as she sat with her apron TO
her eyes, and the sobs in her rocking to
and fro in her low chair, and the sweet,
restless sunshine all about her-What went
on in the womsn's softened heart only God
and the angels know.
aAre you tired, Isaso7'
The farmer was Wiping his face and
hands on the brown crash towel which hung
near the window. he was tan, stslWSrt,
muscular man, sun-brOWned and weather.
beaten, yet he had keen, kindly eyes, and
The hard features had an honest, intelli-
gent expression. Mrs. Parsons was cut
ting q loaf Of rye bread at the kitchen
table. Her husband turned and looked at
her moment as though be half doubted
whether he hsd heard sright. His Wife's
face Was bent over the bread, and he could
not see it; but the words came second
time;
"Are you tired, Isaso2"
II Wss long time since Mr.. Parsons had
heard that quiet voice. 1t stole over his
heart like wind from the land Of his youth.
TWell, yes, I do feel kind Of tuCkered
out. It's hard work to get in ell that corn
with only one hand beside Roger"
'I reckoRed so; and thought I'd broil
the chicken for tea, and bake the sweet pO-
tatoes, as you'd relish them best So"
+ Mr.. Parsons did not say word; he
sat down and took the weekly paper out Of
his pocket but his thoughts were too busy
to let him read one word. He knew very
we'll his Wife's aversion to broiled chicken,
and as the kitahen was her undisputed ter
ritory, he was obliged to submit to have
his chickens steWed, and his potatoes serV-
ed up in sauce, Notwithstanding she was
perfectly aware that he preferred the for
msr broiled, and the latter baked and
this unusual Difference to his taste fairly
struok the farmer dumb with sstonishment,
and he sat still and watched his wife as
she hurried from the pantry 10 the table,
in her preparations for tea; and then there
came across him the memory Of some Of the
harsh, angry words he had spoken during
their quarrel that morning, and the words
smote the mans heart.
And while Mrs. Parsons was in the midst
Of taking up the daintily broiled chicken,
two boys and q girl burst into the kitchen.
aHush, hush, children" wound insmong
the Obstreperous mirth like silver chime,
the soft voice Of the mother: "Fsther's
busy reading the paper and you'll disturb
him.
The children were siIenced at once, not
in fear Of the reproof, but in wonder at it,
for the wife ss seldom consulted the hus-
bands taste and convenience in these small
every day matters which make the happi.
ness or irritation Of our lives, as he did
hers. a-
/ In few minutes the hungry family gath
cred around the table. There was little said
during the meal, but sober, kindlier stmos-
phere seemed to pervade the room. The
children felt it though they did not speak of
it.
aAre you going out this evening, Isaac2"
''Wel, yes, thought Pd step around to
he town meeting. Want any thing at the
ltore p continued Mr.. Parsons, as he tried to
button his collar before the oldsfashioned
boxing glass, whose mahogany frame was
mounted with boughs Of evergreen, around
which scarlet berries hung their charm of
.ubies.
But the mans large fingers were clumsy,
md after several Intellectual attempts to &C.
.omplish his purpose, Mr.. Parsons dropped
lis hands with an angry grunb that the
hing wouldn't work.
aL,et me Try, father" Mrs. Parsons stepped |
Iuickly to her husbands side, and in mo-
nent her hand had managed the refactory
lutton.
Then she smoOthed down lock or two Of |
lack hair, which had strayed over the sun
iurnt forehead, and the touch of those soft |
myers felt very pleasant about the farmers |
row. and woke up in his heart old sweet |
memories of times when he used to feel them |
iuttsring like dream through bis hair.
he looked on his wife with a softness in |
is keen eye, which she little suspected. And |
he softness ard the smile stirred a fountain |
7arm and tender in Mrs. Parsons heart,
Yhich had not for years yielded one drop of
3 sweet waters. She reached up her lips
npulsively, and kissed his check. Any
ne who had witnessed that little domestic
Gene would scarcely have suspected that the
married life Of Isaac Parsons and his wife
Ounted three quarters of score Of years.
The Woman's comely face was as full of shy
lushes as girls of sixteen, and Isaac Par
ons seized his hat and plunged out Of the
ouse without saying one word, but with g
fixture Of amszsment and something deeper
n his face, not easily described, 10
But at last be cleared his throat and nut
sfed to himself, I'Melissa shan't repent that
ct-I say she shan't p and when Isaac Par
ons ssid thing, everybody knew he meant
- .sii-s -s-i-a@ -.as s4f
The sunset Of another autumn day was
olling its Vesture Of purple and gold about
he mountsinB when the wagon of Isaac
arsons rolled into the farm.yard. He had
cen absent all day ii the city, and the
upper hsd been awaiting him nearly an
or, and the children had grown hungry
nd impatient, .-..
IN fafbsr vfbat bava vou ,ot tho-.9gl