The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-07-08
The Bankrupt Husband
syylRGrxIA rcwSsKSs.

words were addresN'd-ih way "Hien Hu""''
mai thew had struck aud hurt her. Sac
WAS scaoping child's skirt, and the
needle work followed her rapid fingers along
the flannel like line of snowy foam but
now the work fell, UNDECIDED to the floor.
All. John, has it come to that asked
Mary the wife of John Malcolm and the
soft bloom in her cheeks vanished away, ana
the words we're spoken with kind OF gasp,
as though Just beneath them lay a mighty
swell and rush of feeling that well'nlgh over
powered her voice.
Yes, Mary, it must come, God knows
I've struggled as hard as % could to wealth
or the storm, and | could have done it too, II
those Western houses had moi gone under.
But they will carry US with 1t.
i cant realize it yet, John, she said,
looking at him in ii half-bewidered, halt
frightened way that was pitiful to see the
shock, for the nom ent, had half stunned her.
% Mary, it was hardest for your sake
and the words came in that sharp groan which
is terrible to hear from the lips Of strong
man. The tones reused her at once into
tuII consciousness of what had befallen them,
and Of the part she must bear In 1t.
Don't John-don't take it so hard her
voice struggling up through sob into note
of brave cheertulness, and her lips fashion.
ing smile which, though weak at first, you
telt certain would grow stronger and brighter
all the time Just as you feel the sweet prom
Use Of the day when the first faint sunbcams
struggle weakly out OF the mornings mist,
/ could have borue up. Mary il 1t hadn't
been for You and the children bit that
thought cuts 10 the core-.t's more than
can bear
And Tor the first time the young wife and
mother heard long sob from the lips OF her
husband, as he bowed down on the arm OF Aer
cnalr. The pride of his manhood gave way
at last, and john Malcolm wept like little
child.
Then the wonan's powers to cheer, and
comfort aud strengthen. reused themselves
the waves went over her bat one moment.
and then Mary Malcolm forgot herself, aud
rose up to the height OF true womauhood-to
the exatallon of sel-sacrihce.
.Johu, said the soft, brave voice, don't
ever say that again Let everything else
fail, the heart OF your wife never will
And now she had come close to him, and
he et her small arms about his neck, and
her head lay on his shoulder, as tender and
coniding as III their days of brightest pros
perlty.
And throug Oh the day he had been looking
forward to this hour and shrinking away
from it and once or twice. cd forgive hin
he had glanced out Of his Office window Il,
the river, which rolled its dark, sullen waters
III the distance, and fierce temptation had
rushed over him to drop everything and
hurry out there and bury all his pain aud
anguish under the dark, crumped sheet Ut
water.
But John, in his secret distress, knew that
this temptation was the voice OF the devil
entering into his soul, tut he was man who
feared God and kept his commandments he
put the temptation aside.
The young husband had not doubted his
wite's heart for momeat but he expected
to see her stricken almost to the earth with
the first tidings OF the ruin of the house i'll
which he was the heaviest partner. He knew
that her youth had been nurtured 10 all the
grace and luxury that wealth conters, and he
feared the thought OF going out into the chill
and darkness Of poverty.
lie had not looked tor loud lament atoms,
or bitter reproaches, bu, he dreaded the ST.
lent tears, the mute despair OF the white face
So john Malcolm raised his wet face, stain
ed with the tears that were shed for her sslke,
and looked into Inc eyes Of his wife. and she
answered him with smile that set even her
face IN IL nes sacredncss aud beauty to her
husbands eye-a smlle so sweet and tender
tor him, go brave and defiant tor the worst
-, the world could do to them. that 1t said to
him at once all that her words would and
could not.
'Ah, Mary, my wife said the merchant,
L thought when came into my house, an
. hour ago, that Was ruined man feel
Fnow as though | was very rich one
D.. Ruined with mo and the children John :?
: and now there vas SOME faint reproach in her
" voice, out she chung closer to him.
= But, Mury, poor child, you don know
>. what 1t Is to be poor to give up so much OF
ease aud luxury, to which you've been ac-
i eustomed'
: GU say that, John, before you've tried
e HE, and seen what springs OF courage aud
powers OF set-sacrihce there are il, nv ma.
ture. The noble words had a fitting empha.
Sis IN the sweet smie-n the stea,ifast
u dauntless tones.
4 but we shall have 70 give up the house