Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-04-26
CHANGE IN THE HOUSEHOLD.

farm kitchen, rapidly diTestlng a chicken OF
its feathers. 'I have worked and slaved my
self to death for him and his'n, and all the
thanks I've had for the last fifteen years has
been short words and general growlin' and
fault fndin', until now / am just deter
mined to stand out and have my own way. or
le. things take their own course, and he II find
after ali, Melissa Talcott has got some spirit
in her that can't be crushed out with all his
abusiu' and sggravation."
'sTo think he should have the heart to re-
fuse me a new carpet after he had such good
luck with his wheat crop, and just shaved my
self through harvesting, and got along with
one girl.
The more the man gets, the stingier he
grows, and there isn't woman among my ac-
quaintsnes that would stand such treatment,
and I won't. I'll put down from this mo-
ment," setting down most emphatically that
solid member OF her comely person on the
kitchen floor, eff Isaac Parsons Won't come to
terms, I'll quit him-thst's ALL"
Mrs. Melissa Parsons had been a remsrka-
bly, pretty girl in her youth, and thirty-seven
wears made her q fair and comely woman.
Her husband was a somewhat phlegmatic
man, stubborn and opinionsted, and as his
early life and soeisl atmosphere had not en-
larged or softened his character, tho hardest
and most dissgreeable part Of it expanded
with his years. He loved money, and as the
asthstic part Of his nature had never been cul-
u.
trsvsgance to indulge in much grace or beauty
Of surroundings. -...
Still there was another side to this man.
His affections were deep ard tender, and
iudicious woman could have reached and in
huenced him to almost any degree through
these. But Mrs. Parsons never understood her
husband She wss impulsive, high-spirited,
and really a warm hearted woman, with
good share Of petty social ambition, and she
and her husband were constantly jarring each
other. gs
Yet all these years the barns and store
houses, the lands and gold Of Isaac Parsons
had increased and God sent children-two
boys and a girl-to soften the hearts of the
father aud mother, and TO be TO them angels of
q new covenant Of household peace and ten
GeTness. Bat alas, alGs, the sweet faces and
the beautiful nilistFati0Hs Of childhood had
never accomplished their mission, and with
hearts and tsnpers fretted and soured and
worn. Mr. and Mrs. Parsons counted the years
growing over them, and both felt that their
marriage had been a mistake and a misery,
and with blind eyes that would not see, and
hard hearts that would lot understand, each
blsmed the other, and mutual recrimination
only produced fresh bitterness.
1T last q erisis came. Mrs. Parsons had set
her heart that autumn upon a new parlor car
pet, which was in no wise unreasonable, and
in which her husband had inGulged her, but
the manner Of the request, which was in re-
ality a command, ct once r0used the stubborn
ness Of the man, ard he fatty refused her
Then followed passionate words and angry re-
torts, till husband ard wife separated with
mutual bitterness and rage. q
But now SIS Mrs Parsons took lp her denud-
ed chicken, and plunged it into pan of hot
water, her eyes glanced on a weekly paper
which lay on the table, and they settled on
this passage Whieh completed asketch-s'WhO,
when be was reyiled, Tevisd not again, but
committed bis cause to Him who judgeth
righteously."
And these words stole, in a STILL serere, re-
buking voice, through the stormy soul of Mrs.
Parsons She had read them innumerable
times before, and they hsd for her no special
message or meaning, but now God had Gent
His angel TO drop them into her heart, and in
a moment something Of the real sin Of her life,
rose up and confronted her
She sat down in q low chair By her kitchen
table, and rested her forehead on her hand.
The hard, fretfGl angry look went out from her
face, and was succeeded by aseft, thoughtful
expression, and the sunshine hung in yearn-
ing, golden, shifting beauty about her.
And then the wonan'5 memory went back
10 her first acquaintance With Isaac Parsons
he had chosen her from among score ol
others who envisd her that good fortune, and
how those early days Of her oouKtship came
over the softened heart Of the woman, rs the
first days Of spring come up frcm the South
and 20 softly over tie bare, despairing earth
Then she saw herself once more a shy, tretnu
lous. ioSful bride at the altar, leaning on tht
strong arm and tendor heart, to whom sh'
gave herself gladly and trustingly as woman
should.
And she remembered that morning, and 9
little later, when heT proud and happy young
husband brought her TO the house which had
been his fathers, and how for little while thI
thought Of her being the mistress Of the grea
old farmhouse, fairly frightened the wits ou
Of her
She meant.tO make it sweet and happy
home for Isaac Parsons. She remembered, a
though it had been but yesterday, the littl,
plans and cOutTiTances she had made for hi
Surprise, and their mutual comfort
Bat the quarrel came. How well she re
membered ii, and how clearly she saw now th.
foolish and sinful part she had borne in that
II she had controlled her temper then-if shI
had only bean gentle and patient, fOrbesrinl
and forgiying, instead Of being proud and pas
sionste, freiful and stubborn II she had onlJ
borne her wOInlu's bGrleDs, and done q vo
mans duties Here ths wife and neither brok,
down; she buried her face in her apron, GnC
cried like a child. ...s
Mrs. Parsons was al energetic, determined
woman, and when she once had made up he
mind upon any course OF action, she would ne
shrink from IT. What went on tbs soften sC
apron at her eyes, and the sObs in her rsckinl
to and fro in her Low chair, and the sR eet rest
less sunshine all about her-What went on il
the softs1ed WomaR's hsaTt-ORly God and hi
angels know. - -E p r.
"Are you tired, Isaac?'
The farmer was wiping bis face and hand
on the brown crash towel which hung near th,
window. He was q tall, stalwart, muscular
man, sun-broWned and weather. beaten, yet h
had keen, kindly eyes, and the hard feature
had an honest, intelligent expression. Mrs
Parsons was cutting loaf of rye bread at tb,
kitchen table. Her husband turned and look
ed at her a moment a. thosgh he half doubtet
whether he had heard Alright His Eife's fac
was bent over the bread 50 he could not see II
but The words came g second time = -,t15- q
Are yOu tired Isaac ?'' ~ -st---. 10
Ii Wss long time since Mr. Parsons hat
heard that soft, quiet voice IT stole over h
heart ike wind from the land Of kis youth
sWsIl, yes, / 10 feel kisd VI tue kef ed eGt
Its hard work get ia all that corn with enll
one hand beside Roger. y
II reckone3 80; and thought I'd broil th,
chicken for tea, and bake the sweet pofatoss