Maryland free press., 1862-11-14

hr ner. IL was "let me get the kindlines, -"
VIII make the hre,'-msy fill the tea. .kettIs,,
instead OF, as vas sometimes the case, "Need I a,
IL r vi don't want toj" "way can't Will. ?,
Nellie was toe small to render muoh sss,.tancs
but sho often returned from her frolic with -,
Kitten, TO Look at her mother, and uttsr ,on,
childish remark expressive of joy and love.
Atisst the clock struck the hour whsn NJ,
Thornton was expected, and bis wife proeeedsd .,
lay the table with unusual care and to place tbsra
on ssTsrsl sboios visnds Of which she Knew h, :.
particularly fond.
Meanwhile let us form the acquaintance OF the
absent husband and father, whom We find In The
'ranroas.tks IN IN; .rtra 81
upnistskeabIo twinkle kindly feeling in his eye,
andthe iinss Of good humor plainly traced abe NJ
his nouth-we know at glance that he Is chsst-
ful aid iadulgsnt In his family, and are ct oAce
preposesaed In his favor.
AZ b, Is leaving the store, whore be has maes
his last purchase for the day, he Is acoosted in a
familiar manner by a tall gentleman entering Il .
door. Ke recognizes al old friend, and exosimt--
George Morton, Is it yeuf"
Ths greeting Is mutually cordial; they we're
frienis in boyhood and early youth, but since Mr.
Moron has been practising law in Q distant city,
they have seldom met, and this is no place to ex
chGgs their many questions an answers. Mr..
ThGntoa's span Of horses and light "dera aoTsr'
Arestsnding near by, and needs but little persua-
sior to induce Mr.. Morton to accompany his friend
20 lie home, which he has never yet visited. The
ooIversaton Is lively and spirited-thsy recall
ths feAts of their sebooldsys, and the experience
Of fter life, and ompare their present posti in
sh, world with the golden fsture Of which they
usd TO dream. .-
I.Mr. Merton is = bachelor, and very fastidisus
i1his tsstesas that class OF tsls ere prone
to pc. The recollection of this fact flashes on Mr.
Tlprnten's mind as they drive along toward their
detination.
At once hiS zeal 10 the dialogue ssates, he be-
sonos thoughtful and silent, and does not urge bis
team onward, bat seems willing to afford Mr..
Morson 80 opportunity to aduire the beautiful
seenry on either hand-the hills and valleys clad
in tie fsesh yerdure Of juno, while tho lefty
mountain ranges look blue and dim in tho distauoa
He cannot help wondering If they will find his
wife h the same sorry predieament in which he
left bsr that morning, and involuntarily thrinks
frora introducing 90 slattsrnly Personsge to hls
refined and cultivated friend. ;. .
But 1t 10 now too late to rstfRet his polite fHvi.
sstion--thsy are nearly the old "homsstsad"-ons
field and his fertile farm, with its well kept
fences, appears in view. Yondsr In his nes.
white house, surrounded with slns and NAPLES
They drive through the large gate way, the
man John comes from the barn to put up the hor
sss, and Mr., Thornton hurries up the walk 10 the
piazza, leaving his friend to follow at ais isisure
he must see his wife frat, ana if possbs te b ur-
~ her ou. Of sight before their visitor enters.
he rushes into the siiting-room-words cannot
express his amazemsnt-there sits the very image
Of his lovely brine, and tslfconseious blush man
lies her cheek Is he stoops to kiss her, vita the
words efjoyfai ssrSsiss-
"Why Ellenp
BE had time for nc more, George EotsaR has
followed him, and he exclaimed
"Hs, Charlsi as lover. like ss ever: hasn'a the
honsy-m set yeti"
AID then he 10 dsly presented to Mrs. Thorn
ton, who, under the pleasing excitement Of the
occasion, sppsars so far better advantage than
usual.
Tea ia sooa apoh the table, end the gentlemen
do ample Justice to the tempting rspast spread
before them. hnppy meal it 10. to Charles
Thornton, who gszes with admiring fondnsss upon
bis still beautiful wife Supper over, Mr.. Nor ton
coaxes little Nellie to sis on bis lap. but she soor
slides down, and climbing her fathers knee, whia
psrs. conhdentiallyi
"Don't mamma lock prettyf"
Ee kissed her, and answers, Eyes, my darling. -
The evening passes pleasantly and swiftly away
and many half forgotten mile of their life pill.
grimsge 10 recalled by som wsy-mark which still
CLEANS bright in the distance. They both feel
younger and better for their interview, and deter.
mine never to become 90 ike strangers again.
Mr.. Aorton's soliloquy, he retires ts the eosty
apartment appropriated to his use, lie
"Wsn, this isa happy family What lucky
fellow Charley is-,sueh handsome wife and chill
dren-ads she so coed housekeeper, tool May
ss I'll settle down some day myself"-which plea
sing idea mingled with his visions.
The next morning, Mr., Thornton watched his
1ife's movements with some anxiety; be could no
bear to have b5r destroy the favorable impression
which he was certain she had made on bis friend'l
mind, and yet some irresistible impulse forbade
bis Offering any suggestion, or slludipg in any
way 10 the dslisats subject SO long unmentioned
between them. But Mrs, Thornton needed no
friendly advioo--with true womanly tact she per.
ceivsd the advantage she dad gained, and was NOT
at oil inclined to rslinquish it.
The dark gingham dress, linen cellar, and snowy
apron, formed an appropriate and becoming
morning attire for housekeeper, and the break.
fast table afforded the guest no occasion for alter.
Ing bis opinion in regard 10 the skll or afability
of bis smia5is hostess.
Early in the forenoon, Morton took leave of his
hospitable friends, being called away by pressing
affairs Of business. Mr.. and Mrs. Thornton re-
turned TO their accustomed avoeatons, but il was
with renewed energy. and e new sense of quiet
hsppine- no less deeply felt bscauss unexprssssd.
a few days aftsrwnrds, Mr.. Thornton invited
his wife TO accompany him to town, saying he
shouehs she might like 20 do some shopping, and
she, With no apparent surprise, but with heart
felt pleasure, asceded to the propsssl. .,
The following Lords day, the village aossps
had ample food fer thsir hungry eyes Ito be di-
gsstsd At the next sewing society in th. app ar.
ancs OF Mrs. Thornton at church, clad in plain
but rich costume, an entire new outfit, which they
cogld net deny "msde her look tss years young /.
sr."
This was the beginning II the reform, and II was
the beginning ofs brighter day, for the busbsnd
and wife of our story.
True habits Of such long standing are nct con