Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1863-08-20
Qbe 6torn QeIler.
AN IMPORTANT LESSON FOR
THE IED.-aTRfFLES.u =

plsasurable excitement to see who or what
Is coming.
Returning home one day. earlier than
usual. found my wife had gone out. and
while lounging idly over the paper. the
bell rang.
[ waited. expsctant. till Bridget appear
cd with note. containing request from
my old friend, DIR. Stearns, to ride ont to
his residence in the country, the next day.
TO transact some business that had been
long pending. and all invitation to bring
my wife and spend the day.
l was pleased. First. because wanted
thelbusiness completed. and secondly, be-
cause | thought I needed days recrea-
ton.
But the next morning everything SEEM
ed to 60 wrong. Alice could not accom-
psny me. and / could not get off as early
as wished, and consequently WAS pee
wish and fretful; and Alice reflected my
humor. / suppose. as it appeared to me
she had never been so unamiable.
At length, however, / drove away.
though not in very pleasant mood. 1t
was an October day, and as rode along.
noting the brilliant tints of the landscape,
memory went back to the golden autumn
when | woed and won my brile.
"How lovely Alice was thenr' thought.
"and how happy we were! But that was
long ago. Yet Nature is the same. though
we are changed. Let me see: We have
been married three years; is it possible it
is no longer!"
And l felt pang. as l contrasted the
past and the present, to think that we
could have settled down into the common
place life we new led.
We had no serious trouble; we didn't
quarrel, though when felt cross. or things
didn't go just right. l took no pains to
conceal it, and often spoke harshly to AL
ice, who sometimes replied in the same
: spirit, sometimes with tears. Yet We were
generally good friends. But the charm.
the tenderness of our early love had imper-
cepsibly vanished.
had become carels IS about my appear
ancs at home, and Alice was equally neg
igent. Her beautiful brown hair. which
she used to wear in the most becoming
curls. was now usually brushed plainly
behind her ears, unless she was going out
or expected company.
/ dismissed the subject with sigh at
the doctors gate, with the reflection that
il was the same with all married people
must be SO, in fact, for how could romance
and sentiment find place among so many
prosy relations? supposed we were as
happy as any body; and yet it was not the
kind of life had looked forward to with
so many bright anticipations.
The doctor came out and greeted me
cordially. In the hall we met Mrs. S.earns,
locking fresh and lovely in her pink muslin
wrapper, with her jetty hair in tasteful
braids. She scolded me plsyfully for not
bringing my wife, chatted a few moments,
and then fitted away, while the doctor. re-
marking that his motto was cuisines first
and pleasure afterwards" led the way to
the library.
As we entered the room noticed vase
of bright autumn flowers On the table, i'm
parting an air Of taste and chserfulness to
the apartment. / made some remark
about it, to which the doctor responded.
"Yes, am very fond of flowers, aud
love to see them in the house; and as
spend much time here, my wife always
keeps q vase of them on the table as long
~ they last"
Our business was finished before dinner
and we walked out into the grounds, which
were quite extensive and tastefully arran.
ged.
There was variety Of flowers In bloom
and noticed that the doctor selected here
and there the finest, until he had hand
some boquet.
When we reached the house Mrs. Stearn:
was standing on the steps. The doctor,
still continuing our conversation, gave bel
the flowers, with slight bow and smile
and holding up.a spray of crimson berries
which he had broken off. she bent her head
while be fastened it among the braids o.
her hair
Ii was trihing incident, yet their man
ner arrested my attention. Had l been &
stranger. / should have pronounced them
lovers instead of sober married people,
All through the day / noticed the sam,
delicate attention and Difference in theil
department to each other.
There was nothing of which the m os
fastidious guest could complain; yet, while
showing me the most cordial attention
chey did not seem to ignore each other I
existence Is married people 50 often do.
had never visited tho doctor before
and Was very very much pleased with hi
tasteful home. I said so. after dinner
while We strolled in the woods.
Eyes" be said. 81 think it is pleasant
and" he added, II believe am q content
ed man; so fer | am not disappointed il
life."
How long have you been married
doctor?"
"Ten years."
"Wsll." pursued, "can you tell m
whence the bright atmosphere that sur
rounds your home? Tell me how you ant
Mrs. Stearns manage to retain the deptl
and freshness of ysur early love. as 20,
seem to do? / should think the wear ant
tear Of life would dim it somewhat.
never saw home where my ideal of do
mestic happiness was realized before. 1
iswhat once dreamed oil"
The doctor smiled. and pointing to
thrifty grspe-vine. climbing over nea
lattice and loaded with purple fruit he said
THAT vine needs careful attention. ant
if pruned aud properly cared for, it is wha
you see it; but If neglected. how soon i