The mountain Democrat., 1863-12-19

i1uGy tItbHSG4 ~ ~ WO4tNA utlA bAuls
and complain, which did not improve mat.
ters. Such course never does. So the
years rolled on, and things grew worse
and worse. The husbands love grew
cold, and be became more and more mat.
tentive, willie the cares Of the wife kept
increasing, and 10 like ratio, her fretting
and iault.Hnding. A deplorable state Of
things, most assuredly; yet is it very un-
common
After the conversation we have record
ed, Ellen had so far freed her mind that
there came a reaction, and we find her
now In her own room, repentant and SOr-
rowful.
4 am sorry was quite so cross. Isaid
some things | wish l could take back; but
Charles does try me so. He is not what
expected, but that can't be helped now;
he is my husband, and might as well
make the best of it. l am so miserable,
so unhappy, and it grows worse and
worse What life we are leading. 1t
is oil wrong-wrong. We are to live TO-
gether till death it were wiser to make
the best Of my lot. After all things might
be worse. Charles is temperate, and hon.
est, and virtuOus; but who knows how
long he will be, if we 60 on in this miser-
able fashion! l will begin to reform;
God helping my efforts, will subduc my
unhappy temper. Fretting at Charles
only makes him worse. l will try what
patience and cheerful endurance will ac-
cOmplish.
And so Ellen Jaynes formed her first
firm and good resolution, and what was
better still, she began at once to fulfil it.
Very many good resolutions are made
very few are kept; but this was kept.
At the table Ellen made her appearance,
becomingly dressed, (she was a cOmely
woman), and with q cheerful face; but Mr..
Jaynes's brow was clouded, and he would
not be drawn into conversation. 1t re-
quired quite an effort to look and speak
pleasantly in the morning, for her hus-
band still remained moody and silent; but
she remembered her good resolution and
kept it.
In the forenoon he came into the sitting
room on an errand, again with dirty boots;
but this time Ellem did not seem to notice
them. "~2
4 declare am hungry said he, care
lcssly, throwing himself into chair in a
lounging attitude, which was the special
detestatlon Of his wife.
And wet, too, perceive, said his wife,
kindly; and rising, she went quietly from
the room, and returned bearing q plate
with tempting lunch in one hand, and
brush in the other. The former she placed
in her husbands hand; with the latter she
brushed the drops Of rain from his neck
and shoulders.
why, Ellen, what does this all mean P
and Charles Jaynes looked up at his wife
in unaffected astonishment.
Il was afraid you would take cold was
the pleasant answer.
lie took the plate in one hand, while the
other drew the face Of his wife down to
his for a warmer kiss than she had re-
ceived for FIVE years.
This seems like good old times, don't
it, Elien!'
4 wish they would come back again I
was her sweet answer, as she returned
the kiss
After he had gone, our heroine brushed
up her carpet cheerfully. Somehow 1t did
not seem much Of q task, although there
were cSytaiOly more spots than the day
before. as it had been raining ever since.
The door mat was not neglected again that
day, and the wardrobe came home the
same afternoon, likewise the desired OIL
cloth.
Ellen kept her resolution, though many
times sorely tempted-for the habits OF
years are not SO easily broken up, and
Charles many times muddIed the carpet,
turned the new wardrobe inside out in
search of some articles which we're never
there, and forgot many errands, important
though they were.
But she was determined to be patient:
many murmuring word was denied ut
terance by firmly closed lips. Many times
did she pray for strength and self-control;
but she achieved the greatest Of all victo-
ries-sbe conquered herself.
At the end of the month, Mr.. Jaynes
said TO his wife:
Come, Ellen, pack your trunks. and we
will pay your father and mother that long
talked of visit. | have made arrange
ments in my business so that we can af-
ford to have a nice long vacation, and we
will throw care to the winds, and have a
famous time Of it,
Indeed, dear Charles, I should like to
go but, after all, we don't need to go
from home in search Of happincss-do
wc?'
Like the buttons, for instance, said
her husband, with a mischievous smile.
'Ay, the buttons + with an answering
smile.
Nevertheless we will have our journey,
though. You have been such dear, dar-
ling wife lately, that my own home seems
a paradise :
And the husbands face was very near
hers as he finished speaking-very near,
indeed.