Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1863-03-11
THE TRUE WIFE.
BIZ rrHGIN1A F. TOWNSEND.

| help fer it.
She looked up-the lady TO whom
these words were addressed--in q way
which showed that it had struck and
bart her. She was scaloping chiIds
skirt, and the needle had followed her
rapid fiugers along the flannel like line
of snowy foam; but now the work fell
unheeded, to the floor.
"Ah, John, has it come to that3 7" ask
en- Mary, the wife of John Malcolm; aud
the soft bloom in her checks vanished
away, and the words were spoken with q
kind of gasp, as though just beneath
them lay mighty swell and rush offeel-
ings that we'll nigh overpowered her
voice.
"Yes, Mary, it must come. God
knows I've struggled rs hard as man
could to weather the storm. and | could
have done it, to, if those western houses
hadn't gone under. Bat they'll carry us
with it.
II cant realize ii yet, John" she said,
looking at him in a half bewildered, half
frightened way, that was pitiful to see;
the shock, for the moment, had half
stunned her.
80, Mary, it was hardest for your
sakel' and the words came in sharp
groan which is terrible to hear from the
lips of q strong man. The tones 70 lsed
her ut once into full consciousness of
what had befallen them, and of the part
she must bear in it.
Don't John-don't take it so hard"
her voice struggling up through sob
into a note of cheerfulness, and her lips
fashioning a smile, which, though weak
at first, you felt certain would grow
stronger, all the stronger each moment,
inst as you feel the sweet promise of the
day when the first faint sunbeams strug
gle weakly out Of the mornings mist.
II could have borne up, Mary, if it
hadn't been for you and the children;
but that thought cuts me to the core
it's more than | can bear"
And for the first time the young wife
and mother heard a sob from the lips of
her husband, rs he bowed down on the
arm Of his chair. The pride Of his man
hood gave way at last, and John Nal
colin wept like little child. Then the
woman's heart, the woman's power to
cheer, and comfort, and strengthen. rous-
ed themselves; the waves went over her
but one moment, and then Mary MAJ
colin forgot herself, and rose up to the
height OF her true womanhood- the
exaltation of seIt-eacrifce,
John" said the soft brave voice
''dont say that again, Let everything
else fail; the heart Of your wife ne er
will"
And now she had come close to him,
and he felt her small arms about his neck
and her head lay on his shoulder, as ten
der, as confdiug as in their days Of
brightest prosperity. AL through one
day he had been booking torwa d to this
hour, and shrinking away from it; and
once or twico-God forgive him-he
had glanced ont of his office window to
the river, which rolled It's dark, sulen
waters in the distance, and fierce
temptation had rushed over him. to drop
everything and hurry cut there an tnry
all his pain and anguish under the lark
crumpled sheet of water, But John. n
his secret distress. knew That tho :-rnpt
alton was the voice Of the >!eyil cnt-ri0y
into bis soul; he was man who feassl
God and kept his commandments lie
put the temptation aside.
The Young husband Lai not doubted
his wfe's heart for moment; hut he *
pected to see her almost stricken 10 tiio
earth, with the first tiliugs of the ruiu of
the house in which ho was the heaviest
partner. He knew that her youth had
been nurtured in all the grace aud lux
ury that wealth eonfers, and lie feared
the thought of going into the chill and
darkness Of poverty. He bad not looked
for lamentations, or bitter rerroaches,
but he dreaded the silent tears. the mutt
despair of the white face,
So John Malcolm raised his hot face,
stained with the tears that were smell for
her sake, and looked into the eyes Of his
wife; and she answered him with smile
that set her face in new sacredness aud
beauty to her husbands eye--a smile so
sweet aud tender to him, so brave and
defiant for the worst the world could do
for them, and il said to h i'm at once all
that her words would, and could not.
"Ah, Mary, my wife" said the mer-
chant, Il thought when camo into my
house an hour ago, that | was ruined
man; feel now as though / was very
rich one.
Ruined, with me and the children
John?' and now there was some faint
reproach in her voice; but she chung
closer to him.
"Bnt, Mary, poor child you don't
know what it is TO be poor, to give up so
much Of grace and luxury, to which you
have been accustomed"
"You say that John, before you've
tried me, and seen what springs of cour-
age and powers of self sacrifice there are
in my nature"
The noble words had fitting empha-
sis in tho sweet smile-in the steadfast,
dauntless tones. 3 aa
But We will have to give up The house
Mary