Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1864-05-13
DELAWARE, OHIO, MAY 13, 1864.

wait few days; your mother viii soon be well
again"
Il can go alone, Thomas, urged Mrs Car
son.
Il will not consent to that, Mary was pos
itively objected. Next week, if your moth
er should continue TO grow worse. will 90
with you.
"Oh, Thomasl If l should never see her
again.
You indulge needless alarm said the
husband, coldIy. This sickness is temporary
aud will pass away"
The pleader was silenced, but the pale, sad
lace gave sig s of intense suffrring A whole
week passed without anotbei word. Then
came letter, from her father. in these words:
Your mother is dying Come O., come
quickly We have been looking for you eve
ry hour during the last four days Don't
delay moment alter you receive This il you
would see your mother alive"
There was no objection to urge nov. But
when Mrs. Carson re-erossed the threshold
over which she had gone forth happy bride,
it was to fall with deep wall of anguish, in
sensible, across the bed where lay the cold
form of almost idolzed mother, back to whom
she had so painted to fly through more than
year OF patient waiting.
There was strange expression in the face
Of Mrs. Carson for months afterwards. Its
meaning her husband did not seek to penetrate
Indeed, perception, with him, had no plum
met line that could reach far enough down to
fathom her consciousness. Months passed be-
fore any warmth came back TO her cheeks, or
any light 10 her dreamy eyes. Yet no mur-
mur OF reproach escaped her lips: she was low
ing, dnliluliand patient. But she never spoke
to Mr.. Carson of her mother. Once or twice
he referred to the dear, departed one, but she
did not seem to hear his remark; and he, from
a vague suspicion of the truth, held back from
repeating the reference.
With what painful distinctness was this
whole scene restored, as Mr.. Carson sat griev-
ing over his great loss in the desolate home
from which the light of loving face had de-
parted forever 0, what would he have given
for the power to change that one cruel act
He turned away from the rebuking record,
written in his book of life in characters never
to be eractd, but it was only to gaze upon an
other, almost as painful TO behold, as this ia
ded memory restored other scenes in which he
was the meah, selfish opposer, and she the low
ing, patient, long-suffering wife. 1t had been
all exacting on his part, and gentle eompli-
ance on hers, even to reluctance aud pain
He had been a selfish tyrant; she yielding,
dutiful, subject, though often hardened beyond
natures power of endurance.
And now, as Mr.. Carson read over the past,
he saw new meanings in almost every liein-
cident. The sad eye, the pale, pleading face
that grew paer and thinner with every passing
day; the almost stony look that answered to
his unkind words; the silence that often sealed
her lips for hours after his arbitrary denials;
all these, and more, were present to him now,
and.he tried, but in vain. to put them out oi
sight
How little had be taken her needs of body
or mind into consideration during all the years
of their married life He had scarcely thought
OF her as a being with necessities like his own;
but rather as one given to be the servant OF
his wants aud pleasures. 1t mattered little
how she felt, thought, or desired. If her ac-
ton served, that reached the compass of his
estimates.
LOhluS huO pdtiCut' w uob = uCW pOWCA
to smite him as with a whip of stinging
scorpions was the testimony of the preach
er gaining every moment Yes, she had been
loving and patient amid cruel wrongs and neg
Iects that sapped the foundation of her life.
Loving and patient, though daily she bent
lower and lower beneath the heavy weight OF
her uncheered duties.
And these were the memories that came
back upon the bereaved husband as be sat
with bis motherless children in the home now
made desolate. There haG been an angle in
his house for years; but in bis blind sel6shness
lie had not recognized her presence, even
though her hand crowned his days with COM
fort, and made bis pillow soft for him at night.
And, worse than this, for good deeds he had
returned harshness; for love, GOODNESS, for gen
tie words, unkindly speech.
Not gleam of consolation found its way
into this night of sorrow and self-rebuke.-
! Our dead return not As We have been to
them so will be our memories of them-bless-
ed or accusing memories, according to oul
deeds. And now, dear readers, we leave you
and hope you will think of this simple but
| true story.