The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-01-22

watching long for its mother and sees her
at Lass. She laid her head down on his
shoulder and the sobs came thick and fast,
and every one which shook to and fro her
slender frame went to the heart of her
husband, as he held her tightly and tried
to comfort her.
"God forgive mel" said the man to
himself, in his sudden ESTABLISHMENT,
'He has given me great and precious
gilt, which | Rave not half appreciated
nor understood.
At last the lady looked up, and smile
trembled through her tears. "You took
me so BY surprise, Edward, that l was
overcome com letely."
"Well, darling, if kind words can affect
you like this, 1t is unmistakable proof that
| am very remiss on my part. But dry
those tears, now, for they are reproach
to me-"
go, Edward, it does my heart good to
have you speak to 2:e in that way !" and
she clung TO him.
"CharlOlte," said her husband, with a
gush of feeling which fairly choked his
voice, "yOu have been the best and truest
wife that ever a man had, and l haven't
half deserved yCu.''
just at that moment the dinner bell
rang, and the "boy and girl" burst into
the room, hungry and vociferOus. But
something in their parents tones subdued
the children. Ard Edward Dexter thought
it had been long since the face of his wife
had worn such a radiant brightness as it
did that dav of DDpart
"Charlotte shall have a New Yeax's
present. 1t will be the first one ever
gave her-pOOr cLild!" murmured Ed
ward Dexter to himself, on his way to the
store the morning before New Years. "I
don't know what in the world to get her,
though" unused the man; "ske don't
want watch, for her brother gave her
that pretty one on his return from Califor-
MIA, after our marriage. And trnoch
No, she's got that pearl one. What shall
it be?" Suddenly conversation, which
he had partially heard in an abstractod
mood, between Charlotte and her dress
maker, the week before, required to him.
you'll have hard work to get the
waist and sleeves out Of this, Mrs. Dex.
ter" said the dressmaker, after thorough
inspection of the green silk which the lady
bad given her.
81 know / shall Miss Gray. But
can't afford to get new silk, and must
turn the old one, and make it do. We
must set our wits to work and get 1t in
some fashion. You know they wear tight
sleeves now and can afford half a breadth
from the skirt. J ...
"She shall have a new silk dress, and a
handsome one - was the audible cOnclu-
sion of Edward Dexter's cogitations, as
he struck the heel of his boot down hard
on the pavement
"a Happy New Year to you, Char
lotte!" and the young husband dropped
something done up in brown wrappers,
into his wife's lap. ..I........-
1t was beautiful morning, and like a
flash Of golden-winged birds came the
sunbeams of the newly-born year, with
Joy and blessing, into the home of Edward
Dexter. .... .\.... ..... ..
is this for me, Edward p asked his
wife, her face full of surprised pleasure.
" For you, dear. :" '.' .' 5-
her RAPID nngerS broke the Slnah cori
in moment, and then the dress rolled
out. 1t was rich, dark brown silk, over
shot with lustrous green leaves and buds,
a most graceful design. - t.
"DO you like it, Charlotte 3g.f
so, Edward! ] never in all my life saw
such beauty. Is it really for me?"
Really for you my dear wife!"
She tried to thank him, but the tears
overmastered her voice ..... .a
:" Mamma! mamma let us see - and
the two bright-haired children bounded
into the room. Her face was radiant
through her tears as she lifted up the
fabric "It's mammals New Years pres.
ent, my children
"What makes you cry, then?"
"Don't trouble mamma now, my little
girl and boy" said the father, slipping his
arm around his wife. There was new
light in his face. fa4.
"Papa, you look happy, if mamma does
cry" said his little boy, siding up to him.
''I am, my child. 1t shall be, please
God, happy New Year to all of Us %
/ r. And it was ... .