Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1864-03-10
MISCELLANEOUS.
TIE LIGHTER BURDEN.
BY T. S. ARTHUR.

Bt .. ARTHUR.
A pleasant family sitting-room. Time
evening. From the small bronzed- d-chan.
delier hangs drop-light over center
table covered with books. The warm
air comes in through an open register,
giving to the apartment genial summer
temperature. The room is not large, nor
is the furniture costly. Everything is
plain, but good and comfortable. Three
young children, who have closed their
evening game of romps, have just passed
out with their mothcr-it is their bed
time-and the father is alone. A few
minutes ago smiles lit up his face, caught
from the childrcn's gladness; but these
smiles have faded; cloud has dropped
down over his countcnancc; he is gloomy
and troubled
Thus sat Mr.. Cathcrwood, when his
wife returned from the chamber where
she had left her children in the keeping
of angels. Her heart was light; but /
hand seemed laid upon her bosom the
moment she came into her husband S pre-.
sence. A feeling of care and anxiety
oppressed her. She looked earnestly a
her husband, and saw that his brow wa.
ciouded.
"What troubles you ?" she asked. 90
hope nothing has gone wrong?'
Everything has gone wrong" Mr.
Catherwood answered. GLOW we are t.
make both ends meet is more than car
tell. Coal has gone up to twelve dollars
a ton !'
'To twelve dollars?"
Eyes; /; and everything else in proper
ton. Food, clothing, taxes, nearly al
double what they were; and to-day / re.
ceived notice that our rent would be raised
from four to five hundred dollars"
Mrs. Catherwood drew quick, signing
breath. ''To five hundred dollarsw she
responded, the trouble in her face grow
ing deeper.
"Yes; but if that were ALL said her
husband, 1--WE might get along easily
enough. 1t is the advance in every item
of personal and household expenditure
that is going to break us down"
"Don't say break US down, Henry
Mrs. Catherwood's voice was chokcd.
i do say break us DOWN. he replied
with fretful emphasis. "What is to
hinder? Everything breaks down when
the burden goes beyond the strength"
1--WE must begin to limit ourselves, y
said Mrs. Catherwood "NVe must
tighten the burden by throwing over all
superhuities, and even some of our COM
forts. Better this than to break down.
II wish the war was over" Mr..
Catherwood spoke with gloomy impa-
ticnce. eff it goes on much longer, we
shall have nothing left"
Il think" answered Mrs. Cathcrwood
in gentle, suggestive tone, "that, COM
pared with many others, the war, SO far,
has touched us very lightly. We have
not suffered the abridgement of single
comfort"
1.-The abridgemcnt is to come. 1t is
even now at our door," said Catherwood
"And, if the war continues, it will 90 on
and on, until absolute want stares us in
the face"
"If need be that we suffer for our
country, let US do it patiently" replied
Mrs. Catherwood, who was of more
hopeful disposition than her husband.
She had already risen above the depres.
sing of his state. ''In any event, oul
circumstances are such that we shall never
be called to suffer even tithe of the pair
that will be lain on thousands of stricken
hearts. And if our portion of the COM
mon burden be so very light in compari.
son with our neighbor's burden; is it wei
for us to complain ? With so much left
to be thankful for, is it not sin to mur.
mur. l thought of the starving Union
prisoners in Richmond, as I set at oul
plentiful table this evening; of the faith
ers there, who left children at home dearly
loved as ours of the husbands there
whose wives weep for them bitter and un.
availing tears. Oh, Henry, for us com.
plain is sinp
Mr.. Catherwood made no reply to this
but dropped his eyes away from his wife's
face and looked down at the floor.
Thought went to the starving prisoners al
Richmond; to the homeless men, women
and children who are suffering and in ex.
lie for love Of country; to the thousands
who had sacrificed their all to the sick
and wounded in hospitals to the sorrow
ing ones scattered all over the country
who inourned their loved and lost. He
felt rcbuked.
The door Of the room was opened with
jerk, and a servant came in. Her
manner was excited.
whats wanted 7" asked Mrs. Gather.
wood.
They've sent for you next door,"
| Mrs. Catherwood started to her feet.
is anything wrong there 2" she asked
alarmed by the servants tone and man.
ner.
Eyes, ma'am. They've got bad news
and Mrs. Lester has tainted dead away
'tNcws from Captain Lester! p