The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1865-02-15

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prayed in these dark hours to die, tina
I might free him, so thai h. night
happy with another. Bqt death cam
not, A ssfuA
"Hswexer, enc didiesne, whei prove
more frieadiy-ap old friend, Mary Eng
llishg Il had not seen her for years, ami
It was with JOY that I net her, fer sh
had always, in my schost days, been n,
better angel / folt that she would hell
tme now aare. .-sf9ss tsxei si4a8 avn
s'she soon Jaw h bow matters siss stessBds, 'ant
set at once to righting them Oheeday
she said to me, Ada, It IS not the great
lest joys 5fi gfiSfs that make up the Rap
pinass or misery sf this li1fe- It is the
little words, the little acts, the little
smiles and the little 'froFns, Have all
your little words and acts been kiadi
Ada, is your fase always wreathed in
smiles?'' O." t'-e
NO" answered, bursting into tears.
"How can it be, MqryR Ny husband
does not love me now, and
81 sPshaMl he does love you. eThatIhis
leYe lies dormant Iewn. But yeushall
awaken. it aifsyeu will.l ] tell yen, Ada
you have not been as a true wife should
be, When .yeur husband comes hame
weary frem daily teD, yoa meet him with
lrowns and reprsaUhss, not with smiles
and cheering wsrds. Last night, When
he came hene, looking So weary, and
threw himself. on ths lounge. with his
feet en .yeur little foot stool, you, with a
cross exclamation, snatched the stool
away, and, with a Cross response, he
arese and left the room. ada, was the
stsol worth it? Would. you net have
given a hundted such, if iyeu had them
for one loving word? Yet yeu snatched
it away, for fear it weuld be made little
muddy, and teok in turn, an angry word
81 was Weeping bitterly new-weepinss
as | had not dsne fer years. l. saw my
error at last. 5,
Dear Ada" continue ny friend 4
seourse you that you may be healed.
Swear, to-day, that with the help of Gedi
veu will never do aaether unkind act.
And her hand wandered 10 where little
Bible lay.upon the table, she handed it
to me. ....-.. alaol saiig s.
II will not, so help me, Ged,i' [ said,
kissing the sacred volume.
Now, Ada, pray daily that he he may
help you keep that cath, and all will be
well. SACRIFICE SELF IN EVERYTHING,
and you will have your reward. = e
Il need not tell you how hard it was
to keep back bitter words, or smile in
stead of frowning Habit is a powerful
thing, and net to be thrown eff at will,
yet, / did, with Ged's help, and my
friends. Still this seened to effect no
change In my husband, l eften saeri-
feed self for his pleasure, yet, when |
did, he would smile sarcsstically, or say
something that woald irritate me more
than he cosld know, fer eutwardly [ was
very calta. osi
,sOne day, when he had been mere
than usually sarcastic, went into the
little parlor where my friend was sitting
aud, throwing myself wearily into chair
I said, Its of no use to try. He don't
lave ae" ....-....le 4, hrs
I. cl.s, he dees,'. she said, with a cheer
full smile. He thinks new that ysu are
acting, part because l am here. It will
be all right when | am gene. su
"But my. strength will fail nae then,
| returned. = ....-4.a 9
aNo, it will not. You will ask feI
Gods help, daily, and I will write to ysy
every week ....s.........gIeb b sadbt
fShe went away the next day, and W.
were very lonely, fer she was enc of thos'
gentle, unobtrusiye beings who win al
hearts to leve them. I'll,
"Well, Ada, said my husband tha
evening, 'yoa acted your part well. 'Sh
thought you christian, ne doubt"
Glow sarcasticallJ he spoke, and wha
bitter words came to me then? But | re
membered my cath and did not sPea
them: 1 merely. answered, "She knows
am christian. IF the part l acted is
worthy one, pray Gsd that may act
always"
''He locked very serious then, bat sal
no more. The next day my next dos
nsighbor, who had Ave children, betwes
1.-THE ages Of fcur and eleven, called to ss
me. The school was SO far off, she sai'
Iandsif l would teach the children for
hours each day, she would give me fly
dollars per month. I agreed to do S
| for, by rising little earlier, could cas-
lily spare the time.
"a month passed by, and still my hu
band was as indifferent as ever. Tru
when did any little act of kindness fl
him, he gave me smile and "than
! ycu:' hut that did not satisfy the loni