St. Mary's gazette., 1865-01-05

ed Mary. the isifs of John Malcclm; and
the soft words were spoken with . kind Of
gasp. as though just bcnea.l, them by 4
mighty swell and ,ush Of feeling that ven
nigh overpowered her voice. !.
Yes Mary, 1t must como. Gsd
knows rvs struggled bard as any met %
weather the storm. and I could have done
Il, too, il those western houses badn't gone
nndsr. Bat they will carry Us with Il" /" J, !
.'Isan'tarealizc il yet. John,r looking
at him in half bewildered, haIfftightened
way. that vas pisiful to see; the shock for
the moment had bali stunned her.
20. Mary. it was hardest for your
sake" and the words came in a sharp
groan which is terrible to hear from the
lips Of strong man The tones reused
her at once into . full consciousness Of
what had befallen them. and the part she
must bear in it. "A,
(; Don't John-don't, that it 30 hard. u
her voice struggling through q sob iato 9
note of cheerfulness and her lips fashion.
ing smile. which though weak at first.
you felt certain would 60 stronger each
moment; JUST as you had the sweet pro-
mise of the day when the first faint sum
beams struggle weakly out Of the mora
ing u.ist. @.a. E
Il could have borne up, If il had not
been for you and the children; but that
thought cuts me to the core---il's more
than can bear" ..~- .rr. sr ~ j.
And for the first time the young wife
and mother hoard a sob from the lips o,
her husband, as he bowed down, on t he
arm Of his chair. The pride Of his man.
hood gave way at last. aud John Malcolm
wspt hks q little child. Then the wo-
mans heart, tho womau's power to cheer
aud comfort and strengthen. reused them
selves. the wave went over but one mo-
ment, aud then Mary Malcolm forgo,
herself. and rose up to the height Of her
trac womanhood-to the exaltation of self.
sacrifice. - .1a4ic-
,..Johu,"' said the soft brave cfaccr.
do not say that again., Let everything
else fail. tho heart Of your wife never
will" sar .a7a-z. - I'd .....-..
And nov she has come close to him,
and he felt hsr small arms around his neck,
and her head lay on his shoulder, as ten
der aud con6diug as ia the days of he,
prosperity. ALI through one day be had
been looking forward to this hour, aad
shrinking away from it; once or twice
God forgive him-he had glanced out Of
his office window to the river. which rolled
its dark sullen waters in the distance, and
a fierce temptation had rushed over him
to hurry out and bury all his pain and
anguish under the dark ruffied sheet Of
water. But John in his secret distress,
know that the temptation was the vice
OF the devil entering into his soul. be was
man who feared the Lord and kept his
commandments; hs put the tempt alton
aside. The young husband mad not
doubted the wifa's heart for a moment;
but he had expected to see her almos,
stricken to the earth. with the 6rss tidings
Of the ruin Of the house in which he was
the heaviest partner. He knew that her
yoath had been nurt ured in all the grace
and luxury that wealth confers. and he
feared the thought Of going into the chill
and darkness Of poverty. He had not
looked for loud lamentations. or bitter re-
proaches. bat he dreaded the silent tears,
the mute despair of the white face.
So John Malcolm raised his hot face,
stained With the tears that were shed Tor
her sake. aud looked into the eyes OF his
wife; she answered with smile that set
her face in new sacreduess and beauty
to her husbands eye-a smile 80 sweet
and tender to him. so brave and defiant
for the worst the world could do for them.
and Il said 10 him at aoncs oil that her
words would and could not.
"Ah. Mary. my wife," said the mer-
chant, ! thought when came into nay
house an hour ago. that VAS . ruined man;
but now I feel a. though I were . rich
one."
'.Ruined with me and the children,
John 7" and now there was faint re-
pranch in her voice; but she s,eluug closer
to aim. l.alt'H@
> ''But, Mary, poor child. Joa don't know
what it is to be poor. TO give up so much
Of ease and luxury to which you have been
accuS'omeo' .,seue3 siaI Is f-
a"You say that, John. before you have
tried me. and seen what of courage. aud