Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1865-09-14
LOVE RECLAIMED.

"Oh, dear" sighed Mrs. Clayton, the
bride bf year, he is gone off so angry, just
because happened to speak a little too quick
ly when he found fault with his coffee. | am
sure, if his cofFc wasn't strong he needn't have
found fault Filth it. didn't have any more
parchcd, and there wasn't timc to parch any,
If you had told him more pleasantly he
would not have gone off angry returned Mrs.
Mason, dear friend who was visiting Mrs.
Clayton. Shall l tell you Ina, how near
my own haRriness was being wrecked by a
course'similar to the one you are now pur-
suing?" -,
Yes, Ada, do so by all .tteans,' replied the
girl bride. God knows do not want my
happiness wrecked. 1t nearly breaks my
he Act wvhcti he speaks as he did this morning.
and the pretty violet eyes filled with tears.
We'll Ina, when George and l were mar
ried We had ns pretty home to go to. We
We're both poor, and my husband had to
to! very hard to keep want out of our doors.
Often when l was obliged to do without
things which l really nee dea, instead of
trying to Get along with what I had. as a true
wife shotld aB, grew peevish and frctftl.-
Of course, all these things worked change
in my husband, though VI the time l could
not see that it was mostly my doings.
thought then he had ceased to love me, and
of ten retrosched him, but he bore my rec:
proaches with moody sicrce.
This Indifference, for such it seemed, isri-
tated nie tnuch-I may say, nearly maadened
me-for it is better to be hated than treated
with Indifference by those we love, and loved
him devotedly. AS years fed 6f two little
ones were added to our family, thus increas-
ing our tcil. By this time loving ~or,''s and
caresses were unknown. My husband never
gave any; and though often yearned to
throw myself in his arms and to feel again
his }its touch iaine was to proua to make
any advances. God only Knows the anguish
that endured. Iprayed, in those dark hours
to die thst might free him, SO that he might
be happy with another. But death CAME not
However, one did come who proved moro
frienaly-an old friend, Mary English.
had not seen her for many years, and it was
with Joy that met her, for she had always
in my school days been my better angel.
felt that she would help me now.
She soon saw how matters stood. End set at
once to rightiRg Them. One day she said to
me, Ada, it is not the greatest joys of griefs
that igake Up the lappiness or misery Of this
life. 1t is the little acts, the little words, the
little frowns and smiles Have all yoHr lit
lie acts been kind? Ada, is your face always
wrcathed in smiles?
'No,' Z answered bursting into tears
How can il be, Mary? My husband does
not love me and
.Pshaw! he does love you. That his love
les dormant own. But you shall awaken
t if YOU will. / tell you, Ada, you have
10: been as true wife should be. When ,
,our husband comes home, Weary with the
laws toll, YOU meet him with frowns and !
not with smiles and cheerful
words. Last night when he came home, s
ooking so weary, and threw himself on the J
OUNCE, with his feet on your little footstool, |
,ou, with cross exclamation snatched the stool :
wav and with Cross response he arose and |
eft the room. Ada, was the stool Worth 1T
" ould you not have given hundred such. If
,ou had them, for one loving word! Yet you t
matched it away, for fear it would be made I
title muddy, and took in return an angry L
7ord.' !
was weeping bitterly now-weeping as I I
lad Mt dore for years. saw my error at last.
Dear Ada continued my friend 1 scourse n
on that yos, may be healed. swea. to-day n
hat with the help of God, yot will never t
peak another unkind word And her hand e
rardered to wherc little Bible lay Upon the l
,bTe; she handed it to me. Il
4 will not. so help me God,' said, kiss S
,g the volume.