Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1866-06-28
OHIO, JUNE e8, 1866.

over that afternoon, John Lane went
gayly into the sitting room with his
wife. He had a pleasant surprise
for her, and he laid it in her lap, in
the shape of check for two hundred
dollars.
"There, humming bird" he SAID
"there's for your carpet Business
has prospered this year, and what is
1t good for but to make home bright
and wife happyr'
She turned her face and touched
her lips silently to the kind hand rest
ing on her shoulder. Perhaps John
was disappointed that she expressed
her pleasure so quietly He had an
ticipated her gay laugh of merry ex-
ultation, her delighted chat about
colors and patterns. Her new mood
surprised him. He sat down beside
her grayely, and waited for her to
speak.
She told him, then, the story of
her day, leaving out nothing. He
could see how deeply she had been
novel, by the color which went and
came on her cheeks and the tears
which gathered unheeded in her eyes
When she was through, she said I'M
hesitatingly--
"John We are happy, amt WEI"
eyes, dear"
sand we owe, something. don't We,
to those who are less so2 Think.
John, if had lost you rs she lost
her husband! And if | had not only
lost you, but had afterwards no way
to live"
She paused as if for encourage
ment, but she received none. John
Lane was beginning to get glimpse
ofa new phase in his little wife's char
acter, and he meant she should bring
out her own ideas unaided. She be
gan to fear she could not interest
him. She went on umidly enough,
but very earnestly:
IA part of two hundred dollars,
John, would buy that woman the nee
essaries which would make her com
Portable, and she would soon be well
again, for her disease is only the re,
suit of exposure and overwerk. Then
the rest Of it would buy her q sewing
machine, and she could get along
nicely with that. She would moi
need any more help"
Still Mr.. Lane was silent, and she
drew little nearer to him, and be-
gan smoothing his big fingers with
her own little ones.
Il know, John, dear" she said,
eoaNingly, Hthat two hundred dol
lars would he too much TO ask you
/ for, in any one charity, but ! have Sc
set my heart on really and substan'
TALLY helping this poor bereft woman
! Our drawing-rOom carpet really look:
very nicely-you know you thought
it would do this morning. And il
! Just this once, might have the two
hundred dollars to do this good deet
with, and keep the old carpet down
it would make me so happy. JUS
think, John, tha. poor widow, and
those little children. would say youI
name every day in their prayers, ant
they would be made comfortable fol
life. May / Johnf"
John Lane bent down and kissed
the tender, eager face. | am afraid
his eyes were too dim just then to SCI
all its brightness.
care you sure, dear" he asked
| gently, "that you would be satisfied
with the carpet?'
"Quite sure, John. 1t shall last a.
long as the Wilton would. Oh, John
/ L never did any good in my life. lie
me do this little nowf"
That great manly heart was too ful
just-then for many words, but by tn
firm clasp which held her tenderly
Annie Lane knew that her husband
was not displeased.
She carried out all her plans. b.
August, Mrs. Stanton was well agail
and the sewing machine stood at tn
window of her comfortably furnishes
room. To her the face of Ami
Lane seemed like the face Of a
angel-God's messenger she had. in
deed, been to the widow and the faith
erless. / think there is one woma
whose heart will never be moved t
envy by Wilton carpets and wild
bo-dered shawls, since she has taste
the luxury of doing good Johl
Lane loved her well when she wa
his gay, laughing child wife; but h
loves her now with a holier, deePe
tenderness that reaches through tim
and takes hold on eternity.