The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1867-08-17
SELECTED / STORY.
A Rift i'm the Cloud.
A STORY FOR MARRIED FOLKS.

Andrew Lee came home from his shop where
lie had worked all day, tired and out of spirits;
| came home to his wife, who was also tired and
out of spirits. tl ,la
''A smiling wife and cheerful homc-a
paradise it would bel" said Andrew to himself,
as he turned his eyes from the clorlcd face OF
Mrs. Lee, and sat down with knitted brows and
moody aspect
Not word was spoken by either Mrs. Lee
was getting supper, and she moved about with
awcary step.
''Comc," she said at last, with side glance
at her husband j4
Andrew arose and went to the table. He
was tempted to speak an angry word. but con-
trolled himself and kept silent He could find
no fault with the chop nor the home -nadc
Bread nor the fragrant tea. They would have
chcercd his inward mau if there had been Il.
gleam of sunshine on the face Of his wife. lie
noticed she did not cat.
'.-Arc you not well, Mary?" The words were
on his lips, but hc did not utter them, for the
face of his wife looked so rcpcllant, that he
feared an irritating reply
And so, in moody silence, the twain sa: to-
gctlcr until Andrew had finished his supper
AS he pushed his chair back, his wife arose and
commenced clearing off the table.
This is pursaory" " said Ice to himself as
H. commenced walking the floor Of their little
breakfast roam, with hi; hands thrust ,lcspc-
ratcly away dowr into his trowscrs' pockets.
and his chin almost touching his breast
After removing all the dishes and taking
them into the Kitchen, Mrs. Lee spread green
cover OH the table, and placing fresh trimmed
lamp thereon, went out and shut, the door after,
her, leaving her husband alone with his u,,-
pleasant feelings. He took long deep breath.
as he did so: paused in his walk stood stiff
some moments, and when drawing paper fron.
his pocket sat down By the table, opened The
sheet. and commenced reading Singularly
enough, the words upon which his eyes rested
were "Praisc your wife" They rather tended
to increase the disturbance of mind from which
he was suffering.
Il should like to find some occasion for prais-
ing mine" How quickly his thoughts cx-
pressed that ill-naturcd sentiment But his
eyes were on the page before him. a",, no ,o.,,
OH. ta .t. s , -
'Praisc your wife, man; for PHYS sake give
her a little encouragement 1t won't hurt
her"
Andrew Ice raised lis eyes from the paper
and muttcrcd, go, yps that's.all very we'll
Praise is cheap ciious!! But praise hc: for
what +? For bcipg aullcn, and making her
home the most disasrecablc place i'll tle
world Z" His eyes fell again TO the paper.
.shc has made your home comfortable, your
heart bright and shining, your food agree
able for PHYS sake tell her you Thank her, II
nothing more She don't expect it; it viii
make her eyes open wider than they have for
ten years but it will do her good for all that,
and you too"
/ 1t seemed to Andrew as if this sentence was
written just for him, and just for the occasion
1t was a complete answer to his question.
Praise her for wlat?" and he felt it also Il
rcbnkc He read no further, for thought came
too busy and in u new direction Memory was
convictins him of injustice to his vile. STE
had always made his home as comfortable for
him rs her hands could make it, and had he
offered the light return Of praise or comncnda-
ton? Had he ever told her of the satisac-
ton he had known, or tho comfort he had cx-
pcricnccd? lie was not able to recall the
time or occasion. AS he thought thus, Mrs