Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1867-11-08
DELAWARE, OHIO FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8. 1852.

+ yourself already3 and nothing would
make V05t vain, 1 suppose 2"
/ Madge colored, and all the more when
/ she perceived that William Matson had
come in quietly, and was new standing
4 behind Janet's chair. This, of course,
f put an end to the conversation. AIadge
/ retired to her own home to think OF
/ Janet words, and to confess secretly
I that they were wise.
/ Hours passed before John Harley re-
/ turned home. He was a man of good
/ abilities, and W6lI-tO-dO In the world,
and having married MadEe because he
/ truly loved her, he had expected to have
/ a happy home. But partly because he
was reserved and sensitive, and partly
| because NGadgs feared to make him
vain, they had grown very cold toward
/ each other; 50 cold that John began to
I think the ale-house a more comfortable
/ place than his own hreside.
That night the rain fell in torrents, J,
I the winds hoWled, and it was not until
/ the midnight hour arrived that Harley
/ left the public-hOuse and hastened to-
wards his cottage. lie was wet through
when he at length crossed the threshold;
he was, as be grufdy uuttered, fused
to 6hat;@ but he was not tfuBedN to the
tone and look with which his wife drew
near to welcome hin-nOr to find warm
clothes by a cracking fire, and slippers
on the hearth-nor to hear no reprOach
ty 8oOtmarks, as he sat in his armchair.
Some change had come to Madge he
was very sure. She wore a dress he
had bought her years ago, with a neat
linen collar round the neek-, and had q
cap, trimmed with white ribbons, on
her head.
You're smart, NIadge, . he exclaimed
at last, when he stared at her for some
little time in silence. fsWho has been
here worth dressing for tonight ~
'tNO one, until you came" " said Madge
half laughing.
ST? Nonsense, you didn't dress for
ne" cried John.
'sYOu won't believe it, perhaps, but I
did. I have been talking with Mrs
HatsOn this evening, and she has given
me some very good advice. So now,
John, what would you Like for your
supper ?" Ia
John, who was wont to steal to the
shelf at night and content himself with
anything he could find, thought AIadge's
offer too excellent to be refused, and
very. soon a large bowl of hot chocolate
was steaming on the table. Then his
wife sat down, for a wonder, by his
side, and talked little, and listened,
and looked pleased, when al last, as if
he couldn't help it, he said, "Dear old
Madge -
That was enOughy her elbow somehow
found its way then to the arm of his
great chair, and she sat quietly looking
at the fire. After awhile John spoke
again
s'NIadge, dear, do You remember the
old days when we used to sit side by
side in your mothers kitchen?"
"Yesn
81 was a younger man then, Madge,
and, as they told me, handsome; now
am growing older, palmer, duller.-
Then you-you lOUed me; do you love
me still 2'
She looked up in his face and her eyes
answered him. It was like going back 4
to the old days to feel his arm around
her as her head lay on his shoulder, and
to hear once again the kind words
meant for her ear alone.
She never once asked if this would
max ehim "Vain;" she knew, as if by
instinct, that it was making him wiser,
a more thoughtful, more earnest-heart-
ed man. And when, after a happy 81
lence, he took down the big Bible, and
read a chapter, as he had been wont to
read to her mother in former times, she
bowed her head and prayed.
Yes, prayed-for pardon through the
blood Of Jesus Christ, for strength to
fulfill every duty in the future, for the
influence of the Spirit, for
blessings on her husband evermore.
She prayed-and not in vain.