Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1867-11-23
A Rift in the Clouds.
A STORY FOR MARRIED FOLKS.

Andrew Lee came home from his shop
where he had worked all day, tired and
out of spirits came home TO his wife,
who was also tired and out OF spirits.
"A smiling wife and cheerful home
a paradise it would be ! said Andrew TO
himself, as he turned his eyes from the
clouded face Of Mrs. y, and sat down
with knitting brows aud moody aspect.
Nota word was spoken by either.
Mrs. Lee was getting supper, and she
moved about with weary step. Come,
she said al last, with a side glance at her
husband.
Andrew rose and went 10 the table. lie
was tempted TO speak an angry word,
bu! controlled himself and kept SILENT He
could find no iault with the chop nor the
homo made bread, nor the fragrant tea.
They would have cheered his inward
man, if there had been any CLEAN of sun
shine on the face Of his wife. He noticed
she did not eat.
Are you not well, Mary :? The
words were on his lips, bat he did not
utter them. for the face Of his wife looked
so repellanr, that he feared an irratating
reply.
And so, in moody silence, the twain
sat together until Andrew had finished
his supper. As he pushed his chair
back, his wife arose and commenced
clearing of The table.
This is purgsIory, SAID Lee to himself,
as be commenced walking the floor OF
their little breakfast room, with his hands
thrust down in lis ttowsers pockets,
and his chin aImos, touching his breast.
After removing all the dishes and TAX
ing them into the kitchen, Mrs. Lee spread
a green cover on the table, and placing
fresh trimmed lamp thereon, went out
and shut the door after her, leaving her
husband alone with his unpleasant feeling.
He took long deep breath as she did so,
pausng in his walk, stood still for some
moments, and when drawing a paper
from his pockets, sat down by the table,
opened the sheet, and commenced read
ing. Singularly enough the words upon
which his eyes rested were Praise your
wife They rather tended TO increase
the disturbance Of mind from which he
was suffering.
u should like 10 find some occasion for
prsising mine How quickly his thoughts
expressed that !llempeTed sentiment.
Bu, his eyes were on the page before
him, and he read on: Praise your wife,
man for PHYS sake give her lille en-
couragemcnt. |, won't hurt her
Andrew Lee raised his eyes from the
paper and muuered; 'Oh, yes; that's
all very we'll, praise is cheap enough.
But praise her for what For being sui
len, and making her home the most disa-
greeable place in the world I? His eyes
fell again On the paper.
She has made your home comfortable,
your hearth bright and shining, your food
agreeable; for PHYS sake tell her you
thank her, if nothing more. She don't
expect it; il will make her eyes open
wider than they have for twenty years
but i, will DO her good for all that, and
you too
1t seemed TO Andrew as if this SEN
tence was jus, written for him, and just
for the occasion. 1t was complete an
swer 10 his ques!ion-'Praise her for
what!' and he felt i, also rebuke. He
read no further, for thought came too busy
and in a new direction. Memory was
convicling him of injustice 10 his wife.
She had always made his home as COM
foriable for him as her bands could make
il, and had he offered The light return OF
praise or commendaiion Had he ever
told her Of the satisfaction he had known,
UT the comfort he had experienced He
was not able 10 recall the time or occa-
sion. As he though, thus. Mrs. Lee came
in from the Kitchen, and, taking the work
bsske, from the closet, placed it on the
table, and sitting down without speaking,
began to sew. Mr.. Lee glanced almost
sealihily al the work in her hands, end
saw the bosom of shirt, which she was
stitching neatly. He knew ,bs, it was
for him that she was at work.
Praise your wife, The words were
before the eyes Of his mind. and he could
not look away from them. But he was
moi ready for this YET, He still fel,
moody and unforgiviDg. The expression
of his wife's face he Interpreted TO mean
ill.nature for which be had no patience.
His face fell upon The newspaper which
lay spread ou, bef~ie him, and he read
the sentence :, a kind cheerful word
spoken in gloomy honse, is the little
rift in the cloud ,ha, lets the sunshine