The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1867-08-17
Lights and Shadows OF Domestic
Lifc.



The shadows certainly had gathered VeFy
thekly In the heart and on the face Of Anson
Deane's young wife, As she seated herself near q
large work-basket, filled 10 overnowing with
frcshly-cut jackets and aprons, which Master Har.
~ so much needed. The little woman was tired
and heartslek that sunny May morning, and a.
the shadows wove themselves closer and closer
about her heart, the future promised not ons
gleam Of sunshine-only q weArisome journey
along i.iies path.
Tired 7 OF whatf Not OF the baby, Nellie,
cooling 90 sweeily in her crib, and neslllng hei
curly head Festessly upon the pillow, In her vain
efforts 10 catch glimpse Of the clouded face ol
her mother. The little hands rested upon the
snowwhi,e quilt In dellcacy Of color, like dainty
rose.tinied shells, and the wondering blue eyes
gnzed with steadfast earnestness, at the herks ol
golden sunshine falling through the clustering
vines. Certainly not tired Of the sturdy, four.
year-old Harry, wheeling his barrow out under
the cherry trees In the garden, VI the cosy hill
side farmhouse, nestled under the gnarled old
apple-trees, crowned with their wrea;hs Of snowy
blooms.
Yes, with all these pleasant surroundings, Mrs.
Deane was utterly discouraged, and almost wished
that she might lie down and rest forever from her
labors.
Unkind words had been spoken at the break
fast table that morning. Both father and mother
had been kept awake all night by the ceaseless
fretting Of little Harry. -Four or Eve times Mrs.
Deanr had been Obliged TO get up aud give him
water or smooth his rumpled pillow, and as she
listened TO his hacking cough through the weary
hours Of night, too late she be,houghi herself Of
the romp he had taken, after sunset, down 10 the
long damp grasses ofthe meadow.
What an unsavory meas this is, grumbled
Mr.. Dcane, as he dished out the mashed potatoes
at their early morning meal. ''Scorched through
aud through without particle Of moisture In
them. They are not fl for dogs y
"lcaunot teach Anna to cook vegetables without
burning. III tell her again and again, she for
gets Il every time" wearily rrpied Mrs. Deane.
haps, ] might whip into her some realization Of
her duty"
"You should deal with her patien uy, giving,
her line upon line aud preeept upon psvcspt
and not IRE, and scold as much as you do sen
teniiously remarked the young husband.
"Ah, tits easy enough TO theorize,' thought
Mrs. Deane, ''but oh, my dignihed philosopher
how long did you stop to reflect upon Scripture
precepts, for moral guidance, when yon admins
tered those sVund spanks TO nervous, feverish
Harry, whose Irritating cries last night, 50 ehec-
iually banished slumber."
Aud 50 the tired little wife brooded over her
troubles, and 'fretted the morning hours away,
forgetting that blessings undeservcd, still crown
ed her erring track"
as q wife aud mother. haven't the faculty"
and the tears fell thick and fast upon the little
jacket through which the needle was passing with
nervous energy.
"Oh, mamma Come down and see the robins
nest in the cherry tree shouted Master Harry as
he rushed In through the low porch, with golden
curls flying, and cheeks which the morning bree-
Ees had redeemed with kisses.
Should she 60? The great pile Of sewing loom
al an nFainonaig hafnre her
''Do come, mamma urged the little Pleader,
with eager eyes uplifted.
Aud 80 she donned her seaside" aud strolled
away down through the lilac-bordered path, 10
the corner Of the garden where the old cherry
tree lifted up its snow-blooms TO the glad sun
light.
There IL was, n little mass Of twisted twigs
with two dainty thin-shelled eggs, and the air
fairly pulsa,ed with the melody Of the robins up
among the ,opmost boughs.
"The little treasures I" she murmured andibly,
and then, almost conscience-siricken, she thought
Of the patient labors and ceaseless care Of the
mother-bird, ere the little nesilings would be ct
ted TO journey out into the busy world. in sun
shine and In storm the tiny eggs must be shell
tered close under the warm mother.heart.
Does the robin grow weary OF her labors? Ne
yer, for she Is assisting in her mute, blind way,
the workings Of the infinite Creator OF all, who
''careth even for the sparrows."
"And am weary Of my birdlings? God for
give me and give me more patience" murmured
Mrs. Deane, in earnest selErcproach.
"Be ye not weary In well-doing for in due time
ye shall reap u ye faint not" Like q gentle
warning, came TO her heart, the voice fthe Great
Teacher, speaking In all bis manifold wisdom,
and the olden sunshine came back into her brown
eyes, as she returned to her sewing in her shady
siliing-roou, realizing that His strong right arm
Is ever around Us, upholding and sustaining ev-
en- in the darkest hours.
And 90 the shadows fAll apart.
And 90 the west winds play
And all the windows Of the heart
Are opened To che day