Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1867-10-31
MISCELLANY.
A RIFT IN THE CLOUDS
A STORY FOR MARRIED FOLKS.

Andrew Lee came bone 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 a cheerful home-a
paradiseit it would be" said Andrew to himself,
as he turned his eyes from the couded face of
Mrs. Lee, and sat down with knitting brows
and moody aspect.
Not a word was spoken by either. Mrs. Lee
was getting supper, and she moved about with
a weary step Come she said at last, with a
a side glance at her husband.
Andrew arose and went to the fable lie
was tempted to speak an angry word, but con-
trolled himself and kept silent. He could find
no fault with the chop nor the homemade
bread nor the fragrant tea They would have
cheered his inward man, if there had been any
CLEAN of sunshine on the face Of his wife. He
noticed she did not eat
Are you not well, Nary" The words
were on his lips, but he did not utter them, for
the face of his wife looked so repellant, that he
feared an irritating reply.
And so, in moody silence, the twain sat to-
gether until Andrew had finished his supper
As he pushed his chair back, his wife arose and
commenced clearing off the table.
This is purgatory, said Lee to himself, as he
commenced walking the floor of their little
breakfast room, with his hand thrust down in
to his trowsers pockets, and his chin almost
touching his breast.
After removing all the dishes and taking
them into the kitchen, Mrs. Lee spread green
cover on the table and placing fresh trimmed
lamp thereon, went cut and shut the door af-
ter her, leaving her husband alone with his un-
pleasant feeling. lie took a long deep breath
as she did so, pausing in his walk, stood still
for some moments, and when drawing paper
from his pockets sat down by the table, open
ed the sheet, and commenced reading. Singu-
larly 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.
~ should like TO find some occasion for prais-
ing mine How quickly his thoughts ey-
pressed that ill-natured sentiment. But his
eyes were on the page before him, and be read
on: Praise your wife, man. for PHYS sake
give her a little encouragement. It wont hurt
her"
Andrew Lee raised bis eyes from the paper
and muttered: Oh, yes; that's all very well,
praise is cheap enough. But praise her fer
what? For being sulien, and makingher home
the most disagreeabIe place in the world ~
His eyes fell again on the paper
"She las made your home comfortable, your
hearth bright and shining, your food asreea-
be; for PHYS sake tell her you thank her. if
nothing more. She don't expect it it viii
make her eyes open wider than they have for
twenty years, butt viii DO her good for all
that, and you, too
It seemed to Andrew as If this sentence was
written lust for him. and Just for the occasion.
It was a complete answer to his question
praise her for what?7 and he felt it also a re-
buke. He read no further, for thought came
too busy and in new direction. Memory was
convicting him of injustice 20 bic wife. She
had always made his home as comfortable for
him as her hands could make it, and had be
offered the light return Of praise or commenda-
ton? Had he ever told her Of the satisfaction
he had known, or the comfort he had expert
enced? BE was not able to recall the time or
occasion. As he thought thus, Mrs. Lee came
in from the kitchen, and, taking her work-bas-
ket from the closet placed it on the table, and
sitting down without speaking, began to sew.
Mr.. Lee glanced almost stealthily at the work
in her hands. and saw the bosom Of a shirt,
which she was stitching neatly. He knew that
il was for him that she was at work.
Praise your wife" The words were before
the ewes Of his mind, and be could not look a.
way from them. But be was not ready for
this yet lie still felt moody aud unforgiving.
The expression Of bis wife's face be interpreted
% mean ill-1stu.e for which he had 10 patience