The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1868-03-10
A RIFT IN THE CLOUDS.
A story for Married Folks.

cut of spirits; came home to his wife
Iwho was also tired and out of spirits.
ga smiling wife and cheerful home
Ia paradise it would BEL" said Andrew tc
himself, as he turned his eyes from the
Iclouded face of Mrs Lee, and sat down
with knitted brows and moody aspect.
| Not word was asspoken by either. Mrs
Lee was getting supper, and she moved
labout withsa weary step. Come, Z she
Isaid al last with eide gta1ec at isel
husband.
Andrew arose and went to the table
BE was tempted to speak an angry word,
but controlled 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, il there had been any CLEAN Of sun
shine on the face Of his wife. He MOTTO
ed she did not eat. -
"Are you not we'll, Mary?' The words
we're on his lips, but he did not utter
them, for the face of his wife looked SO
repellant, that he feared an irritating re-
lply.
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 off the la
Bile.
"This is purgator5,," said Lee to him.
self, as he commenced walking the floor
of their little breakfast room, with his
hands thrust down into his trowsers poek-
cts, and his chin almost touching his
breast. -
After removing all the dishes and TAX
1 ing them into the kitchen, Mrs. Lee
spread green cover on the table, and
placing fresh trimmed lamp thereon,
went out and shut the door after her,
leaving her husband alenc with unpleas .
ant feelings. He took long deep
breath as he did SO, pausing in his walk,
stood still for some moments, aud then
drawing a paper from his pocket, sat
down by the table, opened the sheet and
commenced reading. 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.
81 should like to find some occasion
for praising' mine." How quickly his
thoughts expressed that ill-natnred SEN
ment. Bet his eyes were on the page
before him, and he read on; Praise your
wife man; for PHYS sake give hers little
encouragement. It won't hurt her."
Andrew Lee raised his eyes from the
paper and muttered: "Oh, yes that's all
very well, praise is cheap enough. But
praise her for what? For being sullen,
and making her home the most disagree. !.
able place IN the world2 His eyes fell
again on the paper, slsias
GShe has made your home comfortable,
your hearth bright aud shining, your
food agreeable; for PHYS sake tell her
you thank her, if nothing nore.e She
don't expect it; it will make her eyes open
wider than they have for twenty years;
but it will do her good for all that, and
you, toe" !"
It seemed to Andrew as il this SEN
tence was written just for the occasion.
1t was complete answer to his question
l-"Praise her for what?" and he felt it
almost rebuke. He read it no further,
for thought came too busy in new d.
Ereotien. Memory was convicting him Of
| injustice to his wife. She had always
made his home as comfortable for him as
her hands could make 1t, and had he Of
lfered the light return of praise or COM
mendation,2 Had he ever told her of the
satisfaction he had known, or the COM
| fort he had experienced? He was not
able to recall the time or occasion. As
he thought thus, Mrs. lee came in from
the kitchen, and taking her work basket
from the closet, placed it on the table,
and sitting down without speaking, be-
| gan to sew. Mr.. Lee glanced almost
Istealthily at the work in Ler hands, and
saw the bosom of shirt, which she was
lstitehing neatly. He knew that it was
for him that she was at work.
| aPraise your wife" The words were
before the eyes of his mind, and he could
not look away from them. But he was
not ready for this yet. He still felt moo
Idy and unforgiving. The expression of
his wife's face he interpreted to mean
lin-nature for which be had no patience.
His eyes fell upon the newspaper which
Hay spread out before him, and he read
the sentence: ga kind, cheerful word
1spokeu in q gloomy house, Is the little
lriftin the cloud that lets the sunshine
Through"
/ Lee struggled with himself little lon.
'lger. His own ill-nature had to be con.
|quered FIRST: his moody accusing spirit
HAD to be subdued. He thought Of ma
my things to say, yet he feared to sag
them lest his wife should meet his address
with cold rebuff. At last, leaning to-
ward her and taking hold Of the shirt bo-
[som upon which she was at work, he saiG
lin voice carefully modulated with kind
,[ness: eFse
1 aYou are doing the work beautifully,
MARY" .as~.a Is
i Mrs. Lee madeno reply; but her bus-
band did not fail to notice that she lost
almost instantly that right erectnsss with
which she had been sitting, ner that the
motion Of her needle had ceased.
/ @My shirts are better made.and whittier
than those of any other man ia the shop,
said Lee, encouraged to go on. q
i "Are theyg'
Il Mrs. Lees voice was low, and had in
} lita slight huskinsss. She did not turn
her face, but her husband saw she leaned