Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1868-01-24
PARIS, MAINE, FRIDAY,

=" '"o ""fuF ms eyes Tell again TO the
paper.
"She has made your home comfortable,
your heart brigh, and shining, your food
agree able for PHYS sake tell her you thank
hsr. If nothing more. She don't expect it.
Ii will make her ewes wider than they have
been for ten years bu. il will do her good
Tor all tba, and you too"
Ii seemed to Andrew as II this sentence
was written expressly for him and just for
the occasion. IL was a complete answer to
his question. Praise her for what!- and
be felt il also . rebuke. He read no furth-
er. Tor thoughts came too busy. and in
new direction. Memory was convincing him
OF injustice to MS wife. She had always
made her home as comfortable for him AZ
she could make it, and bad he offered the
hight return of praise or commentator?
Had he ever told her Of the satisfaction he
had known or the comfort he had expert.
encedf lie was not able to recall the time or
occasion. As he thought thus Mrs. Lee
came IN from the kitchen. and ing her
~ork-basket from the closet, placed il on
the table and sitting down without speaking,
began to sew. Mr.. Lee glanced almost
s'eaithily at the work in her hands and saw
tba, II was bosom OF q shirt. which she
was stitching neatly. He knew that il was
for him she was at work.
Praise your wife, These words were
before the eyes OF his mind. and he could
not look away from them Blu, he va. no,
ready for thi. yet. He still felt moody and
unforgiving. The expression OF his wifcs
lace he interpreted to mean i'll nature for
which he had no patience. HIS eve. fell
upon the newspaper that was lyin: spread
out before him. and he read the sentence.
"A kind cheerful word spoken in . gloomy
house is the little riff in the cloud that
lets the sunshine through"
/ Lee struggled with himself while longer.
( HIS own Miniature had to be conquered
first. his moody. accusing spirit had to be
subdued
; He thought OF many things to say, and
yet be feared to say them. lest his wife
should meet his address with rebuff. At
last. leaning towards her. and tax ing hold
upon the shirt bosom at which she was at
work be said in voice that was careful lily
modsla.ed with kindness:
You are doing the work beautifully,
Mary
Mrs Lee made no reply. But her hus-
band did not fail to notice that she lost, al
mes, Instantly. tina, rigid erect ness With
which she had been sitting, nor that the
motion OF her needle had ceased
I MY shirts are better made aud Whittier
than those OF any other man in the shop"
said Lee. encoura ed to go on
Are tbey?" Mrs Lees voice was low,
and had IN il slight husk mess She did
turn her face, bat her husband saw that she
leaned a little towards him. He had broken
the ice OF reserve, and all was now easy.
His hand was among the clouds. and fee
bic ray was already struggling through the
rift it bad made.
Eyes, MARY be- answered softly, "and
I've heard II more than once what a good
wife Andrew Lee must have"
/ Mr.. Lee turned her face toward her bus-
band. There was something light in it and
/ lgh, in her eye. But there was something
in the expression of the coantenance that
little puzzled him.
Don't you think SO" she asked quite
soberly.
"Whs, = queer question ~ calculated An.
drew Lee. starting up and going round to
the side Of the table where bis wife was
sitting. what a question. Mary" be
repeated. as he stood before Der.
"Do you?" was sll she said
"Yes darling" was hi, warm spoken an.
swer and he stopped down and kissed her.
"IIcw strange that you should ask me such
a question! :"
Ill you would only tell me so now and
then. Andrew. it would do me good" Mrs
Lee arose, and. leaning her face agains, the
manly breast Of her husband stood and
wept.
/. What a strong light broke in on the mind
Of Andrew Lee lie had never given bis
wife even the sma all reward OF praise for the
lovirg interest she bad manifested daily.
until doubt Of las love had enier, j her soul
and made the light around her thick dark.
ness No wonder that her face grew cloud.
ed or that what be considered moodines.
and ill-nst ure took possession Of her spirit.
You are good and true. Mary. my own
dear wife. am proud Of on, and my first
desire IL for your happiness. Oh, it could
alHays see your face in sunshine, my home
would be the dearest place on earth"
How precious to me are your words Of
love ,nJ fraise Andres said Mrs Ice