The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1868-08-20
Seleet Story,
A Story for Married People.

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.
GA smiling wife and cheerful home
what paradise it would be-" said
Andrew to himself, as he turned his
eyes from the clouded face of Mrs. Lee.
and sat down with knitting brows and
moody aspect. 90 -a3 =
Not word was spoken by either
Mrs. Lee was getting supper, and she
moved about with weary step.
"Come," she said at last, with a side
glance at her husband.
Andrew rose and went to the table.
He 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 inner man, if there had been a
gleam of sunshine on the face of his
wife. lie 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 repelant that h. feared an
irritating 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 off the
table. -
"This is purgatoiy," said Lee, to HIM
self, as he commenced walking the floor
of his little breakfast-room, with his
hands thrust down into 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
placed freshly trimmed lamp thereon,
went and shut the door after her, leav-
ing her husband alone in his unpleasant
feeling. He took long, deep breath
as she did SO, pausing in his walk, stood
still fer some moments, and then draw
ing paper from his pocket, sat down
by the table, opened the sheet and
commencedreading. Sinsularly 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.
"I should like to find some occasion
for praising mine" How quickly his
thoughts expressed that ill-natured SEN
timent., But his eyes were on the. page
before him, and he read on:
Praise your wife, man; for PHYS
sake give her a little encouragement" !"
Andrew Lee raised his eyes from the
paper and mattered, "0h, yes that's
all very well, praise is cheap enough.
But praise her for what? For being
sullen, and making her home the most
disagreeable place in the world p His
eyes fell again on the paper.
'sShe has made your home comfor-
table, your hearth bright and shining,
your food agreeable for PHYS sake tell
her that you thank her, if nothing more.
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 too"
It seemed to Andrew as if this sem
tence was written just for him and just
for the occasion. It was "a. complete
answer to his question, 4s Praise her for
what 2" And he felt it also as rebuke.
He read no further, for thought came
too busy and in new direction. Mem
ory was convincing him Of injustice to
his wife. She had always made his
house as comfortable far him. as her
hands could makeit, and had he offer
ed the light return Of praise sor com
mendation? Had he ever told her O.,
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, taking her wo: K basket
from the closet, placed itaon the table;
and sitting down without speaking, be-
gan 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 it
was for him that she was at work.
Praise your wife," The words were
al . 40