Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1869-02-18
MISCELLANY.
A Rift in the Cloud.

Andrew Lee came home at evening from the
shop where he had worked all day, tired and
out of spirits came home to his wife, who
also was tired and out of spirits.
/" A smiling wife and cheerful home, what a
paradise it would be !" said Andrew to himself,
as he turned his eyes from the clouded face OF
Mrs. Lee, and sat down, with knitted brows
and a moody aspect.
Not word was spoken by either. Mrs.
Lee was getting supper, and she moved about
with weary step.
"Come," she said at last, with side glance
at her husband.
There was invitation in the word only, none
in the voice of Mrs. Lee.
Andrew arose and went to the table. He was
tempted to speak an angry word, but controlled
himself and kept silence. He could find no
fault with the chop, nor the sweet homemade
bread, nor the fragrant tea. They would have
cheered his inward man, if there had only been
CLEAN of sunshine on the face of his wife
He noticed that she did not eat.
care you not well, Mary p The words
were on his lips, but he did not utter them 4;
for the face Of his wife looked SO rcpellant,
that he 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 purgatory % said Lee to himself,
as he commenced walking the floor Of their lit
tie breakfast-room with his hands thrust des-
peratey away 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, placing fresh-trim-
med lamp thereon, went out and shut the door
after her, leaving her husband alone with his
unpleasant feelings. He took long, deep
breath, and, as he did so, paused in his walk,
stood still for some moments, and then, draw
ing paper from his pocket, sat down by the
table, opened the sheet, and commenced read,
ing. 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.
Al should like to find somc occasion foI
praising mine"
How quickly his thoughts expressed that
ilI-natured sentiment 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 it won't hurt
her"
Andrew Lee raised bis eyes from the paper
and muttcred:-
"Oh! yes. That's all very well. Praise is
cheap enough But praise her for what ?
For being sulleu, and making your home the
most disagreeable place in the world ?"
His eye fell again to the paper.
"She has made your home comfortable
your hearth bright and shining, your food a
grecablc. For PHYS sake, tell her you thank
her, if nothing more. She don't expect it; il
will make her eyes open wider than they have
for ten years; but it will do her good for al
that, and you too
1t seemed to Andrew as il this sentence were
written Just for him, and just for the occasion
1t was the complete answer 10 his question
Praise her for what ?"-and he felt it also
rebuke. He read no farther, for thought came
too busy, and in different direction. Mem
DRY was convicting him Of injustice towards hi'
wife. She had always made his home as com
f)rtable for him as hands could make it, anC
had he offered the light return Of praise ol
commendation Had be ever told her Of the
satisfaction he had known, or the comfort ex-
perienced? He was not able to recall the timt
or occasion.
As he thought thus, Mrs. Leo came in from
the kitchen, and taking her work-basket from
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 that it was the bosom OF
shirt, which she was neatly stitching. lie
knew that it was for him she was at work.
"Praise your WIFE" The words we're before
the eyes of his mind, and he could not iooS
awav from them. But he was not ready ior
this vet. He still felt moody and unforglvlng
The expression of his wife's face be interpreted
TO mean Immature, and with ill-nature he hac
no patience. His eyes fell upon the newspaper
that Law spread out before him, and he read
the sentence
GA kind, cheerful word, spoken in gloomy
home is ike rift in the cloud, that lets th'