The weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1869-18??, 1869-11-03

II
usual, to spend the evening in sewing. (.
i deep sigh beaved inyoluntarily her bosol
as she did 30. It caught the,ear of her hu
band, and smote upon his, heart. He kne'
that her health was feeble, and that constar
labor fatigued her excessively T3i
H q wouldn't sew tonight, Jane, y he said
''you look tired !; rest for one EVENING" o
/ Mrs. Jarvis neither looked up nor replied
There was something in the tone other hui
bands voice that stirred her feelings some
thing that softened her heart towards hin
But she dared not trust herself to speal
nor let her eye meet his; she did not wis
to utter harsh or.repulsiye word, nor wa
she willing to speak kindly to him, for sh
| did not feel kindly, and kind words and al
fected eheerfulness she had already foun,
but encouraged him in his evil ways; ant
SO she continued to ply her needle withou
appearing to regard his presence. He
husband did not make another effort to in
duce her to suspend her labors; for, unde
existing circumstances, he was PECULIAR,
DESTROYS of not provoking her to use toward
him the language of rebuke and cens1re
After sitting silent for about half an hour
he arose from his chair and walked two O.
three times across the room, preparatory tt
! going out to seek a public house and there
spend the EVENINGS his wife supposed
But, much to her surprise, he retired'to thei
chamber in the adjoining room. While
still under the expectation of seeing him re-
turn, his loud breathing caught her quick
ear. He was asleep. ..v.flss d,
Catching up the light, as she arose sud.
denly to her feet, she passed with hasty
step into the chamber. He had undressed
| himself, was in bed and sound asleep. She
held the candle close to his face; it was
calmer than usual and somewhat paler. As
she bent over him, his breath came full in
her face. 1t was not loaded with the dis
gushing fumes that had so often sickened
her. Herheart beat quicker-moisture dim
med her eye-her whole frame trembled-
then looking upwards, she uttered single
prayer for ner husband, and gliding quietly
from the room, sat down by her table and
again bent over her work. Now she remem-
bered that he had said, with something un-
usual in his tone: II would not sew to-
night, Jane; you look tired; rest for one
evening and her heart was agitated with
new hope; but that hope, like the dove
from the ark, found nothing upon which to
rest, and trembled back again into feeling
of dependency. What had she to hope
tori Surely not that her husband would
reform! She had seen too many efforts at
reformation, commenced under better auspi-
ces than could possibly now surround him,
and all had failed. At each successive fail.
ure, his state became worse than before. 1t
was past twelve o'clock when she laid by
her work, from exhaustion and pain, and
sought few hours of troubled repose.
On the next morning, the trembling hand
of Jarvis, as he lifted his saucer to his lips
at the breakfast table, mnde his wife's heart
sink again in her bosom. She had felt II
hope, almost unconsciously. She remem-
bered that at supper-time his hand was
steady-nOw it was unnerved. This was
conclusive to her mind that, notwithstand-
ing his appearance, he had been drinking.
But few words passed during this meal, for
neither felt much inclined to converse.
After breakfast, Jarvis returned to the
shop, ard worked steadily until dinner time.
and then again until evening. As on the
night before, he did not go out, but retired
early to bed. And this was continued all
the week. But the whole was a mystery to
his poor wife, who dared not even hope for
any real change for the better. On Satur-
day, towards night. he had laid by his work.
put on his coat and hat and went into the
front store. 4
$50 you have really worked week
sober man, John !" said Mr.. Landlord.
"Indeed have. Since last Sunday morn
ing, no kind of intoxicating liquor has
passed my lips"
"And hope never will again, John"
at shall never if die; will not depart
from this resolution
May you have strength to keep it." the
old man said earnestly. Then, after a
pause
How much have you earned this week,
John"
Here's the foreman's account of nv
work, sir. Itcomes to forty-eight shillings.h
"Still fast workman. You will recover
yourself, and your family Will again be hap
Ply, if you persevere"
40, sir, they shall be happy! Twill per-
severe?"
"surely you have, for doing so, the strong
est considerations"
Another pause ensued, and then Jarvis |
said, while the color mounted to his cheek: |
"lf you are willing, Mr.. Landlord, should |
like you to deduct only one half of what 1 |
owe you for those furs took from you from
this weeks wages. My family are in want |
Of great many things, and I am partlcu-
arly DESTROYS of buying barrel of -four to- |
night"
"Say nothing of that, John. Let it be
forgotten with your past misdeeds. Here
IRE your wages-forty-eight shillings-and |
+ it gives you as much pleasure to re-
;eive it as it does me to pay them, then
you feel no ordinary degree of satisfaction"
MIR. Jarvis received the large sum for him
o possess, and hurried away to the grocery. |
Here he bought for twenty -four shillings, a
barrel of flour and expended eight shillings
more of his wages in sugar, coffee, tea, mo-
asses, &c. Near to the store was the mar
ret house. Thence he repaired, and bought
neat and various kinds of vegetables, with
'utter, &c. These he carried to the store.
nd gave directions to have all sent home to
i'm. He had eight shillings left out of the
orty eight he had earned since Monday
morning, and with these in his pocket he
eturned home. As he drew near the house
is heart 1uttered in anticipation of the
delightful change that would pass upon
IL beneath his humble roof. He had never,
his life, experienced feelings of such real
oy.
A few moments brought him to the door;
e went in with the quick step that had
larked his entrance for several DAYS. It
Tas not quite dark, and his wife sat sewing
y the window. She was finishing a pair
pantaloons that had to 90 home that
vening, and with the money She was to get
'r them, she expected to buy the Sunday
inner. There were barely enough food in
ne house for supper, and unless she receiv-
her pay for this piece of work, she had
o means of getting the required sustenance
II herself and children-or rather, for her
usband, herself and children. The indi.
ldual for whom it was intended was not
prompt paymaster, and usually grumbled |
henever Mrs. Jarvis asked him for money
o add to the circumstances of concern and
ouble of mind, she felt almost ready to |
I'VE up from excessive pain in her breast.
Id the weakness OF her whole frame. As
sr husband came in she turned upon him
anxious. and troubled counterance, and
zen bent down over network and piled her
'edle hurriedly. As the twilight grew dim
around she drew nearer and nearer /
the window, and at last stood I'D and
aned close up to the panes of glass SO that | i
II hand almost touched, in order to catch | I
e feeble rays of light that were still visi- :
e. But she could not finish the garment
ION which had she wrought by the light
day. A candle was now lit, and she took
r place by the table. not SO much as CLAN. Z
lg towards her husband, who had seated
nself in a chair, and with his youngest
lid upon his knee. Half an hour passed
silence, and then Mrs. Jarvis rose up. Fl
wing taken the last stitch in the garment !
was making, and passed into an adioin- !,
!, chamber. In a few moments she came =,
!, with her bonnet and shawl on, and the :