The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1869-05-20
A CROSS WORD.

can't wait all day" NJ 800
Tom didn't speak cross, only EN-.
phatic; but / was out of temper that
morning and my head ached from Sit
ting up too late the night before. Tom
had gone to a superior the second
time since our marriage given by one
of our bachelor friends, and had come
home very much the worst for it. 1t
had provoked me intensely. So ! had
followed him to bed in silence and
awoke none the better pleased after
my sleep, on the morning alluded to-
To make the matter worse, just as he
spoke to me about the button, the
knife I was cutting the bread and but
ter with slipped, INJECTING q deep cash
in my hand and the baby awoke and
sent up 4 sharp little cry from the
cradle, all in one and the same moment
"You can wait as well as I did last
night" ! replied sharply, really angry
at last. Don't hurry me, / do all ]
can, and more than I am able to do,
with one pair of hands"
Tom dropped his button, and turn
ed toward me with startled cry OF
"Why Lucy!"
"Don't Lucy me!' retorted,
throwing down the bread and catching
up the baby, while the blood streamed
down from my hand over her white
frock. "You've done enough, you've
broke my heart! wish had never
seen you. ! wish I was back with my
father and mother"
broke down with hystcrical burst
of tears, and seeing the blood on my
hand, Tom came and knelt down be-.
side me. -
"Why, Lucy, he said, his voice and
eyes full of tenderness, you've cut
your hand! Why didn't you say so ?
Here, give me the child, while you bind
it up; see how it bleeds."
He held out his hands for the baby,
but l snatched her away, and went on
sobbing.
Don't cry, Lucy he continued,
stroking the hair back from my fore
head, "please don't. ! know I've done
wrong, dear. butt didn't mean it. fell
in with some of my old companions,
and they persuaded me against my
will. But it's the last time, Lucy, the
very last time"
Why didn't turn to him, then, and
help and encourage him2 Because my
mean temper got the better Of my wo.
mans heart.
"Oh, yes" I said sneeringly; cit is
easy enough to make promises, you
expect me to trust you now, after last
night9'
Tom was spirited and quick temper
ed-great loving hearted men always
are. He sprang to his feet like fash,
and before / had time to think or
speak, had left the room. tossed
the child into the cradle, and rushed
to the door, but it was too late, he was
gone. ljust caught q glimpse of him
as he turned the corner.
went back to the little breakfast
room; how blank and dresry it looked
and what sharp singing thorn there
was at the bottom of my heart! ]
loved Tom, and he loved me. We had
been married only eighteen months,
and this was our 6rst quarrel. I sat
down with my baby in my arms, and
fell to thinking. All the old happy
days came back; and particularly when
we sat in Dunbury Wood. 1t was
autumn, and eli the world seemed q
blaze of gold, as the sun sank down,
and as / sat there, with the last rose
of summer in my hair, knitting purse
for Tom.
"Lucy," he said, as wove in the
last golden STITCHES, "you've knit my
love--my very life in that purse. Tell
me now, before you finish it, how it is
to be Am / to leave you, and--and--
ohp I won't think Of it even-Lucy
it would be too dreadful"
mo, Tom,' l answered, "you are to
have the purse and the hand that knit
it too" .-'"t
Poor Tom he cried then just like q
little child-he, the bravest man in
Madison. .
mo fault to find, only he's little
too wild. too fond of gay company
but you must tame him a. your
mother did me, Lucyw
That was my old fathers advice on
our wedding day.
Had l done my duty3 Had I fol.
lowed the example ofmy mother, who
never let fall an unkind word7 Ny
heart smote me dreadfully, a. I called
the morning to mind.
But Tom would be home at dinner.
The thought brought me to my feet. ]
went and superintended the prepare.
So, - s,s~k ..~A : lse--l