Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1870-09-01
A Story For Married Folks.

L
tired and out of spirits; came hOm'
to his wife, who was also tired anC
out of spirits.
"A smiling wife and a cheerful
hOme-paradise it would be-" said
Andrew to himself, as he turned
bis eyes from the clouded face oi
Mrs. Lee, and sat down with knit
ted brows and moody aspect
Not a word was spoken by either.
Mrs. Lee was getting supper, and
she moved around with a weary
step.
Come" said she at last, with a
side glance at her husband.
Andrew arose and went to the
table. He was tempted to speak
an angry word, but controlled him.
self and kept silent. He could
find no fault with the chop, and
home made bread, nor the fragrant
tea. They would have cheered his
inward man if there had been a
gleam of sunshine on the face of
his wife. He noticed she did not
eat.
"Are you not well, Mary ?"
These words were on his lips,
but he did not utter them, for the
face of his wife looked so repel-
liant that he feared an irritating re-
ply.
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 purgatoryP' said Lee to
himself, as he commenced walking
the floer OF their little breakfast.
room, with his hands thrust into his
trowserpockets, and his chin almost
touching his breast.
After removing and taking the
things into the kitchen, Mrs. Lee
spread green cover over the table,
and placing a'freshly-trimmed lamp
thereon, went out and shut the door
after her, leaving her husband alone
with his unpleasant feelings. He
took q long, deep breath, and as he
did SO, paused IN his walk, stood
still for some moments, and then
drawing a paper from his pocket,
sat down by the table, opened the
sheet, and commenced reading
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.
II should like to have some occa-
sion for praising minev' How
quickly his thoughts expressed
that ill-natured sentiment! But
his eyes were on the paper before
him, and he read on:
"Praise your wife, man; for PHYS
sake give her q little encourage
ment. 1t won't hurt her,"
Andrew Lee raised his eyes and
muttered: "Oh yes, that's all very
we'll; praise is cheap enough. But
praise her for what ?" His eyes
fell again to the paper.
"She has made your home com
Portable, your hearth bright and
shining, your food agreeable; for
PHYS sake tell her you thank her, If
nothing more. She don't expect it.
1t will make her eyes wider than
they have been ior ten years, but it
will do her good for all that, and
you too"
1t seemed to Andrew as il this
sentence was written expressly for
him, and just for the occasion. 1t
was a complete answer to the ques-
ton, praise her for what ?" and he
felt it, also, as q rebuke. He read
no further, for thoughts came too
busy, and in a new direction.
Memory was convincing him Of
injustice to his wife. She had al
ways made his home as comfortable
as she could make it, and had he
offered the slightest return Of praise
or commendation? Had be ever
told her of the satisfaction he had,
known, or the comfort he had ex-
perienced2 He was not able to
recall the time or occasion.
AS he thought thus, Mrs. Lee
came in from the kitchen, and, TAX
ing her work basket from the clos
ct, placed it on the table, and sitting
down without speaking, began to
Il -