The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-10-28
1AKzAY a0URNAT4
FRIpAY, OOT0BER 81. SO
MEG's BOMEsTIO EXPERIENCE.
IroNcLuDED.1

Meg likewise resolved to DO calm
and kind, but firm" and show him hi:
his duty. She longed to run aud meet
him, and beg pardon and be kissed
and comforted, as she was sure oil
being; but, of course, she did nothing
of the sort and when she saw John
coming, began to hum quite naturally,
as she rocked and seWed like lady OF
leisure in her best parlor.
John was little disappointed not
to find a tender Niobe; but feeling
that his dignity demanded the first
apology, he made none only came
leisurely in, and laid himself upen the
sofa, with the singularly relevant re-
mark
I'VE are going to have new moon,
my dear" !,
1--WE no objection, vas Meg's
equally soothing remark.
A few other topics Of general in
terest were introduced BIZ Mr.. Brooke,
and wet blanketed by Mrs. Brooke,
and conversation languished. John
went to one window, unfolded his
paper, and wrapped himself Ia it fig
uratively speaking. Meg went to the
other window, and seWed as If new
rosettes for her slippers were among
the necessaries Of life. Neither spoke
both looked quite calm and firm, "
aud both felt desperately uncomfort-
able.
"Oh. DEAR thought Meg. married
life is very trying. and does need inf
mite patience as well as love, as
mother says"
This was the first serious disagree
ment; her own hasty speeches sound
both silly and unkind, as she recalled
them; her own anger looked childish
now, and thoughts of John coming
home to such a scene melted her
heart. She glanced at him with tears
in her eyes, but he did not see them !;
she put down Ter work and got up,
thinking. II will be the frat to say
forgive me, 2 but he did not seem to
hear her; she went very slowly across
the room, Sor pride was hard to sWal-
loW,;and stood by him, bat still be did
not turn his head, for minute she
felt as if she really couldn't do it;
then came the thought. This is the
beginning, I'll do my part, and have
nothing 10 reproach myself with :"
and st0oJlng down. she softly kissed
her husband on the forehead. OF
course that settled it, the penitent
kiss WIS better than a world of words,
and John had her on his knee in a
minute, saying. teuderly:
1T was too bad to laugh at the poor
little Jelly pots: forgive me, dear, l
never will againW
After this, Meg had Mr.. Scott to
dinner by special invitation. and served
him up a pleasant feast without
q cooked wife for the first course; on
which occasion she was so gay and
AIoA NJ Go1tk fnlI he
was happy fellow, and shook his
head over the hardships of bachelors
hood all the way home.
In the autumn, new trials and ex-
perience came to Meg. Sallie Moffatt
renewed her friendship, and was
always running out for dish of gossip
at the little house. or inviting that
poor dear" to come in and spend the
day at the big house. 1t was pleasant,
for in dull weather Meg often felt
lonely; all were busy st home, John
absent till night, and nothing to do
but sew, or read, or putter about. SO
&c naturally fell out that Meg got into
the way Of gadding and gossiplng with
her friend. Seeing Sallie's pretty
things made her long for such, and
pity herself because she Lad not got
them. Sallie was very kind. and
often offered her the coveted trihes.
but Meg declined them. knowing
John would not like it; and then this
foolish little woman went and did
what John disliked infinite y worse.
She knew her husbands income,
aud she laved to feel that he trusted
her, not only with his happiness, but
what some men seem to value more,
his money. She knew where 1t was,
was free to take what she liked, and
all he asked was that she should keep
an accout Of every penny, pay bills
once a month, and remember that she
was poor mans wife. Till now she
had done we'll, been prudent and OK
act, kept her little account books
neatly. and showed them to him
monthly, without fear. But that au-
tumn the serpent got into Meg's para
disc. and tempted her, like many amod-
ern Eve not with apples but with
dress. Meg didn't like to be pitied and
made to feel poor: it irrltated her; but
she was asahmed to confessit, and now
and then she tried to console herself
by buying something pretty, so Sallie
need not think she had to scrlmp.
But trifies cost more than one would
imagine; and when she cast up her
account, at the end of the month, the
sum. to5eI rather scared her. John
was busy that month, and left the
bills 10 her; the next month he was
absent; bat the third he had grand
duaretly settling up, and Meg never
forgot it. A few days before she had
done a dreadful thing, and it weighed
upon her cousciercs. SIllie had been
buying silks, and Meg ache for new
0ne-just o handsome light one for
4 L
mon, and thin things for evening
wear were only proper for girls.
Aunt March usually gave the sisters
a present of twenty i've dollars apiece
at New Year; that was only month
to wait, and here was lovely violet
silk going at bargain. and she had
the money, if she only dared to take
il. John always said that what was
his was hers; but would he think IL
right to spend not only the prospect
i've Eve and twenty, but another five
and twenty, out of the household
fund.- That was the question. Saliie
had urged her to do lt, and offered to
loan the money, and with the best IN
tentions In lille, had tempted Meg be-
yond her strength In an evil moment
the shopman held up the lovely
shimmering folds, and said, !" A bar
gain, assure you, ma'am. She
answered, III take 1t" and 1t was
cut off and. paid for, and Sallie had
exulted, and she had laughed. as
II u was thing Of no consequence,
aud driven away feeling as if she had
stolen something, and the police were