Connecticut western news., 1871-12-01

He fell into the habit of drinking because he lacked sufficient strength of will to avoid it. Then Nabby's sharp words, and his own miserable sense of meanness and seleeontempt, of utter Encouragement and despair, drove him lower and lower, and he sank down supinely into the Slough of Despond without effort or hope.
 By a beautiful dispensation of Provi- dence, whenever poor, shiftless, good-for- nothing man is sent into our world, some active, go-ahead little woman is invariably fastened to him to tow him along through, and keep his head above water. It's for the best, of course. What would become of the poor fellow without her? At the same time, she sometimes finds it little hard.
 Nabby was ambitious and proud spirited, willing to work hard, to save, to do her part-anxious to get on in the world and stand well among the neighbors. The fact, gradually realized, that in her hus- band she had no help, no support, only a drag and burden, and finally disgrace. had been disappointment embittering her whole nature. To have husband that no one respected, that even the boys around town called "Si Gould" was dreadful to Nabby. Perhays it was hardly strange that she grew hard and bitter.
 Meanwhile Nabby had succeeded in starting the fire, and having changed her dress, sat down to dry her feet until the tea-kettle boiled But even the ruddy light and warmth with which the kitchen now glowed could not fend off the dreari- ness of the night. The rain "tapped with ghostly finger tip upon the window pane, " and the wlnd howled and walled around the house like the spirits of the lost plead ing to be once more taken back into human life and warmth. Such wind stirs in even the happiest heart vague sense oi loss, ot change, of all that goes to make up the unsatisfactofiness of life. Dead sor- rows creep forth from their graves on such nights, and stalk up and down the echoing chambers of the heart.
 Nabby could not help wondering where Josiah was tonight. It was so lonely sitting there with no one to speak to, lis tening to the moaning wind, the creaking of the blinds, the loud ticking of the clock
 "And Vhanksgivin' a-comin'," thought Nabby. "A pretty Thapksgivin' shall have ]"
 The wind walled and walled, and Nabby thought and thought. The very fact ot having Greed her mind," to the squire had relieved her long pent-up indignation, and now she felt more sad than angry. UT before her seemed to rise picture of hes life: the youthful dreams and hopes, the changes and disappointments, the love turned into wrangling. She even thought of Josiah with pity. For the first time she ".put herself in his place." and realized how almost impossible it was for one o his weak mature to resist, unaided, the temptation which will cost stronger will an effort.
 "I'm afraid I've ben little too sharE with Josiah,"" thought she. "I've sortel took it for granted I was saint and he { sinner, and scolded him right along dowr hill. A nice saint l am! As proud anc high-strong as Luci!er himself! Oh dear ? sighed Nabby: ia pretty mess l've made of living! If we could only go back an6 begin over again, seems to me things would go better"
 Just then there was faint noise, likt the clicking of the door latch. Nabby started and looked round. All was stil aaain-no one visible. Yet Nabby could not rid herself of the impression that some one was near her, that odd sense we hay, of another's individuality near us thougl not present.
 "There's some one hangin' round here know,p said she to herself.
 | Nabby was one who always met thing half way. Accordingly, she walked to tn outside door, and, opening it quickly peered out into the darkness. There stoo, Josiah-wet, sheepish, sorry. Once h. had started to go in, but his courage fail ing, he fingered in dubious hesitation ol tne doorstep.
 "Why don't you come in, Josiah ?" saio Nabby.
 "I don't knows you'd want me, Nabby, replied Josiah, with all the meekncss be coming returning prsdigal.
 "Want you? Of course I do," sait Nabby, heartily. "Come right along in Pm goin' to have griddle-cakes for supper and you must tend 'em while set tn table," Griddle-c cakes were one of Josiah' lavorite weaknesses, and Nabby kn,w it
 Josiah came in. If he ever gets int heaven, probably his sensations will not b one whit more delightful than they wer now, as from the blcakness and gloom o the night, the forlornness of his wretchet wanderings, he came into the oozy bright ness of the kitchen, and felt that he wa home once more. How good the te smelled! The fire roared and snapped the tea-kettle boiled and bubbled an, nubbed its lid up and down, and from tn griddle the savory odor of the cakes as pended like a homely incense. Josiah face, shining with mingled heat and happi ness as he turned the griddle-cakes, wa something worth seeing.
 Nabby stepped briskly around gettin supper ready. It seemed 50 pleasant t set the table for two again, to have som one to praise and appreciate her cooking The November wind might howl its wors now. Its hold on Nabby was gone. | place of all the bitter sadness that ha hung heavily around her heart was war; feeling of happiness, of comfort and hopt
 All the explanation they had wishe was this Josiah drew forth from unde his shabby coat an exceedingly awkwar and knobby bundle.
 "l've bought something for you, Nabby, said he.
 The something" undone, proved to b a very handsome britannia teapot. Ina teapot must have known it was a peace offering, with such preternatural bright ness did it shine and glisten. Somethin in Nabby's eyes shone and glistened tot although she winked hard, and scorne the weakness of pocket-handkerchief.
 "Thank you, Josiah," she said: tits regular beauty, and shall set lots by it.
 Which, so long as they understood eac other, was, perhaps, as we'll as if Josia had made long-worded speech of repent ance and reformation, and Nabby anothe of forgiveness.
 wish I could say that Nabby neve scolded Josiah again. But can't. How ever, she "drew 1t mild," and there was general understanding between them tha this was only Q sort of exercise mad necessary by habit-a barking by no mean involving biting And Josiah was so ae