South-eastern Independent. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1871-1871, 1871-07-14

!. daVs The Usual amount of village gossi1
/ concerning the appesrdftcs and behaviC
r Of groom and bride. This over, and Il
Il affair va among the things that wer
All went on as usual TIC Customary bus
: sounds were heard in the old snof; y
0 Young blacksmith had taken new cart
$ upon himself, and must not be idle. Th
E tathet smoked. his pipe as vigorously g
{ ever; the mother p1itd her. knitting nee
dies and superintendedthe household EoI
5 Germs of both families, for the distance ws
t short, snd Lizzie loved to come for advic
+ to the kind old lady, ard was quite sur
r that williams fa4orite dishes could not
properly prepared Ghless +nder efspecia
t directions. Aud thus all went 5uietl
and happily for days and months, and eyel
years,
The little cottage was less lonely now
and Lizzie deemed not the time so lonj
when William was absent at his dali,
; work A smiling babe Ess IN her arms
and lovely little prattler ran by her side
as she took her usual walk to grandpa s
a kind welcome always awaited her.
Lay by your things, Lizzie" said th'
youngest sister, "and give me the baby
You are 20 take tea with us, this evening
mother was Just sefiding me with an invi
tation. Your little maid has a holiday
you know, and it is not fitting for you tC
attend to the household cares with babe
on each arm"
"Not quite so bad as that, Jennie, fol
Willie runs braTely By my side, and little
Lizzie can creep abound the floor. How
ever, l would gladly accept your invita-
tion did not think viii would return
from work, and wonder at my absence"
I" He will know very well where the birds
have flown, and can follow them if he likes
! Come, no more excuses; know what you
would say. 1t is the fourth anniversary OF
your wedding day, and you wish for a
cOZy, little time at home. No matter, that
/ is selfish, and you must learn to deny your
self"
Hush, Jenny, do not run on so" said
the old lady, reprovingly. " Stay with us,
Lizzie, my child, and you can step home
for William when he returns from work.
Father is at the shop to-day, and they will
no doubt leave together"
The hours passed quickly by, and the
old gentleman was soon at the gate before
they had thought of its being near the
hour for tea.
"Has William gone home, father ?"
asked Lizzie, as she returned his affection
ate greeting.
"Not vet, dear. He was obliged to go
to Clyde on business, and will not return
till evening You can stay with us to tea,
and have time to prepare for him after
you 90 home; promised to send Jennie
to tell you of his absence, but now have
done the errand myself"
"And YOU will have that cozy little chat,
after all, sister Lizzie" whispered the
lively Jennie. "The babies will be asleep,
and nothing to disturb you"
Lizzie smiled cheerfully, and acknowl-
edged that it would be very pleasant, and
then turned her attention to the little
ones, who were already climbing upon
grandpapa's knee.
The abundant country tea was prepared,
and soon after it was over kind good
right was said, and the y oung mother and
children returned to their own pleasant
home.
Fatigued with the pleasures of the af
noon, the babies soon slept, and, as Jennie
had said, everything bid fair for the quiet
evening chat The husbands supper was
ready; the household cares for the day
were ended, and, seated at her little work
table, Lizzie busily piled her needle, cast
ing ever and anon an expectant glance
along the shady walk which led to the
cottage, and indulging, in the meantime,
in very delightful retrospective view of
the events of the past four years. No
clouds had as yet obscured the sunshine.
The moonlight looked as pleasant now as
it did long, long ago, even in the honey
moon itself. William was still the kind
est and best of husbands, and the most
loving and indulgent of fathers; and when
this was said it mattered little to speak of
troubles, for with good husband, much
sorrow may be cheerfullY borne. But thus
far there had been no SORROW. Worldly
riches had increased so that the little place
in which they lived was now their own, free
from all debts. The business was still thriv-
ing, and would become more so, as the
village increased in size, and William still
continued his old habits of industry. Every
one pronounced him a rising man, and
what everybody said must be true. Even
his old friend Jim had ceased to urge the
cause so strongly upon him,
and had nearly arrived at the conclusion
that William james was one of the very
few who might, with safety, indulge in
" three glasses day."
Regularly were the three glasses taken
at the village saloon, that stood near the
blacksmith shop, and as regularly was q
sum equivalent to their cost handed to
Lizzie upon his return from daily work.
At first it was done in joke, but soon be-
came thing of course-a fixed habit,
which would have been difficult to break
up. No question was ever asked as to the
of the money. Here are
your three glasses. he would say, and
a quiet thank you was the wife's reply.
Lizzie's pleasant reflections were inter
rupted by the sound of footsteps. She
it was certainly William. Yes,
it was his step; and yet it fell on the wife's
ear with different sound from usual. and
it was with an uncertain and almost hesi-
tating feeling that she rose to open the
door
as it you, William" she asked, before
she turned the key.
"Who else should is be? Open the
door quickly, and do not keep me stand
ing on the steps all night.
Never before had William spoke IN so
abrupt and hasty manner, and Lizzie
looked at him in astonishment as she has
lily did as he desired.
What is the woman looking st?" he
exclaimed, in the same harsh voice. One
would think she never saw man before.
Cannot you give me some supper?"
1OuA supper ID ACdNy1 w hl1dLl, luC
wife replied, mildly She said no more,
for her heart was very full, and she could
with difficulty restrain her tears. A mo-
ment's reflection, however, restored her
Something very unusual must
have occurred to irritate her husband to
80 uncommon degree. 1t was her duty
to endeavor to soothe him-to divert his
mind and bring him into a better state
With this view, after placing his supper
before him, she chatted cheerfully con-
cerning the little incidents of the after
noon, Of the pleasant tea at fathers,
her disappointment that he could not join |
her there, and how little Willie had wished |
that father had piece of grandma's nice |
cake, and baby Lizzie had seemed to miss |
him when they returned home, and would |
be carried from room to room, as if search |
ing for something.
To all this, and much more, he listened |
in silence. and made no kindly response |
Lizzie was sad, but not discouraged, and |
when he left the table, and threw himself |
upon the old-fashioned lounge, which was |
his favorite place of evening rest, she seat |
ed herself upon low stool at mis- side, and |
looked affectiOnately in his face, as she |
"Wbat is the matter, dear Will? This !
is the anniversary of our marriage, and |
you have not spoken one kind word to |