The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-01-17

| came home to the old homestead, and too
: care Of his invalid mother. Tenderly ha,
she done it, too. And-could she b
wearing out her life in hard work 10
} him she, the mother of his boys; sh
whom he loved we'll, for all his churlish
ness ? Robert Thompson stole away
he could bear his thoughts no longer
and he felt that he could almost kill him
self for his blind heedlessness.
The afternoon wore on towards even
ing. Mrs. Thompson had finished her il
door work-the washing-up of the dinner
dishes and the putting of the room.
straight-and was going in with an arm.
ful Of fine things that she had taken from
the clothes line, when the sound Of wheels
made her look round.
"I've brought that white-ware, Mrs
Thompson" said the brisk voice of Grow
er, springing from his cart, and lifting
down carefully large hamper.
But l didn't order it, Mr.. Grover"
she rejoined, in rather frightened voice.
"The master did, though. Mr..
Thompson come down this afternoon and
said the things were to come up to you
at once. There's the dinner set you ad-
mlred, and tea set, as well. Where
shall | put 'em ?"
.>.fug ,iso... A., r,----.- l. -----
cd, rather family. He did as he was
bid, and then drove off.
Mrs. Thompson sat down by the ham,
pc. Of crockery, and cried as though her
heart would break. They were magical
tears, too, for they washed all tho weari-
ness and despair from her face, and the
shadow from her eyes and heart. She
forgot that she was tired, or that the day
was hot. She only thought how kind
Robert was, and what a wicked woman
she had been for saying to herself in her
temper that she'd rather have had Squire
Burnham. Then she unpacked the
treasures, pulling Ithem out from amid
the hay, and singing softly all the while.
Oh, it was beautiful, that ware with
its clear, opaque, white, and here and
there delicate tracing Of fuschia or con-
volvulus.
Mr.. Thompson came in and found her
in the midst. "What is it Jenny ?" he
asked-the old fond name he used to call
her.
"Oh, Robert" taking a step toward
him. He opened his arms and drew her
close to his heart, kissing her as fondly
and tenderly as he ever had in the days
Of his courtship.
have been brute, little wife" he
whispered, huskily. "Can you ever fo,-
give me p
Forgive you? o Robert! l never
was so happy in my life have been to
blame; have not been as patient and
kind as might"
Yes, you have. You've been an an
gel, compared to me. | have made
slave OF you but all that is over, now.
| did not think, Jenny; | did not; in
deed"
But-Robert-
You shall have more help in the
hense another servant. Well get her
in, Jenny, long before the sewing-club
night comes round"
"Oh, Robert, how kind you are l
feel as light as bird"
s....is And Y0qE. agea .gl@9sta"o he S8RsYesG
her eager face. Well all turn over a
new leaf, Jane. Heaven knows did
not mean to be cruel"
Robert, you were never that"
Well we'll let it be; bygones shall
be bygones, if you will Oh, and | for
got to say saw Leebs this afternoon. It's
very dull time jlst now, the poor fellow
says, without job on hand so though
I'd give him one. They'll be here to be-
gin tomorrow morning"
You-are-not going to have the
house done up?" she exclaimed, in wild
surprise.
Every square inch Of it. And, once
the painting and that's finished, we'll see
what else we can do to make it look q
triAe brighter"
She hardly believed it she burst in
to tears. "And | have been so wicked"
she cried. Only to-day | had quite
wicked thoughts, Robert was envy.
ing Mrs. Burnham l was angry with
everybody 1t was the discouragemcnt,
Robert"
q" Yes, it WIS the discouragemcnt," he
said quite humbly.
1--WE will do better for the future,
Jane I'll try another plan"
She wept silently for minute longer;
soft, happy tears feeling that light had
superseded the darkness
And it has all arisen from my trying
to carray out for bit that blessed pro.
verb A soft answer turneth away
wrath =" she mused
Rboert. did you ever before see such
lovely white-ware ?'
Day had indeed dawned upon the
tried heart of the long,sufering wife.
She no longer murmured at her hard lot;
the wheels of life were fabricated with
the oil Of gladness and now there is not
u happier household in the land than that
OF Robert Thompson.