Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1872-04-02

going up stairs to sleep alone. They
had quarreled. They had as good as
parted. They would be divorced. He
could get another wife and bring her
here, and she-she would have to go
alone in the cold dreary world and earn
her own living. She didn't know
enough about divorce. poor thing, to
think oil aimony. And all this because
he neglected to leave his "Ihings" in the
hall, and she found fault with him for tho
sad neglect Careless husband And
because he was careless and she ldgety,
they must live apart
Mrs Graham looked about her just then.
Everything was nea: and orderly. There
was nothing to worry her! Nothing
There was everything. And she sat down
and cried; shs who had been So rcsolutc
only Ten minutes before. But that rcso
luton, that defiance that had been born OF
anger, was all gone now. How sorry she
was she had been so cross TO him. for she
! hal been oss real cross. .wiekedly cross.
What il lie had tossed his things any and
every way II was mans trick, and
here she sobbed outright he never had
n mother to train him. Poor fellow. he
had been knocked around from pillar to
post all his lie, till he got married, aud
now he would have 10 knock around
again, Tor OF course he could not get mar
ried right away no, he would have to
get houseSeepSr, and she would worry
the lite out OF him; and when nc did get
married could he lind one who would love
him ~ she had and did? Yes. did the
love WAS lhele yet, swelling up and over.
! flowing.
She went into the kitchen hardly know.
! ing why. driven. perhaps. By the force of
/ nahit. Their. stood the table, laid Tor din.
uer, aud so neat; HE cloth white IN it's
creises, the plates and glasses shinin;.
brightly; the knives and forks polished
I
ono look. and mechanically opened the
stove oven. The chicken was browning
nicely; George liked roast chicken better
| than lricasSee. so she had cooked il in
that way. The potatoes and turnips were
'lancing merry jigs in the pot. and the tea
kettle was softly humming. The mince
pic stood on the hearth warming itself
quietly, and eXhaling spicy odor that
was tempting even TO II dyspeplic stom.
ach.
"Sucl nice dinner, and no one 10 eat
! il, | wish i wish-I-I hadn't been so
cross 10 him. | began it. and kept il up |;
ho wasn't cross at first; he held out until
made him mad. | wish ho was more
careful, though-such IA dear, good fell
low, about everything else Never scolds
when bills come in, like Hnnnah Bcn;on's
husband. Mercy don't know how she
docs live with him. And he's always
giving me change too. | hardly ever
/ have TO ask him for cent; | don't know
| what should do il had TO manage AS
Carrie Sanford does 10 gel n dollar out Of
Jim. II had such man Id leave him,
II had 10 work my fingers to the bone
10 get my living. And he wants me 10
have girl and be dressed up all the time,
and read, and practice, and 60 out with
him and there's poor little May Miller,
who never sits down once week but is
lDicvef In the kitchen, and never word
Of thanks, 10 always wondering why she
don't 90 out more than she does. He
ought TO 90 to the tread-mill himself
And he never touches n drop of liquor,
and would not Tor the world, and there's
Nellie Gray's sOt o Il husband coming
home bsasliy drunk every night of. his
litc, AMI soaring the life out OF her. I'd
see him drowned before I'd live with him.
And he never smokes nor chews, while
you can't go into anybody else's house,
hardly, without stumbling over spittoons.
or bein. suifocated with somebody's pipe
or cigar, Dear me; should die in n
week II had to live that way And he
Is always 50 good nalured. too-never
gave me cross word until to-day" But
here she broke down entirely, sob after
sob tearing away in her throat, and threat
ening to choke her.
The patoxism was too violent to last
long. As it subsidized, she dashed off the
tears that flooded her checks, wiped her
eyes and bathed her face thoroughly
! Then she stood q lew minutes as il gath
ering up resolution. A calm, beautiful
expression played about her lips.
The words Of her old pastor had come
back to her all at once as she sat there
weeping. The words he had spoken to
her the evening before her marriage:
"My little girl, you have made good
choice. George Graham, your promised
husband, is young man of excellent
principles and good disposition, and will
do his best to make you happy. But he
is not perfect No man is. And you
must tie patient with his failiDgs--always
patient. One cross word leads to another,
till by and by there's quarrel, and then
good bye TO happiness. Don't scold. but
coax don't drive, but lead. And if ever
you ieel tried with him, think how much
worse it might have been. And always,
always remember that he is no saint, but
only man; 4 man, mortal and weak
Be it your work, little one, TO make his
earthly home a happy one. and to lead