American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1872-12-07
W. - CANTON, MISS, SATU RDAY, DECEMBER I. 1872

mors me like a child, Because am no
worthy serious opposition. AS if wOmei
| were not capable of heroism and nobl,
deeds as menu
'Such women as Jane Millais," return
ed Mrs. Dunbar, with some emphasis
"When the boat overturned, last sum
mer, and they went down, she had hel
husband about the neck; and she DELHI
erately LET him go, thinking it better tc
perish BY herself, than to drag him dowr
with her. Under God, they all OWED
their lives to her heroic self-control. fol
he was the only swimmer in the party
Jessie shuddered.
81 could, never have done that.
should have elung tight-tight about his
neck
Mrs. Dupbar laid down her work, and
took both Jessie's hands i'm hers.
on are no heroine. and yet your hus-
band is to reverence your nobility of char
acter. MY little Jessie, did you ever hear
cf the twenty-five pound weight that
thought the world amiss and the scales
unjust, because 1t was not treated like a
hundred weighte''
Jessie pulled her hands away passion
ately.
''Oh, of course. 1 am everywhere in
the wrong. 1 am Johns inferior. l
should be only too happy in the drudgery
of household life, and generously reward
sible pursuits to gla ce my way
And if 1t were sO," returned Mrs.
Dunbar, Quite unmoved, it would not
be your part to assert yourself as you are
doing now-fOr charity endureth all
things, and seeks not her own; but. Jes-
sic, you poor child, the drudgery of daily
liie!-there is no drudgery for love, dear.
l married young n man whose whole life
was devoted to scientific pursuits. And.
after a few trials, it became plain enough
that l had no capacity or comprehension
for the matters that interested him most
But L could comprehend how much he
loved his studies. And since 1 could
neither be a left hand to help on his work.
nor an eye or an ear to detect errors and
omissions, or even memory to serve as
reference, l promised myself to be to
him always an atmosphere of home COM
fort and sympathy for what pleased him.
JESSIE and Mrs. Dunbar'S soft voice
trembled little, IS thank God, looking
back on our long and happy life, that my
husband could as well have existed with
out the air we actually breathe, as with
out me-and there is no boast in that. 1
loved him deeply, and there was my one
talent, my one way of serving him."
Jessie buried her face in her hands.
Mrs. Dunbar resumed her needles with
out another word, till by and by some
body came in, and, looking in surprise
from one 70 anCtner, said, nall uneaSlly:
"Why, Jessie, pet, are you dreaming ?"
g l have been, but L am awake now
john" answered his wife, looking up at
him with face at once so bright and
tremulous that John found himself WON
dering over it afterward. Mrs. Dunbar
smiled.
That was not altogether pleasant year
for John. Bobbin & Medlark met with
some losses. Worse yet, John met treach-
cry, base and black, in his closest friend
These transactions graved an additional
line here and there in Johns fine face :;
but, after all, he :" as neither sour nor I'M
happy. When questioned, he said that
6 he had a charm at home in his wife,
She was a fiery little thing; but so pa
tient, so loving, so thoughtful, so gentle
for him-hOw could fellow feel poor
with such a treasure at home as that land
here his voice shook a little), or doubt
human nature as long as he knew her?''
John told this to Mr.. Dunbar. MIR.
Dunbar told his wife. Mrs. Dunbar re-
pcated it to Jessie, with the commentary,
" Not so bad for wife who has no inflll-
ence." Jessie smiled, and looked down
at locket she was fond of wearing-an
odd aflair-a little twenty-five pound
weight done in plain gold.