The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1872-12-04

: disclosure.
"And how did she bear il p
: Like an aageli 1t seemed rathe
; to be relief TO her mind, for sh
, threw her arms round my neck, ant
! asked if this was all that had lately
: made me unhappy.-But, poor girl,
J added he, ''she cannot realize tbs
: change VIC must undergo. She hai
no idea Of poverty but in the abstract
she has only read Of it in poetry
. where il is allied 10 love She feel:
as vet no pTivation she suffers NJ
loss OF accustomed conyeniences moi
elegancies When we come partially
to experience its sordid cares, it.
paltry wants. its petty humiliatioBs-
then viii be the real trial.
But said /, now that you have
got over the severest task, that O
breaking ii to her, the sooner you lei
! the world into the secret the better
| The disclosure may be mortifying
but then il is a single misery, and
soon over: whereas yon otherwise
suffer il, in anticipation, every hour
in the day. 1t is not poverty 50 much
as pretence, that harnesses a ruined
man-the struggle between proud
mind and empty purse-the keeping
up hollow show that must soon
come to an end. Have the courage
to appear poor and YOU disarm pow
erty Of its sharpest sting" On this
point found Leslie perfectly prepar-
ed. He bad no false pride himself
and as to his wife, she was only anx-
ious to conform to their altered for
tunes.
Some days afterwards he called
upon ME in the evening. He had dis
/ posed of his dwelling hoGse, and ta-
ken a small cottage in the country. a
/ few miles from town. He had been
busted all day in sending out furni-
ture The new establishment requir-
ed few articles, and those Of the SIM
plest kind. All the splendid furni-
ture Of his late residence had been
sold, excepting his wife's harp That,
he said, was too closely associated
with the idea Of herself /; 1t belonged
TO the little story Of their loves; for
some ofthe sweetest moments Of their
courtship were those when be had
leaned over that instrument, and lis
tened 10 the melting tones Of her
voice | could not but smile at this
instance of romantic gallanry in a
doting husband
He was now going to the cottage,
where his wife had been all day
experimenting its arrangement. Ny
feelings had become strongly interes-
ted in the progress of this family
story, and as ii was a fne evening,
offered to accompany him.
He was wearied with the fatigues
Of the day. and, as be walked out,
fell into fit Of gloomy musing.
Poor Mary = at length broke,
with heavy sigh, from his lips.
And what Of her 2" asked / /: has
anything happened to her %
WHAT said he, darting an impa-
tient glance, 'is ii nothing to be re-
dueed 10 this paltry situation-to be
Gagged in miserable eottage-to be
obliged 10 toll almost in the menial
concerns Of wretched habitation.
Has she then repined at the
change :"
"Repined. she has been nothing
but sweetness and good humor. ln-
deed, she seems in better spirits than
| have ever known ber she has been
to NE all love, and tenderness, and
comfort.
admirable girl - exclaimed /.
"You call yourself poor, my friend f;
you never were 50 rieh-you never
knew the boundless treasures Of ex-
cellence you possess in that woman .
"0hl but, my friend. if this srst
meeting at the cottage were over, |
think could then be comfortable
But this is her first day of real ex-
perience; she has been introduced
into a humble dwelling-she has been
employed all day in arranging its
miserable equipments-she has, for
the first time, known the fatigues of
domestic employment-she has, for
the FIRST time, looked around her on a
home destitute Of every thing elegant,
almost Of every thing convenient !;
and may now be sitting down, ex-
hausted and spiritless, brooding over
prospect of future poverty"
There was a degree of probability
in this picture that could not gain
say, 50 we walked on in silence.
After turning from the main road
up a narrow lane, so thiekly shaded
with forest trees as to give it COM
pleic air of seclusiOn, we came in
sight of the cottage 1t was humble
enough in It's appearance for the most
pastoral poet, and yet it had a pleas
ing rural look. 4 wild vine had
overrun one end with prefusion of
foliage a few trees threw their
branches gracefully over it ; and | OBJ
served several pots of flowers .aste-
fully disposed about the door, and ON
the grass-plot in front. A small
wicket gate opened upon a footpath
that wound through some shrubbery
to the door Just as we approached,
we heard the sound Of music-Leslie
grasped my arm; we paused and lis
tened. 1t was Mary's voice singing,
in style Of the most touching sim
plicity, little air Of which her hus-
band was peculiarly fond.
/ felt Leslie's hand tremble on my
arm. He stepped forward 20 near
more distinctly. His step made q
noise Oh the gravel walk. a bright
beautiful face glanced out at the win
dow and yanished-a light footstepI
was beard-and Mary came tripping
forth to meet US: she was in pretty
rural dress Of white: few wild
flowers were twisted in her fine hair !
fresh bloom was on her check; her
whole eountenance teamed with
smiles-I had never seen her look SO
lovely.
my dear George cried she, Il
am so glad you are comel have
beenrnnning down the lane. and look
ing out for you. I've been gathering
some Of the most delicious straw
berries, for | know you are fond Of
IL. IL -. -. II - IL.