Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1873-11-14

'No, not much effort was required"
said Mr.. Lewis. His tones were slight
ly depressed. f'But this must be taken
into account; my mind was in certain
state of excitement, or activity, that
repressed sober feelings, and made
smiling an easy thing. SO we smile
and are gay in company, at cost of lit
tie effort, because all are smiling and
gay, and we feel the common sphere of
excitement. How different it often is
when we are alone, I need not say
You, Caddy, are guilty of the sober
face at home as well as your husband" F"
Mr.. Lewis spoke with a tender reproof
in his voice.
"But the sober face is caught from
yours oftener than you imagine, my
husband replied Mrs. Lewis.
care you certain of that, Caddy ?"
every certain. You make the sun
light and the shadow of your home
Smile upon us; give us cheerful words;
enter into our feelings and interests,
and there will be no brighter home in
all the land. A shadow on your coun-
tenace is veil for my heart; and the
same is true as respects our children.
IOur pulses strike too nearly in union
not to be disturbed when yours has
lost its even beat.'
/ Again Mr.. Lewis walked on in 81
Ilence, his face partly averted and again
his wife began to fear that she had
spoken too freely. But he soon dis
PEELED this impression, for he said:
81 am glad, Caddy, that you have
spoken thus plainly. Ionly wish that
you had done SO before. Ny smiles
have been for the out side world-the
world that neither loved nor regarded
me-and my clouded brow for the dear
ones at home, for whom thought and
care are everything activities.
Mr.. and Mrs. Lewis were now at
their own door, where they paused a
moment, and then went in. Instant
/ ly, on passing his threshold, Mr.. Lewis
felt the pressure upon him of his usu-
al state. The hue of his feelings began
/ to change. The cheerful interested
exterior, put on for those he met in
business intercourse, began rapidly to
change, and a sober hue to succeed
Like most business men, his desire for
profitable results was even far in ad-
vance of the slow evolutions of trade !;
and his daily history was a history of
disappointments, in some measure de-
pendent upon his restless anticipations.
He was not as willing to work and wait
as he should be; and, like many of his
class, neglected the pearls that lay here
and there along his ife-paths, because
they were inferior in value to those he
hoped to find just q little way in ad-
vance. The consequence was that,
when the days business excitement
was oven his mind fell into brooding
state, and fingered over its disappoint-
ments, or looking forward with failing
hope to the future-for hope in many
things, has been long. deferred. And
so he rarely had smiles for his home.
''Take that home with you, dear"
whispered Mrs. Lewis, as they moved
along the passage, and before they had
joined the family. She had an instinc-
tive consciousness that her husband
was in danger of relapsing into his
usual state.
The warning was just in time.
''Thank you for the words!"" said he.
s1 will not forget them."
And he did not; but at once rallied
himself, and to the glad surprise Of
Jenny, Will, and Mary, met them with
anew face, covered with fatherly smiles,
and with pleasant questions, in pleas
ant tones, OF their days employments.
The feelings children move in quick
transactions. They had not expected
a greeting like this; but the response
was instant. Little Jenny climbed into
her fathers arms. Will came and
stood by his chair, answering in live
Ily tones his questions, while Mary,
older by a few years than the rest,
leaned against her fathers shoulder,
and laid her white hand softly upon
his head, smothed back the dark hair,
lust showing little frost from his
broad, manly temples.
j Apleasant group was this for theey
of Mrs. Lewis, as she came forth from
her chamber to the sitting-room, where
she had gone to lay off her bonnet and
!, shawl and change her dress. Well did
her husband understand the meaning
look she gave him; and warmly did her
heart respond to the smile he threw
back Tuon her.