Connecticut western news., 1873-09-26

not really displeased him it had only set him to thinking. After remaining 2 gravely silent, because he was under going @ brief self-examination, MT. Lewis said
 "You thought the smile given to Mr. Edwards came easily enough ?"
 ''It did not seem to require an effort, :" replied Mrs. Lewis.
 "No, not much effort was required" /" said MT. Lewis. His tones were slight ly depressed. "But this must be taken into the account my mind was 1n 8 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 little ef- fort, because all are smiling and gay, and we feel the common sphere of ex- citement. How. different it often is when we are alone, Ineed not say. You, Caddy, are guilty of the sober face at home as well as your husband" Mir. Lewis spoke with @ tender reproof in in his voice.
 "But the sober face is caught from yours oftener than you imagine, my husband, " replied Mrs. Lewis.
 "Are you certain of that, Caddy?"
  light and the shadow of your home. Smile upon us; give us cheerful words i; enter into our feelings and interests, and there will be no brighter home in all the land. A shadow on your coun- tenance is veil for my heart {; and the same is true as respects our children. Our pulses strike too nearly in union not to be disturbed when yours has lost its even beat"
 Again Mir. Lewis walked on in silence, his face partly averted and again his wife began to fear that she had spoken too freely. But he soon dispelled this impression, for he said:
 1T am glad, Caddy, that you have spoken thus plainly. I only wish that you had done so before. I see how it is. My smiles have been for the out side world-the would that neither loved nor regarded me-and my clouded brow for the dear ones at home, for whom thought and care are ever-living activities.
 MT. and Mrs. Lewis were now at their own door, where they paused 8 moment, and then went in. Instantly, on passing his threshold, MT. Lewis felt the pressure upon him of his usual state. The hue of his feelings began to change. The cheerful, interested ex- terior put on for those he met in busi- ness 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 history of isappointments, 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 little way in ad- vance. The consequence was that, when the days business excitement was over, his mind fell into a breeding state, and fingered over it's disappoint- ments, or looked forward with failing hope to the future-for hope in many things, has been long deferred. And so he rarely had smile for his home.
 <'Take that home with you, dear, D whispered Mrs. Lewis, as they moved along the passage, and before they had joined the family. Sbe had an in- stinctive consciousness that her hus- band was in danger of relapsing into his usual state.
 The warning was just in time.
 "Thank you for the wordsP' said he. CT 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 new face, covered with fatherly smiles, and with pleasant questions, in pleasant tones, of the,r days employ, ments. The feelings of children move in quick transitions. They had not expected greeting like this; but the response was instant. Little Jenny climbed into her fathers arms. Will came and stood by his chair, answering in lively tones his questions, while Mary, older by few years than the rest, leaned against her fathers should CT, and laid her white hand softly upor his head, smoothing back the dark hair just showing little frost, from his broad, manly temples.
 A pleasant group was this for the eyes of Mrs. Lewis, as she came forth iron her chamber to the sitting-room, where she had gone to lay off her bonnet anc shawl and change her dress. We'll dit her husband understand the meaning look she gave him; and warmly did he, heart respond to the smile he threy back upon her.
 "Words fitly spoken are like apple of gold in pictures of silver," sald MT Lewis, speaking to her as she cam, in.
 "What do you mean by that?" asked Mary, looking curiously into her fath CTS face.
 Mother understands, replied MT Lewis, smiling tenderly upon hi wife.
 Something pleasant must have hap pened," said Mary.
 Something pleasant? Why do yo' say that ?" asked MT. Lewis
 "You and mother look so happy, replied the child.
 "And we have cause to be happy, answered the father, as he drew his arr tightly around her, Gin having thre such good children"
 Mary laid her cheek to his, an whispered: eff you are smiling nm happy, dear father! home will be lik heaven"
 MT. Lewis kissed her; but did nc reply. He felt rebuke in her words But the rebuke did not throw thi over his feelings it only gave ne strength to his purposes.
 "Don't distribute all your smiles Keep few of the warmest and brightes for home," said Mrs. Lewis, as sh parted with her husband on the ne1 morning. He kissed her, but did nc promise. The smiles were kept, how ever, and evening saw them thoug not for the outside world. Other, m many evenings saw the same cheerfl smiles, and the same happy home. An was not MT. Le wis better and happit man? Of course he was. And so woul all men be, if they would take hon with them the smiling aspect they { often exhibit. as they meet their felloY