National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-09-19

ehlu to ncfSeli, tne hHadOW on her huS-
ban = face darkening over her own. 81
have to be as careful Of myself as if
talking to n spoiled child"
No, it did not require much effort on
tho part of Mr.. Lewis to smile as he
passed n few words, lightly, with Mr.
Edwards. The remark Of his wife had
not really displeased him it had only
set him to thinking. After remaining
gravely silent, because he was under
going n brief self-examination, Mr..
Lewis said
-" You thought the smile given to Mr..
Edwards came easily enough p
ut did not seem to require an effort, y
replied Mrs. Lewis.
No, not much effort was required, u
said Mr.. Lewis. His tones were slight
ly depressed. "But this must be taken
into the account my mind was IN a
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-
element. How different it often is
when we are alone, need not say You,
Caddy, are guilty of the sober face at
home as well as your husband" Mr..
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 ?"
Very certain. Yor 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-
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 Mr.. 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.
:" l am glad, Caddy. that you have
spoken thus plainly. | only wish that
you had done SO before. / see how it
is. Ny smiles have been for the out
side world-the would that neither
loved nor regarded ne-and my clouded
brow fer 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. Instantly,
on passing his threshold, Mr.. Lewis
felt the pressure upon him Of his usual
state The hue of his feelings began to
change. The cheerful, interested ex-
terror put on for those he met in bust
ness Intercourse, began rapidly to
change, and a sober hue to succeed.
Like most business men, his desire for
profitable results was even far i'll adj
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
rs he should be ; and, like many of his
class, neglected the pearls that lay here
aud there along his life-paths, because
they were inferior i'll value to those he
hoped to find just a little way in ad-
vance. The consequence was that,
when the days business excitement was
over, his mind fell into a brooding
state, and fingered over its 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 smiles for his home.
Take that home with you, DEAR"
Mrs. Lewis, as they moved
along the passage, and before they had
joined the family. She 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 wordsl" said he.
g will not forget them.
And he did not; but at once rallied
and to the glad surprise of
Jenny, VIII, and Mary, met them with
a new face, covered with fatherly
smiles, and with pleasant questions, in
pleasant tones, of their 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
er, and laid her white hand softly upon
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 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 upon her.
"Words ftly spoken are like apples
of gold in pictures of silver" SAID Mr..
Lewis, speaking to her as she came
in.
"What do you mean by that?" asked
Mary, looking curiously into her faith
ers face.
"Mother understands, replied Mr..
Lewis, smiling tenderly upon his
wife.
Something pleasant must have hap
pened," said Mary.
Something pleasant ? Why do you
say that ?" asked Mr.. Lewis.
"You and mother look so happy"
replied the child. >,
"And we have cause to be happy"
the father, as he drew his arm
tightly around her, "in having three
such good children"
Mary laid her cheek to his, and
whispered: eff you are smiling and
happy. dear father home will be like
heaven" -,
Mr.. Lewis kissed her; but did not
reply. He felt a rebuke in her words;