Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1873-12-11
SUNSHINE in THE HOUSE.

SUNSHINE In THE HOUSE.
Take thai hon" with v"n, dear,
sad Mrs. Lewis her nlanler hall
smiling, :,nl half serious.
Take what home, Ca,ldy ?" And
Mr.. Lewis turned toward his wife,
curiously.
,,!ow, Mrs. Lewis had spoken from
the moments impulse, and already
had partly regretted her remark.
"'rake what home?" repeated her
husband. 81 don't understand you.
THAT smiling face You turned
.uron Mr.. Edwards, when yon an
swered his question just now,
Mr.. Lewis slightly avrr:e hi>
head, and walked on in silence. They
had called in at the store OF Mr.. Ed.
wards to purchase few articles. and
were now On their way home. There
was no smile on the face of Mr.. Lew
is nov, but IL very grave expression
instead-grave almost TO sternnsss
The words of his wife had taken him
altogether by surprise and though
spoken lightly, had Jared upon hi
ears.
The truth was, Mr.. Lewis, like Il
great many other men who have their
own cares and troubles, was in the
habit of bringing home a sober, and
too often, a clouded face 1t was i'll
vain that his wife and children look
ed into that face for sunshine, or lis5-
ened to his words for tones of cheer
fulness.
"Take that home with you, dear
Mrs. Lewis was already repenting
this suggestion, made on the mo-
ment's impulse. Her husband wa
sensitive to fault. he could nof
bear even an implied censure from
his wife. And So she had learned to
be very guarded in this particular.
"Take that home with you dear
All me I wish the words had not
been spoken. There will be darker
clouds now. and gracious knowsthey
were dark enough before. Why can't
Mr., Lewis leave his cares and busi-
ness behind him, and let us see the
old, pleasant, smiling face again. |
thought this morning that he had for
gotten how to smile; but I see that
h. can smile, if he tries. All why
don't he try at home ?"
So Mrs. Lewis talked to herself, as
she moved along by the side of her
husband, who had not spoken word
since her reply to his question, "Take
what home?" Block after block was
passed, and street after street was
crossed, and still there was silence
between them.
aof course, - said. Mrs. Lewis,
speaking in her thoughts. "Of course
he is offended. he won't hear q,
word from me. I might have known,
beforehand, that talking out in thi,
way would only make things worse,
Oh. dearl I'm getting out of all
heart"
"What then, Caddy ?'
Mrs. Lew almost started at the
sound of her husbands voice. break
ing, unexpectedly upon her ear, in a
softened tone.
"What then ?" he repeat d, turn
ing toward her, and looking down
into her shyly upturned face.
1t would send warmth and radi-
ance through the whole house" said
Mrs. Lewis, her tones all a-tremble
with feeling.
"You think SOP"
"I know so Only try it, dear,
for this one evening" +
1t isn't so easy thing to put on
a smiling face. Caddy, when thought
is oppressed with care"
It did not seem to require much
effort just now,'' said Mrs. Lewis,
glancing up at her husband with
something of archness in her look.
Again shallow dropped down
upon the face Of Mr.. Lewis, which
was again partly turned away, and
again he walked on in silence.
He is so sensitive !" Mrs. Lewis
said to herself, the shadow on her
husbands face darkening over her
own. 81 have to be as careful of
myself a, if talking to a spoiled
child"
No, it did not require much effort
on the part of Mr.. Lewis to smile as
he passed few words, lightly, with
Mr.. Edwards. Tie remark "f his
wife had not really displeased him
it had only set him to thinking.
After remaining gravely silent be-
cause he was undergoing a brief self
examination, Mr.. Lewis said:
You thought the smile given 10
Mr.. Edwards came easily enough ?"
1t did not seem to require al el-
fort, replied Mrs. Lewis.
"No, not much effort was requir-
ed," said Mr.. Lewis. His tones were
slightly depressed. But this must
be taken into the account; my mind
was in certain state of excitement,
or activity, that repressed sober feel
ings, and made smiling an easy thing.
So we smile and are gay i'll company,
at cost of little effort, because all are
smiling and we feel the common share
of excitement. How different it is
when we are alone, l need not say.
You, Caddy, are guilty Of the sober
face at home as well as your huss
band" Mr.. Lewis spoke with ten
der reproof 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% p
Every certain. You make the
sunlight and shadow Of your home.
Smile uponus; give us cheerful words;
enter into our feelings and interests.
and there will be no brighter home
in the land. A shadow on your coun-
tenance is vail ior nv heart; and