Litchfield enquirer., 1873-11-13

told me to run down stairs She seems so strange"
 Jacob Hoyt had risen early, and gone out to explore the town Mrs. Maitland entered her guests apartment to find her sitting on the side of the bed in vain at- tempting to dress herself,
 Its so funny, Abby" she said, ''they are all wrong. I can't t-put - du- right"
 s'No." said Mrs. Maitland, compre- hending at glance ''We won't try, they act so, will we, dear?' bringing from a closet a comfortable dressing gown, and then seeing her exhaustion, and getting the light form back among the pillows 1 she bathed the fevered brow with Co., logne water and sent pencilled message to her husband. ''Send for Dr. Hanna ford, l think that Ellen is very ilI. What 8 wreck that was! What weeks were those that followed!
 When the doctor came, Mrs. Maitland's 1 worst fears were confirmed Pain and weariness had been too long resisted for the system to yield to the attempt to break up the fever that had set in.
 'FI meant to be such a good wife. I tried so hard,' said Ellen, in her delirium ''but ] cant suit Jacob. He never says anything is we'll done. His eyes never look kindly on me now. He never seems ts see me at all. If I could only go and see motheri'
 And again in broken sentences: t'I must do something; I must do better; I am not helpmeet for Jacob except in the outward things. He is getting so stupid 1 just like 8 clod. Since those losses he l broods over expenses so, too. He don't even play with the baby much, He sits silent at meals Oh, I'm SO tired Life seems just like prison. I'd like to go just to an evening party once more. I don't want pomps and vanities, but know I'd be better woman if had could have new dress. I never will ask Jacob for l 1t again. can't it chokes me. To think that after all my trying I hav'nt made him love me enough to offer me such l things!'
 At another time, as thouuh battling with an unseen enemy, ''Don't tell me that! Don't tell me that' her face drawn as though in pain. ''He is my own hus- band. Yes, he is. But I'm such poor wife I can't help him bring to light the way to think of it I will try though. If I can only get to mothers and get rest once, I can do better afterwards. Baby's getting so heavy and working the butter tires me so. Oh, I'm SO tired!"
 Mrs. Maitland reached to get the medi- cine. In readjusting the eoyerlid she mo- ticed Ellen cringe with pain.
 ''Can anything be the matter with her foot? 1 notice when anything touches 1t she moans
 ''She burnt it, said Katie, in @ whis- per. ''Papa didn't come to lift the ket- tie, and 1t was too heavy, and she split 1t on her foot"
 Ellen Maitland cried over the poor, deeply scalded foot as she dressed 1t with healing things. My poor, spent dove! how glad am your tired wing was guid- ed to my door, she said, crowding back the tears the better to see the soft, deli cate bandages she fastened with loving hands.
 Yes, glad, though with the addition to her household, refractory servants, and watchings by the sick bed, cares pressed heavily, and she was in hourly fear lest her fastiaie.s hneband should lose ali po- zsience with Jacob, whose table habits yete such as had never been known in tlAt household before. s--------z---- !
 When three year old Larry, in his high I chair, witnessed them for the first time, his amusement knew no bounds.
 "Des ike a pig, papa; des ike a pig p he announced exultingly; his well-deVel- ed organ of comparison rejoicing in it's juvenile exercise. "See" and he pointed with his spoon directly at Jacob, who was serenely obliyious.
 The lawyer coughed behind his napkin, and Mrs. Maitland, contemplating Jacobs uninterrupted action, bsthought herself, Against stupidity the gods themselves are powerless. Yet Jacob Hoyt was known as man of sterling qualities He had sound sense, infexible integrity, and was we'll read, actively interested in poli- tics and reformatory movements, could ment. He was g fine looking man, or would have been, it he had not neglected himself
 Sitting in the sick-room many of the above quoted detached sentences came to his astonished ear like q revelation from far country.
 In all his married life he had never done one-half the kind, loving things for Ellen that Mrs. Abby Maitland was doing so unweariedly day by day, The atmos- phere of love, refinement, and luxury. in this time of softening through sorrow, was telling upon Jacob though 1t struck in so deep it did not show.
 Would God spare the precious life that hung upon thread? The night, whose slow. heavy, tortuous hours would answer that question, seemed insufferable to Ja- cob He had gone out frantically and walked up and down unable to bear the confinement indoors Lawrence Malt land heard him say, standing uncovered in the moonlight under the larches |
 elf thou spare her, Lord; if thou spar. her, I'll satisfy her if have to pray to do it."
 Ellen's husband was not what is called "a praying man."
 God gave back to Jacob Hoyt his wife again; but oh, so wan and wee and help | less! When she was out of danger Jacob | went home and left her taking Percy and i Kate as far as their grandmothers she | having now returned. and Mrs. Maitland | promising to send for them to spend an occasional day with their mother during her convalescense. Abby would not hear of Ellen's removal until she should be strong enough to bear the journey with out fatigue, and then she would take her in her carriage.
 The invalid gained slowly.
 70 Abby, Abby, do you think I am ev CT going to be strong again?" she asked, l passionately, one day, in her great weak l ness.
 Abby Maitland soothed her as she would 1 a child.
 T want to be g strong woman; I want | to be strong for others to lean upon. 1 Don't you think that women have great | need of strength?"
 Sometimes, dear"
 Jacobs father and mother were sick a | long time, and the sick cannot be neglect ed, and I'm afraid wasn't strong enough | and neglected Jacob in the little things, the small attentions, that he has never seemed to care about since. Since his losses, too, which were really not very great, he is so afraid of coming to want that he seems to think of nothing but say ing and making. He is running to seed intellectually, and haven't force enough to wake him up. I, who ought to be help-meet in every part of his nature
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