Weekly Trinity journal., 1873-06-07

word OF commentator Tor any triumph
of taste or culinary skill, though never
finding fault over failure.
1 saw at once the difficulty of smoothing
away the domestic mountain, in the utter
Inconsistencies of the actors. John Cor
don was liberal, afiording his wife every
pleasure well-flled purse could give,
he was gentle and courteous, and it was
evident, thought he was model husband.
May was self-sacrifcing and devoted,
not telling even her own heart that she
had any ground for unhappiness, yet
surely pining for the open, cordial love
and praise of her maiden life. Her voice
sweet rs flute, never rang out in musi-
cal rippes of laughter, her footstep was
soft and quiet, never dancing as of old,
from merriment; her piano unopened,
her song was never heard.
John was satisfied with an uncomplain-
ing machine to keep his house, and he
had it.
So l told my heart, as it ached over all
this misery that seemed so hopeless. But
| wronged him as found later.
1t was fearfully hot night in August
when John Gordon, rapping at my door
called,
"Will you come to May2 She is i'll,
and am going for the DOCTOR"
1 was quickly dressed and in the room.
Before morning a little girl was sleeping
in the nursery cradle, but the mother lay
in dangerous stupor. For three long
weeks we watched the frai life, hanging
on thread, sinking little by little, with
no point of hope for the anxious hearts
that loved her. The most dangerous
symptom, the doctor assured us, was the
patients own apathy.
If you can rouse her." the doctor
said to me, "to try to live, she may yet
recover. But few days more of this
dull apathy will surely kill her."
Then | resolved to make one great eff
fort. My heart had reproached me often
or than once for former hard thoughts,
when / noted John Gordon's pale, hag-
gard face, heard him pacing sleeplessly,
night after night, in the room adjoining
the one whore the nurse and myself
watched the frail babe and apparently
dying mother. l felt sorry for the do
mcstic discomfort of house left so en-
tirely to servants, for l could only give
general directions, with May needing con-
utnpt I .vn,,lI 1anan1 bn
hired nurse to give.
With my resolutions taken, l went,
after that interview with the doctor,
straight to Johns library. Ho was sit
ting in weary, listless attitude, but rose
to place chair for me.
"Is May better ?" he asked, with touch
ing eagerness, his face falling again as l
shook my head
"John," | said plunging at once into
my crrand, twill you lot me speak few
plain words ? l have loved May since
she was II little baby, and l cannot sec
her die without an effort TO save her. /
believe you love her ?"
"I would give my life to sec her well
again." no said passionately.
"And yet" l said sadly, il harshly,
"it is your want of appreciation that is
killing her."
81 do not understand you," he said,
and he was perfectly sincere when he
spoke.
Then very gently pointed out to him
how faithfully May had filed all wifcy
duties.
"But women like these things. Ny
mother always kept the house and table
so," he said.
"Women like them," replied; "true,
loving women like them just in proportion
as they give pleasure to those they love-"
"But surely they always give pleasure.
Do you imagine do not know how love-
ly my wife is, how patient and careful
A mother to my boy, who will make him
a true, noble man. Surely, Miss Matte,
/ know my wife is almost perfect"
"Tell her you know it," said. "Let
her see it in your eyes, feel it in your
kiss. When she makes pie, assure her
it is the sweetest pie you ever ate. Praise
her table, her boys dress, her lovely
hanging baskets. She is starving, dying
for loving praise. Go TO her, take her in
your arms, and tell her how dreary life
will be to you if she is lost. Bid her live
for your sake, and she will not die"
"But the excitement, the agitation !"
he said. II have scarcely dared to speak
to her or even to kiss her, for fear Of agi-
tating her."
"And she is dying for want of those
very loving words and kisses"
"Come with me-" he pleaded. ~ am
fearful even now you may be wrong"
| marched the nurse into the next room
with the baby, and then took John to
Mays side. With q tenderness more
touching from his natural reserve, he
bent over the pale face and spoke one
word:
Darling"
She looked into his face, and met eyes
so full of deep true love, that involuntar-
lily she lifted her weak hands to draw her
husband nearer.
Darling" he repeated, and his voice
quivered, show pale you are, and so
weak! Oh, May, my own sweet wife, it
cannot be that you would die and leave
me I The whole world looks desolate to
me while you lie here. When will you
come to me with baby May in your arms
as you did with Harvey, TO ask nae If /
am not proud to be papa ?"