The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1873-12-17

n said Mr.. Lewis. His tones were
t slightly depressed, '"But this must
s be taken into the:account; nv mind
: was in a certain state of excitement
t or activity, that represscd sober feel
$ lngs, and made smiling an easy thing
So we smile and are gay in 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, I need not saw
You, Caddy, arc guilty of the sober
/ face at home as well as your hus.
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.
"Arc you certain of that Caddy ?"
Every certain. You make the sun
; light and shadow of your home.
Smile upon us; give us cheerful
words; enter into our feelings and in
tcrcsts, and there will be no brighter
home in the land. A shadow on your
countenance is a vail for my heart !;
and the same is true as respects our
children. Our pulses strike too near
~ in union not to be distracted when
yours has lost it's even beat"
Again Mr.. Lewis walked on in 81.
lcnce, 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:
~ 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 outside world, that neither loved
nor regarded me, and my cloudcd
brow for the dear ones at home, for
whom thought and care are eyer-liv-
ing activities"
Mr., and Mrs. Lewis were now at
their Cwn door, where they paused
moment, and then went in. Instant
ly, on passing his threshold, Mr.. Lew
is felt the pressure upon him Of his
usual state. The hue Of his feelings
began TO change. The cheerful, in
terested exterior put on for those hci
met in business intercourse, began
rapidly to change, and a sober hue to
succeed. Like most business men, his
desire for profitable results was even
far in advance Of the slow evolutions
of trade; and his daily history was a
history Of disappointment, in some
measure dependent upon his restless
anticipations. lie was not as willing
TO work and wait as he should be !
and, like many of his class, neglected
the pearls that lay hero and there
along his life paths, because they were
inferior in value to those he hoped to
find just little way in advance. The
consequence was that, when the days
business excitement was over, his
mind fell into brooding state, and
fingered over its disappointments, or
looked forward with smiling hope to
the future-for hope in many things
had been deferred. And so he rarely
had smiles for his home.
"Take that home with you dear"
whispered Mrs. Lewis, as they moved
along the passage, and before they
had joined the family. She had an
instructive consciousness that her
husband was in danger of relapsing
into his usual state. The warning was
Just in time.
Thank you for the words" said he.
Il 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 7
! new face, covered with fatherly !
smiles, and with pleasant questions, y
n pleasant tones, of the days en- :.
oloyments. The feelings of children :
hove in quick transitions. They had l
,ot expected greeting like ahis; but :.
he response was instant. Little Jen- !.
lie climbed into her fathers arms. !,
Will came and stood by his chair, an
wering in lively tones his questions,
while Mary, older by few years than
he rest, leaned against her fathers @
houlders, and laid her white hand O
oftly upon his head, smoothing back q
he dark hair, just showing a little +
sost, from his broad manly temples. r.
A pleasant group was this for the +
yes of Mrs. Lewis, as she came forth I
rom her chamber to the sitting room 7
where she had gone to lay off her V
,onnet and shawl, and change her c
|ress. Well did her husband under p
tand the meaning look she gave p
lin; and warmly did her heart re-
pond to the smiles he threw back
lpon her.. #
"Words titly spoken arc like apples i
f gold in pictures Of silver" said y
ir. Lewis, speaking to her as she II
anne in. e
"Wbat do you mean by that?" 0
sked Mary, looking curiously into d
er fathers face. y
'Mother understands" replied Mr.. a
lewis, smiling tenderly upon his wife. fl
"Son4ething pleasant must have al
said Mary. W
'Somctbing pleasant? Why do
'ou say that2" asked Mr. Lewis.
"Yon and mother look so happy" a!
cplied' the child. ii
"And we have cause to be happy" T
nswered the father, as he drew his &c,
rm tightly around her, sin having tt
hree such good children" d.
Mary laid her check to his, and cl
IF you are smiling and m
Apply, dear father, homo will be like b.
eavcn." W