The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1873-10-18

Sunshine IN the House.
BY 7. S. ARTHUR.

"Take that home with you, dear, F" said Mrs.
Lewis, her manner half smiling, half serious.
Take what home, Caddy p And Mr.. Lewis
turned towards his wife, curously.
Now Mrs Lewis had spoken from the moments
impulse, and already partly regretted her remark
Take what home?' repeated her husband.-
81 don't understand you"
THAT smiling face you turned upon Mr.. Ed
wards, when you answered his question just
Mr. Lewis slightly averled his head, and walk
ed on in silence. They had called in at the store
of Mr.. Edwards 10 purchase few articles and
were now on their way home. There was no
smile on the face OF Mr.. Lewis now, but very
grave expression instead-grave almost 10 stern
ness. The words of his ife had taken him al
together by surprise and, though spoken light
ly, had Jared upon his ears.
The truth was Mr.. Lewis, like a great many
other men who have their own cares and troubles,
was in the habit of bringing home sober, and,
too often, a clouded face. 1t was in vain that his
wife and children looked into that face for sun
shine, or listened to his words for tones of cheer
fulness.
'Take that home with you, dear" Mrs. Lewis
was already repenting this suggestion made on
the moments impulse. Her husband was sensi-
tive to fault. He could not 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 Ah me
wish the words had not been said. There will be
darker clouds now, and gracious knows they
were dark enough before Why can't Mr.. Lewis
leave his cares and business behind him, and let
US see the old, pleasant, smiling face again
thought this morning that be had forgotten how
to smile but l see that he can smile if he tries.
All Why don't he try at home"
So Mrs. Lewis talked TO herself, as she walked
along by the side OF her husband, who had not
spoken a word since her reply to his query,
"Take what homer" Block after block was pass
ed, and street after street was crossed, and still
there was silence between them.
''Of course" said Mrs. Lewis, speaking in her
CUR 'honghts tsaf conrse he is ofn"Aoa Ha
wont bear a word from me. might have known
beforehand, that talking out in this way would
only make things worse. Oh, dear Pm getting
out of all hearth
"What then Caddy 2"
Mrs. Lewis almost started at the sound of her
husbands voice, breaking, unexpectedly, upon
her ear in a softened tone.
"What then p he repeated, turning towards
her, and looking down into her shyly upturned
face.
at would send warmth and radiance through
the whole house." said Mrs. Lewis, her tones all
trembling with feeling.
"You think SO ?"
81 know SO Only try it, dear, for this one
evening"
at isn't SO easy a thing to put on smiling
face, Caddy, when though; is oppressed with
care"
"It did not seem to require much effort just
now," said Mrs. Lewis, gancing up at her hus-
band with something Of archness in her look.
Again a shadow dropped down upon the face
OF Mr.. Lewis, which was again partly turned
away, and again they walked on in silence.
"He is sensitive l'' Mrs. Lewis said to herself,
the shadow on her husband s face darkening over
her own. 81 have to be as careful of myself as
if talking to a spoiled child"
No, it did not require much effort on the part
of Mr. Lewis to smile as be passed 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 undergoing brief self
examination, Mr.. Lewis said
"You thought the smile given to Mr.. Edwards
came easily enough?'
"It did not seem to require an effort" replied
Mrs. Lewis.
"No, not much effort was required" said Mr..
Lewis His tones weresghtly 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 COM
pany, at cost of little effort, because all are
smiling and gay, and we feel the common sphere
of excitement 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 a tender re-
proof in his voice.
"But the sober face is caught from yours often
er than you imagine my husband" replied Mrs.
Lewis.
"Are you certain of that, Caddy ?"
every certain. You make the sunlight 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 countenance is
veil for my heart and the same is true as re-
spects our children. Our pulses strike too near
ly 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 dis
PEELED this impression, for he sad
81 am glad, Caddy, that you have spoken thus
plainly. only wish that you had done so be-
fore. | see how it is. My smiles have been for
the outside world-the world that neither loved
nor regarded me--and my clouded brow for the
dear ones at home for whom thought and care
are ever living activities"
Mr.. and Mrs. Lewis were now at their own
door, where they paused moment, and then
went IN. Instantly. on passing us luIeSuOlu,
Mr. Lewis felt the pressure upon him of his usual
state The hue Of his feelings began to change.
The cheerful, interested exterior put on for those
he 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 evolutlons OF
trade; and his daily history was history OF
disappointments, in some measure dependent up
on his restless antcipations. He was not as will
ing to work and wait as he should be; and, like
many of his class, neglected the pearls that lay
here 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 for
ward With falling hope to the future-for hope in
many things has been long deferred. And so he
rarely had smiles for bis 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 reapsing into his usual state.
The warning was just in time.
y. "Thank you for the words P' said he. III will
not forget them"
And be did not but at once rallied himself
and to the glad surprise of Jenny, Will and Mary
met them with new face, covered with fatherly
smiles, and with pleasant questions, in pleasant
tones, of their days employments. The feelings
of children move in quick transactions. They
had mt evnected a greeting like this: but the re-