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

u
| Sunshine in the House.
"Take that homo with you, dear,
said Mrs. Lewis, her manner ha
smiling and half serious. -. .
! "Talle what home, Caddy?' An
Mr.. Lewis turned toward his wife
curiously. ...,. .s-,r. ~
Now, Mrs. Lewis had spoken from
the moment's impulse, and alread,
had partly regretted her remark.
"Take what home2" repeated he
husband. 81 don't understand yon.
THAT smiling face you turned upol
Mr.. Edwards, when you answered hi
question just now"
Mr.. Lewis sli ightly averted hi
head, and walked on in silence. They
had called in at the store Of Mr.. Ed
wards to purchase q few articles, anc
were now on their way home. Ther'
was no smile on the face of Mr.. Lew
is now, but very grave expression
instead grave almost to sterDness
The words of his wife had taken him
altogether by surprise; and though
spoken lightly, had Jared upon biz
ears.
The truth was, Mr. Lewis, like 6
great many other men who have theil
own cares and troubles, was in the
habit of bringing home sober, and
too often, o clouded face. 1t was in
vain that his wife and children look.
ed into that face for sunshine, or list
encd to his words for tones Of cheer
fitness.
'Take that homo with You, dear"
Mrs. Lewis was already repenting
this suggestion, mado on the mo-
ment's impulse. Her husband was
sensitive to fault. lie could not
bear even an implied ccnsure 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 knows they
were dark enough before. Why can't
Mr.. Lewis leave his cares and busi-
ness behind him, and let us sec the
old, pleasant, smiling face again. l
thought this morning that he had for
gotten how to smile; but [ see that
he can smile, if he tries. All! why
don't he try at home"
So Mrs Lewis talked TO herself, as
sho 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 thcro was silence
between tt nom.
"Of course" said Mrs. Lewis, speak
ing in her thoughts. "Of course he
is offended. lie won't hear word
from me. I might have known. be-
forehand, that talking out in this way
would only make things worse. Oil
dear! I'm getting out of all heart"
What then, Caddy ?"
Mrs. Lewis almost started al the
sound of her husbands voice, break
ing, unexpectedly, upon her ear, in q
softened tone.
"What then?" he repeated, turning
toward her, and looking down into
her shyly upturned face.
at wonld send warmth and radi-
ance through the whole house." said
Mrs. Lewis, her tones all a-tremble
with feeling. ..
"You think so?'
i know sol Only try it, dear,
for this one evening"
"It isn't so easy q thing to put on
a smiling face, Caddy, when thought
is oppressed with care" :,
ut did not seem to require much
effort jnst now," said Mrs. Lewis,
glancing up at her husband 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 he walked on in silence.
"IIe is 80 scnsitive!" Mrs. Lcwis
said to herself, the shadow on her
husbands face darkening over her
own. II have 10 be as careful of my
self as if talking to 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. The remark Of his
wife had not really displeascd him; it
had only set him to thinking. After
gravely silent because he
was undergoing brief sclfexamina-
ton. Mr.. Lewis said:
"You thought the smile given to
Mr.. Edwards came easily enough?"
"It did not seem to require an ef-
fort" replied Mrs. Lewis.
"No, not much effort was required, ,"