The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-02-17
The Other Side.


The Other Side.
A little matroD sat bv the fire. on a
cold winters evening. with uumistakeublc
traces of tears upon her very pretty face.
Beside her in the daiDtiest Of cradles,
slept a rosy baby, aud around her we're
,gus Of comfort, aud many tasteful arti.
cles that spoke Of tase in expenditure Of
money. She wore dress OF soft fuc
meriuo. fa.hionably made aud trim
med, and very becommiug to dark
eyes and hair, aud rich, clear complexion
aud claspiug the 6ne lace collar was Il
handsome pin, whose match in earrings de.
ended irum the small ears. Upon ta-
BILE beside her were new journals aud
| magazines. basket containing cnbroid-
cry Tor the baby in the cradle, aud Tau.
cy box, evidently new. containing choice
confectionery. Although the room, moth
er aud child formed a picture OF comfort,
yet Bella Osmoud was crying.
While the tear drops Tell upon her lit.
lie hands clasped idly in her lap, her
thoughts ran in this wise;
1T gets worse and worse. don't be.
lieve Harry has teen at home one even
ing in month. He brings me books,pa
pers, and candy, as il l was baby, and
then he has an engagement, aud l do no,
seeshim until midnight, after he has b, en-
away all day. Only two years married
and l scarcely ever see my own husband
What can | do? Mother says. Make
your home attractive So keep up my
music and always dress for dinner, and
try my best t, be just the same Bella |
was before | was married, when be
thought no evenings were SO pleasant as
those he spent with me Jennie says |
ought to be thankful Harry don't drink.
So am thank kful but | should like to
have him remember that he has home,
and not mere sleeping aud eating estab.
lishmept. Twelve O'Clock and | hear
the latch.key.'
why, lttle woman! Sitting up for
me2'
1t would have bcep hard for even an
il.tempered woman to resist the CHEEKY
voice and bright smile Of the handsome
young man who bent over Bella as he
spoke with loving kiss, Bella not hav.
ing one spark Of bad temper iu her com
position. smiled back again.
Why = cried Harry, as the light fell
upon her face. you've been crying Are
you sick, darling?'
Tears started again at the tender tone
Of the inquiry.
No, | am not sick. But | am lonely
wh.u you are not here, Harry.
'Louely! Why you have baby, aud
your books and papers and piano.
thought women always had sewing and
knitting, aud ali sorts OF work to fill up
the time
But Harry. have all day for work
lu the evening want you.
Now sre here, Bell said Harry, seri
ou>ly, don't be unreasonable. eau
not stay St home all the time. am sure
| give you everything ycu want, ,dou't l :?
.Ys.es.'
'Shawls aud bcnnets and dresses, and
you have only to usk for money to hav.
it. | have to work hard at the store al
day. aua when evening comes want i
little recreation. You know alway,
where | an. never insult you by com
ing home drunk. You have everything
you ask for, and really don't see wha,
any reasonable woman can fad to com.
plain about. Dou't lie, me fnd you cry
ing again, that's dear little woman
Ill take you to the opera tomorrow
evening, and cheer you up
So Bella went to be comforted little
and really believed she had beoD it'll,
ton exacring.
For week or two Harry came hom,
oftener, and took bis wife out severa
times. Then he drifted back again int,
the old habit of promising to meet Jones
here, Brown there, and Robinson 10 an
other place, little Influenced. it must bl
confessed, by the unanimous opinion Of
his friends Of bachelor days, that 'Osmono
was not spoiled by matrimony bit. jus
the same good old fellow he always was.
Bella made no more complaints, Sh'
made tempting dressing gown, WORKED
beautiful slippers, end had the grati6ca
tion of seeing them adorn her husband OIL
Sunday mcrDiDgs,but otherwise neglected
She made her sitting-room very bowe
Of beauty, arranged little table in tn
most tempting style. She learned ney
music, and made herself the prettiest 90
ject in the house, always excepting th
wonderful baby but yet evening afte
evening she had the modification of see
ing Harry turn his back on her CAREFUL
prepared destinations, pleading an engage
ment and leaving her alone.
Then she tried gathering few Dutui
friends around her, hoping to keep Harr
at home in that way; but she soon abaI
doued that, finding it mortifying to pla
hostess in her pretty home alone.
When she found all her gentle device
useless, she tried to make the time pas
pleasantly by reading, sewing and pra'
tising, giving often her thought to he
old home in auother city. aud that cheel
ful family group collected there
The winter was nearly over, when on
evening. after little fall of srow. Hurr
failed TO appear a, dinner time. He wa
nuan.llu ..u.osn.I ,k.. "a n..Ii. l,.l