Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1874-03-12

.STIN, MOWER COUl
Many are foolish enough to think
such things below them, he said, with
almost sigh.
II don't" said she, smiling, II
think nothing below mo that helps to
make my husband happier, or to bright
en- my home."
1t was simple little saying, but
Maynard pondered on it long. Was it
the secret of household bliss?
He looked at her little ctargc of we'll
selected books-the guitar and pile OF
music in the corner-the exquisite
drawings hanging on the wall, which
Milford proudly told him were AMY e
own-the pine cone temples and moss
baskets, and little womanly trifies she
had amused herself withl-the bits of
embroidery-the stand of, geraniums
and helitrope-even the piled-up work.
basket-and thought within himself
how true woman graces AMI n1Drifies
everything on which her hand may rest
Finally she came in from the Kitchen
heyond, the white apron exchanged fol
q timer one of black silk, and sat down
by the table to work, every now and
then joining in the converse with 8
zest that seemed the life and spirit o1
the whole. How proud Wilford was Of
her ! How he appealed to her judg'
ment on every occasion! and how fond.
" his eyes rested ON her blooming face
She wasn't doing crochet work she
wasn't embroidering web-like muslin
she was just darning her husband'f Z
stockings; and as the shining needle
cleaned in and out among the interlac.
ing warp and woof, Maynard thought
ne had never seen prettier or more
graceful employment.
For Amy brought a spirit and soul tc
her homely work that would have made
the coarsest fabric bright with the tint
of Persian looms.
And when at length Maynard tool
his leave, the reflection, "What hap
l. py fellow Wilford is was accom-
panied with something very like sigh
His home was different, far,
He breakfasted alone next morning
his wife had been out late ut ball and
seldom rose before eleven o'clock. Tht
coffee was cold and muddy, even in the
frosted silver urn; the toast was burn
ed, the steak sodden and raw; the firt
smouldered away under its accumula
tions of ashes, and he read the morning
paper alone, with no bright face oppo
site to share his interest in each para
graph.
The button was off his wrist.band
but no matter, Clara must not be dis.
turbed-he could Just pin it over TO,
the day !; his toes peeped out as he
changed slippers for boots-but never
mind, he would ask Clara tonight
where the others were. Pshaw he
could not tie the cravat to suit him, and
dragged it into limp knot there waf
no little wife to stand on tip-toe and ar.
range it, and then get kiss for he,
pains!
He went silently away, with no light
foot-step tripping after him to the door
the shadow Of no sweet "good-bye -
following him like guardian angel on
his way-for Clara was fashionable
wife.
At dinner time he came home, hall
hoping that there would be glance and
q smile like Amy's to greet him-a
home influence around his luxurious
apartments.
Where's Clara?''
She lounged on damask sofa, the
rings flashing on her slender fingers, and
her delicate figure arrayed in folds oi
lustrous silk, while the slippered foot
peeping from beneath seemed fit only
to tread the roses of life.
She hardly glanced up from the novel
she was reading as he entered-why
should she he was only her husband.
He sat down and began drumming
carelessly on the table with his fingers.
Isn't dinner nearly ready?"
II don't know. It's the cooks
business"
"But she ought to be more regular, ~
said he.
II can't help that. I wish you
wouldn't plague me about such things. u
The tone was little pettish, as Clara
brushed away her brown curls, and re.
sumed her book, and Maynard relapsed
into silence again.
Presently another idea struck him,
"Can't you play something tonight,
Clara? The piano hasn't been opened
in an age. Come sing me some of the
old ballads"
II can't" she said listlessly; "I'm
out of practice entirely. Do let me
read"
If you'll lay aside your book afte,
dinner, and have a good old-fashioned
evening of talk and music gossip"
Impossible !! I am engaged fol
every moment after seven-the opers
first, and then the fancy ball."
Couldn't you let them 60 for ont
evening?"
80, no! it would never dor
He was silent-but there was q dull.
dead pain at his heart-some void which
art could never fill.
| The silent dinner was over she went
forth in her shining robes, with pearl,
in her hair, and bracelets clasping he1
arms, to an evening of reckless dissipa
tion and gaiety, with smiles for tn.
beau monde but none for home.
While Raymond after o long ani
gloomy reverie by his lonely freside
took his hat and went away to the club
that brilliant place of gaiety and mirth
through whose chandeliered portals sc
many foot has trod the broad path o.
destruction Poor man he had nc
home.
Currency In Civilized Countries.
Washington Correspondence Of the N. Y. Herald
| In consequence of frequent applica