Wilmington daily gazette., 1874-04-04
Hard Times.
BY CARELLA.

She SAT IN her pheasant back parior-a lar
smiiing, little VITO, with deep blue shining
eyes. and kindly mDutu whose SMILES
were very hwnot aud frequent. Singing, she
sat 10y ihe ,rallo OF her first child, and
while her huey ittlo hands Wtfo tashionihg
some a-totul Slrinonts for her babe, her
loving oyes sought The sleeping facs before
her with 1. mothers tenderuo,7 Of look and
smile.
Ihe shadows Of the early day yet contract
cd with tho strong, clear morning lights:
but ono rich Hood OF sun shine Doured in
al tho east windoH ana Frightened the
pleasant room. Tho young mOtl or sang 10
herself many sweet happy song as she
rocked the cradle OF hor ltlle one. Tho door
opened suddenly.
miriam, all Is lost!
She looked up TO SEQ the troubled gaza of
her husband bent fail upon her. The glad
song died upon hor lips. and a smile, half
| sorrowiui. hall pleading, buried the happi-
ness that late had shone. 4.
"AlI!' She Io-e as she spoke. To come
| closely 10 his side saying with anxious ten
| derness-"Is all losl2 Must our nome 20
| too?n
| "Eserything, II my debts are honestly
paid" Here tho speaker threw himself
despondingiy upon tho seat his vile had
lett and buried his face ia his nands. 80,
| Mrlm!"
Sho came up to his side. "Don't John, it
| viii all h" we'll You shall pay all honest
ly; the honse must 60. then yon VIII be in
| dependent of every one, and we will COM
| mence again.
! "But You, Miriam, YOU aud pei?'
| "Never fear 10. us, my husband; we shall
no happy. We Will take some hltie pIare,
and you can he clerk agsip. E"u't glve up
SO, John; lrok up, I've eomIorteu. Tier
plying tears were raining down npou ms
bowed head, her soll hands touched his
theated brow, and tender loving words lcli
from the lips that had never known an uu-
kind look or word since he had called her
wife.
| lio was cnnliorted. IL had been the deep.
est tIalble oi ail-tbe thought nj her priVa-
Ion and now that she spoke 81 cheeriully
ne lolt his rebound from Tho shock of his
lir,l, great trOhblo, and hope smiled again
| He could do any thing; could bo lndepeu'
dent y ot again; ho knew II, and ne rose uT
10 iod tho dear wife IN his strong arms " lit
"A hopeful smile.
Il "AlIrianI, darling, you shall mover suite
for my dtspondency. You arc u noble
true hearted wife as ever man had. Thanh
God. l do not mind 1t now. It il hard
, lust when / waq fairly started in business
aud tho futuro looked ST. promising; but /
IL nothing now. havo yon both lele I,
bless Inc. Dear wife, God is Good.'
There were tears In the eyes of the strong maj
as he whispered the last words above his sleeping
child He kissed them both, the child and moth
er, then with new strength and faith IN the future
i he hurried away 10 Inc UUtSlue world, where al
was trouble and veyatiun. He nad much to dis
courage. much to annoy and distress him. but tn
I will aud the heart were strong, both buoyed b
| the gentle influence that shone i'll his home.
With the evening came the bare facts of hi
failure. lie had looked tho whole loss plainly Il
the face. lIo had summed up his liabilities an
| it was now all plain walking thencelorth. IL
found by a careful estimate that by the sale o hi
lhouse and what stock he had on hand, he coul
pay every cent, but 1t would leave him penniless
lie was energetic, straightforward and honorable
tconso queuty there was tut Que course open {
f, him. Ills wife was light-ho must take u clelL
| shiy but where TO obtain ore when So many wcr
out OF employment by so many iaiurts5 Neve
Imind he could do something. "Strects weeping,
the said ais honorable II by that can support IN
family" To be sure he did not Yet tally reaZ
the difference in his circumstances, but he nrye
would for strong. hearted and hopeful, with ever
good influence to spur him on, this trouble woul
p,ss over lighter TO him than to many man lee
tnappily constituted and surrounded.
l TWAS late ere he turned from the bunting 1901
| to seek his home. The lamps were all shining
and the stars looked down with clear and peacefu
lights. With hurried step he neared his HON,
All. il was not his home now, that handsoni
ldwelling with its richly curtaued windows sent
: ling fnth a warm subdued light upon the nigh
5 But thai which was the real home the smile
Q | affection, the baby welcone-nothing but deaf
could take away. lie thought OF the gentle kline
ness of his wife in that first moment OF trial an
Idespondency, and how brayeiy she hal chcere
him with the hope her own heart knew.
u She met him al the door holding her baby u
u | for the welcome kiss, saying, cheerfully-
InaWhy, John, how late you arel Nelly and
have sat in the window so long We were real
| lr,ghten ned about you. Come, tea Is all ready"
l. . The table was laid in the back parlor. Draw
% Up before the cheerful hre with everything a
ranged in the most tasteful and symmetrical ma
ner, it was n pleasing sight to the tired rnan.
Miriam sat down to the table, busying herst
/ in turning the tea, and all the iimo talking in
I. light happy tone OF the day. Although her ht
baud Joined cheefully IN tho conversation, it pai
sr ed him loo see her s0 gay, Tor he feared she |
70 lie understood how many pleasures must he d
nied her in their altered circumstances. Tea ovs
she rose smillinGly-
"Here, John, take baby"
"Why don't you ring Tor Susan to clear The
lbleS | want 10 talk with you. .Ia
Ia