Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-06-25

slowly forcing itself upon his mind since
he had listened to his wife's rawlings. He
had treated her in such a manner that
even his children saw that he did not
treat her well. He thought that he had
never intended to be unkind Yet
he could not deny, even to himself,
that he had been thoughtless and
unfeeling. He had always treated
her as though she were dependent
upon him; but had she not done as much
for him as he had done for her? Year
after year she had toiled and helped him
pay for his broad and fertile farm, and in
return for it all he had grudgingly dealt
out to her the clothing that she positively
needed. She could claim nothing as the
representation of her labor, except the
love Of those for whom she had tCiled.
Mr.. Thompson felt that there had been
nothing in his conduct to assure her that
she had even this repayment. He could
now see how such a nature as hers would
suffer from lack of kind and affection
ate treatment. He remembered her as
she was in the days of their cOurtship. It
seemed almost impossible that his pale,
carewOrn wife could once have been the
blithesome Bertha WescOtt, who had at
tracted him with her beauty and sweet,
childlike ways. With what perfect trust
she had given her happiness into his
keepingi Could he wonder that she now
looked upon her life as useless, when all
her labor Of love had been met with re-
prOaches because she did not labor hard
er? "Why, | haven't used her as we'll
as | have my horses" he exclaimed, az for
I've had some consideration for them
when they were tired"
Mr.. ThOmpson's determinations were
usually hasty and infexible. AS he stood
there determination was born in his
heart, one that would not die out when
all danger was over, that, if kind treat.
ment in the future would atone for the
unkindness of the past, he would make a
complete atonement. But he was har-
assed by the terrible fear that he would
never have the opportunity of canceling
the past in this way. She might never
get well. He could not stand there and
endure this thought for a moment, but
rushed away to her bedside as though his
presence there would prevent such a
catastrophe Detailing him. He felt as
though there was a crisis in his own
life when the fever left his wife so white
and still. And when she awoke from the
death-like sleep, and the doctor, who was
standing by,said she would live, the great
burden that was lifted from off his soul
left him faint and weak, and he went out
IN the clear night air, where the very stars
seemed tWinkling down with 10y and
sympathy for him, and there, in his great
thankfulness, he knelt down and, for the
first time in his life, tried to pray. He
tried to thank God for his awakening.
no fThnronCNy1c
cOmprehending that she had been i'll
was that after all no change had come.
She would soon be able to 90 about the
house and then everything would 90 on
in the old way. Often afterWard she Won
dered how she could have been so
wicked, as she lay there scarcely nearer
life than death, as to desire to leave her
children without mothers care and ten
derness. She never took up the old bur
den the burden of tharkless toil-with
the feeling that no one cared for her
Long before she got well she
felt that she had made great mistake in
thinking that her husband and children
did not love her. 1t was a happy time
for her when she was able to resume her
labOrs, or that portion of them that her
husband would allow her to resume. OF
course she was often tired after her days
work was done, but there is such differ
ence when the WEAKNESS Of the cody is
not also accompanied by the WEAKNESS
born of discOuragement.
AS Mr.. Thompson saw his wife again
ebout the house, making their home so
pleasant and cheerful, he learned what
joy there is in thankfulness. He was
thankful, not only because she had not
left their home forever, but also because
she had returned to him the Bertha of
long ago.
Mrs. ThompsOn's prayer was answered.
Her life was made different. Yet she felt
that the change was i'll a great measure
wrought in herself. When everything
goes smoothly we forget that those we
love have ever been unkind to us. And
so Mrs. Thompson remembered naught of
the bitterness of the past excepting her
great mistake in giving way to those
morbid thoughts, instead of doing her
duty cheerfully and uncomplainingly
Her home was pervaded with healthier
in which her children would
attain to a nObler manhood. They
seemed just as anxious to initiate their
father, but his conduct was in all respects
more worthy of imitation. His life had
also been made different--made different
by that change which comes when all
worldly desires are superseded by the de-
sire to do right from love Of Him whose
tender mercy is over all.-RuraL Neao
Yorker.