The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-03-19
By HORSLEY BROS. & FIGUERS.
would like to hear me sing again =,

lou pet would was the EN-
phatic, if not very elegant, response.
Let's play dominoes, then, till J
can sing. It is too soon after dinnel
now. Be merciful, for / am out OF
practice, remember"
Here Jane came in with Master
Harry, ready for bed, and after soft
kisses he was taken into the next room
and put into his cradle.
You viii come up if he cries, Jane. ,
Ella said, and took down the domino.
box. Sc think Harry is cid enough
now to spare me in the evening"" she
added in explanation.
Little monkey, how he grows |!
was the reply. ''Come, what is your
highest ?"
Cunningly Ella kept up the interest
of the game till nearly nine O'Clock.
when Will certainly would not go out.
Then she sang for him. Her voice.
clear and sweet, had been highly Guilt
waited, and she was surprised to find
how much pleasure she felt herself in
once more exercising it.
Eleven o'clock chimed ON the little
mantel clock when Will was pleading
for just one mere" song, and Ella
sang the Goodnight" in answer.
"By Jove" cried Will, 81 was to
meet Charley at the club-room at eight.
Where has the evening gomez"
Never mind ANY other evening
viii do as well" ;" said Ella.
The next day was stormy. Ella ap-
peared at breakfast with neatest of col
lars and cuffs, hair in a knot like bur
nished gold, and face like sunbeam.
Will, who had eaten in solitary state
for moro mornings than his wife cared
to count, was as attentive as a lover.
His parting kiss accompanied the
words
"Take nap, Nell, this morning. We
must keep you well, you knOwl I
haven't enjoyed my breakfast SO much
for year"
"Don't forget the new songs, Will.
Ii you will send them round l will try
them over before you come home"
"Tll send them then as I go down
town."
Wet and dismally muddy Will came
in from February storm of rain upon
melting snow. Ella was waiting for
him, and drew him into the bedroom.
Before the fire hung a dressing-gown
of bright cashmere faced with blue silk,
while under the dry, warm socks pair
of gorgeous slippers were toasting.
"Good gracious Nell, where did
those come .from?" said Will, hastily
drawing off his soaked boots.
'It is your birthday. Have you for
gotten? I bought those to-day for
you"
"Out in all this rain ?''
81 did not walk much. Try them
on, Will y
"Fine as a Turk I" said Will, twisting
before mirror to see how the dressing
gown fitted.
Now come and have some hot soup.
made it."
See here, Nell, amt you doing too
much?"
"Not bit. [ needed a good toast
ing over the fire after being out and I
took it over soup and pudding in the
kitchen, instead of over a novel here.
That is all the difference. Jane will
ring the tongue out OF that bell if we
don't hurry. That is the third time
she has summoned us.
Dinner over, the new songs were
tried, a few games of checkers pre-
ceding the music Then there was
some animated chat about new bust
Dess interest of which Will spoke. and
Ella confessed to having read the
paper. 1t was one of her old customs
resumed, for VIII had dearly liked TO
discuss the days news with her in the
evening. She had a bright intelligence
and could converse well on the inter
ests Of the day, but novels had su-
peTseded newspapers while she "was
not very strong"
Again eleven o'clock struck before
Will knew the evening was half gone.
Charley will think have deserted
him." he said " but slippers and
dressing gown are too comfortable TO
be easily resigned"
Ella softly strOked the hair of a
head resting upon the back of the
great arm chair "a VIII spoke. A
strong arm encircled her end she was
drawn te her husbands knee.
"Little woman" he said tenderly,
q cannot tell you how glad L am you
are well again. 1t was awfully dismal
sc eng you always in the diIeiul wrap
per. But" and man-like he hesitated
= 81 suppose ought 10 have stay ed
at home more
lou VIII now SDe SAID auXlOuSly.
"Where can 1 find so pleasant a
place, he said, with loving fervor, or
so precious a companion ?"
It was nearly a month later that Aunt
Mary, spending au evening with Wills
mother, heard Charley grumblingly
declare:
"There is no getting Will to go any
where nowadays. He sticks at home
in the evening as if he were glued there.
1 went round there Saturday. Jane
was out, Nell lying on the lounge with
a headache and Will reading to her,
while he rocked the cradle with one
foot.
"'Can't leave, he told me; Nell
requires all my attention, for can't
possibly afford to have her sick agaiDl'"
And so Aunt Mary knew that Ella
had tried to make home pleasant
and succeeded. Hearth and Home.