The Van Buren press., 1875-04-20


must learn by experiences AT such sea
sons rs the present, children cannot he
too warmly dressed When out Of doors.
Sarah dared not look up at her hus
band, for sue feared he might have mis-
construed her feelings Charles dared not
! look at his wife, for he feared to meet
her fearful gaze.
Mamma said little Lucy in n weak,
husky voice, after the doctor had gone.
my head aches very badly. Oh, if j
had had that sack TO wear, should not
have been sick, should map
Hush, my dear; perhaps when yon
get we'll, papa will be able to get one,
said Mrs Ellery, as she drew down the
bed clothes over the child and smoothed
her burning brow.
Like long, revcrbcrating thunderbolt
fell the simple words upon the ear OF
Charles Ellery. For the first time he be-
ban to see the course he was pursuing IN
its true light He had never meant TO
sn--he had never meant TO wrong.a hu-
man being, aud in his excited moments
of social frolic, he had never dreamed
that harm was being the result. His
breakfast was eaten in silence, and prom
ising that hewould be home to an early
dinner, he went to his work
Good God I exclaimed Charles Ellery
as he stepped out into the open air. Is
it possible that have so long been SOW
ing the seeds Of misery in my family Z
Yesterday morning, my good, kind wife
wanted three dollars to buy sack for
our dear child. | could not spare it !
And yet last evening spent the full sum
for nothing--ay, worse than nothing, for
even now my head aches, and my whole
system is out of tune from last, night =
scrape Now mr child is sick for the
want of tina, very three dollars. Then
how have deceived and cheated mvsclf
need new boots, and yet have suffered
for their want, because thought | could
not afford it; and yet what spent last
night would have bought them, and my
money would have been source oflast-
ing good; but now ! have made it a
source Of lasting evil
In such meditation Charles Ellcry
walked to his shop. A thousand scenes
of the past came back to his mind, and
he saw thousand pictures of his ingrat.
itudc to his wife, his child and himself
How many times had his wife wanted
some little article of comfort that he had
denied her, because he could not spare
the money--how many times had his
child begged for some small toy, which
his scanty purse obliged him.to refuse
and how often had he seen some trfing
article of food. clothing or ornament,
Which he would have been pleased to pur..
chase, but that he had not money enough,
and yet, on each Of such occasions. he
could distinctly remember having spent
double the sum which his family's com
fort required, for n mere nothing Night
after night he had passed away from his
home, wasting his money, his health and
his strength; while his poor wife was sad
and lonesome at home. How much Of
useful reading he might have gained
how much money he might have saved,
and above all, how much happier might
he have been himself, had those evenings
been spent beneath his own roof.
Charles Ellcry was not blind, and OF
course he resolved 20 reform.
When Mr. Ellery returned from his
days work, he found his child sick, but
yet not dangerously SO. The doctor had
left word for him to go 70 the apotheca-
rvs after some medicine, and after eating
his supper he started of, and though he
met half dozen of his old companions,
each of whom urged him to join them,
yet he had no thought save to return i'm.
mediatey to his home; and the kind,
grateful look of his wife, when he return
ed so early, sent thrill Of pleasure to
his soul, such as he had not experienced
for long time
A week passed away, and every eve.
ming had Charles spent at home with his
wife. He had read and conversei, and
laughed and played with his recovering
child, and when Saturday night came he
felt himself to he the happiest man alive.
In vain was 1t that he was urged to join
again the social circles Of his bacchana-
ian companions, but his heart turned in
loa,hing away from their revelry, and he
wondered how he could have ever given
them the preference over his own sweet
home
Sarah said he, as he returned home
on the last evening of the week, has
Mrs Robinson sold that sack yet"
No. Charles.
Then here are five dollais said Mr..
Elery, at the same time handing his wife
a bill. 'Yon purchase the sack, and then
You will have two dollars left, which you
can use as you think best
But am afraid you cannot afford
this, Charles" returned Sarah, looking
half wondcrngly and half inqnistively
into her husbands face.
Afford it, uttered Charles. gazing in
to his wife's face tenderly, 'Oh, my dear
wife, If my past neglect can be forgotten
and forgiven. | willaiford everything that
will conducc to your happiness. Instead
Of paying money for useless and hurtful
amuscments, will eXpend it for the com
for, Of my dear family
Charles, cried the cnraptured wife, Il
have never blamed YOU. | have never
found fault; but. O, il you will make me
happy by your company these long win
ter evenings | shall be happy indeed.
And that company you shall have. In
fact, will be a husband and n father,
returned Charles, with proud, con
scious look, and on the next moment he
folded his wife to his bosom. She wept,
but they were tears Of JOY that rolled