Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-12-21


ton with efforts to change her habits, ,and
less cold, severe exactions shown on the
part OF her husband S relatives, the event
might have been better for all. At last
the usual result followed. Quarrels be-
came of frequent occurrence; eslrange'
ment grew up between husband and wife
and it was only year after their mar
riage that the young wife, one day. after
a passionate outbreak and most unhappy
scene with her husband. left his home and
returned to that OF her parents. Here
she was not only received with open arms,
but condoled and sympathized with to her
great ipiury-a divorce proposed, and all
chance of reconciliation destroyed.
Such was tho painful story, as gath
cred the particulars-no rare one in the
world, | am quite aware, and yet sad
enough rs embodying the wreck OF two
lives, Perhaps knowledge of the whole
soitened my pride toward Mr. Lee q triho,
though it by no means cured my wounded
Selfrespect or put me more a. ease with
myself What more acquaintance might
have followed is uncertain perhaps none
whatever, under the changed conditions ;
nor have | the clearest idea how my re.
venge would have been accomplished, had
not been favored by new and unexpected
circumstances.
1t was in the month OF Dacember thi,
one very cold and clustering morning a
lady was ushered toto the Instruction
room by one OF the salesmen. She was
a young and remarkably pretty womln.
Us | discovered at the first glance, and
dressed very becomingly in the prevail
ing mode. The usual remarks that "she
was afraid she would be stupid" and my
reinsurance that hal taught pupils
/ from twelve to eighty in age aad from
hish Norab to the Hon. Mrs. HighnGer
in position, passed between US; and
/ then. after lect were comfortably warm ii.
ard gloves removed, the lesson began
Upon the raising OF her veil, as she
seated herself. disc)Terel tan her
/ beautiful bcowa eyes sh)Sel trac}s Of
recent tears; and several times a5 the
lesson progressed an unconscious'y loag
drawn sigh or SOD proved very pltinly
that she had lately passed through som}
strong emotion. and that nature WAS
kindly restoring the equilibrium.
Ia tie course Of the lesson. tha. day,
she told me thu: she was married and
the mother of little boy somewha. over
q year old. She limited at trouble in
connection with her marriage relations 5,
aud OF late news that hal cIu;oi the
past night TO be spent very uuhlolily.
She seemed low-spirited, and deeply
ashamed of her ignorance as regarded
all knowledge OF sewing or the con-
struction OF the simplest garment.
encouraged er-iold her tha. patience
and application only were necessary. as
she showed very good natural abilities
and would learn easily. But she replied
sadly that she was afraid that thoia
were virtues she had never cultivated,
nor even until lately deem2d at all
necessary. She assured me that could
form no idea how useless and helpless
she had be1n Shs had never liked 10
sew, and her mother had never wished
her to DO so, telling her that there were
plenty of poor people who would be glad
10 do such labor instead. She hoped
would not laugh at some of her no doub,
triling and silly questions. as she had
never even made u garment OF any kind
in her life-not even a little one for hel
baby | laughed good naturedly; |
could not help it; and told her that she
took TOO severe view OF her defcien
cies- that there were plenty OF other
ladies Just like her; but she said. smiling
a little mournfully ia return. that il
know how bitterly she had lately begur
to understand what au uneducale e'
woman in useful matters she was, aud
how inc)nvenient she had found the
position. would not wonder at hel
desire TO do better.
This first lesson was succeeded b,
others, for several days following. dur
ing which l learned that she had beer
married between two and three years
that she had always before her marriage
led gay and luxurious existence. per-
\ haps because she had never known o
any other, her parents being fashionable
butterflies; that she had passed through
a great sorrow, b,en very sick when heI
babe was born. and now was just begin
ming ID appreciate some of the realitie
OF life. She confess that it was wher
recovering from sick.bed, and among
the new aud strange feelings that cam'
with the birth OF her babe, that she had
awakened to the truth. and listened tC
the promptings, always before ignored.o %
her more practical nature. That it wa
through the advice VI kiId friend who
had been with her through her sickness,
that she had purchased sewing ma
chine, the friend believing that it woulc
be good beginning: in her efforts TO dc
something useful.
All this my new pupil did no. tell m
in 50 many words, but j. was the sub