Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1876-11-09

"i noUi i"SSA WY St"So VOC. h'See II
TO smothering heat, because he
declared it 'cold enough to freeze {
/ polar bears"
In short, With apparently an energetic
attempt to correct all shortcomings
and put the house keeping upon q
| perfect basis, Lima in one month nearly
doubled her brothers expenses, and
drove him to the verge Of distraction.
But Essie, we'll and strong again,
was coming home, On the day Of
her expected arrival, Lima, with a
solemn face, invited her brother into
the sitting=room for a few minutes of
private conservation.
Herbert" she said, very gravely,
Il have proposition to make to you.
You are my only brother, and I need
not tell you 1 love you dearly, 1t has
really grieved me to the heart to see
how muoh there is to find fault with
III your beautiful home" Herbert
twisted himself uneasily in his chair,
but Lima continued:
'You know that mother is very
dependent upon me, Louie having the
house and children to care for, but l
think she would sacrifice her own
comfort for yours. So if you wish,
Herbert, l will come here permanently
to keep things in order for YOU
Here Lima was obliged to pause,
and strangle laugh at Herbert's
expression of utter horror and dismay.
:You are very kind he faltered,
the instincts of gentleman battling
with the strong desire to tell Linp she
would certainly drive him into a
lunatic asylum by six months more Of
her model housekeeping.
"Not at all A man who has made
an unfortunate marriage certainly
needs all the aid and sympathy his
family can give him"
The last stray was laid upon the
camel's back. Herbert spoke holly ::
you are entirely mistaken. Lima. !
have not made an unfortunate mar
rage, If ever man was blessed
in wife, l am that man"
"You amaze me, Hel bert J. Lima
cried, in well feigned astonishment.
Il don't see why you should be
surprised. Essie is gentle, loving,
orderly, model mother and perfect
home angel-God bless her!"
sHerbert, is that true 2"
"Certainly it is true.
81 cannot believe it, was the slow
response.
Cannot believe it! Why"
"6ecause" and Lima dwelt impress
lively upon every word-''during the
nine years of your married life, though
visiting here frequently, I have never
heard You speak one word of encour-
agement or praise to Essie. ! never
saw one look Of appreciation CT
appreciation of any effort she made
for your Comfort upon your face.
Continual fault finding, constant
blame, have changed her from a happy
girl to a pale, careworn woman.
Even her last illness was but the
unspoken despair of heart crushs|
under a load of daily censnre,;o
constant striving for the apgne now
never given. And you oer dntv to
she has never failed rryor somewbere
you. There IS 2f'
Herbert" =
;, earnest tone, the face of
ne ~ q gravity, sent every word
thouggoo the young mans hart. He
tnoke no word Of seif-defense, as
Lima slowly left the room. In the
profound silence that fol % wed,
conscience reviewed the past, and he
knew that his sister had spoken only
he truth.
"God help me" he whispered, to
conquer this fault. Essie shall hear
10 more fault finding, and if ! see her
lrooping, will send her to mother,
md have Lima here to keep house.
Never had wife and mother warmer
Welcome than greeted Essie. The
children were unchecked in their
oudest demonstrations of delight.
But Lima had to rush into the hall to
hide her merry eyes when Herbert,
Kissing Essie, said;
eve mnst let mother have Lima
now, dear. She has been very kind
and worked hard tor my comfort /; i
but there is no home fairy like my
Essie."
Her quick, glad look in his wife's !
soft eyes told Herbert one step had
been taken in the right direction. AS
the days glided by, and Essie found
meeting every effort to
add TO home comfort, word of |
praise for every little triumph of
cookery or necdlework, her pale face
grew bright With happiness, and
Herbert found his own heart lightened
by the cheerful VOICE, the sunny smile,