Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-08-31

anlmaClOn. l GU mad young children
a house to keep in order, and lust halt
our present income. Yet YOU could
find leisure then for a daily walk
could read in the evening. or sing fol
me, could enjoy an occasional evening
OF social pleasure, or some entertain.
ment. | had a wife then"
James, what do you mean?"
81 mean that, in the place of my
happy, healthy wife, / have now q
sickly, over-worked seamstress. Those
dolls that have just gone out have
none Of the grace of childhood. They
are fast becoming little pieces of van
lty, all absorbed in their fnery. Thei1
Undertaking would do for signs in an
emporium of linen, with the embroid-
cry, ruffies and tucks."
But l do it all myself, James,
Exactly. You are stitching your
life into the garments of your children,
who would be far happier, healthier
and better in the simple clothing
suited to their years."
"Oh, [ am well enough. I am pale
to-day because | sat up late last night.
But [ must dress for church or we
shall be late
The service passed over Mrs. Henley
with but little impression. To her
chagrin, the little Goodwins, who had
all their dresses direct from London,
had an entirely new style of overskirt,
that made Jennie, Susan and Lottie
look quite old-fashioned in the eyes of
their mother.
Summer came, and the long spring
days were spent in preparing a seaside
wardrobe for the children, for Mr..
Henley, by the advice of his physician,
was going to take his wife to the sea-
side.
The pain in her side had become very
troublesome, and there was a little
hacking cough that meant wakeful
nights. The pale cheeks were seldom
tinged with a healthy color, and the
eyes were languid and heavy. People
spoke pityi1gly of Mrs. Henley as
'quite an invalid" and her husband
mOurned over the alteration III his
wife.
He insisted upon having a physician,
who advised fresh air and exercise.
and tonic. And Annie obediently
swallowed the tonic, took daily
walk, and then made up for E"lost
time by stitching at night. For
were not the GOodwins, the Wilcoxes,
and all the leading fashionables of
Langton going to the same place where
Mr.. Henley had taken rooms. and
could Jennie, Susan and Lottie have
one inch less ruff1ing and tucking than
they possessed.
He only shrugged his shoulders
when his little girls minced along with
dainty fine-lady airs, instead of bound
ing with the freedom of childhood.
He bore the steady Whirr of the sew
ing-machine in the evening, instead
of the voice or music of his wife.
But when Armies health began to
give way he exercised his authority
and found he had been silent too long.
But, the summer wardrobes COM
pleted, the dainty dresses trimmed,
the trunks packed, Annie faithfully
promised James to rest during the
summer sojOurn at the seaside. With
sudden consciousness of growing
weakness there came to her an appre-
citation of her husbands love and pa
thence. She began to realize that she
had let her ambition for dress over
shadow her love for her husband, and
that she had wronged him in depriv-
ing him of the companionship he had
priced SO highly.
81 will rest while / am gone, and
when l come back, James, / will give
my evenings to you as l did when we
were first married"
That was her parting promise, never
to be exacted. Only few days of rest
were allowed her before an acute at
tack of lung fever Frustrated her.
James left his business to hurry to
the seaside, a nurse was engaged,
and medical skill did it's utmost. But
the constitution, weakened by confine-
ment and overWork, could not resist
the disease, and while the summer
days were still in the full beauty, Mrs.
Henley knew she was dying,
1t was bitter thought. Life held
so much that was precious; her kind,
loving husband, her beautiful chill
dren, her happy home-al these must
be left.
"A mysterious dispensation of Prov
idence," said Mrs Goodwin; "such a
good mother. And those children are
just the age when they most need a