Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1876-05-02

t'-A|NN N'||' u
cheered his inward man, u theres had been 3
CLEAN of sunshine on the face of his wife
Arc you well, Mary Z"
These words wero on his lips, but he did
not utter them, for the face Of his wife locke
SO repellaut that he feared an irritating reply
This is purgatory," said Lee, as he COM
menced walking tho room, with his hands
thrust into his trOwsers pockets, and his chin
almost touching his breast
After the things had been removed and
carried into the kitchen, Mrs. Lee spread
sreon spread over the table and placed neat
and bright lamp thereon. She then went out
and shut the door, leaving her husband by
the table alone with his unpleasant feelings
be drew long breath as she did SO, and tax
ing paper commenced to read. Singular
enough, the words upon which his eyes rested
were, ''Praise your wife" They rather
tended to increase the perplexity of his mind
from which he was suffering
81 should like to see some occasion for
Prsisiug mine" How quickly his thoughts
expressed that ilI.natured sentiment. But
his eyes wore on the paper before him and he
read on
Praise your wife, man; for PHYS sake
give her ist!e encouragement. 1t won't
hurt hor"
Andrew Lee raised his eyes aud muttered {:
ooh, yes, that ia we'll enough. But praise
her for what?"
His eyes fell again on the paper. "she
has made your little homo comfortable; your
hearth brigh: aud shining; aud your food
agreeable; for PHYS sake tell hor you thank
her, if nothing more. She don't expect it.
Il will make her eyes wider than they have
boeu for ten years, but it will do her good
for all that, and you too"
1t seemed to Andrew that this was writton
expressly for him, aud just for the occasion,
praise her for what? aud he felt it as re-
buke. He read further, for thoughts
came too busy, and in a new direction-
Memory was convincing of Injustice to his
wife. She had always made his home as
comfortable as she could make it. and had be
offered her the slightest return of praise or
| communication Had he ever told her of the
! satisfaction he had experienced? He was rot
able to recall the time or occasion. As he
thought thus, Mrs. Leo came in from the
kitchen and taking her work basket from the
table without speaking, began to sew. Mr.
Lee glanced steadily at the work, aud saw it
was the bosom of a shirt, and knew it was for
him she was at work.
Praise your WIFE" These words wero
before the eyes of his mind, and be could not
look away from them. But be was not ready
for this yet lie still felt moody and uufor-
giving. The expression of his wife's face he
interpreted to mean i'll nature, for which he
had no patience. His eyes fell on the news
paper spread out before him and he read the
sentence "a kind, cheerful word spoken in
gloomy house is the little rift in the clouds
that let's the sunshine through"
His own i'll nature had to be conquered
and his moody accusing spirit subdued.
He thought of many things to say, and yet
he feared to say them, lest his wife shonld
meet his address with rebuff. At last he
said in voice that was carefully modulated
with kindness:
You are doing that work beautifully,
Mary"
Mrs. Leo made no reply, but her husband d
noticed that she lost Instantly that rigid ex-
preston of her face.
''SIy shirts are better made and whittier
than those of any man in the shop" said her
husband encouraged to proceed.
| Are they ?" Mrs. Lees voice was low,
! and she had in it a slight huskiness. He had