The daily gazette., 1876-11-25
THE REASON WHY.

ILL nlANUN VIII
"Mattie,'' said Mr.. Graham to his wife,
as the door closed upon their visitor, 81 |
You hardly spoke while Cousin Frank |
was here, and looked for all the world
as though some dreadful calamity was
about to befall you. If you have any re-
gard for my feelings, do try to be more
like folks"
Mrs. Graham's head bent lower over
the little half finished dress upon which
she was working but she made no re-
ply. She was evidently accustomed to
such remarks. Presently, bursting into
tears, she rose and left the room.
"Pshaw," said her husband, as with a
contemptuous smile he looked after her,
''that's always the way. You must
speak to woman just so, or she'll begin
to snivil. say Kate" addressing a
bright-eyed, wide awake looking woman
of some thirty, 81 used to think that
women were almost angels; but I've
full Of faults as we poor devils are."
An amused expression on Mrs. Ly-
mans face was her only answer.
Mr.. Graham sat for some time in
moody silence, and then said, reaching
for his hat as he spoke.
"Come, Sis, let's go over to Uncle
Johns, we'll be sure to find smiling
faces there, and can manage, perhaps, TO
pass an evening very pleasantly. It's a
pity that fellow can't take some COM
fort at home"
1t was after considerable hesitation
that Mrs. Lyman replied:
"Well, Charley, just wait until Bertie's
jacket is done, for he is very anxious to
wear it to school tomorrow and then,
if Nellie's asleep,"- glancing at the
cradle, where lay the six month old baby,
GIL go with you
AS the clock struck seven the little
garment was finished, and was placed
by the kind aunt where Berthe could not
fail to see it when he first awoke in the
morning. Baby was now soundly sleep
ing and Mrs. Lyman, after putting on her
hat and shawl, stepped to the door Of her
sisters room and said:
"Mattie, we are going to Uncle Johns.
We shall not be absent long; but do not
sit up for us unless you chose to-"
every WE'LL" was the reply. But the
tone in which the words were uttered
told plainly that the speaker took but
little interest in what was going on about
her. as..U.. Ut.
"Now, Charley" said Mrs. Lyman, as
soon as they were fairly in the street, IL
shouldn't have consented to come witt
you tonight, were it not that 1 wanted,
as Aunt Hannah used to say, to give you
a good big piece Of my mind.'"
"Why, what for, Kate? What crime
am l guilty of?
"The crime of destroying your own
happiness and those dearest to you"
"WLat do youmean What can you
mean?
"l think, Charley, you spoke very
harshly to poor Matte tonight. l coulc
almost have cried with her."
'Perhaps / was rather cross but Kate
that woman tries my patience dreadfully
She goes moping around, looking as for
lorn and disconsolate as though she had
not fl lend in the world"
"There must be cause for it."
eyes, suppose; but think it would
puzzle a lawyer to find out the cause"
"Don't you remember when she was
otherwise ?'
"Don't I remember? 1 think l do
There was not as pretty girl for miles
around as Matte Standish was. was
proud of her in my counting day.
aYes, Iwell remember what devoted
lover YOU were. d. Our garden was rob
bed of its choicest flowers to be made into
boquets, for Matte. If fruit or cogfectior
anywhere sent frRm the city. the very mic
est was selected for that same Mattie.
The latest magazines and papers wert
found lop, bert table, placed there, shy m.
brother Charley. Inshor. nothing wa
too good for: her. w r..
"That's SO, Kate?s and those were jolly
times. l wonder If Matte has forgotten
them?"
Without needing his last remarks, Mrs
Lyman continued:
81 had beautiful rose tree at home
Charley, that was given me by dea
friend. As long as watered it and tend
ed it carefully it.repaid me with man,
| fragrant, beautiful blossoms; but after
had been in my possession few months
am sorry to say, 1 shamefully neglecte'
| it. Sometimes, for days together, di
not go near it. 1t faded and dropped.
renewed my care ofit-but it was to
late. My rose tree died, and l learned
lesson. Take care, Charley, that you
Matte does not share the fate of my rose
She has peculiarly sensitive nature, an
will not bear neglect any more than ten
der, sensitive plant will"
"But, Kate, Matte knows that l lov
her as well as ever did,"
"What reason has she to think so?
was reading not long since ofa gentlema
who had visited in great many familie
} and among them all, he had found but
very few really happy ones. The cau'
of the unhappiness, he said, was not {
much the want of love as the want
care to manifest it, That is just whel
the trouble lies. If man should te
you that you did not love your wife al
children, you would be tempted to knot
him down. But, Charley, what is lo'
that is never expressed in words and a
tions? Play the lover again my dear brot
er, and my word for it, you will have l
cause to complain Of Matte"
BY this time the door of Uncle Johr
| bousa was reached and there was ,