The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-10-06

yet We do deal of bending before we
break, Aunt Dodo. Besides, there are the
children" She looked up fiercely. Was
this hollow, despairing face that of
sweet May Linton? "The life of
mothers in poverty is more cruel than
that which criminals lead as punishment
for their crimes" she said, with bitter
conviction.
Aunt Dodo said nothing, but while
May took heavy pot from the fire she
wiped her aged eyes with her sleeve, still
holding the apple knife.
Why, aunty," said Mey, turning,
care you trying to scalp yourself?"
Aunt Dodo dropped her arm, and May
knelt at her side and put her arms about
her. A tall form stopped in the door
way, but neither saw.
sit is not quite what we expected of
life, is it, aunty?" said May. But God
and heaven and hope and love remain
just the same, only the present is hard
and hides the truth from US at times.
You must not believe" she went on,
that Hal and / are less dear to each
other than of old; but when he comes in,
full of his politics and angry at this man,
and eager about that one, and finds a
cross, faded wife, who somehow seems
to blame him, l dare say, though she
never means it, and when the children
trouble him with their noise, and don't
look as neat as they used, and l feel all
the time while Pm getting the supper as
if l could die of pain, and WEAKNESS
worse than pain, or give one dreadful
shrek and go mad and get rid of it all,
and | have to fight it down and go on
seeing to fifty things at once, don't you
see, dear, we cannot exactly be as we
were five years ago? And yet if l were
to die, don't you suppose l know how
Hal would feel, not counting the need of
me for the children or the work, but just
the loss of me and my love? And if Hal
should be brought. home from one of
those political meetings to speak no word
of anger or hope about any man, or any
word to me ever again"-May rose and
clasped her hands" aunty, it would be
worse, thousand times worse, than it
would have been five years ago, when l
was his iHy 6itty pa'6dgs." And May
sobbed wildly.
A deeper sob, like an echo, startled
them, and they saw Harry, who, with his
head on his arm, had sunk into chair
by the door.
My May! my poor little love" he
cried, as he took her in his arms and
looked into her eyes, 81 came home to-
night very angry and obnoxious fellow,
| have lost the election, and, what is
worse, Martin has gained it. But now
am glad, and not sorry, for I am going
to spend my time and strength in saving
my May instead of my country"
And Harry was as good as his word.
Six-eighths of the time he had given to
political excitement he restored to his
business, and the mortgage was cleared
from the homestead in short time. The
hours at home were hours of mutual help
and harmony; for q strong determination
will carry all before it, like the turn of
the tide.
Many rest on the little lounge, while
the maid-of-all-work was putting the
kitchen to rights after tea, did May enjoy.
Many an evening, when the children
were asleep, her husband sat beside her,
her sensitive, clinging spirit resting in his
lOflhS PlOaHhOCI anu hSI StIdineu uerNes
relaxing from their long fatigue.
Harry" said Aunt Dodo, during a
flying visit, happiness is the best and
truest condition, of course, but think
you will agree with me that the happiness
we have fairly won is worth the most;
and, May, we cannot really deserve it
until we have learned the uses Of ddUerSi-
."-Harper'S Bazaar.