The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-10-20
Loves a fire that needs renewal
Of fresh beauty for its fuel.

Offresh beauty for its fuel.
Mrs. Clark went home with new plans
and ideas, and with courageous heart,
determined to follow Mrs. Banks sug-
gestions and do all in her power to
make herself and her home more attract
i've to her husband, and to strive to win
back his love, if it really was waning.
With all these pleasant thoughts in her
mind she made her currant jelly, and
then, after dinner, set to work earnestly
to put her home in better order, hoping
that her husband might come in that
night. In the first place she opened and
aired her close and closed parlor, gave it
a thorough busting, which it had been
needing for long time, but which she
had hoped the tightly-closed blinds
would not disclose to anyone, and then
went down to the garden with news
paper and scissors in hand and cut oft
geraniums, heliotropes, pansies, ver-
benas and other pretty flowers, and soon
had several tasteful bouquets in parlor
and sitting-room, and pretty one all
ready for the table.
Then her sitting-room, which had been
neglected for days because she had so
lovely a story she wanted to get
through and could do nothing until she
finished it," was put in neat order and
freshened every way, and after baby was
dressed and the cook came upstairs to
sit with him awhile flor these young
married people kept but the one servant),
and Mrs. Clark had given her some
special directions about tea, she went up
to her room to see what improvement she
could make in Mrs. Clark herself. She
went to large packing box and took out
from among number of fresh, pretty
dresses one that she had worn the sum-
mer previous at the sea shore, which she
had kept laid away to wear on extra &C.
casions, and as she looked at it she said
to herself: How surprised Willis will
be if he comes in to see me dressed in
this way. And yet l know he will be
! glad to see me looking nice again, and
during the week as we'll as on Sunday"
The dress was a soft gray, too light a
color to be worn on the street, and while
Mrs. Clark made good appearance on
the Sabbath in her black grenadine she
had put aside the light, pretty house
dresses, and had felt for long time that
she need take no pains during the week
to look well. While she was fumbling
over this box she picked up an old letter
of her husbands, written to her years
before, and, as she glanced at the date
and looked at its contents, she saw it
was written on his birthday, and this
day. the 18th of July, was the anniver-
sary. She had entirely forgotten it.
"Surely l might don this dress on his
| HI ~ ka ooiI &C nd trut to 1Anly
very prettiest." So, arranging her hair
in tasteful way and adjoining her neck
with pretty blue ribbons, she went down
into the parlor, opened the piano, which
she had not touched for weeks, and be-
gan to sing some of the old songs which
Willis few years ago enjoyed so much.
The baby was taxing nap, the cook
getting supper, and, after taking look
at the table to see that all was right, she
stepped out to the front porch for mo-
ment, and as she stood there Mr.. Banks
passed, bowed and said:
Your husband will be along in few
minutes; he came up on the train with
me, and l left him around the corner"
Mr.. Clark was coming home tonight
because he expected to meet business
friend near by after tea.
Mrs. Clark seated herself again at the
piano, and, as her husband came up the
steps he heard the music, and, thinking
some friend had come in to make them a
visit, opened the door as softly as posi-.
BILE, and was just skipping upstairs to
"polish" little when he caught a
glimpse of his wife, and came quickly
into the parlor, saying:
"Well, well, Jennie, what's all this
about? / haven't seen you look so pretty
for long time. Who are you expect.
ing?"
"No one but YOU" said Mrs. Clark.
"What has come over you, and how
have you happened to open the parlor,
and fix up all these bouquets, and make
: yourself up so fine, and sit here at the
{ piano, and sing away like regular prima
t donnaH 1t is so long since have heard
r you sing did not recognize your voice
! at all, and wondered who could be hereP
"This is your birthday" said Mrs
Clark, land l thought we'd just cele
, brate little, and, though did not surely
5 know that you would be able to be here
; to tea, / kind of felt in my bones tha
you would, and sure enough you ART
! herep
Q al am mighty glad came" said he
/ husband, and then, with an admirins
r glance and a hearty kiss, he said e.
| shall have to fix up in my Sunday go.to
/ meeting suit, guess, to do the honors o.
t the occasion;" and added; Lets hav,
: one of our good old-fashioned sings afte
j teaw