The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-08-09
A WoMAN'S WISDOM.
BY VIRGINIA F. TOWNSEND.


Mary said Mr.. Randolph, lifting
his youngest boy from off his foot
which had been performing a serie,
of journeys 'to Boston aud back again
for the last half hour, Il discharged
Tom this afternoon!
You have? Dear me, Luther!' II
these words seem ambiguous on my
part, the tones gave them fullness OF
meaning and emphasis, and expressed
surprise, regret and some other feel.
ing nearer disapproval than anything
else.
The tender playfulness which had
crept INTO the merchants face during
his Irolic with his boy and girl was
superseded by another expression, the
one that he carried into his Office
among the warehouses in his rela.
lions with his clerks and employees, and
in his business dealings with men in
general; hard, stern, shrewd look,
which he was very apt TO leave out
side, and passed into the warmth and
brightness of his home.
For, although this man was far from
faultncss, although he had the name
anon. his brother merchants, and on
exchange, of being shrewd and sharp
at a bargain, and pretty certain to slime
his own nest warmly, in all business
transactions. there was still another
side to Luther Randolph-he was
thoroughly a home man.
That was The side of him that was
The warmcst and tenderest, and most
genial ;the side that was turned almost
invariably toward his sweet young
wife. and the girl and boy, who were
the pride and delight of the mans life.
Aud we'll it was orLutherRandolph
that he had taken to wife a woman 80
peculiarly fitted to sympathize with
and develop all these home loves and
instincts of the mans nature, to make
the home where he dwelt little earth.
ly paradise of comfort, brightness and
beauty. In some respects, too, she
was his superior-in social position
and carly cultivation; and there had
been time when her family regarded
it as insufferablc presumption for a
mere salaried book-keeper to dream of
wooing The youngest and petted
of the house.
But Notwithstanding fortune and
family were in his favor, Luther Ran
dolph had many qualities of person
and manner which win the regard of
aud on this one he had set his
heart and soul, and she was not un-
of the tender, manly regard
she had inspired.
Time, perseverance. above all, a
steady ascent up the ladder of fortune.
triumphed after several years. waiting,
over all obstacles; Luther Randolph
led TO the altar the daughter of the
old banker, Mary Marshall.
He was far into his thirties at that
time, and so far, life had been literally
a struggle with him. He had fought
his way by the strength of his arm
and the might of his will, without
friends or fortune, and now, less than |
eight years after his marriage, he was |
a rich man, honored by all men, if
feared and dreaded by his
interiors, and surrounded on every
iand with evidences of the wealth
which he had won for himself.
'Yes, Mary he continued, with that
Iew hardness, which had settled into
lis face, sinking also into his voice.
1 finished the matter up in short meter
his afternoon, and gave him his quit
papers. L ain not the man to be tam
Jered with the second time, as Tom
ound out to his cost, to-day
what was his offense this time p in
luired The lady and the evening pa
Der dropped unheeded from her lap to
lie flcor,snd she leaned her face down
% the cheek, soft and dewy as an ap.
pie blossom of the little girl who was
hanging on the side OF her chair, and
mother and daughter made pretty
picture at that moment, which Mr..
would have keenly appreci.
,;ed had not his thoughts been en-.
crossed.
ooh. it was the old thing he got in
ID bad company again, and. in short, |
came into tho Office go drunk this |
that he could hardly stand. l
sent him back at once to sleep off the
spree. and when he returned, pretty |
scared and sobered this af- |
ternOon, gave him his dismissal, with
some sharp words that he won't be
likely to forget at once
Such a smart, bright, pretty behav-
ed boy as he was = said the soft regret
full tones of the lady. 1T is such a
pityY
Il agree with you; but if boys or
men will make fools of themselves and |
stand in their own light, who Is to
Id taken fancy to the boy,
and meant 10 do well by him, else |
should have turned him off on the first
Offeuse.'
'And what will become of him now,
asked the lady.
1T would be impossible for me to
my dear, The chances, how