The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-12-07
A wOMAN's WISDOM.

| his Youngest boy from OH MS f00t
which had been performing series o
journeys to "Boston and back again,
for the last half hour, 81 discharged
Tom this afternoonw
"You have? Dear me, Luther" II
these words seem ambiguous on my
paper, the tones gave them fullncss oil
meaning and emphasis, and expressed
surprise. regret, and some other feeling
nearer disapproval than anything else.
The tender playfulncss which had
crcpt into the merchants face during
his frolic with his boy and girl was su.
pcrseded by another expression, the
ono that he carried into his office
among his warehouses-in his relations
with his clerks and employees, and in
his business dealings with men in gen.
eral; hard, stern, shrewd look, which
he was very apt to leave outside when
he turned the night key in his door and
passed into the warmth and brightness
of his home.
For. although this man was far from
laultless, although he had the name
among his brother merchants and Oh
change of being shrcwd and sharp at @
bargain and pretty certain to cline his
own nest' warmly in all business trans.
actions, there was still another side tc
Luther Randolph--hc was thoroughly 9
home man.
That was the side which was warm.
est, and tenderest, and almost genial
the side which was turned almost in
variably toward his wife and the girl
and boy who were the pride and de.
light of the mans life,
And well it was for Luther Randolph
that he had taken to wife woman Sc
perfectly fitted to sympathize with and
develop all these home loves and in
stincts of mans nature, to make OF
the house where he dwelt little earth
ly paradise of comfort and brightness
and beauty. In some respects, too, she
was his superior-in social position and
early cultivation; and there had been a
time when her family regarded it as in
snfferable presumption for mere sala-
ricd bookkccpcr TO dream of wOoing
the youngest and pctted daughter OF
the house.
But Notwithstanding fortune and
family were in his disfavor, Luther
Randolph had many qualities of person
and manner which win the regard of
women, and on this one he had set his
heart and soul, and she was not I'M
mindful of the tender, manly regard
which she had inspired.
Time, perseverance, above all, a
steady ascent up the ladder of fortune.
triumphcd, after several years waiting,
over all obstacles; and Luther Ran
dolph 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 mad been literally a
struggle with him. lie 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 rich man,
honorcd of all men, if somewhat feared
and dreaded by his interiors, and sur
rounded on every hand with evidences
of the wealth which he had won for
himself.
eyes, Mary" he continued, with that
new hardness, which had settled into
his face, sinking also into his voice; 81
finished the matter up in short metre
this afternoon, and gave him his quit
papers. am not the man to be tam
percd with the second time, as Tom
found out TO his cost, to-day"
"What was his offence this timc?''
inquired the lady; and the evening
paper dropped unheeded from her lap
to the floor, and she leaned her face
down to the cheek 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.
Randolph would have keenly apprcciat.
cd had not his thought just then been
engrosscd.
"Oh, il was the old thing; he got in
to bad company again, and, in short
came into the office so drunk this morn.
ing that he could hardly stand. | sent
him back ut once to sleep off the effects
of his spree, and when he returned
pretty thoroughly scared and sobered
this afternoon, l gave him his dismissal
with some sharp words that he wont
be likely to forget at once"
"Such a smart, bright, pretty-be.
haved boy as he was' said the soft
rcgretful voice Of the lady. ''It is such
a pity!'
81 agree with you; bat if boys oi
men will make fools of themselves and
stand in their own light, who is tc
blame! I'd taken Il fancy TO the boy
and meant to do well by him, else
should have turned him away on the
first offence"
"And what will become of him now
Luther" asked the lady.
at would be impossible for Inc tC
prophesy, my dear. The chances, how.
ever, are against him. He's made {
bad beginning, and will be very likel,
TO end in police court and term n
the Tombs, and that's the end OF boy
of course"
go, dcar!" said the lady, with lit
tie start and shiver, and an unconscious
glance at the mesh of brown, FURNISHED
hair that had nestled down OH thu
hearth-rug, "what n terrible picture
Luther"
Mr.. Randolph followed his wife.
gaze. Perhaps he defined the associa
ton which suggested itself to her mind
for his tone was certainly modified a
he answered:
"That is true, need not have paint
ed it quite so black. Perhaps Tom
future may not be so bad as my croak
ings. AT all events, give your pretty
little head no further concern on tn,
| auuJtCl, lOI llc OON IL ullMOlIflN Oh IL.
81 can't help wishing, Luther, tha
you had given him one more trial,
said the lady, speaking more TO hersel
than to her husbcnd.
The gentleman turned upon his wifi
and regarded her wish one of his pleas
ant smiles, in which lurked the faintes
tinge of irony.
"Mary," he said, ~ regard you as
most exemplary woman-in short, q
the very flower of your sex. In al
your relations, as wife and mother an,
mistress, believe you to be unequaled
But in all business matters your judg
ment and opinions would not be wort
a sixpence, at least on any subjec
where interest and sympathies were en-
listed. That soft little heart of your
would be certain to lead your goo,
sense captive, and you'd be grossly i'm
posed upon and deceived on every side
All, my dear, n man who has had 4
fight the battle of life as have done b
make my own way in the world, know