Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1878-08-22
The young man bowed his head as he

'oueh vi parental SteInnesS in his tone. .svon
are resolved to carry it there"
Clarence looked up in surprise.
Ell carry it ?"
"Aye-you have the burden in your hear
ana you mean to carry it home. Remember
my boy, L have been there, and | know all
II. have been very foolish in nv
lifetime, and | have suffered. OF course.
such burdens can'be thrown off. Now. Won
nave resolved that you will 90 hometto din
her with a heavy heart and a dark face.
on have no hope that your wife will meet
you Wit a smile. And why? Because you
know that she has no particular cause for
smiling. You know that her heart is bur-
dened with the same affiiction which gives
you so much unrest. And so you are fully
assured that you willitind your home shroud-
edin gloom. And, furthermore, you don't
know when that gloom will depart or when
the blessed sunshine OF love will burst in
again. And swhy don't you know? Be-
cause it is not o in your heart to sweep
the cloud away. You say to yourself, Il
can bear it as long as she CAM: Am L not
right%
Clarence did not answer in words.
II know [ am right" pursued the mer-
chant; "and very likely your wife is saying
to herself the same thing. BY and by it
will happen as it has happened before that
one of the twain will surrender from inabil-
ity to bear the burden. Then there will be
a collapse and a reconciliation. Generally
the wife fails first. beneath the CALLING bur-
den, because her love is keenest and most
sensitive. The husband, in such a case,
acts the part of a coward. When he might,
with a breath, blow the cloud away, he will
cringe and cover until his wife is forced to
let the sunlight in through her breaking
heart"
Clarence listened, and was troubled. He
saw the truth and felt its weight. During
the silence that followed he reflected upon
the past, and his mind recalled scenes Just
such as Mr.. WardIe had depicted. How he
had seen his wife weep when she had failed
and sank beneath the heavy burden; how
often she had sobbed upon his bosom in
grief for the error.
The merchant read his thoughts, and after
a time he arose and touched him upon the
arm.
Clarence. suppose you were to put on
your hat and 60 home now. Suppose you
should think, OH the way, only of the love
and blessing that might be suppose you
should enter your home with a smile upon
your face, and you should put your arms
around your wife's neck, and kiss her, and
softly say to her, My darling, l have come
home to lay down the burden 1 took away
with me this morning. 1t is greater than l
can BEAR. Suppose you were to do this,
would your wife repwlse your"
"Repulse me ?"
"Ah, my boy, you echo my words with
an amazement which shows that you UNDER
stand me. Now, sir, have you the courage
to try the experiment? Dare you to be so
much of a man? Or do you fear she would
respect and esteem you less for the deed
Tell me-do you think the cloud of unhap-
piness might thus be banished? Clarence,
if you would but try it !"
X X X X X X X
Sarah Spencer had finished her work in
the kitchen, and in the bed chamber, and
sat down with her work in her lap. But
she could not ply her needle. Her heart
was heavy and sad, and tears were in her
eyes.
Presently she heard the front door open.
and a step in the passage. Certainly she
knew that step! Yes-her husband enter
Ell, and a smile upon his face. She saw it