The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-06-12
A SMILE FOR HOME.

Take that home with you, my dear" said
Mrs. Lewis, her manner half smiling, half
serious.
Take what home, Caddy?'' and Mr.. Lewis
turned towards his wife, curiously.
Now, Mrs. Lewis had spoken from the mo-
ment's impulse, and already partly regretted
her remark.
Take what home" repeated her husband
Il don't understand you"
THAT smiling face you turned upon Mr..
Edwards when you answered his question
just now"
Mr. Lewis slightly averted his head, and
walked on in silence. They had called in at
the store of Mr.. Edwards to purchase a few
articles and were now on their way bone.
There was no smile on the face of Mr.. Lewis
now, but very grave expression instead
grave almost to sternness The words of his
wife had taken him altogether by surprise,
and, though spoken lightly, had Jared upon
his ears.
The truth was, Mr.. Lewis. like a great
many other men who have their own busi
ness cares and troubles, was in the habit of
bringing home, and too often, cloudless
face. 1t was vain that his wife and children
looked into that face for sunshine, or listen
ed to his words for tones of cheerfulness.
Take that home with you, dear" Mrs
Lewis was already repenting this suggestion,
made on the moments impulse. Her hus-
bear even an implied censure from his wife
And so she had learned to be very guarded
In this particular.
"Take that home with you, dear All, me-
| wish the words had not been said. There
will be darker clouds now, and gracious
knows they were dark enough before. Way
can't Mr. Lewis leave his cares and business
behind him, and let us see the pleasant,
smiling face again. l thought this morning
he had forgotten how to smile; but see that
he can smile. if he tries. Ali Why don't he
try at homer
So Mr.. Lewis talked to herself as she
moved along by the side of her husband, who
had not spoken a word since her reply to
his query, Take what homer Block after
block was passed and street after street cross
ed, and still there was silence between them.
"Of course" said Mrs Lewis, speaking in
her own thoughts, "0f course be is offended
He won't bear word from me. l might
have known beforehand that talking out this
way would only make things worse. Oh
dear! I'm getting out of all heart!"
''Whst then, Caddy?"
Mrs. Lewis almost startled at the sound
of her husbands voice breaking unexpected
ly upon her ear in sOttened tone.
'What then?' he repeated turning toward
her, and looking down into her shyly up
turned face.
sit would send warmth and radiance
her tones all a tremble with feeling.
You think so2'
81 know so! Only try ii, dear, for this one
evening.
at isn't so easy thing to put on a smil-
| il face, Caddy, when thought is oppressed
| with care"
at didn't seem to require much effort just
| now," said Mrs Lewis, glancing up at her
| husband with something of archness in her
| look.
| Again shadow dropped down upon the
| face of Mrs. Lewis, which was again partly
| turned away; and again they walked on in
| silence.
HE is so sensitive" Mrs. Lewis said to
| herself the shadow on her husbands face
darkening over her own. 81 have TO be as
careful of my words as if talking TO a spoiled
child"
No, it did not require much effort on the
part of Mr.. Lewis as he passed few words
| lightly with Mr.. Edwards The remark OF
mis- wife had not really displeased him; il
had only set him TO thinking. After re-
manning gravely silent, because he was
undergoing a brief determination, Mr.
| Lewis said
You thought the smile given to Mr.. Ed
wards came easily enough?''
| 1t did not seem to require an effort" re-
| piled Mrs Lewis
mo. not much effort was required" said
4
| pressed. But this must be taken into the
| account; my mind was in a certain state of
| excitement, or activity, that repTessed sober
feelings, aud made smiling an easy thing
So we smile and are gay in company at cost
| os little effort because all are smiling and
gay, and We feel the common sphere of ex
| citement. How different 1T often is when
we are alone. / need not say. You, Caddy
are guilty of the sober face at home as well
| as your husband" Mr.. Lewis spoke with 9
| tender reproof in his voice.
But the s)ber face is caught from yours
oftener than you imagine, my husband, v
| replied Mrs. Lewis
''Are you certain of that, Caddy?"
Very certain. You make the sunlight
| and the shadow of your home. Smile upon
us, give us cheerful words; enter into our
feelings and interests, and there will be nc
brighter home in ali the land A shadow on
your countenance is a veil for my heart; and
! the same is true as respects our children
Our pulses strike too nearly in union not "a
be disturbed when yours has lost Its even
| beat"
Again Mr. Lewis walked on in silence. his
face partly averted; and again his wife began
10 fear she had spoke too freely. But he
soon dispelled this impression, for he said
II am glad. Caddy, that you have spoken
| thus plainly. l only wished you had done
so before. / see how it is. My smiles have
been for the outside world-the world that
| neither loved nor regarded me-and my
clOuded brow for the dear ones at home, for
whom thought and care are everything ac-
| tivities"
Mr.. and Mrs. Lewis were now at their own
door, where they paused moment and
then went in. Instantly. on passing his
threshold, Mr.. Lewis felt the pressure upon
him of his usual state. The hue of his feel
ing began TO change. The cheerful, inter
ested exterior put on for those he met in
business intercourse began rapidly to
change, and a sober hue to succeed. Like
most business men, mis- desire for profitable
results was even far in advance of the slow
evolution of trade; and his daily history was
history of disappointments, in some meas
ure dependent upon his restless anticipa-
tons He was not as willing to work and to
wait as he should be, and like many OF his
class, neglected the pearls that lay here and
there along his lifepaths, because they were
inferior in value to those he hoped to find
just a little way in advance. The conse