Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1879-09-12

nuns 81 bhuJ lntTb WpTB nO0B 10 DB
given TO her. She had tried hard not
to be rebellious--she had prayed 10
overcome the strange thoughts which
had crept into her head, and, until Of
late, she had been partially successful
but recently she had not seemed the
mistress of her thoughts. She had
tried 10 persuade herself that she was
wrong-that she must find tastes and
time to work with him, but how could
she when the care of tho house and
management of the children devolved
so entirely upon her. At the beginhlhg
of the year he had talked Of hard times
and the scarcity of money, and she had
cheerfully acceded to his proposal to
discharge their most expensive serv-
ant--one who had faithfully served
her since the birth of her eldest boy
She had without murmur taken upon
herself duties which had worn wearlly
upon her strength, and she had that
day seen his name head a subscription
list for public charity with an amount
which would have paid servant S
wages for more than half year. She
had been told at the beginning of the
season that there was no money fur new
clothes for the children-that the old
ones must, in somo way be made 10
last, and she had remodled thpm with
the skill of a loving wifo and mother;
but her fingers would not move so
swiftly had she then heard the lecture
delivered by the chief of pcterie of
charitable ladies, who demanded money
when she had mot one dollar of her
own, and who triumphantly mentioned
the sum given by her husband-an
amount far exceeding that she had
asked for when she wished new clothes
for the children; and it was such tax
upon her strength and eyesight to be
continually darning and repairing
and those disagreeable women. She
felt her heart steeling involuntarily
against all sorts of charitable institu-
tions, and then she prayed to be for
given and sorrowed to think how, after
all her struggles, she remained so pure
ly human. Then other thoughts came
of unpaid bills laid away in her
bureau drawer-bills which had come
to the house during her husbands alb
senee, and which she could net avoid
seeing, and for which he had declared
he had no monCy-they must wait, as
he and other men were compelled to
do. She thought of the little house
hold of which she, in other days, had
been a member, of the thrift which was
the presiding genius of that home,
clearing up all expenses of the day,
yet leaving something for charities and
teaching that debt was the prime min
lister of the devil. Alas, what could
she do now in the strong current in
which she was driftingP
The sleeper turned and the brown
eyes were able TO rest upon his face-a
handsome face, of style that will win
the hearts of women until the death of
Time. And yet 1t was not a strong face.
Even the woman who watched II and
loved 1T knew it gave proof of lack of
will, force and resolute self-reliance.
She had learned the lesson, bitter to
every proud and loving wife, that she
was much the stronger of the two, and
yet he, the weaker, stood the pilot at
the helm, and by him her bark must be
guided to its port of veal or woe.
"Aunt Agnes will come tomorrow.
| had almost forgotten to tell you," he
said, as he prepared to leave the house.
A thrill of pleasure passed through
the listeners heart. Aunt Agnes was
a welcome visitor. She had a good eff
feet upon Marjorie, q restful influence,
something akin, as nearly as the hu-
man can be akin, to the " Peace, be
still,' which once sounded vocally above
the troubled waters. Aunt Agnes came,
and Marjorie partially forgot her dis
content in the sweet presence that she
loved so we'll. But the time soon came
for the visitors return. Aunt Agnes
could not be induced to make long vis-
its, 1t mattered not where she went, and
she frequently quoted as favorite
maxim that "short visits make long
friends"
On the last morning of her Aunt's
stay, as Marjorie entered her own
chamber, which adioined little room
her husband called his study-it having
been fitted up with table, few easy
chairs, some books and pictures she
soon heard her husband and aunt con-
versing in this study. Her first i'm
pulse was to withdraw, but before that
could be accomplished she learned that
her husband was indebted to his aunt
for large sum of money; that he had
not made her any payments for long
time, and that, in consequence of this
deficit, she was compelled to give up
the lovely home where she had been
happy with her husband for so many
years and change to style of living
more consistent with her now impecu-
nioHs condition, and, what grieved the
kind heart most of all, abandon her
plans for the continued assistance nf
those long dependent upon her.
With clear view of the ground, as
If it had all been uncovered to her,
Marjorie went quietly out from her
room. Her husband had been squan-
dering in imprudent business ventures
moneys belonging to his aunt and
others, and, what seemed to her yet
worse, bought with what belonged
to others reputation for liberality and
large heartedness, while the rightful
possessors were suffering in their need
of it.
She would not be quiet any longer,
and before the day was spent she
broached the subject to him, but, un-
fortunately, without that subtlety which
might have given her a small show of
success; that wisdom which Nathan
manifested when he talked to David of
the {" one eve lamb" She went with
the bluntness of a straightforward
woman right to the subject in which she
was interested. She asked why so
much had been kept from her, and the
man answered with an impatience he
did not try to conceal.
Are you on the brink of ruin, Ed
wardp Is there danger of an immediate
failureP"
"What question! No; if l can
weather the storm little longer it will
be all right with me-"
She knew the fatal tendency to put
aside all evil days, and to try and sail
smoothly upon unruffled waters. She
remembered the story of the ostrich
hiding its head in the sand and fancy
inn ~ NUnnIH In that xyaxy ooo,... AZ -