Smyrna times., 1880-11-03
Contrasting Two Homes.


Two men on their way home, met at a
street crossing, and then walked on togeth-
err. They were neighbors and friends.
"This has been a very bad day." said
Mr. Freeman, in gloomy voice. And as
they walked hOmeward they discouraged
each other, and made darker the clouds
that obscured their whole horizon.
"Good evening"" was at last said hurried.
| ly and the two men passed into their
| homes.
Mr.. Walcott entered the room where his
wife and children were gathered, and with
out speaking to any one, seated himself in
a chair, and leaning his head back, closed
his eyes. His countenance wore a sad,
weary, exhausted look. He had been
seated thus for only few minutes, when
his wife said, in fearful voice:
"More trouble again"
"What is the matter now?" asked Mr..
| Walcott, almost starting.
"John has been sent home from school
again"
"What?' Mr.. Walcott partly rose from
his chair.
"He has been suspended for bad con-
duct"
"Oh, dear" groansd Mr.. Walcott,
"where is he?'
| Cup in his room sent him there as
soon as he came home. You will have to
do something to him. He'll be ruined if
he goes on in this way. | am out of all
| heart with him."
| Mr.. Walcott, excited as much by the
manner in which his wife conveyed un.
| pleasant information as by the information
itself, started up, under the blind impulse
| Of the moment. and going to the room
where John had been sent on coming
home from school, punished the boy severe
ly, and this without listening to the ex-
plantations which the poor child tried to
make him hear.
Father" said the boy, with forced calm.
ness, after the cruel stripes had ceased !;
Z" | was not to blame, and if you will go
with me to the teacher, | can prove myself
innocent"
Mr.. Walcott had never known his son to
tell an untruth, and the words fell with a
rebuke upon his breast.
Every we'll, we will see about that" he
answered with forced sterness; and leav.
ing the room he went down stairs, feeling
much more uncomfortable than when he
went up. Again he seated himself in his
large chair, and leaned back his weary
head and closed his heavy eyelids. Sadder
was his face than before. AS he sat thus,
his eldest daughter, in her sixteenth year,
came and stood by him. She held paper
in her hand.
"Father," he opened his eyes, "here's
my quarters bill. Can't have the money
to take to school with me in the morning?"
81 am afraid not" answered Mr.. Wal.
colt, halfin despair.
NEARLY all the girls will bring in their
money tomorrow, and it mortifes me to
be behind the Others" The daughter
spoke fretfully. Mr.. Walcott waved her
aside with his hand, and she went off NUT.
tering and pouting.
alt is notifying" said Mrs. Walcott,
little sharply, land | don't wonder that
Helen feels annoyed about it, The bill has to
be paid, and don't see why it may not be
done as we'll first as last"
To this Mr. Walcott made no answer.
The words but added another pressure to
the burden under which he was already
staggering.
After a silence of some moments Mrs.
Walcott said:
"The Goals are all gone"
"Impossibler' Mr.. Walcott raised his
head and looked incredulous. 81 laid in
sixteen TONS"
al can't help it, if there were sixty tons
instead of sixteen; they are all gone The
enough to keep the fire in"
"Theres been shameful waste some.
where" said Mr.. Walcott, with strong en-
phasis, starting up and moving about the
room with q very disturbed manner.
$50 you always say when anything runs
out" answered Mrs. Walcott, rather tartly.
1.-THE barrel Of -four is gone also but /
suppose you have done your part with the
rest in using it up"
Mr.. Walcott returned to his chair and
\ again seated himself, leaned back his head
and closed his eyes as at first. How sad
! and weary and hopeless he feltI The
( burden of the day had seemed almost too
R heavy for him, but he had borne up bravely.
R To gather strength for renewed struggle
3 with adverse circumstances he had come
: home. Alas that the process of exhaus.
R ton should still GO on-that where only
r strength could be looked for on earth no
strength was given.
When the tea bell was rung Mr.. Walcott
made no movement to obey the summons
- HCome to SUPPER" said his wife coldly
But he did not stir.
"Are you not coming to support" she
called To him, as she was leaving the room.
s al don't wish for anything this evening
Ny head aches very much" he answered
"In the dumps again." muttered Mrs
Wnlcott to herself, 4" It's as much as ones
life is worth to ask for money, or say any
thing is wantedp And she kept on her
way to the dining room. When she re
turned her husband was still sitting where
she had left him.
G. "Shall l bring you cup Of tear" she
asked.
II "No, don't wish for anything"
= "What's the matter, Mr.. WalcottP Wha
do you look so troubled about, as If yol
hadn't friend in the world2 What hav,
r. done 10 yon?" ntt..a
Of There was no answer, for there was not
NJ shade of real sympathy in. the voice tina
made the queries, but rather of quarrelou
dissatisfaction. A few moments Mrs. Wal
colt stood behind her husband, but as b,
did not seem inclined to answer questions
she tnrned away from him and resume,
ne the employment which had been interrupt
ed by the ringing of the tea bell.
The whole evening passed without tn