Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-07-02

those already provided. am glad you
called my attention to the poor, neglect
J ed child"
"Poor, neglected child" echoed as
touished Herbert. "Why, Lima, Essie
fairly slaves herself out over those chill
dren. | am sure never saw any better
dressed or neater.n .u
Lima merely shrugged her shoulders.
/ A month passed. Essie gained strength
in the genial atmosphere surrounding
Louie and her mother, while Lima ruled
Herbort's home with a rod of iron.
Herbert began to experience a.sick long
! ing for ESTES gentle presence. Lima
took him so very literally in all he said,
and yet he could not rebuke her for what
he openly wished
A chair with tiny spot of dirt being
declared absolutely filthy, was uphol-
stored and vanished at cost of eight
dollars. A dozen new shirts, Essie's
last labor of love, being said to "set like
meal-bags," were bestowed upon a
gardener, and new set sent from a
furnishing store. Uarry's blocks were
burned at the kitchen fire when Her
bert, stepping upon one, said he 'would
not have such rubbish in the house."
Every window was opened after pet
| tish declaration that the 'room was as
! hot as an oven," and an hour later the
-stove was fired up to smothering heat,
/ because he declared it "cold enough to
freeze polar bear"
In short, with apparently an energetic
attempt TO correct all shortcomings and
put the housekeeping upon y perfect
basis, Lima, in one month, nearly
! doubled her brothers. expenses, and
drove him to the verge of distraction,
keeping actual account of every thing.
But Essie, well and strong again, was
coming home. On the day of her ex-
pected arrival, Lima, with solemn face,
invited her brother into the sitting-room
for few minutes private converse
| ton.
"Herbert,'' she said, very gravely,
81 have a proposition to make to you.
You are my only brother, and | need not
tell you | love you very dearly. 1t has
really grieved me to the heart to see
how much there is TO find fault with in
your beautiful home" --
Herbert twisted himself uneasily in
his chair, but Lima continued:
"You know that mother is very de-
pendent upon me, Louie having the
house and children to care for, but
think she would sacrifice her own COM
fort for yours. So, if you wish, Herbert,
/ will come here permanently to keep
things in order for you"
Here Lima was obliged to pause and
strangle laugh at Herbert's expression
of utter horror and dismay.
"You are very kind,n he faltered,
the instincts of gentleman battling
with the strong desire to tell Lima she
would certainly drive him to the lunatic
i asylum by six months more of her
model housekeeping.
/ "Not at all. A man who has made
an unfortunate marriage certainly needs
the aid and sympathy his family can
give him."
The last. straw was laid upon the
camel's back. Herbert spoke hotly:
" You are entirely mistaken, Linal
have not made an unfortunate marriage.
If ever a man was blessed in wife,
am that man"
" You amaze me, Herbert!' Lima
cried, in well-feigned establishment.
81 do not see why you should be sur
prised. Essie is gentle, loving, orderly,
model housekeeper, and aTperfect
home angel-God bless her!"
Herbert, is that trueP"
4" Certainly it is true"
81 can not believe it," was the low
response. E E -ei t.
"Can not believe it! WhyP"
"Because and Lima dwelt impress
sively upon every word during the
nine years of your married life, though
visiting here frequently, | never heard
you speak one word of encouragement
or praise to Essie, never saw one look
of appreciation or appreciation of any
effort she made for your comfort upon
your face. Continual fault-inding,
/ constant blame, have changed her from
a happy, winsome girl to pale, care
worn woman. Even her last illness was
but the unbrOken despair of heart
,cruHhed undera load of daily censure
and constant striving for the approba-
ton never given. And you tell me
/ now she has never failed in her duty to
you. There is a. grave error some
5swhere.'' EHF4 &
The sadly earnest tone, the face OF
thoughtful gravity, sent every word
home to Herbert Worthington's heart.
4 He spoke no word of self-defense as
Lima slowly left the room. In the pro-
found silence that followed, conscience
reviewed the past, and he knew that his
sister had only spoken the truth. The
habit of fault-finding, meeting no re-
fsistance in Essieas gentleness, had gained
Fin force, till all its monstrosity stood
'fplainly revealed in the.experience of the
past month.
In the days when Essie lay danger
ously ill, there had been no self-reproach
like this in her husbands S sorrow. He
had given his wife fair home, an am
Pile income, frequent social pleasure,
many costly gifts, and loved her faith
fully while poisoning her whole life.
"God help me, " he whispered, "to
conquer this fault. Essie shall hear no
more fault-fnding, and if see her
dropping, will send her to mother and
have Lima back agaiA."
Never had wife and mother warmer
welcome than greeted Essie. The chill
dren were unchecked. in their loudest
demonstrations of delight, But Lima
had to rush into the hall to hide her
merry eyes when Herbert, kissing Essie,
said:
ave must let mother have Lima now,
dear She has been very kind, and
worked hard for my comfort, but there
is no home fairy like my Essie. I" -
The quick glad look in his wife's soft
eyes told Herbert that one step had been
taken in the right direction. As the
days glided by, and Essie found appre-
citation meeting every effort to add to
home comfort, word of praise for
every little triumph of cookery orneedle-
work, her pale face grew bright with
untold happiness, Gradually the care
worn expression was obliterated by one
of content, and Herbert found his own
heart lightened by the cheerful voice,
the sunny smile, the bright eyes of
the Essie he had wooed years before.
And Lima, making visit six months
later, told her mother on her return:
"Herbert has learned his lesson by
heart, mother. He appreciates Essie
now at her value, and he lets her know
it. 4t. .l