Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1881-03-07
Hard Times.

blue, shining eyes. and kindly mouth
whose smiles we're very sweet and fre-
quent. Singing, she sat by the cradle
of her first child, and, while her busy
little hands were fashioning some taste
full garment for her babe, her loving
eyes sought the sleeping face before her
with all mothers tenderness of look
and smile
The shadows of the early day yet con-
trasted with the strong, clear morning
lights but one rich food of sunshine
poured in at the east window and bright
ened the pleasant room. The young
mother sang to herself many sweet,
happy song as she rocked the cradle of
her little one. The door opened sud-
denly
miriam, all is lost p
She looked up to meet the troubled
gaze of her husband bent full upon her.
The glad song died upon her lips, and
a smile. half sorrowful. half pleading.
buried the happiness that late had
shone. ''All ?" She rose as she spoke,
to come closely TO his side. saying, with
anxious tenderness--"Is all lost Must
our home go too ?"
"Everything, if nv debts are honest
ly paid" Here the speaker threw him
self despondingly upon the seat his
wife had left, and buried his face in his
hands. 20 Miriam r'
She came up to his side. Don't,
John; it will do we'll. You shall pay
all, honestly; the house must go, then
you will be Independent of every one,
and We will commence again !"
"But you, Miriam, you and pet ?"
"Never fear for us, my husband; we
shall be happy We will take some lit
tie place, and you can be clerk again.
Don't give up SO John; look up, be
conforted !" Her pltying tears we're
raining down upon his bowed head, her
soft hands touched his heated brow, and
tender, loving words fell from the lips
that had never known an unkind look
or word since he had called her wife.
He was conforted. 1t had been the
deepest trouble of all-the thought of
her privation; and now that she spoke
SO cheerfully, he felt his heart rebound
from the first, great trouble, and Hope
smiled again. He could do anything,
he could be independent yet again; he
knew it, and he rose up to fold the dear
wife IN his strong arms with hopeful
smile.
Miriam, darling, you shall never
suffer for my dependency. You are
noble, true-hearted wife as ever man
had. Thank God | 30 not mind it
now. It is hard, just when | was fair
ly started in business, and the future
looked Sd promising; but it is nothing
now. | have you both left to bless me.
Dear wife, God is good !"
There we're tears in the eyes of the
strong man as he whispered the last
words above his sleeping child. He
kissed them both, the child and mother,
then, with new strength and faith in
the future, he hurried away to the out
side world, where all was trouble and
vexation. He had much to discourage
much to annoy and distress him, but
the will and the heart were strong, both
buoyed by the gentle influences that
shone in his home.
With the evening came the bare facts
| Of his failure. He had looked the whole
loss plainly in the face. He had sum-
med up his liabilities, and it was now
all plain walking henceforth. He found
by careful estimate that, by the sale
of his house and what stock he had on
hand. he could pay every cent, but it
would leave him penniless. He was en-
ergetie, straightforward, and honorable,
consequently there was but one course
to him. His wife was right, he must
take clerkship; but where to obtain
one when so many were out of employ
ment by so many failures? Never mind
he could do something. "Street-sweep.
ing" he said to himself, sis honorable
if by that L can support my family
10 be sure he did not fully realize the
difference in his circumstances, but be
never would, for, strong-hearted anG
hopeful, with every good influence tt
spur him on, this trouble would pas
over lighter to him than to many maj
less happily constituted and surrounded
1t was late ere he turned from tn,
, counting room to seek his home. Th
lamps were all shining, and the star
looked down with clear and peaceful
light. With hurried steps he nearet
his home. All, it was not his hom
> now. that handsome dwelling with it
5 richly curtained windows sending fortl
warm subdued light upon the plight
But that which was the real home-th
smile of affection, the baby welcome
: nothing but death could take away. Fl
J thought of the gentle kindness Of hi
g wife in that first moment of trial an
: dependency, aud how bravely she ha