Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1881-06-16

aS'Co upcfi nOu'd ~ tilut give IeT suCIl
power over him as she had never yet
possessed. Moreover, he was daily be-
coming dearer TO her, and love is a
great and wonderful teacher
1t Vas the first evening after their re-
turn. Lottie was alone. She had
hoped that Phillip would have stayed
with her this evening. But no. he
had gone out directly after tea, and she
had torborne to reproach him with a
look
There she sat in her pretty gray
dress, with rose colored ribbons at her
throat, while her brown hair shone
like satin. The room, too, was as. neat
as a new pin and she had tea ready to
the minute. The fire had also been
blazing brightly when Phillip entered
and the kittlc singing merrily, and his
wife had met him with a happy, hope
full smile. always have an eye to
cheerfulness and comfort" was one
bit Of advice her mother-in-law had
given her, and during the whole day
she had been striving to act upon it,
But so far it seemed as if it had been
no use whatever The first trial was
over and Phillip was gone, aud she was
left alone to reconsider her plans.
But to begin with, she was living
over the visit which she would never
forget, to Phillips mother.
She recalled .he first evening they
had spent together.
No matter what subject of converse
ton Phillip had started, his mother
had at once shown quick and ready
interest also. And with shame and
vexation Lottie remembered how very
far she had often been from doing the
same. Phillip perhaps, had mention
ed some subject connected with his bus
mess and she had laughed and told
him not to talk shop" or, he had
talked of the coming election, of new
member for their borough and she had
listened and replied indiHerently, or
perhaps had not thought it worth while
to reply at all.
Meals, too, had always been punct-
ual at Mrs. Burton's and this had Civ
en- Lottie another sharp reproof. Many
a time in the little new home which
she meant should be such happy one,
when Philip had entered and inquired
for tea, she had told him carelessly
that it was mot ready yet" and that it
would mot hurt him to wait for it,"
She blushed now with contrition as she
remembered how many such words she
had uttered to the husband whom yet
she loved; and she began to see that if
there had ever been any real necessity
for waiting, Philip would have starved
rather than have uttered complaint
but that it was the entire needlessness
of all these small anoyances that had
CALLED and vexed him.
Also, Lottie recalled to mind, almost
with tears in her eyes, how Philip had
one evening accidently broken a favor
tie vase of his mothers, and now, while
he had been greatly concerned and dis
turbed, his mother had only smiled at
him. II should have scolded," Lottie
had thought and she had said som ething
of the kind afterwards to her mother-in
law and the old lady had looked sur
prised, but had answered the next
moment with a grave shake of the
head:
mo you won't my dear, if you loved
him as much It's his mother does, that
is, there are very few things my Philip
can do to vex me. | should storm at
any one else at times, dare say but /
really believe that my son might turn
my house o wind without making his
mother angry with him, bless him."
And it was love that made all this diff
ference, and Lottie had felt wounded
and sad She, then, had not yet learn
ed really to love Philip; her Philip
her dear husband-who she thought was
all the world to her.
And then, again, he had gone out one
evening, and his wife had looked grave,
and not quite well pleased; but his
mother had lovingly smiled in bidding
him good bye, and when he was out of
hearing she had said:
"If he wants to go out let him go dear
boy, and may the good God bless and
keep him, and give him wisdom always
to choose innocent pleasures, and to
resist temptations. His old mother
would like to have him with her al
WAYS: but she never lets him see that;
it would be simple selfishness.
Again and again Lottie vert over all
this, and her spirits rose with each re-
view; for she determined that she too
would follow in the fond mothers foot
steps. and thenceforth cultivate an I'M
selfish love. and she did not forget to-
seek strength from higher source and
motive than can be found in anything
of this world alone. Day by day she
persevered; day 10y day she hoped and
prayed,
Months passed; and Philip proved
himself very hard to win this second
time. Nevertheless, in patience and