Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-07-13

were falling more and more heavily over
the young wife's feelings To be loved was
an element of her existence-to be loved
with expression. But expressive fondness
was not one of the cold, digniied Mr.. Leslie's
weaknesses. lie loved Madeline as much as
he was capable of loving anything out OF
himself. And he had given her the highest
possible evidence Of this love by making her
his wife. What more could she ask 1t
never occurred to his unsentimental Thought,
that words and acts of endearment were alb
solutely essential to her happiness; that her
world of interest was a world of affection
and that without his companionship in this
world her heart would feel an aching void.
"The more some people have the more
dissatisfied they are" remarked one superb
cial observer to another, in reply to some
communication, touching Mrs. Leslie's want
of spirits.
eyes," was answered. Nothing but
real trouble ever brings such persons to their
Senses"
All is not heart trouble the most real OF
all with which we are visited There comes
to it 80 rarely balm for healing. To those
external evils which merely affect the per-
dates itself. We may find happiness in
true happiness is there for loving heart, If
from the only source of reciprocation there
is but an imperfect response2 A strong
mind may accommodate itself, in the exer-
else of firm religious philosophy, to even
these circumstances, and like the wisely dis
eliminating bee, extract honey from even
the most unpromising flower. But it is
hard-nay, almost impossible-for one like
Madeline, reared as she was in 80 warm an
atmosphere of love, to fall back upon and
find sustaining power in such philos-
ophy. Her spirit first must droop. There
must be a passing through the fire with
painful publication. Alas how many per-
ish in the ordeal. How many, gentle, loving
ones, unequally mated, die daily around us
moving ON to the grave, so far as the world
knows by the way of some fatal bodily all
ment, yet in truth, failing by heart-siok-
ness that has dried up the fountains OF life.
And so it was with the wife of Edward
Leslie. Greatly her husband wondered at
the shadows which fell more and more
heavily on Madeline-wondered, as time
wore on, at the paleness Of her cheek, the
sadness which often she could not repress
when he was by, the variableness OF her
spirits--all tending to destroy the balance
OF her nervous system, and finally ending in
confirmed ill health, that demanded impe-
riously the diversion of his thoughts from
business and worldly schemes to the means
OF prolonging'h her life
Alas what sad picture to look upon
would it be were we to sketch, even in the
outline, the passing events of the ten years
that preceded this conviction on the part of
Mr.. Leslie. To Madeline, his cold, hard, i'm
patient, and too frequently cruel reactions
upon what he thought her unreasonable,
captious, dissatisfied states of mind, having
no ground but in her imagination, were
heavy heart strokes, or as discordant hand
dashed among her life cords, putting them
forever out of tune Oh, the wretchedness,
struggling with patience and concealment,
of those weary years-the days during which
her husband maintained toward her a moody
silence that it seemed would kill her. And
yet, so far as the world went, Mr.. Leslie was
among the best of husbands. How little
does the world, so-called, look beneath the
surface of things
With the weakness of failing health came
to Madeline the loss of mental energy. She
had less and less self-control. A brooding
melancholy settled upon her feelings aud
she often spent days in her chamber, refus-
ing TO see any one except members of her
own family, and weeping if she were
spoken to.
You will die, Madeline You will kill
yourself ~ said her husband, repeating one
day the form of speech so often used when
he found his wife in these states of aban-
donment. He spoke with more than his
usual tenderness, for to his unimaginative
mind had come quickly passing but vivid
realization of what he would lose if she
were taken from him.
"The loss will scarcely be felt" was her
murmured answer.
"Your children at least will feel it," said
Mr.. Leslie, in more captious and meaning
tone than, upon reflection, he would have
used. He felt her words as expressing in
difference to himself, aud his quick retort
involved, palpably, the same impressions in
! regard to his wife.
Madeline answered not farther, but her
husbands words were not forgotten. "My
children will feel my loss; this thought be-
came so present to her mind that none other
could for space come into manifest percep-
ton. The mothers heart began quickening
into life sense of the mothers duty. Thus
it was, when her eldest child-named from
herself, and with as loving and dependent a
nature-opened the chamber door, and com.
luS up W utT ldbutI Ulduc bOlt ItQutSU lDdl
he did not approve. To the mothers mind
her desire was one that ought to have been
granted, and she felt in an instant that the
manner, as well as the fact of the fathers
denial were both unkind, and that Made
lines heart would be almost broken. She
did not err in this. The child went sobbing
from the room.
How distinctly came before the mind Of
Mro 7 aulia ,,io &c he apt Che
for time back in her fathers house, and
she felt for time the ever present, consid-
crate loving kindness of one who had made
all sunshine in that early home. Slowly
came back the mind of Mrs. Leslie to the
present, and she said to herself, not pas.
| sively, like one borne on the current of a
| down rushing stream, but resolutely, as one
with purpose to struggle-to suffer and
yet be strong. eyes, my children will fee
my loss. could pass away and be at rest
| could lie me down and sleep sweetly
in the grave; but is all my work done
Can / leave these little ones to his tender
mer-"
| She checked herself in the mental utter
ance Of this sentiment, which referred tc
her husband. But the feeling was in hel
heart, and it inspired her with new pur
pose. Her thought, turned from herself
and with yearning love upon her children
gave to the blood quicker motion through
the veins, and to her mind a new activity
She could no longer remain passive as sh,
had been for hours, brooding over her OWL
unhappy state, but arose and left her cham
Der. In another room she found her un
happy child, who had gone off to mourn
alone over her disappointment, and to weey
where none could see her.
Madeline, dear !" said the mother, in
loving, sympathetic voice.
Instantly the child flung herself into he
arms, and laid her, face sobbing upon he
bosom.
Gently, yet wisely-for there came in tina
moment to Mrs. Leslie clear perception o.
all her duty-did the mother seek to softer
Madeline's disappointment, and to inspir
her with fortitude to bear. Beyond her owl
expectation came success in this effort. Tn
reason she suggested for the fathers refusa
satisfied the child, and soon the cloude,
brow was lit up by the hearts sunshine.
From that hour Mrs. Leslie was changed
From that hour a new purpose filled he
heart. She could not leave her children
nor could she take them with her if sh
passed away, and so she resolved to live TO
them-to forget her own suffering in tn
tenderness Of maternal care. The mothe
had risen superior to the unhappy, unapprt
ciated wife.