Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1881-11-03

All thls onaln OF circumstances, hitherto
unthought of, passed before hcr, as the
little prattlor at her side repeated the
query, "Don't Pa love to see you look
pretty?'
"Yes, my ohild," a1,e answered, and her
resolve was tnkcn. She would try au cx.
pertinent, md provo whether Mr. Thornton
wero really indifferent on the subject or not.
Giving Nellie u picture book with which to
smuse hersof, she went to her own room,
mentally exclain'ing, Sat any rate I'll nevcr
put on this rig nguin-not even washing
day. She proceeded to her clothes press
aud removed one dress after another. Some
were ragged 9th rs faded, all out of style,
and soue unfit to wear At length, she
found one which had long ago been laid
aside, ''too light to wear about the
house 1t was II nice Freuch print, rose
colorcd and white, aud she remembered it
had ohco heen favorito with her husba nd
The old udage, "Fashions como round in
seven years." seemed true in this case; for
! tho dress was made in the then prevailing
style.
"fhis is just tho thing" she thought,
and she hostened to perform her toilet,
saying to herself, 81 must alter my dark
ginghams to wear mornings, and get it ul
rendy before Charles cones home" Then
she released her long, durk hair from it's
. imprisonment in most uDgraceful twist,
und carefully brushing its still glossy waves
she plated it ia the broad breids which
! Charles uscd to 80 much admire in the
days of her girhood.
The uUwonted task brought back many
"reminiscences of those long vanished years.
and tears glistencd in her eyes as she
thought Of the many changes time had
wrought in those she loved, but she mur-
INJURED, "What hath sadness like tho
change in ourselves We find?"
In that hour she realized how tho appn.
reutly trivial fault had gained the mastery
over her, and npcrceptibly had plnced II
barrier he,wacu her and the one she loved
OH carth True, he never ohded her
never apparently noticed her altered 1p--
pcurancc-but che well knew he no lon.cr
urged her going into society, nor did he
caro- about receiving his friends at his own
house, although he was social man and
had once felt proud to introduce his
young wife to hs large circle of acquain-
| tanccs.
Now, they seldom went out together,
excepting to church, and even dressing for
that was generally too much of an effort
for Mrs. Thornton. She would stay at
homo "to keep house" after preparing her
little ones to accompany their father; and
the ncighbors soon ceased expecting TO
meet her at public worship or iu thci. so
cial gatherings; and so, ono by one, thcy
neglected to call on her until very few of
the number continued to exchange friendly
civili!ies with her. She had wondered at
this, had felt panied and mortified hereto
lore. Now she clearly saw it was her own
fault. Tho veil was removed from her oycs
und tho mistake of her life was revealed in
its true enormty. Sincerely did she re-
pcnt # her past error, calmly and scri-
ousy resolve on future aud immediate
amendment.
Meanwhile her hands were not idle and
at length the mctamorphoss was complete.
The bright pink drapcry hung gracefully
about her forlD, impartiug an unusual bril-
llancy to her complexion. Her best
wrought collar was fastened with a costly
brooch, her husbands wedding gift, which
| had not sean the light for mapy cay.
Glancing once more OF her mirror, to be
certain her toilet needed no more finishing
touches, she toob her sewing and returned
| to the sitting room.
Little Nellie had wcaricd of her picture
hook, md was now playing with the kitten
AS Mrs. Thornton entered, she clupped her
hnuds in childish delight, exclaiming,
"Oh! Ma, how pretty-prctty!' and run
ming to her kissed her ugain and again
Then drew her little chair close to her
side and eagerly watched her as she
piled her needle, repairing her gingham
dress.
Just before it was completed Nclie's
brother oamo from school, and pausing at
the half open door, Willie whispered to
Charlie, 81 guess we've got company, for
mothers all dressed up.' 1t was with
mingled emotions Of pleasure and rain that
Mrs. Thornton observed her children were
unusually dociIe and obedient; Fastening to
perform their accustomed duties without
being even reminded of them. Children
arc natural aud unaffected lovcrs Of the
beautiful, ond their intuitivc perception will
not often suffer from comparison with the
opinions of mature worldly wisdom. 1t
was with a feeling of admiration that these
children now looked upon their mother, and
seemed to consider it privilege to do
something for her. It was "let me get
the kindlings"-"I will mako the fire''-
and "may fill tho teakettle?" -instead of,
''necd do it?"--"I don't want to-" "why
can't Willie?"
Nclic was too small to render much as-
sistaGce, but sho often turned from her
froic with her kitten, to look at her mother
| IL. ~ 4 4.