Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1882-02-24

fear that there will be gloom in youl
home when you return"
The young man bowed his head as
he replied in the affirmative.
"Bccause," the merchant added
with a touch of parental sternnesS ii
his tone, you are resolved to carry
/ it there
Clarence looked up in surprise.
IL carry it,
AYE; you have the burden in your
heart and you mean to carry it home.
Remember, my boy, | know all about
/ it. have been very foolish in my
lifetime, and | have suffered, until |
( discovered my folly, and then | re-
solved that | would suffer no more.
/ pom looking the matter squared Y and
4 honestly in the face, | found that the
burdens which had so CALLED me had
had been self-imposed. OF course
such burdens can be thrown off. Now
You have resolved YOU will 90 to din
ner with heavy heart and dark
face. You have no hope that your
/ wife will meet you with Il smile. And
why: Because YOU know that she
/ has no particular cause for smiling.
! You know that her heart is burdeued
with the atfiiction which gives YOU 80
much unrest. And YOU are fully as
|sur1d that you are to find your home
shrouded in gloom. And Furthermore
/ YOU don't know when that gloom will
will depart and when the blessed sun
shine of love will burst in again. And
why don't YOU know: Because it is
not in you to sweep the cold away.
lou say to yourself: | can bear 1t as
+ long rs she can. Am | not right
Clarence did not answer in words.
Il know | am right" pursued the
merchant; "and very likely your wife
( is saving 10 herself the same thing.
/ 80 Clarence, vuu see 1t does hot rest
upon the Willingness TO forgive. but
on the inability to bear the burden.
By-and-by it will happen As it has
( happened before. that one Of the twain
will surrender from exhaustion and
Z 1t will b. likely to be the weaker party.
+ Then there will be collapse, and a
reconciliation. Generally the wife
+ falls tisrt Ueneath the CALLING burden.
. because her love Is heruest and most
sensitive. The husband IN such a case
acts the part of i coward. When he
might with "a breath blow the cloud
away. he crInges and covers until his
wife Is forced To let the sunlight
/ through her breaking heart
Clarence listened. aud was troubled.
( He saw the truth, felt its weight. He
Was not q fool. nor WAS he liar Dur
ling the silence that followed he re-
lcc;ed on the past, and he called to
I his mind scenes Just as Mr.. War
~ .jis4A- 4.A-- : -isietel. And this brought
I him to the remembrance Of how he
+ had seen his wife weep when she had
failed and sank beneath the heavy
burden: how often she had sobbed mp.
on his bosom in grief for her error.
/ The merchant read the Young man :
thoughts, and after a time he rose and
touched him upon the arm.
clarence suppose you were to put
on your hat aul 20 home now. Sup
pose you should think, ON YOUR way,
only OF the love and blessing that
might be with TINS thought. You
should enter your abode with smile
fall upon your wite's neck aud kiss her.
and softly say to her, "My darling, |
have come home 70 throw down the
burden took away with me this morn
ing. Il is greater than can bear.
Suppose YOU were to do this, would
your wife repulse you:'
"Repulse me-:
"Ab. my boy, YOU echo my words
with an amaZement which shows that
you have the courage to Try the expert
ment: Dare you be so much Of IA
man: Or do YOU fear to let you dear
wife know how much YOU love her:
Do YOU fear she wouId respect and
esteem YOU less for the deed: Tell me
do you think the cloud Of unhap-
piness might thus be banished: Oh
Clarence, if gou would but try it,
Sarah Spencer had finished her work
in the kitchen and in the bed chamber
and sat down with her work in her
lap. But she could not ply her needle.
Her heart way heavy and sad, and
tears were in her eyes.
Presently she heard the front door
open, and step. Yes, her husband
entered. and smile upon his face.
She saw it through her gathering
tears, and her heavy heart leaped up.
! He came and put his arms around her
neck and kissed her, and he said to
/ her, IN broken accents:
Darling, have come tome to
! throw down the burden | took away
with me this morning. 1t is greater
/ than | can bear"
/ And she, trying to speak. 'ilIowed
her bead upon his bosom and sobbed
aud wept like child. Oh, could he
forgive her: His coming with the
blessed offering had thrown the bur.
den of reproach back upon herself.
She saw him noble and generous, and
she worshiped him.
But Clarence would not allow her
| 10 take all the Olallle. lie must snare
that.
1--WE will share it so evenly" said
he, "that its weight shall be felt uo
more. And now, my darling, we will
be happy"
"Always.'
! Mr.. Wardle had no need, when
i Clarence returned to the counting
house, to ask the result. lie could
read it in the young mans brimming
eyes. and in that joyinspired face
1t was a year after this-and Clar
ence Spencer had become partner in
the house-that Mr.. Wardle, by ac
cident, referred to the events of th,
gloomy morning.
."Ah.' said Clarence, with a swelin.
hOsOm .sthat was the most blasse6 lac