The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-02-11

j 7
don't know when that gloom will depart
and when the blessed sunshine of love will
burst in again And why don't you know?
Because it is not in your heart to sweep the
cold away You say to yourself; can
bear it as long as she can Am L not
right?'
Clarence did not answer in words.
Il know | am right, pursued the mer-
chant; 'and very likely your wife is saying
to herself the same thing. So Clarence,
YOU see it does not rest upon the willing
ness to forgive. but on the inability to bear
the burden By-and-by it viii happen as
it has happened before, that one of the
twain will surrender from exhaustion; and
it will be likely to be the weaker party.
Then there will be collapse, and recon
ciliation. Generally the wife falls first be-
meath the CALLING burden, because her love
is keenest and most sensitive The hus-
band in such case acts the part Of cow
ard. When he might with breath blow
the cloud away he cringes and covers until
his wife is forced to let the sunlight through
her breaking heart
Clarence listened. and was troubled. He
saw the truth, felt its weight. He was not
fool. nor was he a liar During the silence
that followed he reflected ON the past, and
he called to his mind scenes just as Mr. War
die had depicted And this brought 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 upon his bosom in grief for her
error
The merchant read the young man
thoughts, and after time he rose and
touched him upon the arm.
Clarence suppose you were to put on
your hat and 20 home now. Suppose you
shoeld think, on your way, only of the love
and blessing that might be with this thought,
you should enter your abode with a smile
upon your face, and You should put your
arms around your wife's neck and kiss her
and softly say to her, Ny darling, | have
come home to throw down the burden took
away with me this morning. 1t IS greater
than | can bear Suppose you were to do
this, would your wife repalse you2'
~Repulse me-
aAh, my boy, you echo my words with
an amazeinent wlEich shows that you under
stand me. Now. sir, have you the courage
to try the experiment. Dare you be 50
much Of maa? Or do you fear to let
your dear wife know how much you love
herr Do you fear she would respect and
esteem Won less for the deed Tell inc
do you think the clond of unhappiness might
thus be banished? Oh, Clarence, If you
would but Try i, =
Sarah Spencer had finished her work in
the kitchen and. in the bed-ehainber. and
sat down with her work in her lap. But
she could not ply her needle. Her heart
was heavy and sad and tears were ID her
eyes.
Presently she heard the front door open,
and step in the passase Certainly she
knew that step. Yes, her husband entered,
and smile upon his face. She saw it
through her gathering tears, and her heavy
heart leappl up He came and pga his
arms around Ter neck and kissed her. and
he said to her, in broken accents
Darling. ] have come home 10 throw
down the burden | took away with me thls
morning It i. greater than can. bcaE
And she, trying TO speak, pilloWed her
head upon his Bosom aud sobbed and wept
ike child. oh could he forgive her ?
His coming with the blessed offering had
thrown the burden Of reproaeh back upon
herself she saw him noble and generous,
and she worshiped him.
But Clarence would not allow her to take
all the blame He must share that.
sWe win share it 50 evenly, said he.
'.that its weight shall be felt no more Aud
now. my darling, We viii be happy.
Always
Mr. Wardle had no need, when ClaFenee 4
returned to the counting-house, to ask the I
reault he could read II IN the young
mans brimming eyes, and in that joy.ia- I
spired face
1t was year after this-and Clarcnee
Spencer had become partner in the house
that Mr. Wardle, BY accident. referred I
to the events Of the gloomy morning.
All said Clarence, with swelling
bosom, that was the most blessed lesson | .
ever resolved. My wife knows who gave
II 10 me
And il serves you yet my boy
AYE. and It win serve Us while We live .
We have none Of those old burdens of an
ger to bear nov. They cannot find lodg-
meut with us The fash and jar may come
as in the other days-for we ara human,
you know-but the heart. which as6rnlly I
resolved not to give an abiding place 20 the 4
ilI-feeling, win not be called upon 70 enter
tain it. Sometimes We are foolish, but We
laugh at our folly when we see ii, and throw
it Off; we do aot nurse it till II becomes a
burden.