The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-04-05

occupations
"Oh, yes. I knowr' said Amy .'And
will try my best to do as you wish,
Arthur
But there was the shadow of new
gravity on that infantine face, a pen.
sive intonation of the voice, which
Arthur Pemberton had never heard be-
fore.
Aunt Millicent went next morning,
the first thing, to Mudie's and ordered
some huge editions of the classics. She
began a daily course of reading with her
nephew's wife; she initiated Ier into the
mysteries of scientific lore. political
economy, societies, symposiums, until
the day became all too short for her en-
gagements.
''Your wife is improving she said
to Arthur. ''I really think she is awak-
! ening to sense of the responsibilities
of a woman in the nineteenth century
at last"
And Arthur kissed the peach-like,
dimpled cheek, and congratulated his
little wife on her mental advance.
But somehow the home was not so
sweet and cosy. An impalpable some
thing was missing-the influence which
had followed Amy's light footsteps all
through the rooms, the glass of flowers
here, the looped curtains there, the
music on the piano, the bird-cage hung
in the sunshine, the delicate dish pre-
pared by Amy's own fingers, the
whipped cream, the lucent jelly, the
carefully cut-up fruits,-all the pretty,
quaint devices which had descended to
this young housekeeper through long
line of housewifely ancestors.
They had been very pleasant. Arthur
Pemberton had enjoyed them, as we en-
joy the sweet air and sunshine, without
pausing to think whence they came;
and he missed them now.
But, all of sudden, the delicate little
flower dropped, as blue-bell droops
after sharp September frost.
81 am not Sick said Amy; .oh, no!
But feel as if there wasn't any more
strength left in me. / think won't get
up to-day; I'll lie in bed and rest. No,
no; don't send for doctor! I don't
need medicine-.I only need rest"
Aunt Millicent stared. Herself strong
as an iron machine, it never occurred to
her that all natures were not cast in the
same enduring mold. But the old
family doctor looked grave, and shook
his grey head.
''She has overdone herself" he said;
the results may be serious Put away
her books; don't so much as speak to
her about classics or ologies of any
Sort
And Aunt Millicent had never, in the
pang as when the doctor whispered his
impression that little Amy must proba-
bly, drift away from them into the I'M
known world, as the autumn crept on.
''But there is nothing the matter with
her!'' pleaded she, with moist gather
ing over the ovals of her glasses.
'That is precisely the sort of case that
we physicians find most difficult to deal
WITH" said Doctor Dean.
And one day Amy put her soft, trans
parent, little hand out upon that of her
husband.
81 am not asleep" said she. DON It
keep so quiet But sometimes my
speech and mind seem to float away
from me, and SO 1 had perhaps better
tell you now how sorry l am that l
have been such a disappointment to
your
ga disappointment! Amy, my treas
ure!' cried out Arthur, with q passion
ate ring of sadness in his voice.
81 never could have been learned and
scientific like Aunt Millicent,' whisper
ed Amy; sit wasn't in me. They were
killing me-those dreadful classes, and
the long, long pages of blank verse, and
the tiresome plays of Shakespeare, which
[ never understood. Tell her it was
very kind of her to try and remodel me
for your sake, dear; but it never could
have been done. But loved you, dar-
lino-oh, so we'll! Ii | had been Sir
Isaac Newton himself, | couldn't have
loved you any better. Always remem-
Der that, won't you, dear? And now LII
try to sleep little. y
Aunt Millicent looked blankly at her
nephew, as the soft lids dropped over
the big, blue eyes.
1--WE have made mistaken she
whispered.
yes said Arthur Pen1berton,
hoarsely, ''we have made mistake;
and if it has lost me my little Amy !
shall never forgive myself!''
And Aunt Millicent felt like crini-
nal.
But Amy did not die. With tender
nursing and constant care, she recover
ed; and when she was well enough to
travel, her husband took. her to the
bright shores of the Mediterranean.
where she rapidly regained her former
health and spirits.
Hang Milton and Shakspearen' said
he. Confusion seize all these Mental
Improvement Associations and Intel
lectual Saturnalias! Put 'em altogether
I don't value them as much as one
golden hair of my darlingss dear little
head. You can't make stately ibi:
out of humming bird, and l love my
dear little wife, just as she is, for wha
| she is!''
you're quite sure you wouldn't have
me any differentP" said Amy, artlessly
'tMy dear said the young husband
''if you were like Millicent who, thanl
fortune, has gone with Socializing So
ciety somewhere up to the North Poll
I should commit suicide
And Amy laughed the old swee
laugh, and was happy once again.
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