The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1883-05-23

Dt OOOIS0, oStlO y tCh, tHIS
sort of thing is jollier than the old
farm. see now, little wife, that
you were right, always right"
| would ten times rather he
should have upbraided and blamed
me for what | have done.
The winter that followed was ex-
ceedingly gay. We were invited
everywhere, and our house was con-
stantIy filed with guests Balls,
soirees, kettledrums and the opera
seemed to engage every hour. Jack
and | seldom had quiet moment
together, yet he seemed to enjoy it
with all his heart.
When spring came our last sur
plus dollar had been expended, and
we were solely dependent on Jack S
monthly salary,
The warm weather came on and
baby fell i'll. l hoped day by day
that Jack would say something
about going back to his fathers for
the summer, but he did not even
hint at such a thing.
Our fashionable friends futtered
off like summer swallows, and we
were left almost alone.
The long, bright, burning days
wore on, and our bills ran up high
er, and baby's little breath seemed
to grow weaker and weaker, and
poor Jack himself began to look
dreadlully i'll and worn. And one
afternoon he was sent home in a
carriage, quite unconscious, stricken
down by. a sudden fever.
l put aside my pride then, and
wrote letter to Jacks father
"Jack and baby are both ILL.," ]
said, oand we are sick and tired of
this life. Pray forgive US and let
us come home .-
The very next day the dear old
gentleman arrived, but the sheriff
was before him, Jack having con
confessed judgment in a lawsuit.
The rumor that we intended to leave
town got out, and our creditors rush
ed in, anxious to secure the lions
share of effects. The Brussels car
pets, the handsome furniture and
costly brio brac all went under
the hammer at a disastrously low
figure.
''Never mind, said my father-in-
law, not a shadow of reproach on
his kind old face, let them squabble
over it if they will. We must get
our sick ones home"
So we got Jack into the carriage,
and, with his poor head on my knee
and baby in my arms, | turned my
back upon the scenes of my short
lived triumph.
eve are going back to Cherry
Hill, said the old gentleman, as in
the dusk of the golden day we
drove through the dewy stiffness ot
the sheltered land "The old home
has been waiting for you all these
months. | was pretty sure you {
want to come back"
! | could not utter one word in an
swer. A great full moon was rising
above the distant hill as we reached
the house. The great red roses
bloomed on the terrace, the bees
droned in their hives, and the cattle
bells tinkled in the barn-yard. The
doors WIDE open. We carried Jacl
in and laid him down in the broad
breezy room that had been our bri
dal chamber
I He opened his eyes and drew ;
| deep, quivering breath as the fresh
ening breeze touched his throbbins
head.
"Nell, where are you?" he said
Surely this must be home
/ II am here, Jack" | answerec
through my tears, "and this is home
dear-Old Cherry Hill"
"Thank Godl" he murmured, am
fell back upon the pillows, and
saw great tears trickling SLOWLY
from beneath his closed eyelids.
[ rose softly. and fell on my knee
beside Jacks low pillow.
ooh, jack" | sobbed, "I hav
1 been so wicked. Forgive me, Jack
forgive mel I am so glad to be a
home again"
His worn face grew radiant an
his dear arms held me close.
And then and there, clasped t
my husbands heart, in the SAFE
sweet shelter of the house he loved
: l understood all the past.
: @You didn't mean it, Jack"
whispered. "You only pretende
to enjoy it to please me"
, 'No matter, little woman; tn
lesson we have learned has bee
cheapIy bought We shall not car
, to leave the safe old nest in scare
? of society again. "
| ,. Wy ~, Hnnrx- Hurlhart ppasidar