The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1884-12-30

III Dno - - 0Ome0ok ~ child 70 80 bel
father and mother. She hasn't said so--
she never complains; but n unatterabl.
longing 6lls her eyes and Qaick tear
when she speaks Of them. 6usu Of You,
consent and my willingness % keep houst
j for her, she would 70 gladly"
And you think it would do Der good p
/ :" Undoubtedly; and it would be th<
cheapest aAedicine You could give her
and the surest- Think over It . day OF
%, Nathan."
That evening Martha waa not sur.
psised TO see startled, anxious look on
= her brothers face, ~ he closely regarded
his wife, whenever he thought himself
unobseryed. Hasbaads are often the
blindest of all persons in regard to their
wives, but Nathan was convinced
That night. when they were alone, he
/ suddenly exclaimed:
| "Clara, how would You like to visit
your mother this fall p
She looked At him . moment in silence,
while wave Of crimson swept over her
pale face. Then turning away, she said,
brokenly:
sDo1t talk about It, Nat; know we
east a1ord i I'd and rather not speak
| OF It, ets-
"But We can afford it, aud Martha 10
willing to keep house for me. Now do
you want to 90, dear ?"
! There was an unconscious tone of re-
proach in his voice and look Of pain in
his face which she could not understand.
>"Oh, Nathan!" she sobbed, with her
face hidden on his shoulder, "don't i'm
agine that love you any the less, or am
tired Of our little home: but do want
to 60. just now there 10 nothing in the
world l. want so much 40 to see father
and mother"
Swell, then, you shall go, little wife.
Don't cry so; didn't know you cared
40 much; but that settles it-you shall
CO."
After Mrs. Tracy and baby were gone,
Martha looked around the unornamented
rooms, and resolved that there should be
something new-something bright and
pretty-to welcome back the home
keeper. The front room" had never
been furnished, but after considering her
resources, Martha thought she could per-
suade Nathan into buying a carpet.
GA carpet? Why. Martha !" he ex-
claimed at her proposal, too astonished
to say more.
What was Clara's old home like z?
You don't want her to notice too sharp
contrast on her return" said the sister,
quietly.
81 may get a carpet" thoughtfully
but SO many other things would have
to follow"
"Nat, when father and mother died
we were going to divide things, but you
had no home then, and while John and
staid, everything remained the same
When came here, sold or packed
everything, and there is big b"x for
you, which is on the way out here. Be-
sides bedding and clothing, there are pic
lures, vases, curtains, . table-spr+a,l aad
some of mothers nice rugs. They will
help furnish the room. guess you can
afford TO buy q cane-seat rocker and two
chairs, and we'll make the rest"
"Pd like to know how"
"There are two bottomless chairs in
the granary l will ebonize the frames,
cushion seats and back, and with strips
of embroidery and heavy fringe they will
be handsome. That old rocker that is
forever coming to pieces can be mended
ana treated hkewise-minus the rockers
and you'll have an easy-chair. A pine
table, which you can make, stained and
vanished, and covered with the spread,
will do nicely"
"Well, it sounds practicable; I'll help
all / CAM
"There will be ottomans to make, o
mantel to put up, and q cornice for the
curtains. 1t will take our spare time for
all winter, bat how pleased Clara will
be-"
IL intend to have everything nice for
her some day."
Eyes, Nat; but a woman must have
something to live on in the meantime.
There's q love of the beautiful in every
woman's heart, and it must be satisfied.
If surrounded by grand scenery, the
mind can feed on that; but here in this
level monotonous country, believe the
homes should be very bright and attrac-
tive"
"There may be some truth in that, but
| never thought of it BEFORE" replied
Nathan.
alt is not common for q man to think
about the home as . woman does, for he
mingles with the world, while most of
her hours are spent inside the iour walls.
Clara had no time to fix up anything
that baby was sight of trouble but if
you and the children help, we can do
wonders !"
And they did. When Clara came
home four months later she scarcely knew
the place.
"Coms anil look at your wife," whis-
pered Martha, when Nathan had finished
the chores and was ready for . happy
evening.
There she was in the pretty room, chat
ting with the children. Joy and glad
ness shone through her face, which had
lost its sharpness and pallor, aud there
was an elasticity in her movements which
recalled her girlhood.
"She looks ten years younger, Martha,
and If / can help it she shall never work
90 again. You've taught me lesson TIL
not forget. Well take all the comfort
we can now if we never get big house" "
Martha has made this 90 pretty that
we shan't want another" exclaimed
Clara, hearing his last remark ~ they en-
tered the room. "Pm 90 thankful TO you
all for this pleasant little home coming"
Martha deserves the thanks, for she
planned it ALL" said Nathan, catching up
the baby.
"You are . jewel, Martha; and to
think that I waa afra6 nf Won and droa6.