The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1884-01-10


the poor little woman covered her face
with her hands and burst into sobs and
tears. She fully expected angry COM
vague way she felt that she was to
blame. She could not compass every
thing, and the babies were so trouble
some. Oh, did every young mother
have Us hard time as she did?
why, darling, what's the matter ?"
said Mr.. Smith, putting his arm around
his wife. Come, | think it is mostly
my ownfault. / have come through
the kitchen and I find Bridget has so
much trouble with the store being
broken and the chimney bad that Iwon-
der she can get breakfast at all"
II ought to get up in time to see
that You have your breakfast early
sobbed the poor little woman. "But
Bridget is so cross this morning and L
l am so tired"
"And no wonder, darling, that you
are tired, with the care of these big
babies, wearing on You all the time
You. have no business to have any care
| of the breakfast ut all, and you shall
not have after this. You need your
good morning nap and you shall have
it. Bridget is all right. I'm going to
get that broken stove fixed and the cis-
tern, and then if Bridget can't get the
breakfast in time without you we'll find
some other way to do. Come now, cheer
up and I'll help you to dress these
rogues. l have plenty of time before
the next train"
How wonderful is the effect upon the
physical nature of spiritual impulse !!
How quickly can an uplifted and
strengthened spirit energize and
strengthen the body! Everything
seemed instantly changed for the poor,
detected little Mrs. Smith. She laid
her cheek against her husbands, then
rested her head on his shoulder. How
precious ard dear was his love and
strength. Her eyes frightened and
her cheeks glowed. Her WEAKNESS and
depression which had been utter misery
gave way to q delightful feeling of re-
pose and loving happiness. In the
midst of the most prosaic surroundings
her heart was full of the finest and most
inspiring emotion.
Dear, dear love, how good you are!"
she said. How You have changed the
aspect of everything for me this morn
ing. Had you reproached me as many
husbands would have done, would
have sunk in deepest anguish. Your
sympathy makes me strong strong and
happy"
Releasing his wife with tender kiss,
Mr.. Smith took the baby from the
cradle and merrily drew its little stock
ings and shoes on its little plump, kick
ing, restless feet. Then he brushed out
the other little fellows curls and but
toned his shoes. Willie, the oldest, had
slipped out of the house, and Mr.. Smith
went to look for him, and found that he
had taken advantage of an insecure
lock on the gate to run of
up the street. Bringing him back, Mr.
Smith got the Ratchet and in q few
minutes had fixed the gate 80 that
Master Willie couldn't open it. His
wife smilingly opened the front door
and seeing what he had done ex-
claimed. "Oh, l am so relieved to find
that Willie cannot get out of the yard.
1t has been such source of annoyance
that l could not keep him in"
And now it was time to start for the
next train if he stopped to order the
stove man and the pump man to do the
promised work. So, gaily kissing his
wife and children once more, Mr.. Smith
started for the depot. And as he
walked along with light and joyful
heart he mused:
How cheap a thing is happiness,
after all, and yet how easy to turn it
into misery! If I had given way to my
temper this morning could have graf
flied momentary impulse of unreason-
able anger and left behind me saddened
and discouraged hearts. If / had not
learned of and remsdied the discomfort
and inconvenience caused by my own
negligence, weeks and months of domes-
tic chaos might have followed. Thank
heaven for the influence Of the song of
bird and scent of flower, and thank
heaven. too, for all the gentle influences
and sweet affections that can make the
most uneventful life a blessing. Dear,
good wife! and dear little children!
Thank God have left them happy this
morning if did miss the train"