The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-11-10

q man was made for something more
serious than an endless round of careless
fro ic 1t was seen, too, that he was
more careful not to let the good times he
indulged in come within the scope of h s
home surroundings. This much, at least,
his wife's influence had &C omplishod.
II don't go to church," he SAID apollo
get:cally to friend one day, "but it
wouldn't be the right thing to let those
boys OF mine get to know their fathers
free didos. It's all right enough so far
as l am concerned, because l know
when I've gone far enough. But it's
best to le1 the children come up sort OF
straight; the way their mother wants,
A most admirable woman this same
mother had turned out to be, rs Tom
very we'll knew, and no little he was
proud of her. Yet not half proud enough.
Indeed, il was not yet in his apprchen-
sion to appreciate her full value. 1t did
not enter his conception that the respect
which had fallen to himself in connection
with his exc ellently- ordered home was
entirely due to his church going wife.
An especially sensible woman, too.
Albeit it had gricved her more than
words can express that her husband
could find enjoyment in pleasures which
at best were empty and frivolous, if not
positively wrong, by not the slightest
pctulant complaint had she ever up
braided him or striyen by aught save the
gentlest suggestions to lead him to her
own better way of life.
There came q sad day, alas. for him,
and still more, alas for the three beauti-
full children. The good wife and mother
was called away from them, and they
were left dcso!atc decd. The blow was
a hard one. What now was the be-
reaved husband to do? So far as worldly
goods were concerned he was amply pro-
Y;dcd. He had abundance; but not all
the wealth in the universe could have
made up the loss they had sustained.
Even his registering companions con-
fessed to each other that it was lawful
rough. you know; that in his case there
could be no doubt that Tom had "struck
it rich' when he got the wife who went
to church.
What would he do? A year later he
told a bosom friend that he must secure
q second mother for his children.
"You will marry one that goes to
church,"
"More resolved on that than ever"
"Rut you don't go yourself"
"No. The fact is, it's too slow for me.
I like to enjoy myself with things more
lively; and when I've got one at home
who pulls steady in the traces, as these
church going women do. can feel safe
and comfortable"
He found the woman he thought would
suit. A lady who had been somewhat
intimate with his wife, member of the
same church, and altogether after the
same right-going pattern. In fact,
steady, clear headed woman, who knew
when things were right, and was prompt
and decisive to have them so.
True" as Tom whispered to himself,
81 expect she'll try to pull me hort up
into straight strings, good deal tighter
than Emily did. She is not as soft and
Welding as I'd like. But she'll be all
right for the children. can trust her.
When it comes to question of what's
best to be done, there amt bit of non
sense about her. So I'll take her."
To his great surprise, however, ne
found that the second church-goi wo-
man was not prepared to accept his oder
with the pleased alacrily he he'd ex-
pected. Knowing that she was in rather
Strengthened circumstances, entirely de-
pcudcnt Oh her own exertlons for livil-
no d be had felt sure that his own we'll
appointed home would prove tempta-
tion the lady would not dream to refuse:
But, instead Of the gratefully expressed
ives" he had looked for, she replied:
"May l ask why you have given me
the preference. Mr. Winter?'
''Bccause | want a mother for those
children who goes to thurch. l M rr cd
Emily on that account, and she managed
so well that determined to choose one
of the same good sort"
81 commend the wisdom Of your de-
cislon. But you do not attend church
yourself''
Go, it don't matter about Inc, you
know. So long as the mother is all right
to keep things straight at home it don't
make a lit of di ference whether q man
goes to church or not"
sIn his own estimation, perhaps. But
have you thought, Mr.. Winter, t lat your
chur, h. going wife may be just as anxious
to have husband whose integrity of
principle my be under the saving in
ilucnce of church attendan as you arc
in regard to the lady of your cho;ce2 II
you desire to feel at rest touching your
wife's conduct at home is it not equally
desirable that your wife's mind should
be at rest touching your honesty of con-
duct when out Of ler sight"
Here was new aspect, and at first he
thought it was a very foolish aspect, not
to say ridic lous. He could not under
stand the idea of m beirg amenablc
to the same rules Of moral conduct that
are required in woman. And he said
so. But to all his arguments and plead
ings the lady turned deaf car. She
would not marry man who did not 60
to church: that much of safcgua d to the
clean life of the man she would accept
must BE- given in return for h"r own
wholesome purity and unblcmishcd prin-
ciplcs.
At first Tom vowed 10 himself that he
would not tie himself down to any such
unmanly giving way to woman's foolish
whim. AS he more and more observed,
however, that the lady was possessed of
precisely the excellent qualities he espe-
cially desired in mother for his chill
drcn, he finally gave the requisite pledge
that he would accompany his wife to
church at least once each Sabb day.
''Poor chap" said his old chums,
Hnnrr hn ic shnrn Of hic liknrtu tod 70