Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-04-05


fashionable in town, there had been
some pretty plain and straight preaching
done there.
Husband looked at me very signi6-
cantly, and at once began talking re-
ligion, and, if do say it of him myself,
few can do it better, for he has the real
root of the matter in his heart, and it
bears fruit in his daily life at home.
| Well, he talked and talked, and Mrs.
Prickett took it all in silence, but /
thought that was because she felt so
moved, and did not know what to say
in reply. So I concluded I'd help, and
say a few words in my womanly way
that might make it easier for her to I'M
burden her mind.
I could see Jedidiah was little
afraid she might cry again-manlike,
he is so afraid of a scene!
But she seemed to have no inclination
that way-in fact she looked bored at
my remarks; so I stopped. But hus-
band isn't a man to give up when he
thinks he is right, either at home or
abroad; and this time he was quite sure
that he was doing his duty.
1t was really wonderful how he kept
it UP, with only silence for an answer.
But at last he saw that there was no
use, and that we might a.; we'll go; for
never word would Mrs. Plichett say
on that subject, OF on any other that
threw light on the state of her mind, or
gave us clew to the cause Of her grief.
So we did what we might as well
have done long before-toolz cur de-
parture. But, just as we were leaving
the room, she laid her hand affection
ately on mine (she has some very sweet,
engaging ways) and remarked:
"My dear Mrs. Lipscome, you must
have noticed that I had been weeping
before you came in, and now am going
to contide in you and tell you the
great trial of my life. 1t is is con-
stantly recurring; not a day can Iescape
from it. without leaving my home en-
tirely!"
Jedidiah sighed, and looked kind and
solemn, while I felt grave and anxious,
for could not think what was coming.
Here Mrs. Prickett paused, looked
into my eyes searchingly, caught her
breath, and continued:
"Can you sympathize? Do you have
the same trouble? I never know what
to order for dinner!"
To this day I don't know what an
swer made; nor does Jedidiah. But
we got out of the house as fast as we de-
Gently could, and, once with the yard
between us and her, shook with laugh
ter. Indeed we were half way up the
street before we could recover ourselves
sufficiently to speak, and then husband
looked down at me with merry eyes
but sweet seriousness about his mouth,
as he, in his own dear way, observed:
well, wife, am not sorry after all,
that said what did, for maybe I shall
never again have as good an opportun-
ity"-here the corners of his mouth
twitched-"and perhaps some day the
poor woman may feel her need of the
help tried to give, and recall what I
have said. But it is crying shame,
Eliza, that woman like Mrs. Prickett,
refined, intellectual, and cultured,
blessed with health, friends, and family,
surrounded with every comfort and
luxury that money can buy and fond
and wealthy husband bestow, it is, I
say, positively wicked, as we'll as SUI
premely ridiculous, that she should
shed tears over such trihe as that! It
is a comical illustration of the fact that
when people have no real trouble
they will trump up an imaginary one,
SO as to have something to grieve over. :"
Husband" said 7, "aren't you little
hard on her? Didn't you notice that,
though she told us what she had been
crying about, she did not say why !?
Now, you know I think that not one
woman in thousand has as sweet-tem-
pered spouse as mine, and I have a
notion that, although DR.. Prickett is
free-handed and indulgent to his wife,
he is very hard to please"
Il stopped here, for I was afraid of
being uncharitable to him if I said more.
Husband only answered by drawing my
arm a little closer through his, and
when next he spoke this was what he
said:
Would God we all could recognize
The sunshine in our lot.
"Our Father" never leaves it out,
Though oft we see it not;
Then we should neer be called to pass
wholly dreary day,
But for each shadow that is cast
Would find some cheering ray.
GLADSTONE ON OCONNELL.
Gladstone avers that at tho opor;no.