Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1890-04-11


Again Mr.. Smiths conscience smote
him. How often had his wife asked
him to send a man to fix the cistern!
Yes. Bridget. the cistern shall be
fixed this very day"
We'll, sur, thin think I'll stay. l
was just telling the mistress that /
wouldn't work any longer wild such
inconvaniences but if the stove and
cisthern are fixed a poor girl can get
along
Mr.. Smith made another memoran-
DUN in his book and passed on
through the dining room toward his
wife's room. He noticed that her
plate indicatedan untasted breakfast.
Softly he opened the door of their
room. His wife started up hastily,
with an alarmed inquiry on her face.
Her eyes were wet with tears The
baby, still in its night clothes, was
fretting in the cradle, while little
two-year old, partly dressed, tugged
at her skirts.
And you missed the train-break-
fast was late-well, | can't help it
Bridget is going 10 leave, too and
the poor little woman covered her
face with her hands and burst into
tears. She fully expected angry
complaints from her husband, and, in
some vague way felt she was TO
blame. She could not compass every
thing, and the babies were so
troublesome. On, did every young
mother have such hard time "a she
did ?
why, darling, what is the mat
teri said Mr.. Smith, putting his
arms around his wife, and drawing
her 10 him. Come don't mind,
think it is really mostly my own
fault | have come through the
kitchen, and | find Bridget has so
much trouble with the stove being
broken and the chimney smoking
that wonder she can get breakfast
at all
Il ought TO get up in time to see
that you have breakfast early" sob
bed the poor little woman; but
Bridget is so cross this morning and
II am SO tired
No wonder, darling, that you are
tired with the care of those big ba-
bies wearing on you all the time.
You have no business to have any
care of breakfast at all and you shall
nothave It, Bridgetis al right. I'm go
ing to get that broken stove and els
tern fixed to-day, and then if Bridget
can't get breakfast i'll time we'll find
some other way to do. Come, now,
cheer up and III help you dress
these rogues; l have plenty of time
before the next train
How wonderful is the effect upon
the physical nature of a spiritual i'm
pulse How quickly can all uplifted
and strengthened spirit energize and
strengthen the body Every thing
seemed instantly changed for poor
little Mrs. Smith. She laid her cheek
on her husbands breast, feeling what
a haven of strength and peace it was
How dear and precious was his love
and protection! Her eyes frightened
and her cheeks glowed. Her weari
ness and depression, which had been
utter misery, gave way to delightful
feeling of repose and loving hap
piness. In the midst of the most pro-
sale surroundings her heart was full
of the finest and most inspiring emo
ton.
Dear. dear love, how good you
are she said. How you have
changed the aspect Of everything for
me this morning Had youreproach-
ed me, as many husbands would have
done, would have sunk in the deep
est anguish. Now | feel strong
strong and happy"
Releasing his wife with tender
kiss, Mr.. Smith took the baby from
the cradle, and merrily drew its
stockings and shoes on its little,
plump, kicking, rosy feet. Then he
brushed out the other little fellows
curls and buttoned his shoes. Willie,
the oldest, had slipped out out Of the
house, and Mr.. Smith went TO look
for him. and found he had taken ad-
vantage of an insecure lock on the
gate 10 run oil up street. Bringing
him back, Mr.. Smith got the hatchet,
and in a few minutes had the gate
fixed so that Master Willie could not
open it, His wife smiling opened
the front door, exclaiming: "Oh, I'm
so relieved to find that Willie can not
get out Of the yard. 1t has been such
a trouble that he could open the
gate =
And now it was time to start for
the next train, if he stopped TO order
the stove and pump man TO do the
promised work. So, gaily kissing his
wife and children, once more Mr.
Smith started for the station. As he
walked along with a light and cheer
full heart he unused
How cheap thing is happiness
after all, and yet how easy to turn it
into misery If | had given way TO
my temper this morning, | should
have gratified a momentary impulse
of unreasonable anger, and left be-
hind lie aching and discouraged
hearts. Thank heaven for the in
fiuence of the song of birds and scent OF
flowers; and thank heaven, too, for
the gentle influences and sweet af-
fections that can make the most une-
ventfuI life a blessing! Dear, good