Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1893-05-13

every day and did the rough work, and
/ did not mind the rest. But when
winter came gradually left off using
my best things on the table; it was too
much trouble. and as my hands chapped
easily l left the dishes for the woman to
wash. and that meant to break; SO L
bought common white ware. l saw
Henry make a wry face, but took no
notice.
Il had kept the sitting room bright
with flowers, my piano open and books
scattered about, for Henry often read
cloud; but the cold was intense, and
had generally spent my winters South,
so | felt too miserable to care for any
of these things. Often did not change
my dress, and after supper would wrap
myself in shawl and go to sleep on
the sofa; then Henry would go out-at
first I did not notice how often; but
when [ did / upbraided him for leaving
me alone, and took to asking every time
he came or went whore he had been or
where he was going. AS he was out so
often | did not light the big lamp, 50
there was no brightness.
II had never cared in the first days of
my married life to ask any friends to
call in the evenings, but in my loneli-
hess and annoyance 1 invited several
young people. When my husband
found that out he also stayed in and
seemed to enjoy the company. Then
the demon of jealousy entered my soul.
Every time Henry spoke to girl, sang
with her, or played a game, sulkel for
hours or perhaps days. No man will
endure that, and every good girl esents
such suspicious from his wife; so soon
/ was again left to my long, lonely even.
ings.
My husband was never unkind, but
he seemed quite Indifferent to me. just
then the brio a-brac craze began, and
for want of better amusement l col
lected lot of useless stuff, made crazy
patchwork cushions and chair backs,
had little gilded tables scattered round.
and all the other fads of the day. When
Henry tried to move about he was
always knocking down something, and
peevish word to him. lie never an
swered, but he kept more and more
away from home.
II was out of health and out of
spirits but he seemed not to notice,
and | was too proud to tell him what |
thought he did not care to know. No
one can tell what my dismay was when
one day he came home and began
hastily packing trunk, telling me that
his business would take him away for
two months. and l had better get some
friend to stay with me during his alb.
sence.
Il did so, and a very kind and judi,
cious friend she proved to be. She
soon found out the state of affairs, and
also that I loved my husband pas
sionately, while he seemed to be slip
ping away and forgetting me- He wrote
once week, a cold, short, duty letter,
and did not write at all /; could not.
l felt as if my heart were breaking.
! After eight weeks had dragged their
weary length along Henry wrote that
he would be at home on such q day.
The day came, and l was in u nervous
fever of anticipation when without any
warming neighbor rushed into the
house to tell us there had been fearful
railroad accident, and many were
killed. 1t was the train on which we
expected Henry!
In my weak, over wrought state the
shock was too great, and before many
hours had passed 1 was lying almost at
my last breath and the little baby from
whose advent [ had hoped so much
was dead. For two days L knew moth,
ing; then I opened my eyes to see my
husband by my side, love and anxiety
in the dear face and eyes, l was too
weak to think, to remember the acci.
dent, to know or to feel anything but
the Joy of his presence, and | fell
asleep with my hand held in his.
IL was young, and the happiness of
seeing how much Henry loved me was
my best tonic. We began a new life
with my good friend for IN adviser.
She spoke kindly and openly to each of
us, and the result was that we tried to
put ourselves in each others place l
once more made home attractive and
knowing that after day of hard work
q man needs relaxation and amusement,
] tried to make him find it in his own
house. The friends who had been
driven away by my jealousy were kind
enough to forgive and forget. At this
day L doubt if there is happier home
anywhere than ours. Henry goes to his
lodges, secure that l trust him, and
therefore he has no temptation to re.
main over hours for fear of an unpieas-
ant scene on his return
Mrs. Hapless listened intently to me,
and when had finished she sat down
on the floor at my feet, rested her tired
head on my lap, and cried. I pattel
the untidy hair and let her have her
cry out. She made no promises, but
as | was coming away she squeezed my
hand and thanked me-
Since then l have often run over
there in the afternoon and helped her
tidy up. This evening 1 have Just
come from her house. aud this is villa.
| saw: A large lamp with pink shade
burning on the center table. Books.
magazines, the evening paper ready to
be taken up On the small side tablo
were cards and games. Near the low
rocker placed for Mrs. Hapless stood II
neat sewing basket stand On the op-
posite side of the table q comfortable
arm chair was drawn up for John, d"
while his slippers were warming near
the we'll heated stove. Two or three
pots containing Towering plants stood
on the wide window sill. In the dining
room was set pretty, orderly table,