The Forrest City times., 1893-10-20
HE READ TO HER.
Augustus Attempts to Improve
 His Wifes Mind.


 Augustus and l did considerable read ing-that is, he read while I listened. We took up course in English poetry, commencing with Chaucer and ending with Cowper. There was a roseate glamour over everything. and I used to do dainty bits of fancy work for the house. into which the beauty and the freshness of the thoughts were woven; the mosaic of Spenser's descriptions covered my mats; Shakespeare's wit and wisdom were threaded in and out through my tidies, and Milton's state liness seemed even to ennoble the sofa pillow embroidered.
 Those were halcyon days, and we expected they would last. No denun- citation was too severe from Augustus for the woman whose soul could not aspire above the pots and pans of her kitchen, nor for the man who did not share his choicest intellectual morsels with his wife; and l agreed with him perfectly. l remember his sister visited us that first winter and said that when he lived at home they never could have any pleasant times reading aloud in the family circle because Augustus was never interested in any book that the others cared for; and I thought, though l said nothing: Poor fellow, how sadly uncongenial his home surround ings must have been, and that now all his life long he should have a compan ion who could appreciate him-a true comrade;" and as soon as 1 was out of her sight hummed rapturously:
 Two souls with but single thought
 Two hearts that beat as one.
 But, in spite of all our high VOWS, our intellectual paradise did not con- tinue. Augustus IS not really poe tical in his tastes; the passion of love and sense that he needed development in this direction gave him this delightful spasm. He is scientific, intensely so, while have no leaning in that direc- tion, though what I might have done had l continued under his tuition is uncertain. The honeymoon waned; the single thought multiplied, as we'll as cares and children. until at last though we are counted a congenial couple, we jog along about like the rest of the world, and he spends the most of his time at home in the study, while am in the kitchen or nursery. But the books that he reads 1 never open, except now and then when am dusting them, and even the titles are sometimes incomprehensible. l sup pose if had d great mind, like Mary Somerville or Maria Mitchell, should have one of these volumes propped up before me when am kneading bread; but 1 find them so exhausting that, even when have bit of leisure, 1 ig- nobly dip into a magazine instead.
 But we have not drifted apart thus without some heart -burnings and strug- gles. can hardly blame myself, and it certainly is not the fault of Angus tus; no longer than a month ago he made heroic effort to place affairs on the old ideal footing. One of the chil- dren had severe attack of croup in the night. Augustus is such an affectionate father that anything of the kind near ly drives him distracted, and he con- ducts himself so much like a lunatic that it is a great relief to get him out of the house and after the doctor. We were able to thwart the disease, and the little sufferer was soon herself again, but the shock awoke Augustus to unwonted tenderness. and l suppose, dear man! he thought he had been neg lectful and would make up for it at once; so, morning or two after he said at breakfast: "Will it not be a fa- vorable time this morning. Maria, for us to commence that book 1 have wanted you to read so long?" ''Oh, that will be delightful" I said, with enthusiasm, and then, depreeetingly, but I really am afraid that 1 shall have to forego the pleasure. I had planned to make gingersnaps this morning, and 1 shall not have another channe this Weekn ut is