Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1898-11-17
"PRAISE YOUR WIFE,"
A STORY FOR HUSBANDS.

day, tired and out OF spirits; came
home to his wife, who was also tired
and out Of spirits.
"a smiling wife and a cheerful home
"a paradise it would be, said Andrew
to himself, as he turned his eyes from
the clouded face of Mrs. Lee, and sat
down with knitted bows and moody
aspect.
Not word was spoken by either /;
Mrs. Lee was getting supper, and she
moved about with a weary step.
Come" she said, at last, with
side glance at her husband.
Andrew rose and went to the table.
He was tempted to speak an angry
word, but controlled himself and kept
silent. He could find no fault with
the chop nor the homemade bread nor
the fragrant tea. They would have
cheered his inward man if there had
been a CLEAN Of sunshine on the face
of his wife. He noticed that she did
not eat.
"Are you not well, Mary ?"
These were the words on his lips;
but he did not utter them, for the face
of his wife looked so repellant that be
feared an irritating reply.
And so, in moody silence, the twain
sat together until Andrew had finished
hi, supper.
As he pushed his chair back hi.
wife arose and commenced clearing off
the table.
This is purgatory !" said Lee to
himself, walking the floor of their lit
tie breakfast room, with his hands
thrust into his trousers pockets and
hi. chin almost touching his breast.
After removing and taking the
things into the kitchen, Mrs. Lee
spread green cover over the table,
and placing a fresh-trimmed lamp
thereon, went out and shut the door
after her, leaving her husband alone
with his unpleasant feelings He took
long breath as she did so, paused in
his walk, stood still for some moments,
and then drawing paper from his
pocket, sat down by the table, opened
the sheet and commenced reading.
Singularly enough the words upon
which his eyes rested were, Praise
your wife" They rather tended to
increase the disturbance of mind from
which he was suffering.
81 would like to find some occasion
for praising mine" How quickly his
thoughts expressed that ill-natured
sentiment But his eyes were on the
paper before him, and he read on:
Praise your wife, man, for pity
sake give her a little encouragement;
it won't hurt her"
Andrew Lee raised hi. eyes from
the paper and mutterod
ooh, yes, that's all very we'll
praise is cheap enough. But praise
her for what? For being sullen, and
making her home the most disagree
able place in the world p His eyes
fell again to the paper.
"She has made her home comforta-
bic, your hearth bright and shining,
your food agreeable; for PHYS sake
tell her you thank her. She don't
expect it. 1t will make her eyes open
wider than they have been for ten
years; but it will do her good for all
that, and you, too. ."
1t seemed to Andrew as if this sem
tence was written expressly for him,
and Just for the occasion. 1t was
complete answer for his question,
Praise her for what? p And he felt
it also a rebuke. He read no further
for thoughts came too busy, and in a
new direction. Memory was convinc-
ing him of injustice to his wife. She
had always made her home as COM
Portable for him as she could make it,
and had he offered the light return of
praise or commendation ? Had he
ever told her of the satisfaction he had
known, or the comfort he had expert
enced? He was not able to recall the
time or occasion. AS he thought thus
Mrs. Lee came in from the kitchen,
and taking her work-basket from the
closet placed it on the table, and sit
ting down without speaking, began to
sew. Mr.. Lee glanced almost stealth
lily at the work in her hands, and saw
that it was the bosom Of shirt which
she was stitching neatly. He knew it
wa. for him she was at work.
Praise your wife y These were the
words before the eyes Of his mind, and
he could not look away from them.
But he was not ready for this yet. He
still felt moody and unforgiying. The