Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1900-05-24
my way of thinking. "

lump 4IOLA VIC NH4Oo' ~ 80
exander.
And something equally contempt
uous would have fallen from his lips,
that were curled scornfully, had he
not seen the look on his child's face
Just then. As was, he dropped his
eyes, kissed the red lips Of his darling,
and went out in the sunshine.
I don't like to write about unpleas-
ant people or things. One feels dis
satisfied in an atmosphere of petty
meannesS, whether of act or speech (;
and if ones duty could be always
done as well by talking only Of things
that are tenderly beautiful, and Of
lives that are ike good words to grand
tunes set, ones pulses would be ever
so much warmer about the heart, You
know.
But this cannot be The hard
things, the wrong, bitter things oflife
are, and we could not ignore them if
We would. They look out on US from
labor with eyes that plead for some
thing we fain would give, and so with
a cry for wisdom and for strength,
We DO the little that We may, leaving
the rest with God.
Mr.. and Mrs. Shook were only
types of larg. class, who are always
putting away chances of happiness,
without meaning to do anything ofthe
kind. They owned the land they
lived on, and their home was a neat
little cottage, behind high naples and
walls of jessamine, that kept the small
rooms sweet the whole summer long;
and there was no reason why they
should not ba content and glad. But
contentment and gladness were things
that neither had known anything
about-long at time-for many,
many years. He irritated her; she
him. Not in large, tumultuous way,
but in continuous little frets, so much
harder to bear and forgive, and each
was about as miserable as men and
women can well be, with plenty to
eat, drink and wear, good shelter
over their heads, but with uusatisfed,
chafng, starved hearts.
Mamma, pet said softly, after
her father had disappeared around the
corner of the barn, and the mother
had gone back to her washing, with
big lump in her throat, "did you
and papa ever love each other"
It was strange question. Mrs.
Shook turned quickly, and the bar of
soap in her hand dropped with thud
to the whiteoak floor. Patches of red
and white came and went on her face,
that was by no manner Of means
plain one, and her eyes opened wider
than the child had ever seen them.
"Wby, yes, child, she answered,
soon as her breath came. "What
makes you ask?'
a was thinking" child evaded
without intending to.
Thinking what"
"You know I was down at grand
mas yesterday, and Aunt Jane and
Uncle VIII seemed so happy togeth-
er, the little one continued, keeping
her eyes on the bread she was crumb.
ling into bowl of fresh milk for her
breakfast. Once when Auntie was
tucking up my curls, Uncle put his
arm around her and kissed her right
on the eyes, that had tears in them,
and when they were gone-Uncle and
Auntie, you know-grandma said
What makes you so sober, Pussy And
you wont blame me, mamma ?"
mo, darling"
told her was thinking-think-
ing
What, dear ?"
Mrs. Shook was close by the child
then, and was looking very solemnly
at the dropping lids, and the quiver-
ing lips.
THAT I'd never seen you and papa
kiss each other in my life. "
"And what did grandma say ?' very
softly.
"Shs said that Uncle VIII and Aunt
Jane had not always been so kind
and so fond I think she said so fond,
though I don't know what that means.
That before cousin Jenny died, there
was never any sunshine in the house,
except what Jenny made and her
death had made them love each other
more-just as in the old courting days,
grandma said"
Strange talk to a child" the moth
er said, half to herself, and with the
anxious look deepening in her eyes.
IL