Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1902-01-02

WnaLS the matter OldId, sd y (,
what has happened to the ranger"
Mrs. Hamilton turned another page.
A sudden fear seized upon her hus-
band. insanity! She had lost her
senses!
He stole softly across the carpet
and grasped the book she held.
"Don'tl" she said. "Pray go away.
You are interrupting me-"
"Clara! Are you sick, or are you
crazy?"
"sickP No. Go away. do. I am so
interested"
Her tone was natural. Mr.. Hamilton
discarded his momentary theory of in
sanity. His voice became more impera-
tive.
"It is supper time! Where are the
children? Where is the supper? Clara, "
loudly, "where is the supper?"
Mrs. Hamilton partially closed her
book and looked at him.
"The supper? You said the supper?"
81 didi"
"Well," yawning, 81 suppose it is
getting late, but 1 must finish this
book. 1 don't care about food, but l do
want to know who succeeded to the
throne after"
"The throne be hanged" interrupt
ed Mr.. Hamilton. where are the chill
dren?"
1.-THE children? Let me see. Oh,
remember! You'll find them at your
sisters. /"
"At Helen's? Why in time did you
send them there?"
Mrs. Hamilton resumed her reading.
"Four days for housekeeping, two for
my reading" she said, quietly.
Mr.. Hamilton stared at her for a
moment. Then he burst into hearty
laugh.
81 see! understand" he said.
He left the room still laughing. He
whistled as he went down to the
kitchen.
In few moments his wife joined
him.
"I'll see to things down here, while
you 90 for the children" she said;
"but, William, before you go, tell me
this: Is it possible for a woman to
keep up her education while she is do
ing homework, mending, sewing, re-
ceiving callers and making calls,
etc.?"
81 was a brute that night, Clara.
You know more than most women
do"
NO." sadly, 81 have not kept up as
1 should. But mean to, William. The
children must wear palmer clothing,
and so must their mother, for their
mother must not be an ignOramus."
"And their father must not require
such a vast amount of cooking as he
has in the past. He must be content
with simpler meals"
"The cooking is more important
than the frills, the latest sleeves, etc.
The time for reading must be taken
from the unimportant matters"
Mr.. Hamilton thought with keen
regret of the work he had so often
thoughtlessly made for the patient
woman who stood beside him. He
stopped and kissed her with tender
ness that brought quick tears to her
eyes.
1.-TWO heads are better than one.
Well talk it over by and by. In the
meantime, help me TO begin the New
Year well by giving me bread and
milk 5-night. The children will like
1t, and so will their father"
Mr.. Hamilton went after the chill
dren presently. AS he passed a church
he saw a multitude of people entering
it.
"The Old Year out-the New Year
in!" he thought.
He walked on with new purposes
forming in his mind. The New Year
should be different from the Old
there should be more time found for
the enjoymknt of life. Things should
be made easier for his wife; they
would make life higher and holier. 1t
should be a New Year-a year OF love
to God and love to man.
He spoke of these thoughts, that
were stirring him so strangely, that
evening. He was alone with his wife.
She listened with sympathetic inter
est. She said little, but her few words
satisfied and cheered him.
He arose and stood by the window
when the clocks rang out the year
Soon the worshipers in the churches
filed the streets. Something OF the
solemnity of the hour passed from
them to him. He looked up into the
deep mysterious realm of starry space,
and a strange new sense of companion
ship came to him. He found himself
repeating words long half-forgotten:
'If ascend up into Heaven, Thou art
there. If take the wings of the
morning, and dwell in the uttermost
parts of the sea, even there shall Thy
hand lead me. Yea, the darkness
hideth not from Thee. The LORD is
thy keeper"
Presently the sound of footsteps in
the street died away. All was still
again.
"The Old Year out! The New Year
I'M" he said. THANK God for the de-
sire to make it better yeari"
His heart was full as he turned away
from the window.
The vision of the past grieved him
sorely, but again he was comforted
''The Lord is thy keeper. He that keep
eth thee will not slumber. "-Zion'i
Herald.
HANDSEL MONDAY.