Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-11-13
A DOMESTIC SKETCH
By vsIma Caldwell Melville.

it
stopped my crying drought sheer
establishment. There was another
pause and then let US prayg'
And pray he diu,-a prayer so full
of passionate entreaty that he might
be willing to sacrifice himself for the
sake of others in peril and that those
thus imperiled might see their danger
in time, that held my breath in awe.
Was it then such dangerous such an
awful thing to let strife and discord
into ones little home world! l shivered
now with something beside petty an
ger and my tears fell from other
causes than selfish self pity. When
We arose from our knees he was calm
and gentle as was his wont. Taking
a chair where he could see my face
he began; l know now, MIS- Thurs
ton, why my feet were directed to your
door to day. had no thought of COM
ing; indeed, Twas In the midst of
sermon and much interested in 1t,
when something seemed to bid me rise
and go-where | knew not. At first !
resisted; then. remembering my vow.
| arose and went out, at first thought
It must be among the sick | was
wanted, ana turned in at Father
Browns gate. The dear old man was
sleeping so I knew it was not there;
sister Crowly was out for a ride, and
found Deacon Smith in fine Jpirits
and recovering rapidly. / was puzzled
and concluded that for once there were
no spirit headings: but, / thought to
myself while | am out, I will call at
Harry Thurston's; and here am, and
verify l believe that here was sent.
Il hoped / might fulfill vow made
by deathbed, VOW to go whenever
duty called and do whatsoever was
commanded me to do, without telling
the story of my life. I have even
prayed that this cup might pass from
me, for it is a bitter one but if by
telling it will save even one home
from ruin, feel now that am willing
for the sacrifice 1t is just thirty-two
years ago coming thanksgiving day,
that there were married., in the state
of Vermont, young man Of twenty
four and a. bonnie girl Of eighteen.
Never was there fairer, sweeter bride,
never prouder, fonder bridegroom.
can seem to see her now-of course
this couple was Charity and myself
as she looked on our wedding day, re-
minding one of apple blossoms, with
her pink and white beauty: and she
was so tender, gentle and charming In
her ways. Indeed. l think it was her
complete femininity, her perfect ivy
like helplessness that first won my
heart toward Charity Dumleith.-I was
one of the strong, self-important ones,
one born to lead, told myself. That
Charity Lad another self ! never
dreamed, though glancing back over
her Puritan ancestry | might have
known that sleeping somewhere was
an iron will. What might have been
saved; what might she have been
saved, had not been So blind! was
studying for the ministry, was sole
heir to my fathers large estate and,
Dithai. had a rather good opinion of
myself. suppose, but loved Charity:
aye, my very love for her wrought my
ruin.
The first few years of cur married
life ran smoothly, was what was cal
led popular preacher My wife
gloried in my success, was proud of
my triumphs, yielded to me in every.
thing Do not understand that
tyranized over her. far from it. all
but idolized her and we were so happy.
When in other homes l could but
think complacently OF my own, condu-
cted so entirely and so successfully on
the st. Paul plan-as man interprets
ii.
BY and by there came to us boy
his mothers image-and our JOY was
complete; but alas! he soon faded and
died, and while | mourned for him. |
was secretly, almost unwittingly an
noyed that Charity took his death so
hard. 1t seemed to ME she ought not
to NOPE so-that was my term for it
when she still had me
Then there carle a daughter-liks
me they said she was certainly strong
enough, healthy enough and willful
er OF gh to be- In the companionship
Of this child, my wife bloomed into her
old, happy self again; but when two
years old she, too, was stricken, and
died.
This time my wife's health broke
visibly, and she could not always take
her place-or the place a minister's
wife was expected to take in those
days. | am sure now that this irri-
tated me. had been so proud of her
beauty and grace, now she was faded
and listless. Again l felt piqued that,
with ME in her life she could not do
as | did-turn from the little mounds
and go on living. l reasoned with my
self something like this: ministers
folks owe too much to the world to sit
'elrishly down at home and mourn
over their private sorrows. made my
self believe that all the difference be-
tween us was: I was broad in my
views; l embraced the whole world:
she was narrow: could only think OF
self / often spoke irritably to her In
those days. but she was never other
than her sweet self. save that she was
sad and shrank from the ray world
about her It was when little Evelyn