Year: 1861

| OF thelf courtsnlp came over The Soitened
heart of the woman, as the first winds of
Spring come up from the south. Then
she saw herself once more shy, tremu-
lous. joyful bride at the altar, leaning on
the strong arm and tender heart, to whom
she gave herself gladly and trustingly,
as woman should.


And she remembered that morning a
little later, when her proud and happy
young husband brought her to the house
which had been his fathers, and how for
little while the thought of her being mis-
tress OF the great old farmhouse fairly
! frightened the wits out Of her.


She meant TO make it a sweet and hap
| Ply one for Isaac Parsons. She remem-
bered, as though it had all happened yes
terday, the little plans and contrigances
she had made for his surprise, and their
mutual comfort.


But the quarrel came. How we'll she
remembered it, and how clearly she saw
now the foolish and sinful part she had
borne in that If she had controlled her
temper then--if she had only been gentle
and patient, fOrbearing and forgiyiug, in
stead Of being proud and passionate, fret
full and stubborn! If she had controlled
her temper then-if she had only borne
her woman's burdens, and done her wo-
mans duties, Here the wife and the
mother broke down; she buried her face
in her apron, and cried like a child.


Mrs. Parsons was an energetic, deter
mined woman, and when she had once
made up her mind on any course Of ac-
ton, she would not shrink back from it.
What went on in the softened woman's
heart, only God and the angels know.


Are you tired Isaac


The farmer was wiping bis face and
hands on the brown crash towel which
hung near the window. He was tall,
stalwart, muscular man, sun-browned and
weather-beaten, yet he had keen, kindly
eyes, and the hard feature had an honest,
intelligent expression. Mrs. Parsons was
cutting a loaf Of rye bread at the kitchen
table. Her husband turned and looked at
her moment, as though he half doubted
whether he had heard Alright. His wife's
head was bent over the bread, and be
could not see it ; but the words came a
second time:


Are you tired, Isaac ?


1t was long time since Mr.. Parsons
had heard that soft, quiet voice. 1t stole
over his heart like a wind from the land
of his youth.


We'll, yes, do feel kind of tuckered
out It's hard work TO get all that corn
with only one hand besides Roger


i reckoned so and l thought would
broil the chicken for tea, and bake the
sweet potatoes, as you'd relish them best
So


Mr.. Parsons did not say one word he
sat down and took the weekly paper out
of his pocket, but his thoughts were too
busy to let him read one word. He
knew very well his wife'S aversion to
broiled chickens, and as the kitchen was
her rndisputed territory, he was obliged
to submit and have his chickens stewed,
and his potatoes served up in sauce, not
withstanding she was perfectly aware that
he preferred the former broiled and the
latter baked and this unusual Difference
to his taste fairly struck the farmer dumb
with astonishment, and he sat still and
watched his wife as she hurried from the
pantry to the table, in her preparations
for tea; and then there cane across him
the memory of some of the harsh, angry
words spoken during their quarrel that
morning, and the words smote the mans
heart.


And while Mrs. Parsons was in the
midst Of taking up the daintily broiled
chicken, two boys and girl burst into
the kitchen.


Hush, hush, children wound in
among the obstreperous mirth like a sill
yer chime, the soft voice of the mother.
Fathers busy reading the paper and
you'll disturb him.


The children were silenced at once,
not in fear of the reproof, but in wonder
at it, for tue wife as seldom consulted her
husbands taste and convenience in these
small, everyday matters which make the
happiness OF irritation of our lives, as he
hers.


In few moments the hungry family
gathered round the table. There was lit
tie spoken at the meal, but softer, kind
lier atmosphere seemed to pervade the
room. The children felt though they did
not speak of it.


'Areyou going out this evening, lsaac'





We'll, yes, thought I'd step round to
the town meetin,. Want ANYTHING at the |