Year: 1861




contrast between Mrs. Garland's grea


palace of a parlor, all lit up with gas. an


this with just that astral lamp burningr


And then the discontented wife relapse


into thought again, but in few moment


added:


| 4 believe il was unfortunate that mad


the acquaintance of Mr.. Garand's family


Tor somehow 1 reyer do feel so happy aite


visiting her as | do after calling on or pass


ing an afternoon with Mrs. Drury. To b,


sure, she is furnished rather better than


am, but she don't try to display everythin.


as Mrs. Garland does and if / looked sac


or speak OF the contrast between US, she hai


such way Of saying--'Wh Mrs. Aid
rich, when had been married no Longer


than you have, if my husband had beer
able TO live in his own house. supposing i


was small or built of wood, and, IN the fall
OF the year laid in stores by the barrel. and
had the coal bin heaped, guess there would
have been no complaint from me. You
must recollect that we are older than you
are, and II is only few years since we
have been able TO indulge in lnxuries 7
Somehow or other | never feel cross when
come home from there.


We'll. guess will not call on Mrs.
Garland again; but if she asks me what ex-
cuse can make, should be ashamed to
tell her the real one-and besides it is
pleasant 10 have rich acquaiutances TO walk
with IN public. II gives you an air of res
pectability that makes the more common
people ieel that you don't reckon yourself
one of them. Bot 0 dear am very
unhappy; wish Cyrus would come,
don't believe | will ever talk to him again
as did this evening.


Another hour passed away, and still Mrs
Aldrich sat in her parlor alone. Yes. an
other and another. till The astral began to
burn dim, and the fire in the CRATE died out
he book trembed in the wite's hand she
could no longer read, and going to the win
dow she looked out into the frosty air and
thick darkness. But she saw no familiar
iorm approaching, nor heard the wished for
step on the pavement. Her heart almost
died within her, and bitterly did she reproach
herself for having said so many words that
ought never 10 have been spoken; but it
was too late to recall them, and for this rea-
son, she had spent the evening-ay, almost
the night-alone. But the room was get
ling too chilly to remain longer in it with
out fire; so the lonely wife took her way
silently to her chamber


$ never knew Cyrus to STAY out so late
without giving me warning OF it before he
went" said Mrs. Aldrch. g don't think
that business can detain him, for it is plain
by the pile of papers that lie on the table,
that he intended to remain at home this
evening. 1t seems TO me that the older he
grows, the more easily he is irriiated Why,
1nce | might have said more than | did 10
night and in few moments after he would
be as pleasant as ever and stay at home all
he evening with me-"


Could it be possible that Mrs. Aldrich's
insight was so defective that she could not
the cause of The change p |
hat being constantly irritated win ruin the |
most plant temper, especially if that source |
'f unhappiness comes from one who should /
owe and encourage us in our efforts


The old South clock rang out the hour
If midnight, and still the wife was alone I
She sprang from her couch, and once more /
,eered from the window into the darkness I
but the mufiled forms of the watch /
men were all of life that met her gaze. and +
eturning to her bed she buried her face in
he pillows and wept. They were not tears
f pride or anger now, but of rtmorse A
noment more and the night key clicked in
he lock and Mrs. Aldrich heard the we'll
nown step Of her husband.


A thrill of joy gushed up from her heart,
nd her first impulse was to rush to the
oor to meet him; but her unhappy pride
Fas paramount again, now that she knew
e had returned safe, though for few hours
ack it had remained dormant so when be
pened the chamber-door, she smo,hered
er kindlier feelings and pretended TO be
eeping. Mr.. Aldrich silently prepared
imself fer his couch, and then pressed his
cad to his pillow--but not to sleepl No.
e WIS thinking Of the change that had come
yer her who was lying by his side so
oundly sleeping now, for be did not mag
le that her sleep was feigned.
I" Yes" he said mentally, " il is plain that
leila no longer loves me as of old, when
rought her to the city bride she has
ansferred that love to other obiecls-to
ealth and show, indulge her all am |
lie TO, but | must not make myself bank
lpt and ruin my reputation by gratifying
ar in extravaganza that am not able to Z
aintain. | have often tried to reason with !.
n, to urge her to be contented to live
thin her income, but it is all to no pur- .
,se she only charges me with being par. 2
nonious and points out the great indulgen-
es Of other men to their families. | can n
aud it no longer; / must have a happy g
me or none. To me the spot where v
yell my wife and children must be a heav- Il
or its opposite j do not believe in a.
sdum of happiness in domestic life be- b
cen two who have sworn at the altar to ei
-e and cherish each other as long as life pl
all remain. There must be one of two ii
ngs between Della and me--love or hate b,
ometimes fear the latter is approaching, b.
| cannot endure these daily chickering's OF
must love or hate-it is my nature" cl
And then the husband tried 10 compose pr
mind 10 sleep; but it seemed as if his bt
'in was on fire, as thought after thought la
he'd through it. OF
. Poor childreni' he mentally uttered;


wsl be bitter lesson to them but still th
hall be done. There i is no greater of
N to a man on this wide earth than a "
,py home; TO win it, some have faced W.
n death so | will not talter in the pan ba
ave marked out tonight. IL succeed, fol