Year: 1860

days, in preparing a pleasant surprise for
her husband The work was finished, at
last, and now she awaited his return, with
a heart full Of emotions \ dressing gown,
pair of elegantly embroidered slippers,
wrought by her own skilful fingers, were
the gifts with which she meant to delight
him.


What troop of pleasure fancics was in
her heart. How almost impatently did she
wait for the coming twilight, which was to
be dawn, not approaching darkness to her.


At last, she heard the step Of her husband
in the passage, and her pulses leaped with
huttering delight. Like bird upon the
wing, she alraost flew down to meet him,
impatient for the kiss that awaited her.


10 meet in the world of business, few
days without their disappointments and per-
plexities. 1t is mems business to bear this
in manly spirit. They form but portion
of life's discipline, and should make them
stronger, drawer, and more enduring. I'm
wisely and we may say, unjustly, too many
men fail to leave their business cares and
troubles in their stores, workshops or count
ing rooms, at the days decline. They wrap
them in bundles and carry them and shadow
their household.


1t was SO with my young husband on this
particular occasion. The stream of business
had taken an eddying whirl and thrown his
vessel back wards, instead Of outwards, for
a brief space, and though it was still in the
current, and gliding safely onwards against
it, the jar and disappointment had fretted
his mind severely. There was no heart in
the kiss he gave his wife, and because he
had let care overshadow love- He drew his
arm around her; but she was conscious of a
diminished pressure in that embracing arm


''Are you not we'll :"


With that tender concern was this question
asked!


every we'll"


He mi gbt be in body, but not in mind :;
that was plain for his voice was far from
being. cheerful.


She played and sang her favorite pieces,
hoping to restore by the charm Of music,
brightness to his spirit. But she was con-
scious Of only partial success. There was
still gravity in his manner, never perceived
before At tea time she smiled upon him
so sweetly across the table, and talked to
: to him on such attractive themes, thai
the right expression returned to his coun-
tenance and he looked as happy as she
could desire.


From the tea-table they returned to their
pleasant parlor. And now the time has
come for Offering her gift, and receiving the
coveted reward of glad surprise, followed
by sweet kisses and loving words


Il Will be back in moment, she said j;
~ II, Ia


ly up the stairs. Both tone and manner
betrayed her secret, Or rather the possession
of secret with which her husband was to
be surprised. Scarcely had her loving face
faded from before his eyes, when thought
returned with single bound, to an unplea-
SAINT event Of the day and the waters OF his
spirit were again troubled. lie had actual
fy arisen and crossed the floor one or twice
moved by a restless concern, when his wife
came down with the dressing gown and
slippers. She was trying TO force her coun-
r tenancc into grave expression, to hold
back the smiles that were continually stiiv-
ing to break in truaut circle at her lips,
when single glance at her husbands face,
told her that the spirit driven away by the
exorcism Of her love, had returned again to
his bosom. He looked at her sobcrly, as
she came forward


"'N' hat are thcse!' lie asked in almost
coldly reprcssing SURPRISE and affecting an
ignorance in gard to the beautiful present
; she held in her hands, that he did not feel
They are for you dear. [ made them y
''For me? Nonsense? What do | want
with such jimcrackery? That is wouan'>
! 10 +hinl- T i
feet with embroidered slippers, or dress up


in a calico gown? Put them away, dear,
your husband is no much of Il man, to robe


himself in cay colors, like a clown or actor y
And he waved his hand with an air of con
tempt. There was bold sneering manner
about him, partly affected and partly real


born, Of his uncomfortable state of mind.
Yet he loved his sweet wife, and would not,
of set purpose. have wounded her for the
world


This unexpected repulse-this cruel re-
ception Of her present, over which she had
wrought patiently in golden hope, for many


days-this dashing to earth of this brimful
cup of joy, just as it touched her lips, was
more than the fond young wife could bear.
10 hide the tears that came rushing to her
. eyes, she turned away from her husband
and to conceal the sobs she had no power to
repress, she went almost hurriedly from the


room and going back to the chamber from
: , whence she had brought the present, she
, , laid it away out of sight in closet. Then
, covering her face with her hands, she sat
! down and strove with herself to be calm.-
I But that shadow was too deep-the heart
ache too heavy.


In little while her husband followed her
and discovered something to his surprise,


that she was weeping, said in slightly re-
proving voice: Why, bless me : not in


tears. What a silly little puss you are
Why didn't you tell me you thought of
making drcssing-gown and pair of slippers,
and L would have vetoed the matter at once
, You couldn't hire me to wear such Haunting
things Come back to the parlor-hc took