Year: 1865

"Lucy, if you mean to sew this button
on, I do wish you'd do i'll CAM wait
all day


Tom didn't speak bit cross, only en-
phatic but [ was out of temper that
morning, and my head ached badly from
sitting up late the night before. Tom
had gone to superior the second
time since our marriage, given by some
of his bachelor friends, and had come
home the worse for it, It had provoke
me intensely. So had followed him to
bed in sullen silence, and awoke none
the better pleased after my sleep, on the
morning alluded to. To make the mat
ter worse, just as he spoke to me about
the button, the knife, with which [ was
cutting bread for his lunch, slipped, in
ficting a deep cash on my hand; and
the baby awoke, and set up her sharp
little cry from the cradle, all in one and
the same moment.


"You can't wait as long as I did last
night, reckon I replied sharply, real
ly angry at last. ''Don't hurry mel
do all | can, and more than / am able to
do with one pair of hands -


Tom dropped his button and turned
toward me with a startled "Why, Lucy


"Don't Lucy me" | retorted, throw
ing down the bread, and catching up the
baby, while the blood streamed from my
hand over her white gown. "You've
done enough-you've broke my heart, I
wish | had never seen you'll wish was
back again with my father and mother "


broke down with burst of hystcri-
cal tears, and seeing the blood on my
hand, Tom came over and knelt down be-
side me. "Why, Lucy he said, his
voice and eyes full of tenderness, you've
cut your hand. Why didn't you say so
Here give me the child while you bind it
up-see how it bleeds !"


He held out his hand for the baby, but
[ snatched her away, and wen. ON sob
ing


Don't cry, Lucy" he continued,
stroking the hair back from my forehead,
''please don't | know I've done wrong,
dear, but didn't mean it. I fell in
with some of the old boys and they per-
suaded me against my will. But it's
the last time, Lucy-the last time


Why didn't | turn to him then, and
help and encourage him? Because my
mean, tyranous temper got the better Of
my womans heart


"Oh, yes J" | said sneeringly, "it is
easy enough to make fine promises-you
tola me the same thing before. How
can you expect me to trust you now?"


Tom was spirited and quick tempered
great, loving hearted men always are
He sprang to bis feet like fash, and,
before | had time to speak or think, had
left the room. I tossed the child into
the cradle, and rushed to the door, but
lit was too late, he was gone. I just
caught glimpse of him turning the cor
ner.


| went back to the little breakfast
room; how blank and drear it looked,
and what sharp, stinging thorn there
was IN the very core of my heart ! ]
loved Tom, and he loved me. We had
been married only eighteen months, and
this was our first quarrel | sat down
with the baby in my arms needless Of
my morning work, and fell to thinking.
All the old, happy days came back and
the one in particular, when we sat in
Dumberry Wood. 1t was in autumn,
and all the world seemed in a blaze OF
gold. as the sun slid down, and the squir-
rils dropping ripe nut, now and then,
into my lap, as sat there, with the last
rose of summer in my hair knitting a
purse for Tom.


Lucy" he had said, as | wove in the
last golden stitches, you've knit my love
my very life-up in that purse. Tell