Year: 1879

sorbed in her work and her thoughts that
she had not noticed the entrance Of her
husband.


"You are weary, Edward" she said, after
greeting on her part which would not have
been called "cold" by any witness.


al am very tired. Keep the children
quiet, and will sleep till dinner, as am
compelled to go out Immediately afterward."


A little sigh found involuntary vent.
"And must you go out tonight, Edward ?"


"Yes, must go to a meeting of the vest
rymen and then to the Sunday School
Union. Surely you do not object to my at
tending to such business ?"


ooh, no want you to do all the good
you can, only it seems so long since we had
a quiet, happy evening together"


There was no answer. Mr. Dale had
comfortably settled himself for a nap, and,
going to the door, she babe the children
play more quietly, and then, as she noise
lessly resumed her work, one transparent
tear gistened upon her needle. she glanc-
ed up hastily, for fear her husband might
have seen it-he had mans hatred of do
mestic tears-but she saw he was already
fast asleep. As one evening passed, so did
another-there was always something TO
take him from her-something to absorb all
the spare hours so that there were none to
be given to her. She had tried hard not
to be rebellious-she had prayed to over
come the strange thoughts which had crept
into her head, and, until of late, she had
been partially successful, but recently she
had not seemed the mistress of her thoughts.
She had tried to persuade herself that she
was wrong-that she must find tastes and
time to work with him, but how could she
when the care of the house and management
of the children devolved so entirely upon
her? At the beginning of the year he had
talked Of hard times and the scarcity of
money, and she had Gheerfully acceded to
his proposal to discharge their most expen-
slve servant-one who had faithfully serv-
ed her since the birth of her eldest boy. She
had W ithOut murmur taken upon herself
duties which had worn wearily upon her
strength, and she had that day seen his
name head subscription list for public
charity with an amount which would have
paid a servants wages for more than half a
year. She had been told at the beginning
of the season that there was no money for
new clothes for the children-that the old
ones must in some way be made to last, and
she had remodeled them with the skill of %
loving wife and mother; but her fingers
would not have moved so swiftly had she
then heard lecture delivered by the chief
of coterie OF charitable ladies, who de-
manded money when she had not 81 of her
own, and who triumphantly mentioned the
sum given by her husband-an amount far
exceeding that which she had asked for
when she wished new clothes for the child
rem and it was such a tax upon her strength
and eyesight to be continually darning and
repairing-and those disagreeable woman.
She felt her heart stealing involuntarily
against all sorts of charitable institutions,
and then she prayed to be forgiven and sor-
rowed to think how, after all her struggles,
she remained so purely human. The other
thoughts came-of unpaid bills laid away
in her bureau drawer-bills which had
come to the house during her husbands alb
sence, and which she could not avoid seeing,
and for which he lad declarec he had no
money--they must wait, as he and other
men were compelled to do. She thought Of
the little household of which she, in other
days, had been amember, of the thrift which
was the presiding genius oil that home
clearing up all expenses of the day, yet
leaving something for charities, and teach


ing that debt was the prime minister of the
devil. Alas what could she do now in the
strong current in which she was drifting?


The sleeper turned and the brown eyes
were able to rest upon his face-a handsome


face, of style that will win the hearts oi


women until the death of time. And yet


was not a strong face. Even the woman who
watched il and loved it knew it gave proc
of lack of force and resolute selfreliancc


She had learned the lesson, bitter 10 every
proud and loving wife, that she was much
the stronger Of the two, and yet he, tn,


weaker, stood the pilot at the helm, and by


him her bark must be guided TO its port o


veal or woe.


"Aunt Agnes will come tomorrow.


had almost forgotten to tell you," he said, al


he prepared to leave the house.


A thrill of pleasure passed through tn,


listeners heart. Aunt Agnes was a welcome
visitor. She had good effect upon Mar
jorie, restful inaue .ce, something akin, a!
nearly as the human can be akin, TO tn,
Peace, be still" which once sounded vo
+ cally above the troubled waters. Aunt Ag


mes came, aud Marjorie partially forgot he
dscontent in the sweet presence that sh,
loved SO we'll. But the time soon came 70


the visitors return. Aunt Agnes could moi
be induced to make long visits, it mattereC
I not where she went, and she frequentl!
quoted as a favorite mixim that 'short visi
tors made long friends"


e On the last morning Of her aunt's stay
r as Marjorie entered herown chamber, whicI
e adjoined little room her husband calle
= his study-it having been fitted up with
r table, afew easy chairs, some books an


pictures-she soon heard her husband an
,. aunt converslng in this study. Her fin
e impulse was to withdraw but before tina
t could be accomplished, she learned that he
a husband was indebted TO his aunt Tor lsrg
a sum of money that he had not made he
" any payments for a long time, and that, i


consequence of this deficit, she was compel


ed to give up the lovely home where sh
g had been happy with her husband for 5
e many years and change TO a style Of livin
e more consistent with her now impecuniou
d condition, and what grieved the kind heal
e most of all, abandon her plans for the cor
n tinued assistance of those long dependeI
Ie upon her.


h With a clear view of the ground, as if
t. had all been uncovered to her, Major