Year: 1874

ate treatment He remembered her as
she was in the days of their courtship. 1t
seemed almost impossible that his pale,
careworn wife could once have been the
blithesome Bertha Wescott, who had at
tracted him with her beauty and Sweet,
childlike ways. With what perfect trust
she had given her happiness into his
keepingl Could he wonder that she now
looked upon her life as useless, when all
her labor of love had been met with re-
proaches because she did not labor hard
err why, haven't used her as well
as have my horses" he exclaimed, " for
I've had some consideration for them
when they were tired"


Mr.. Thompson's determinations were
usually hasty and infexible. As he stood
there q determination was born in his
heart, one that would not die out when
all danger was over, that, if kind treat.
ment in the future would atone for the
unkindness of the past, he would make
complete atonement. But he was har.
assed by the terrible fear that he would
never have the opportunity of canceling
the past in this way. She might never
get we'll He could not stand there and
endure this thought for a moment, but
rushed away to her bedside as though his
presence there would prevent such
catastrophe Detailing him. He felt as
though there was a crisis in his own
life when the fever left his wife so white
and still. And when she awoke from the
death-like sleep, and the doctor, who was
standing by, said she would live, the great
burden that was lifted from off his soul
left him faint and weak, and he went out
in the clear night air, where the very stars
seemed twinkling down with Joy and
sympathy for him, and there, in his great
thankfulness, he knelt down and, for the
first time in his life, tried to pray. He
tried to thank God for his awakening.


Mrs. Thompson's first thought after
comprehending that she had been i'll
was that after all no change had come.
She would soon be able to go about the
house and then everything would go on
in the old WY. Often afterward she won
dered how she could have been so
wicked, as she lay there scarcely nearer
life than death, as to desire to leave her
children without q mothers care and ten
derness. She never took up the old bur.
den the burden of thankless toil-with
the feeling that no one cared for her.
Long before she got well she
! felt that she had made great mistake in
! thinking that her husband and children
did not love her. 1t was happy time
| for her when she was able to resume her
labors, or that portion of them that her
husband would allow her to resume. OF
course she was often tired after her days
work was done, but there is such a differ
ence when the WEAKNESS of the oody is
not also accompanied by the WEAKNESS
! born of fdiscouragement.
AS Mr.. Thompson saw his wife again
sbout the house, making their home so
pleasant and cheerful, he learned what
| joy there is in thankfulness. He was
thankful, not only because she had not
lefl their home forever, but also because
she had returned to him the Bertha of
| long ago. .-


Mrs. Thompson's prayer was answered.
Her life was made different. Yet she felt
that the change was in great measure
wrought in herself. When everything
goes smoothly we forget that those we
love have ever been unkind to us. And
so Mrs. Thompson remembered naught OF
/ the bitterness of the past excepting her
\ --saat nnietak ka in ni..;-- Nsoths n0i
1 duty cheerfully and uncomplainingly.
Her home was pervaded with healthier
atmosphere, in which her children would
attain to a nobler manhood. They
seemed Just as anxious to initiate their
father, but his conduct was in all respects
more worthy of imitation. His life had
also been made different--made different
by that change which comes when all
worldly desires are superseded by the de


sire to do right from love of Him whose
tender mercy is over all.-hurGI Nea
| Yorker