Year: 1879

NIdTCnCe aSScntcu.


"But, continued Mr.. Wardle, "your
fear that there will bc gloom in your home
when you return 2"


The young man bowed his head aS he re-
piled in the affirmative


''BecauSe, the merchant added, with
touch of parental sternncss in his tone,
''you are resolved to carry it there !"


Clarence looked up in surprise.


IL carry itl"


AYE; you have the burden in your
heart, and you mean to carry it home. Re
member, my boy, have been there, and
know all about it. have been very foolish
in my lifetime, and have suffered. l suf-
fered until l discovered my folly, and then
resolved that / would suffer no more.
Upon looking the matter squarely and
honestly in the face, found that the bur-
dens which had so CALLED me had been self
imposed. OF course such burdens can be
thrown off. Now you have resolved that
you will go home to dinner with a heavy
heart and a dark face. You have no hope
that your wife will meet you with smile.
And whyl Because you know that she
has no particular cause for smiling. You
know that her heart is burdened with the
affliction which gives you so much unrest.
And you are fully assured that you are to
find your home shrouded in gloom. And,
furthermore, you don't know when that
gloom will depart and wien the blessed
sunshine of love will burst in again. And
why don't you knowl Because 1t Is not
now in your heart to sweep the cloud away.
You say to yourself, i can bear it as long
as she CAM Am not right :"


Clarence did not answer in words.


Il know l am right, pursued the mer-
chant; land very likely your wife is saying
to herself the same thing. SO you hope of
sunshine does not rest upon the willingness
to forgive, but upon the inability to bear
the burden. By-and-by it will happen, as
it has happened before, that one of the
twain will surrender from exhaustion; and
it will be likely TO be the weaker party.
Then there will be collapse and a recon-
ciliation. Generally the wife fails first be-
meath the CALLING burden, because her love
Is keenest and most sensitive. The hus-
band, in such case, acts the part of cow
ard. When he might, with a breath, blow
the cloud away, the cringes and covers un-
til his wife is sorced to let the sunlight in
through her breaking heart"


Clarence listened, ana was troubled. He
saw the truth, felt its weight. He was not
a fool, nor was he liar. During the silence
that followed he reflected upon the past,
and he called to his mind scenes Just as
Mr.. Wardle had depicted. And this brought
him to the remembrance of how he had seen
his wife weep when she had failed and sank
beneath the heavy burden, how often she
had sobbed upon his bosom in grief for the
error.


The merchant read the young mans
thoughts, and after a time he rose and
touched him upon the arm.


Clarence, suppose you were to put on
your hat and go home now. Suppose you
should think, on your way, only of the
love and blessing that might be; with this
thought, you should enter your abode with
a smile upon your face and you should put
your arms around your wife's neck, and
kiss her, and softly say to her, 'My darling,
| have come home to throw down the bur-
den l took away with me this morning 1t
is greater than | can bear" Suppose you
were to do this, would your wife repulse
you'd"


"Repulse me2"


"Ah, my boy, you echo my words with
an amazement which shows that you un-
derstand me. Now, sir, have you the cour-
age TO try the experiment :" Dare you to
be so much of manR Or do you fear to
let your dear wife know how much you
love herl Do you fear she would respect
and esteem you less for the deed9 Tell me
do you think the cloud of unhappiness
might thus be banishedl Oh, Clarence, if
you would but try it,"


Sarah Spencer had finished her work IN
the kitchen, and in the bed-chamber, and
sat down with her work in her lap. But
she could not ply her needle. Her heart
was heavy and sad, and tears were in her
eyes


Presently she heard the front door open,
and step in the passage. Certainly she
knew that stepl Yes-her husband enter
ed ard smile upon his face. She saw it
through her gathering tears, and her heavy
heart leaped up. He came and put his arms
around her neck, and kissed her; and he
said to her, in broken accents, 'Darling,
have come home to throw down the bur-
den took away with me this morning. 1t
is greater than | can bear"


And she, trying to speak, pillowed her
head upon his bosom and sobbed and wept
like child. Oh could he forgive her 2
His comiEg with the blessed offering had
thrown the burden of reproach back upon
himself She saw him noble and generous,
and she worshiped him.


But Clarence would not allow her to take
all the blame. He must share that.


Eve will share it so evenly" said he,
'that its weight shall be felt no more. And
now my darling we will be happyl"


s'Alwaysi"


Mr.. Wardle had no need, when Clarence