Year: 1879

routine Of household duties and cares aud
what was her opinion worth nowadays
Her reward for gentleness and patience with
the children was daily faultfnding John
was not naturally unfeeling but he was
very thoughtless and rather selfish. His
bringing up had not tended to bring out and
cultivate the good traits he had he lacked
refinement, but it was the fault of his train
ing, in some measure. Although he really
loved his wife, he loved himself and his
money better He never troubled himself 10
study her wants, or how he might make her
life brighter. When he had provided liber-
ally for the house, Che liked good living) and
given his wife the least he could possibly
put her off with-and that only when she
applied for it-he thought he had done his
duty. Not that he was destitute of kind
ness he had many good qualities which he
might have cultivated and improved, if he
had not been too conceted to acknowledge,
even to himself, his faults.


That day at noon John Ashton sauntered
into respectable restaurant of the city, to
which he had been driven to get his dinner.
As he sat waiting for his order to be filed
he heard his own name mentioned by some
person at a table near. All yes," the
voice went on to say. "Poor Helen fear
she is not very happy. Fanny James went
to visit her last summer-you know she was
Heens bridesmaid she pronounced
Ashton perfect bear-coarse, abrupt and
unfeeling. She says Helen is very much
broken down, three babies hanging round
her, and apparently without the means of
taking care of herself The house is com
Portable and well provided for, but her hus-
band allows her very little money. Fanny
said it was very evident she was a household
slave, obliged to ask for every shilling, and
tell what it is needed for. You should have
seen Frank when he heard it. Poor Frank
always adored Helen. 1t was planned for
Helen and the children to return with Fanny
for long visit home, but the idea was given
up by Helen herself, evidently because she
could not get the means TO fit them out as
she could wish. 1t would not be like her
to go out among her own friends shabby.
They all used to be so proud of her, and
now she is in manner buried for where
she lives there is no society,"


John left; he had heard enough. "A
perfect bear" Humph, so that was what
they thought of him. He was not much
flattered but it set him thinking. Had he
valued Helen as he ought His pride was
touched, and his conscience not easy, as he
thought of how cross he had been that
morning, and needlessly, too. 1t occurred
to him that he would not five years before
have left his wife without kissing her. But
he had grown Indifferent, and she had grown
wan aud care-worn with increased cares,
and no one to help her bear them, with
too much pride to sue for the caresses she
had missed.


Certainly, he had not thought how lonely
and weary she must have been. Most of
all it touched him that Heens friends
uh nnl1 tn1r SC Ia L., 1 tl,nsr
/ ried life he could not remember time
when she had failed in her duty to him;
she was all sympathy il he was i'll or troubled
about anything. But she just wore herself
out with the children-to be sure they had
to be cared for-and he determined he
would get more help.


That night when John Ashton got home
he missed his wife from the cheerful sitting
room, where his tea was spread waiting for
him; and when the little servant appeared
in answer to his CALL she informed him that
Mrs Ashton had complained of her head
and retired early. She added, when she
brought in his tea She never ate a bite
this day, and it's hard work I've had to
keep the children quiet" Ashton did not
want his tea he went at once to his wife's
room. When he entered she was sitting up
in the bed staring wildly about, delirious
with pain. When he spoke to her she
begged him to tell Johu not TO be hard with
the children. Her husband bathed her head,
and soothed her as well as he could; then
leaving her with the girl he went with all
speed for doctor. He had some distance
to go, and as he drove through the night he
realized how much he loved his wife, and
breathed prayer that she might be long
spared to him. Fortunately the physician
nao In au1 raturnad with him He prO-
nonnnaI !. of e--s-s...O AOiN NOus eX-
haustion, aud ordered the greatest quiet.
For weeks Helen lay weak and helpless,
without energy. Her sister came and took
the children away that she might not be dis
turbed by their noise, but for long time
the doctor despaired Of rousing her; his
skill completely failed, aud she seemed to
be sinking from sheer weakness, when news
came of the serious illness of little An-
ME- John did not tell his wife till he
had consulted the doctor, who advised him
to tell her by all means. " 1t may be the
means of saving her." he said. So Helen
was told by the doctor, and he saw at once
the effect was good she was all interest
My little darling ill Oh, that they had
never sent her from me ~ "But you may
go to her, if you will" the doctor said
ado you think so, doctor how soon p


From this time there was change for
the better, and when she once began to re-
cover she progressed rapidly. About this
time there came word that her child was out
of danger, which aided her recovery. When
Helen was able to go out, and she and John
were driving along quiet country road, he
put his arm around her and said :" | never
realized how dear you were to me, till that
night when | came home and you did not
know me. l have not been as true to you
as should, dear Helen but will begin
over again."


81 shall not regret my illness, if it has
given me back my husband" was her reply.
-Montreal JVtness.