Mrs. Jones' Trials

Mr. Jones was marricd. Ho liad been married a loDg lime, ever since lie could remember, almost. The first Mrs. Jones was a pretty school boy love, and died early. Mr. Jones was inconsolable for more thnn six months, aud then finding the burden of bis grief too heavy to be borne alone, deeidcd to aliare his regrets with a sympathizing friend. The conneetion was a happy ouc for many ycarf, but alas, for the mutability of earthly ileasure, Mr Jones was again a widovter it the age of forty, and being extrcmely onely, and haviug the habit of marryng, ho ofFered his bruken Hfe and bereaved affections to Miss Patience Norcross, a mature young lady of tlnrty. Wo bave said that Mr. Jones had a habit of being married, and it bad so grown upon him thnt, had Providenco opencd thc way, ho would in all probajility have followed up a series of beeavoments with a succession of consola tions. But in sclecling Miss Patience 10 had no regard to compatibility of einper. Ho had never thought any thing about it. His other marriages íad been happy accident?, and, so far as 10 knew or reflected, that was the order of nature. But Miss Patienco had a jabit, too, and it was in accordance with ïer name, for it was the habit of emiu- ranee. It was a failing that leaned to virtue's sidc and beyond it. She lived n the remóte and the future. The jresent with her was ncver anything bat a makeshift, a mere temporary expedieut till better time?. Distance not cnly lept enchantircnt to her objocts of pursu'it, ut was absolutely the only charm to whieh shc was sensitivo. She really iked Mr. Jones almost up to the hour of his proposal ; she meokly tolerated ïim ever after. They were at boarding for a time, and the wifo said wibniissivoly to dl her rienda, f Oh, yes, it is very comfortable "or the present, until wc feel ablo to scep house." Mr. Jones, after the remark had been rei'crated for the fifticlh time, asserted that ho was able to keep house. To prove this, hc engngnd and furni.hed a tasieful tonement, and anothcr year saw Mistress Patienco the patiënt mistress of her own fireside. " What a pleasant situation," said Dame Grundy, as she called on a tour of inspection. " Why, yes," relurncd Mrs. Jones, "it is all we can expect i:i a liousc we hire lf we were to build, we should plan very differcutly, of course ; Hiid then you know ono could have the honrt to mako improvemcnls in shrubbery and fruit trce.=. Oh, Mrs. Grundy, I hope to live long enough to have a house of my own." Mr. Jones was wcll to do and good naturcd. Moreover, he wns a little obtuso, as we have soen, and did not perceivo that soraething to put np with is with most of us a practical ueccssitj. So he said, vcry gencrously, " Mrs Jones, in anotlicr year, you shall havo a house of your own." " I am afraid you can not afford to build sueh a house as I would likc." '■ I can and I will. Yon shall make the plan yourself, or draw a new one if you prefer." Mr. Jones sighed, " t will take so long in building ; " and from that hour every rational cnjoyment was deferred until they should get into their new dwclling. There were the usual dclays and disappointinents, and Mrs. Jones' love of enduranco was fully gratified; she was regaled with a " lingeringswectness lonq; drawn out." At length the house was built and furnished, the grounds laid out and planted, and tho wheels of the new establishment fairly in motion. Moreover, by rare good luck, there was very little to alter orundo; most of tho arrangements were desirable, and tho experimeats suocessful. " I hope, my dear," said Mr. Jones, benevolently, " that we aj-e in a condition to take comfort." " If ever we get settled," assentei Mrs. Jones, with a sigh. Well, years rolled on, nnd thcy were scttled. The flowers bloomed and the fruits rpencd. The turf thickoned into a velvot, and the trees grew tall and cast a weleomo shade. Strangers paused to admire the premisos as they paased, and neighbors paid ther various tributes of envy and admiration. Mr. Jones smoked h is prime cigar in the back piazza, and grew to look portly and contentcd. Not so with Mrs. Jones. To all tho encomiums lavishcd upon hor residence, she rop'ied subm'ssively, " Yes, it's a protty placo, but wc don't know who we built it for. Wc have no children to come after us, and are juat putting up improvementsforstrangers to pull down.1' Was over woman so favore'1 of au ïndulgent fortune ? Within a year from the uttcranco of this remark, Mrs. Jones was the happy - no, the patiënt mothcr of a real, genuino, glorious balty. Mr. Jones, who hnd with ditficulty reirained froni liapp ness befnre, was uncontrollably jubilant nnw The boy was healthy, and handsomo, and bright. Thcro was no raistako about hini ; he was b fixed facf, a star of the firet magnitude. Ho had wants, it is truc, for wliioh the fond father wns intently thnnkful, for to gratify and prevent them was Lis supremo delight. And the mother ? Alas, her's were all a mother's cares, anxieties and foro bodings. Until the child was woanec sho scarcely left the house, or indulgec in the gimplest luxurics of dict. Then there was the long poriod of tecth cut ting, during whicb her maternal anxieties werc nevcr appeaaed. Thon she lived in foar of tho measleg, whooping cough and carlet fever, until tho young licro met and conquered them all. He grevv roi'nd and TOty, and she thin ant aoxiou, luit stil! unalterably pntient.- At school, he fecrad lie niglit ft'nlv tno much or too little, and as lier fcars wcre pretty equally divided botween the tivo pcrils. it is prosumed tbat ho avoidcd both. Then she Lad a general misgiving lest bo should bo spoiled, and from too much petttng at homo become an indolent and unefeiss member of society. Uut though the reatier may share her fears in this regard, Master Jones falsified them all. Indulgence and opportuuity seemcd to agreo wlth hira. He was ambitious and self reliant, and not objeetionably willful. When at last he deeided to study for a profcssion, the mothor fitted out his wardrobe with reluetaut care, and the first letter she received from ooilege was moi.-stond with something more than the full proportion of her natural tears. " I am glad he is doing well," she eaid, in roply to a remark from her hufband, " but I miss hira more than I can teil you. Bince wc have only one wa coukl but wish ho coull have stayed with us. The sevcn years of his student life are verv lonar to wait. " To wait for what ? " inquircd Mr. Jones. " For the good time coming," replied hifl wifc. " Why, woman, tho good time has come long ago. Can't you seo it ? - We've been having it all aïong.'' " It may be so with you, Mr. Jones, but I have ncver been frfle from anxiety for a minute in my life." " And never will be, my dear," replied Mr. Jones, as he phook the ashes from his cigar. " It is positively your strongest point, and I have quite an admiration for your skill iu it. You will find more to submit to in any given circumstances than any woman I have ever known." Mrs. Jonoa raised hor eyea to her hus band's faco in meek surpriso. Slio for gave biin, aud was füent.