The native American. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1840, 1839-08-24
MI S G ELL "A N Y.
A FAMILY SCENE.

II carried with me from my mothers house q
.cat, which was so beautiful that named hel
Fairy, in honor of the danisel WHO was changed
rio Grimalkin, in the old romance. If l had a
preudce, it was in favor of cats, andagainst dogs;
tthis was unfortunate, for soon after nay marriage
Il was introduced to mastf OF. Edwards nearly
as large as myself. Il had often heard him speak
.of his dog, and the faithfulness with which he
guarded the office. 4 was too busy in other in
terests;to think much Of Grower for some time.
only observed that,on occasional visits, for the
office was his head euarters,) 'Fairy's back rose
Indignantly, and felt mine disposed to mount
too. At length, Growler, finding the house SO
comfortable, came hcme at night and darlngty
dad his unwieldly form on the centre of the
hearth rug, while Fairy, routed from her luxur-
liant station, stood upon her dignity, Kissing and
.sputtering III one corner
Fora long period single look from me would
snake Edward Danish Growler from the room but
"a present of a new Office dog from friend COM
pletely established him lat home, ,and my hus-
iband became accustomed TO my look and Crow
ler,s presence. When he grew indifferent, my
ire was reused. affirmed that of all created
things, dogs were the dirtiest-that the house
.was filled with feas-that my yisiters. never
could approach the ire-that Growler eat us out
of ,house and heme-and E he was to be indulg-
led in tracking rthe Wilton carpet and painted
ffoors, we had better be IN wigwara,
Edward sometimes gently excused his dog,
land sometimes defended him, aad,always turned
him out Of doors. The animal knoming he had
an enemy in the cabinet, would sneak ia with a
ecowafdly look, his tail between his; legs but in
tyarably succeeding in ensconsing himself on
Fairy's nghtful domain.
AT length became quite nervous about him.
1t seemed to me that he haunted me like ghost.
il was even jealous of Edwards caresses to him,
land locked and spoke as no good wife should look
.or speak to- her husband.
1t is from permitting such trifes To- gain the as
tendency lover the mind that most ,cennubial
discords proceed. We dwell ON some peculiar
iity in manner or taste opposed to,our, own, and
liar the rich harp Of domestic happiness, until
one by one, every string lis broken. might
llaye gone on in this foolish ingenuity untlappi-
mess, and perhaps have been among those whose
matrimonial bands are chains, highlands, had
II not when reading one Sabbath morning the
fifth chapter of aEphesans, been ~strsck with a
sudden sense Of my duty, as met the words,
'.and the wife see that she. reuereace her hus-
band"
Oh, young and lovely bride, watch well the
first moments when your will conflicts with his
ITO whom God and society have givenithe con-
troll; reverence his wishes even when ysa do
not his opinion. Opportunities enough will arise
flor the expression of your Independence, to
which he will gladly accede without acontest for
,trif1es. The beautiful independence THAT scars
over and conquers an irTtable temper is higher
THAN any other. So sure as you believe faults
of temper are beneath prayer AND >selCexamina-
sion, you are on dangerous ground, tour tain
will spring up on your household hearth, of bit
ter and troubled waters.
When this conviction came, over nfe, IL tirew
myself upon my knees, and prayed too Cod for
a gentle, and Submissive temper. Aftenlong and
earnest inquiry into my heart, j left the chamber
calm and happy. Edward mas reading, and
Growler~stood beside him. 4 approached them
softly, and patting the dogs head, said, SO
Growler, helping your master toread.' Ehwsrd
looked at me inquiringly. | am sure my whole
expression offface was changed; ihe drew,me to
1lim in silence, and gave me :a'token of regnfd
he never bestowed on Growler. From that mo
ment, though Il might vince allitAe at his inroads
on my neat housekeeping never gave the dog
an angry word, andH taught'Fairy to regarfl him
as one of theilords Of creation. M
GrowIer's intelligence was remarkable. d.
though it,did not caual,that Of Sir Wa,ersScots
bull dog terrier .who could perceive the mean.
ing Of words and who understood an ailus;ot,,to1
an offence he had committed against the baker,
for which he had been punished In whatever
voice and tone it was mentioned, he would get
up and retire into the darkest corner OF thereon
with ali air of distress. But if yon said, tthe;