The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-05-08
MISCELLANEOUS.
From Godey's Lady's Book for May 1874
I Will.
b 7 T. s. RI II U r.

to her niece, one morning, on finding her
alone, with very thoughtful countenance.
do | really look sober? :" and Laura smil-
ed as she spoke.
You did Just now. But the sunshine has
already dispelled the transient cloud. l am
glad that storm was not portended.'
Il felt sober, aunt" Laura said, after a
few momenfs-her face again becoming Sc
rious.
so supposed from your looks
And l feel sober STILL
.Whyl'
/ am really discouraged aunt
| About whatl'
The maiden's check deepened its hue, but
she did not reply.
'You and Harry have not fallen out like
pair of foolish lovers, hopel'
'Oh, MOI was the quick and emphatic an
swer.
| Then what has troubled the quiet waters
Of your spirit! About what are you discour
! aged!'
Il will tell you,' the maiden replied. 1T
was only about week after my engagement
with Harry, that called upon Alice Stacy,
and found her quite unhappy. She had not
| been married over few months. ! asked
what troubled her, and she said, Il feel as
| miserable as | can be- But what makes
you miserable, Alice 2 inquired, Because
| William and | have quarrelled-that's the
reason,' she said, with some levity, tossing
/ her head and comprising her lips with
| kind of defiance. i was shocked-so much
| so, that could not speak. The fact is she
resumed, before l could reply, all men are
| arbitrary and unreasonable. They think wo-
men inferior to them, and their wives as a
| higher order of slaves. Butt am not one to be
put under any mans feet. William has tried
| that trick with me, and failed. OF course, to
be folled by a woman is no very pleasant
thing for one of your lords of creation. A
tempest In teapot was the consequence. But
did not yield the point in dispute; and what
| is more, have no idea of doing So He will
have TO find out, sooner or later, that | am
his equal in every way; and the quicker he
can be made conscious of this, the better for
us both. Don't you think SOP 1 made no
answer. j was too much surprised and shock
ed All men,, she continued, have TO be
taught this. There never was husband who
did not, at first, attempt to lord it over his
wife And there never was woman, whose
| condition as wife was at all above that of a
passive slave, who did not find it necessary to
oppose herself at first with unfinching perse-
| verence.'
TO all this, and great deal more, could
say nothing. 1t choked me up. Since then,
, | have met her frequently, at home and else
where, but she has never looked happy
| Several times she has said to me, in compa-
nv. when have taken a seat beside her, and
remarked that she seemed dull, Yes | am
dull; but Mr.. Stacy there, you see, enjoys
himself. Men always enjoy themselves in
company-apart from their wives, of course.
would sometimes oppose to this sentiment
palliative of her husband; as, that in compa-
nv. man very naturally wished 10 add his
mite to the general joyousness, or something
of like nature. But it only excited her,
and drew forth remarks that shocked my feel
ines. Up to this day, they do not appear to
be on any better terms. Then, there is
Frances Glenn, married only three months
and as fond of carping at her husband for hi;
arbitrary, domineering spirit, as is Mrs. Sta
CIV. | could name two or three others, who
have been married, some a shorter and some
n longer period, that do not seem TO be united
by any closer bonds.
SIT is the condition of these young friends
aunt, that causes me TO feel serious. am &c
be married in few weeks. Can it be pos
sible that my union with Henry Armour will
be no happier no more perfect than theirs
This cannot believe. And yet, the rela
, ton that Alice and Frances hold to their hus
bands, troubles me whenever | think Of it,
, Henry, as far as l have been able TO under
!, stand him. has strong points in his character
From a right course of action-or, from ;
course of action that he thinks nght,-nC
consideration, am sure, would turn him. ]
too. have mental characters somewhat SINH
: lar. There is, likewise, about me leavel
r ofstubbornness. Itremble when the though
! of opposition between us, upon any subject
f crosses my mind. l would rather desc
, feel about it-than ever have misunder
i standing with my husband
Laura ceased, and her aunt, who was, sht
: now perceived, much agitated, arose and lief
the room without speaking. The reason o
this, to Laura, was altogether unaccountable
: Her aunt Cleveland, always so mild, so calm
to be thus strongly disturbed What coult
it mean? What could there be in her mai
denly fears to excite the feelings of one 81
good, and wise, and gentle? An hour after
: wards, and while she yet sat. sober and per
picked in mind, in the same place where Mrs
! Cleveland had left her, domestic came in
= and said her aunt wished to see her in her owl
room. Laura attended her immediately
! She found her calm and self-possessed, bu
r paler than usual.
sit down beside me, DEAR Mrs. Cleve
land said, smiling family as her niece cam'
in.
What you said this morning, Laura sh
began, after a few moments, recalled m,
. own early years so wildly, that | could no
keep down emotions had deemed long sine,
! powerless. The cause Of those emotions,
IS now, clearly see, my duty to reveal tina
F is, to YOU. For years have carefully avoid
f ed permitting my mind to go back to the pas
in vain musings over scenes that bring nj
pleasant thoughts. no glad feelings; l have
rather, looked into the future with stead,y
hope, a calm feliance. But, for your sake,
will draw aside the veil. May the relation
am about to give you, have the effect | de
! sire. Then shall not suffer in vain. How
h wildly, at this moment, do l remember tn
s joyful feelings that pervaded my bosom when
:. like you, maiden, looked forward to m!
wedding day. Mr.. Cleveland was man, il
many respects. like Henry Armour. Proud
| firm. yet gentle and amiabIe when not oppOs