Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-05-17


stole into my chamber, a terrible fear took hold Of
me that made my heart grow still in my BOSOM
the fear that he would never return-that | had
driven him off from me- Alas this fear was too
nigh the truth The whole of that day passed,
and the next, without any tidngs. No one had
seen him since he left me- An anxious excitement
spread among all his friends. The only account
could give Of him, was that he had parted from me
in good health, and in a sane mind
A week rolled by, and still no word came. |
was nearly distracted. What suffered no tongue
can tell, no heart conceive. have wondered that
did not become insane But from this sad con-
dtion was saved. Through all, my reason, though
often trembling, did not once forsake me. 1t was
on the tenth day from that upon which we had jar
red so heavily as to be driven widely asunder, that
letter come to me, post marked New York, and
endorsed { in hlste.' My hands trembled SO that
could with difficulty break the seal. The contents
were to the effect that my husband had been lying
for several days at one Of the hotels there, very ILL.,,
but now past the crisis of his danger The writer
urged me for my husband, to come on immed-
aely. In eight hours from the time that received
that letter | was in New York. Alas it was too
late. The disease had returned with double vio-
lence, and snapped the feeble thread of life. new
er saw my husbands living face again.
The self possession of Mrs. cleveland, at this
part OF her narrative, gave way Covering her
face with her hands, she sobbed violently, while
my dear Laura she resumed, after the lapse of
many minutes, looking up as she spoke with clear
eye, and sober but placid counenance, it is for
your sake THAT have turned my gaze resolutely
back. May the painful history have given you
make deep impression upon your heart. Let II
warn you of the sunken rock upon which my bark
foundered. Avoid carefully, regiously avoid, set
ting yourself in opposition to your husband Should
he prove unreasonable, arbitrary, nothing is to
be gained, and every thing lost by contention. By
genteness, by forbearance, by even suffering wrong
at times, you will be able to win him over to bet
ter spirit. An opposite course will assuredly put
thorns IN your pillow as you adopt It, Look at the
unhappy condition of the friends you have named.
Their husbands are, in their eyes, eXacting, dom.
neering tyrants. But this need not be. Let them
act truly the woman's part. Let them not oppose,
but yield, and they will find that their present ty-
rants become their lovers. Above all, never, under
any circumstances either estingly or in earnest
say icW' when you are opposed That decara-
ton Is never made without its robbing the wife oil
portion of her husbands confidence and love-
Its utterance has dimmed the fire upon smiling
hearth stone'
Laura could not reply. The relation Of her auD
had deeply shocked her feelings. But the words
she had uttered sunk into her heart and when he
trial came-when she was tempted to set her vii
in opposition to her husbands, and resolutely tC
contend for what she deemed right thought o
MIS-. CIeaVcanuS story, would put Il seal u pom lc.
lips. 1t was well. The character of Henry Ar
mour too nearly resembled that of Mr.. Cleaveand
He could have lily brooked a wife's opposition
But her tenderness, her forbearance her devoted
love, bound her to him with cords that drew close
and closer each revolving year. She never oppos
ed him further than to express difference OF opln
ion when such difference existed, and its utter
ance was deemed useful and she carefully avoid
ed, all occasions, the doing of any thing that n
in the smallest degree disapproved. The conse
! quence was, that her opinion was always weighe
! by him carefully, and often deferred to- mutua
! confidence, and a mutual dependence upon eac
other, gradually took the place of early reserves
and now they sweetly draw together-now the
smoothly glide along the stream Of life blessed in
deed in all their marriage relations. Who will sa
that Laura did not act wise part? Who will GAY
that in sacrificing pride and self will, she did nc
gain beyond all calculation: No one, surely. Sh
is not her husbands slave, but his companion an
equal. She has helped to reform, to remodel hi
character, and make him less arbitrary, less sell
willed, less disposed to be tyranica. In her. mil
iorbear0nce, he has seen beauty more attractlv
far than lip or cheek, or beaming eye Instead {
looking upon his wife as below him, Henry Armol
feels that she is his superior, and as such he tel
derby regards and lovingly cherishes her. He me-
err thinks of obedience from her, but rather Studio
TO conform himself to her most lightly spoke
wish. To be thus united what wife will not for
time sacrifice her feelings when her young SCI
wlled husband so far forgets himself as to becon
exacting? The temporary loss will turn out in f
ture to be great gain.
Z