The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-06-14
NISCELL.AN
tEs From the Loldon Punch.
MRS. CAUDLE'S CURTAIN Lee
TURES.
LECTURE w.


grave than married! That is, if she can't he mar
ried to decent man! No. / don't care If you are
tired. I sha,itlet you go TO sleep. No, aud won't
say what have 10 say in the morning; I'll say il
no,c. It's all very well for you to come home at
what time you like--it's now half past twelve
and expect I'm to hold my tongue, and let you go
to sleep. What next, wonder' woman had
better be sold for slave at once
.sAnd so you've gone and joined a club! The
Skylarks, indeed! A pretty skylark you'll make
of yourself! But wont stay and be ruled by you.
No; I'm determined on that. I'll go and take the
dear children, andyou may get who you like to
keep your house. That is, as long as you have a
house to keep-and that won't be long. know.
.sHow any decent man can go and spend his
nights in a tavern! Oh, yes, Mr.. Caudle; dare
say you do for rational conversation. should
like to know how many Of you would care for what
you call rational conversation, if you had with
out your filthy brandy and water-yes, and yolr
more filthy tobacco smoke. I'm sure the last time
YOU came home had the headache for a week
But know who 1t is that is taking you to destuc-
ton. It's that brute, Prettymln. He has broken
his own poor wife's heart, and now he wants to
but don't you think it, Mr.. Caudle; I'll not have
my peace of mind destroyed by the best man that
ever trod. Oh, yes! | know you don't care, so
long as you can appear well to all the world-but
the world little thinks hew you behave to me- 1t
shall know it. though gh-that I'm determined.
''How any man can leave his own happy tireside,
to 20 and sit, and smc ke and drink, aid talk with
people who wouldn't one of them lift finger TO
save him from hanging-how any man can leave
his wife, too, though | say it-for parcel of pot
companions-oh, it's dsgraceful, Mr.. Caudle; its
unfeeling. No man who has the least love for his
wife could do it.
sAnd suppose this is to be the case every Satur-
day? But know what I'll do. l know-its no
use, Mr.. Caudle, your calling me good creature,
I'm not such fool as TO be coaxed in that way.
No; if you want to go to sleep, you should come
in at christian time, and not at half past twelve.
There was time when you were as regular at
your fireside as kettle That was when you was
decent man, and didn't go with heaven knows
who, drinking and smoking, and making what you
think your Jokes No respectable tradesman does
But know what III do; I'll scare away your Sky
larks The house sells liquor after twelve of a
Saturday night; and if don't write to the magis'
trates, and have the hcense taken away, I'm not
lying in this bed this night. Yes you may call me
a foolish woman; but no, Mr.. Caudle, no; you're;
wicked one. If you were to die to- -morrow-and
the people who go to public houses do all they can
to shorten their liyes-I should like to know who
would write on your t, mbstouc, "a tender hus-
band and affecuoEate father" I'D have 10 such
falsehood told ofyou, can assure you
"Going and spending your money, and-non-
sense don't tell me-no, if you were to ten times
swear ii, wouldn't believe that you only spent
eighteen pence on Saturday. You can't be all
those hours and only spend eighteen pence. |
know better I'm not quite fool, Mr.. Caudle.
A great deal you could have for eighteen pence!
And all the club married men and fathers Of ia!n-
lies The mGre shame for 'em! Skyllrks, indeed!
They should call themselves vultures; for they on
ly do as they always do, by robbiug their innocent
wlfes and children. Eighteen pence week!
And ifit was only that-do you know what fifty
two eighteen pences come to III Year, Doyou
ever think of that and see the gowns wear? I'm
sure can't, cut Of the house money, buy myself
pin-cushion, though I've wanted one these six
months. No, not much as a all Of cotton
But what do you care, so you can get your brandy
and water? There's the girls too--the Ihiigs they
want! They're never dressed like other peoples
children. But it's all the same to their father.
oh, yes! So he can go with his Sky-larks, they
for garters.
"You better not let that Mr.. Prettyman come
here, that's ALL rather, you'd better bring him at
once. Yes, should like to see him He wouldn't
forget it. A man who has piFe in lis mouth as
constant as his front teeth! a sort oftayera king,
wTth lot of fools like you to laugh at what he
thinks his jokes, aud give him consequence! No,
Mr.. Caudle, no; its no use your telling me to 20
to sleep, for won't Go to sleep, indeed! I'm
sure it is almost time TO get up. | hardly know
what's the use of coming to bed al all now.
.The Skylarks, indeed! I suppose you'll be
byipg you a"Lit,le Warbler" aud at your time of
life be trying to sing. The peacocks will sing next
A pretty name you'll getin the ncighborhJod; aud
in very little time, nice face you II have. Your
nose is getting redder already; and you've one Of
the noses liquor always flies to. You don't see
it's red: No-I dare say not--but see it; see IA
great many things that you don't. And so you'll
60 on. In little time, with your brandy and
water-don't tell me you only take two small glas-
ses; know what mems two small glasses are-in
little time you'll have face all over as if it was
made red currant jam. And should like to
know who's TO endure you, then: wont, so
don't think OF it. Don't come to me.
s.Nce habits men learn at clubs! There's JOS
kiEs he was deceHt creature once and now I'm
told he has more than once boxed his wile's
He's Skylark, too. And | suppose, some day,
you'll be trying to bog my ears' Don't attempt