The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-10-22

the present time. My expenses and yours
should have been but fifteen hundred a year
This is an ample sun. But they have been
every year parallel with my income"
"And you charge me with expanding the
difference in dress!'
"In dress, and parties, and other extraya-
gancies, Isabel, answered her husband, calm.
ly. 81 have figures to show it. Here in my
desk are books to show"-(and he rose to get
them, but she drew him back.)
"No, no, don't get them | don't desire
to see them p she cried, between grief and in
dignation.
"Those books show what sums I have Civ
en- you daily, weekly, monthly, the last five
years. The sum total is twenty-one thousand
dollars. You look incredulous. 1t is true
Examine the record of entries, Isabel, with
your own eyes" (She covered her face with
her hands.) "Of this large amount, what
have YOU to show? Nothing but a few draw
ing room ornaments All the rest has gone
in parties, to enrich milliners, mantua-mak-
ers, and fashionable shops. Three thousand
Of that would have been more than five hun-
dred for you or for the five years; few ladies'
have SO much even among the wealthiest. If
it has not gone in this way, (Which seems to
me indredible) know not where it has gone.
But you know you have changes of dresses
almost every week. You wear a shawl but a
month, and a new hat is thrown aside at the
end of three weeks. You seem to constantly
employ a small army of dress makers. AT
least twenty women and others live wholly
by you But | will not overwhelm you.-
What | have given you to eXpend has been
given checrtully, and it has made me happy
to see you SO. But happiness liesn not in dress
and style dearest wife. 1t has its abiding
place in the heart, whence it shines forth like
the sun from the depths of the heavens to il
Illuminate, warm and beautify all the being. 1t
is not to be found inoutward e]nioyments and
pursuits, or in the reflection and admiration
of others. 1t is to come from within and flow
outwardly, not flow from without in~wardly."
What is this to end in, sir 2" she asked,
with a cold severe expression upon her tear
ful face as he paused,
81 trust in making us both happier" he
gently, as he took her hand in his.
She withdrew it with p~etulant force, and ris-
ing, walked two or three times up and down
the room, with a ringing step, and haugh-
ty carriage of her noble and proudly express
i've figure. At length she came and reseated
"Mr, Howard, 1 do not doubt your word"
She said, in the. deep, nervous tones of temi-
nine feeling, when pride and grief mingle in
The hearts trimming cup. "But if | have
expended so much money, 1t is ungrateiul,
ungentlemanly for you to throw it up to me
in this manner. No Virginian gentleman
would have dared to do such a thing to his
wife, and I assure you no Virginian woman
bear it. But | will be superior to you
I will not resent or r%etort; l will, as you
but now, talk calmly with you Suppose
hat l have, as doubtless l have done, expend-
led year by year your income! Have chill
iren to expend it upon? Have you children
lay it up for? Who should enjoy it but
your wife? If cxpend your income, so long
Is VIC have no family it is my right. So long
Is | do not run you in debt, you ought not, !
you have no reason to complain p
"But [ might have owned this house,
night have been rich Now | have nothing"
"You have enough for each day, and to
i've richly day by day. What more do you
ask ?"
But if | should die tomorrow, my income
would die with me. | should leave YOU des- |
-ltutc. | wish to secure something for you,
whom ] love so dearly, in such an emergen-
~"
The thought of his dying, the gentle con-
ession Of his tender love for her, moved her
leart to its ~profoundest sources of affection
md grief. She threw herself upon his Shout
Ter and burst into tears. The the
vife-rose over all lie clasped her to his
leart, filled with Joy that he had achieved a
conquest over her thoughtless vanity.
He was not deceived, 1t was a conquest.
that hour his beautiful wife, natural
y generous and right,hearted, found her
world" in her husbands appreciation and
n adorning her heart, her higher and nobler
elf, instead of her person, she shone in the
walks of benevolcnce and sweet charity, with
brighter lustre than she had ever g~iittered
n the halls of fashion and folly.