Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-09-24
From Petcrson's Magazine for August
THREE WAYS OF MANAGING A
HUSBAND.
BY MARY ALEsCINA sMIT

Il
"And I am going to the Philharmonic. IL
thought you understood that" replied, with
equal resolution.
ooh! very WE'LL" he said, not seeming to
be at all disturbed. "Then you can nse the
carriage at the door. Twill walk TO the thea
tre.''
Saying this, Mr.. Smith turned from me de-
l:berately and walked away. heard him tell
the driver of the carriage TO take me to the
Musical Fund Hall; then heard the street
door close, and heard my husbands foot
steps on the pavement as he left the house.
Without hesitating moment tor rejection,
followed to the door, entered the carriage, and
ordered the man to drive me-where had
no ticket for the concert nor could 60 a.
lone
"To the Musical Fund Hall, 1 believe,
madam" he said, standing with his fingers
touching the rim of his hat.
tried to think what should do. To be
conquered was hard. And it was clear that
could not 90 alone.
"No," replied, grasping hold of the first
suggestion that came to my mind. ''Drlve
me to No. -, Walnut stree"
| had directed him 10 the house OF my Sis
ter. where thought wonId stay until after
eleven o'clock, and then return home, leaving
my husband to infer that had been to the
concert. But long before had reached my
sisters house felt so miserable that deem
ed it best to call out of the window 10 the drl-
yer, and direct him to return. On arriving at
home, some twenty minutes after had lett 1t,
| went up to my chamber, and there had
hearty crying spell to myself. l don't know
that | ever felt so bad before in my life. /
had nttelly failed in this last vigorous contest
| huc hon ho had nH
victorious. Many bitter things did | write a.
gainst him in my heart, and largely did mag
Nifty his faults. l believe | thought over eve
~ thing that occurred since We were married,
and selected therefrom whatever would Justify
the conclusion that he was a sef-willed, over
bearing, unfeeing man, and did not entertain
for me particle of affection.
1t was clear that had not been able to man
age my spouse; determined as had been to
correct all his faults, and make him one of the
best, most conclliatng, and loving of hus-
bands, with whom my wish would be law.
Still ] could not think of giving up. The
though: of being reduced TO a tame, submits
sive wife, who could hardly call her soul her
own, was not for a moment to be entertained
On reflection it occurred to me that had pro-
badly taken the wrong method with my hus"
band. There was touch of stubbornness in
his Datute that had arrayed itself against my
too earnest efforts 10 bend him to my will. A
better way occurred. had heard it said by
some one, or had read it somewhere, that no
man was proof against woman's tears.
On the present occasion | certainly felt
much more like crying than laughing, and so
It was no hard matter, can honestly aver, to
appear bathed in tears on my husbands re-
turn between eleven and twelve o'clock from
the theatre. cried from vexation as much
as from any other feeling.
When Mr.. Smith came up into the chamber
where lay, greeted his presence with halt
dozen RAINING sobs, which he answered by
whistling the Craccovienne J" l continued
to sob, and he continued to whistle for the
next ten minutes. BY that time he was ready
to get into the bed, which he did quite leisure
Iy, and laid himself down upon his pillow
with an expression Of satisfaction. Still
sobbed on, thinking that every signing breath
, | drew was, in spite of his seeming indtter-
ence, a pang 10 his heart. But from this fond
delusion, heavily drawn breath, that was al
most a snore, aroused me. | raised up and
looked over at the mamie was sound asleep
A good, hearty cry to myself, was all ihe
satisfaction | had, and then | went TO sleep.
On the next morning l met MIR. Smith at the
breakfast table with red eyes and sad conn-
tenance. But he did not seem to notice either.
81 hope you enjoyed yourself at the concert
last night" he said. 81 was delighted at the
theatre. Fanny danced divinely. Hers is
truly the poetry of notion
Now This was too much! l will leave it to
; any reader-any female reader, | mean
whether this was not too much. burst into
a flood Of tears and Immediately withdrew,
leaving my husband to eat his breakfast alone.
He sat the usual time, which provoked me
exceedingly. If he had jumped up from the
table and left the house would have felt that
had made some impression upon him. But
to take things in this calm way! What had
; | gained Nothing as | could see. After
breakfast Mr.. Smith came up to the chamber
and seeing MY face buried in pillow weep
ing bitterly-I had increased the flow of tears
on hearing him ascending the stairs-said III
low voice
: care you not well, Mary %
made no answer. but continued to weep
J., Mr.. Smith stood for the space of about min
l ute, but asked no further question. Then
: without utterng word, he retired from the
: chamber, and in little while after heard
him leave the house. | cried now in gooo
l. earnest. 1t was plain that my husband hae
: no feeling, that he did not care whether was
= pleased or sad. But determined TO give hin
e a fair trial. If | failed In this new way wha
y was l to do! The thought of becoming TIT
II passive slave of domestic tyrant was dread
e full. felt that | could not live in such
6 state. When Mr.. Smith came home a: Dime
: time was in my chamber, ready prepared 70
8 gush of tears. AS he opened the door look
S ed up with streaming eyes, and then hid m.
d face in pillow.
d Mary" he said, with much kindness il
IT his voice, "what ais you! Are you sick 9
C he laid his hand upon mine as he spoke.
K But did not reply. meant to punish hin
d well for what he had done as a lesson for tn
If future. l next expected him to draw his arm
: around me, and be very tender and sympathi
P ling in his words and tones. But no sue
II thing! He quietly withdrew the hand he ha
sc placed upon mine; and stood by me. l cou
l. fell, though not see in cold, erect attitude.
al "AIe you not well, Mary % he asked a
$. gain.
lie l was still silent. A little while after
l. heard him move across the floor, and then tn
l. chamber door shut. [ was once more alone.
y When the bell rung for dinner, felt hal
TO sorry that | had commenced this new mode c
I'd managing my husband. but as had begun
Of was determined to go through with it. He'
e at least take care how he acts in the future,
E. l said. did not leave my chamber to jei
pit my husband at the dinner table. He sat hi
i usual time, as could tell by the ringing G
fha holl Co. H. oh tho lato