The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-03-13
Miscellaneous,
THE WIFE's ORDEAL.
ny II. 8. ARTHUR.

Mrs MalOnee was blessed with us many OF
& ho GOOD riffs of this world as il was posi-
Mo for her to enjoy. Her husband had the
vccrnary ability, us well ms the Willingness
"a supply all her external wants. She had
S,sc beautiln., healthy and good tempered
%lIren. She was well educated, aud had
M .Nhe accomplishments usually found IL
q Tmp ladies of wealth aud refinement And
M 6c Ind. besides, many kind friends and us
Az lorue a circle of fashionable acquaintances us
one weed desire.
Opposile the beautiful residence of her
buslapd stood small house in which lived
n mechanic with his wife and four children
"A Tbeenre earnings of this mechanic in each
week amounted to about nine dollars, out of
which he paid rent and provided food and
clothing for his family TO do this sum so
small would have proved entirely inadequate,
had not his wife been an industrious, frugal
managing woman. Under her ever recur-
ring daily toll and care, the mechanics wife
often ielt wearied, and not unfrequently sigh
ed for the ease and luxury with which her
rich neighbors were blessed. Ifshe had but
known it she was the happier of the two: for
care and labor are more frequently n bless
ing than curse.
81 often pity that poor woman opposite"
said Mrs Malonee to her husband one dav:
II.
rise in the morning, she is usually sitting by
the window sewing; and this is after having
dressed and washed her children, got the
breakfast, and cleaned up her,house, for she
has no help. After milking and mending all
Other chlldren's and part of her husbands
Globes, believe she takes in sewing occa-
ri sNally, and in that way earns a dollar or
mo every week. have often looked into
her window us late as ten or eleven at night,
when ! have been retiring, and seen her still
at work. Hers should call hard lot
'And so it seems 10 be- returned Mr. Ma
lonee, thoughtfuly. "But there are thou
sands in the world much worse off. Even
Win this poorwoman's hard lot she is happi-
er than many who enjoy every external bless
ing"
sit may be So" remarked the lady, "but
how 1t is possible, under such circumstances.
to be anything but miserable, | cannot telI?-
Were it my lot, ] should be the most wretch
ed woman alive.
u am not so sure ofthat," said her hus-
band smiling "Labor and care do not al
ways make people unhappy. More frequent
d unhuppness springs from the want of
hose ernploymen,s in which both labor and
care are involved"
don't know how that can be. But one
thing do know, which is, that care, such as
some people have, would kill me-"
"PerhNps not Emily. Bit, at present,
believe there is no prospect ofyour being A.
bic to make the experiment"
~ hope not for am by no means anxious
toproVe the taisity of what you say. But, to
change the snhIect lam glad to see that we
are to have the oDera here again. The Chestnut
street opens with troupe, and new opera
next week."
so see by the newspapers. We arc to
nave In Somnumhula, Dir and Mrs Wood
aud BrOugh"
lam dyingto hear La Somnambula. THE
mnslc Is said to be exquisite and the singing
OF Hrs. Wood divine"
both are prased enthusiastically.
have no doubt butwe shall be highly grutif-
edn
Rather say delighted beyond measure
Anything would have been acceptable after
the long dull season we have had during
winch have almost died for want of some
ilnd OF Notwithstanding 10 break in
upon the dizziness of every day life. But to
nave treat like this, after such dearth, is
indeed charming ] can hardly wait until
next week."
Although Mrs. Malonec had been diving, ms
she said, for some kind of excitement, such
vas not the case with her husband, who
nad Just as much care and mental labor
III conducting large business as he want
ca and sometimes Il little more
Nne she was too often n burden To herself
rom want OF something to do, his mind was
Intensely interested in matters ofttade. She
rose late, spent an hour or two in visiting,
N1Ieu 'Wo or three more over anew noveI&f
she didnot go to some fashionable partv,t
opera Or the concert at night, retired early to
peu' TOO much fatigued by the toll of
CIV CIV gay TO Keep up later than nine O'clock
E'.e was fond ofmnsic, and at one time, per-
o oEln'ed with skill rarely attained in private
t tmoIes put the drudgery ofdaily practice was
, TO- ninch for her,and she lost her power over
wv instrument that once responded with
something like living intelligence to her
nuch' Nothing interested her, in which
u'ere was not something more exciting than
wa, %us 10 ne found at home. In domestic du-
T EvS ana the care other children, she took
"'.le or no interest. Her husband went to
m mulIe'' the waiter brought home what he
tpIi'cnased, and the cook prepared It for the
%p'e she rarely knew what food was pro-
Snued until she sa, down to eat it. The chill
; %en were washed and dressed in the morn
,ils by a'nurse, who took the entire care of
ch,-even in her children she had little in
w.eSt beyond natural affection. If they
Tere SICK, all her anxieties were arousedand
''e'y a'e VT sept While the thought of
,JaIlger was IN her mind--but the moment
mey We're well again, all solicitude for them
appeared TO subside entirely.
Mrs. Maonee was far from being boppv
woman; far from beingas happy even as he
poor mechanics wife, opposite, who often en-
yea her the ease aud freedom from care and
I Tll which she enjoyed. AS time passed on,
luz restlessness, or apathy, as it might be, of
MS MS wife, began to awaken the concern of
hrs I,rS; Malonee. He saw where the evil Law.
S ~. mad not the courage to speak strongly and