The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1848-08-18
The Neglected Wife.

parted from hCr husband ~ llc street.
~ do not know that shall, he replied,
somewhat co!dly, as replacing his cigar be-
tween bis lips, he turned away. There
was carelcSSnesS rather than uniindness III
his manner, and she looked alter him more
i'll sorrow than in reprOach. Taking the
hand Of her little boy she slowly bent her
steps homewaId, with that dropping of the
head which beSpeaks sadness at the heart.
1t was Saturday night; she had been mar
keiing, and her little purchases were con
tanned in a basket which hung upon her arm.
On reaching home, the very uppernost
floor of a house in poor but decent neigh
borhood, she reused the fire, seated Philip.
her little son beside it, gave him piece Of
bread and butter for supper and began to
busy herself in putting away the few little
ncccSsaIies She had bought. BY the
time this was done, the dropping head Of
little Philip told her he was ready for his
pillow. How tenderly he was taken to his
mothers lap--his pretty face washed-hs
bright hair brushed, and he arraycd in his
snowy bed gown. Pressed to her bosom,
she warmed his little feet, her fond hand re-
turning to them again from the fire to which
every now and then she held her opei. palm,
then pressing the soft foot, She kissed il play
fully and provoked the laughtcr SO sweet TO
mothers ear. These were Philips first
charming lessons; thus were Gentleue>S and
love awakened in his infant spirit by his ca
pable, but unrestricted, unasSiSted, mother.
How full of meaning was his SmilG-hOw
full Of animation and when knecling ia her
lap, she Joined his little hands, and babe him
ask his Heavenly Father to bless his earth
l,-r hot mn .f hp
the sweetly serious look-the calm and ho-
lly tone Of his inStructresS. When his little
Ybrayer was said, he flung his arms about
her neck and check; they murmurmed to-
gether the lulling song which concluded
this little drama; tor his eyes slowly closed,
and the smile softly passed from his face,
and then he was gently consigned to his
snug and snowy bed.
So far all was sweet: would it might be
said all was calm; but the aching void in
4 Susan's heart was not calmnesS, twas rath-
/ cr craving for that mental and social ali
| ment which is necessary to every hear, and
cannot long be healthy denied TO ANY,
/ The more energetic spirits seek such asSo-
Citations or Stimulants as chance present,
/ them: the gentler submit and sutler-o!tcr
Iperi>h-in silence.
Susan put little fuel softly on the fire
! trimmed her candle, and sat down with the
/ lonely woman's companion, herwork baSk.
CT. A deep sigh stole from her BOSOM
| Stll the careless needle was piled. Now
! and then she paused-it was TO wipe away
! the tears that r0UH gather on her eye lash.
| es. She was just Extraordinarily, aud had
been four years married, during all Of which
time, with the brief exception Of few
weeks previous to their settlement in town
| she had thus been night after night in lone
illness. Philip Morris, her husband, was
an honest industrious man, with hundred
| good qualities sober, and sulicitouS Of So
curing TO his family all the comforts hi
means afforded, he brought his weekly
earnings. with very small reservation Iu
some triliug inlulgenccS for himself, TO hi
wife, and with the utmost confidence il
her management and economy, left her {,
the disposal. But while thus trusting an,
liberal, he seemed TO consider that he &C
quilted himself Of all that Susan might de
maud of him. While he sought improve
mcnt for himself, it never occurred TO hin
that it was her equal right-woUld be hci
equal advantage. While he sought the III
tCrchange of thought with other minds, h,
never reflected on the utter privation o
such communion he had cntailed on her
He had taken her from the home OF he
father, n small farmer, where her mother,
paiuS-takinC woman, had broughtup SuSal
and several brothers and sisters, for thci
station, remarkably well. Her father
heart was one ever flowing with the milk o
human Kindness; and thus aided by III,
cheerful spirits Of their cherished children
) a moral sunshine had ever lighted up tina
lOwly home. and given it thousand claim
upon Der love and memory. At moment,
Susan would look back to the brief tim
that had been employed to woo her from
as dream; the worShipped words of 10y,
the promises of dcvotioE-of cndcavor
for her happincsS-the mighty city in whic'
she was to dwell (Which now appeared {
hera maze Of mud and stone. i'll exchange,
Cor the dli>ied fields, with their swee
breath and bright atmosphere --ha
all tended 60 an uuaclinaOlc disappunt
mcnt yet, in the ignorance Of her hear
she could scarcely have stated Of wha
she had 10 complain. She loved he
husband; she was proud uf hi, ""pariN
abilities aud made no mean estimate OF hi
hi.h moral character, unlicensed, ia tn
slightest degree, by the gross vices, which
secluded rs was her life, she could not bu
perceive, marked many around her, Subicc
ting their wives 10 brutality and privation
Compared with such offence, She purSuade,
herself that Philips neglect wns yer,
light and venial fault, and blaming herScl
Tor feeling il so much. But Susan was ont
of those flowers of humanity that would am
!, ply repay cultivation, AMI that needed ia,
sunshine of sympathetic Kindness, the art q
! the social atmosphere, to keep them il
health and life. Daily food was ScarcGl
! more necessary for her physical nature tina
the interchange of thought and kindlincs
, was to her; all this her husbands habit
; and the unSociablc plans Of life in England
? and especially in London, denied her. Iii
true, except morally, she was uncultivatct
but had talent and temperament that woul
: soon have repaid little kindly care. To
timid, too ignorant TO plead her own cans,
or urge her claims TO him who had prccl
dcd appeal to others, she uucomplainingl
! lived on without change, without stimuli
or excitement; shut up within the four wal
. Of her humble house, walking unrclievc
4. the dull unvHrying round Of her domcSti
duties, with her spirit full of capabilities M
I explored aud uucxpandcd. She grew mel
4 vous and hectic, her appetite aud spirit
, failed, her frame wasted, while quick an
u unrcplning, almost unconscious OF the mails