The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-03-04


ing specimens of augmentation; and com
pletely slenced his wife. ......
But, said he, Il can't wait your cooks
movements. My business has TO be attended
to-
And away he flounced from the house.
In ten minutes the bell rung.
Tell Sarah that don't want any dinner,
and that Mr. Lundy couldn't watt said Mrs
Lundy to her waiter. ......,. ...-.
AS for the very punctual and amiable hus-
band, he went to his store and sat through
the entire afternoon, without putting hand
or tho't to business. A little more patience
would have lost him nothing, and made both
him and his wife happier.
After Mr. Lundy left the house, his wife
tried to do some plain sewing for her chill
dren that was very much needed. But what
with the binding pain in her head and face
and the binding tears in her eyes, she found
it impossible to take stitch correctly. So
she took the baby, thinking to nurse her if
she could do nothing else. But the fbaby,
wide awake and full oflife, was not content
to sit quietly in her lap; but must be dancing
and jumping every moment. Patiently, for
nearly an hour, did the mother bear the jar
and shock ofthe child's quick motions, until
a faintness overcame her, and she was very
near falling from her chair. After resigning
the baby Mrs. Lundy went into her chamber
and laid herself upon the bed. She had taxi
en- little or no food that day; and had been
suffering from severe pain; had been worried
and excited by the children, and worse than
all, her husbands unsympathisng and I'M
feeling conduct had made her feel wretched.
Is it any wonder that she felt il;or that when
Mr. Lundy returned in the evening,he should
find her in condition requiring medical
treatment?
The doctor was called in. He did not I'M
derstand her case. How could he? The
medicine he gave created strong Revision IN
her system, and did her actually more harm
han good. She was confined TO her cham
Der two weeks, and then went forth again in
% her household, weaker and more nervous
" sensitive than before, to direct, control and
minister to the wants her ever wanting,
ever active children, and to wait upon her
husband, consult his tastes, and bear his
whenever anything that went
wrong in the household abridged his comfort
n the smallest degree. ..
Year after year her duties and her toll in
.reased. The history of a day we have Civ
m was an epitomized history of her life. MIR
Iundy, wrapped up in his schemes of gain
nd rigid in his notions of order, punctuality,
ormal prophecies, had no real sympathy for
lis wife, and was complaining of the little IL
eguariies incident to his household, and
yer adding to, instead of relieving, the OPP
,ressive, wearying and ever recurring duties
hat were bearing her down. 1t was com
non thing for him, robust and in high health,
o sit in his easy chair, with dressing gown
md slippers, and ask his tired wife, who
'ould scarcely move without feeling pain, to
land him this, that, and the other thing; to
el,1 I'LL r.
o their chamber and bring him something
rom a drawer, to which he was not willing
hat domestic should go.
Meeker, more patient, more loving in her
grew Mrs. Lundy. BY suffering,
he was purified. 1t made the heart ache TO
zee her moving by the side other erect, ford,
astc treading husband, more like pale,
hadowy form, than real substances; and to
eel assured that in very little while the pla-
es that knew her, and the children and
riends who loved her, would know her and
owe her no more.
At last she died, and six little ones were
eft without the affectionate care of mother.
f her husband who wept so bitterly over her
90 early grave, did not murder her,we know
Tot the meaning otthe word murder. When
was too late he could remember her long
offering, her patience, her wrongs received
t his hands; but when she lived he was too
elfsh to appreciate or properly care for her.
Everywhere, in books of domestic econo-
ny, in tales, essays, newspaper paragraphs,
nd in current conversation, do we hear tier
ted and reiterated the lesson of a woman's
uty to her husband and her household. She
lust have everything in order.and study the
TT of pleasing her lord as seduousy as if he
yere the most captious, eXactipg tyrant III
le world. And, verify, in his small way, he
30 often is miserable tyrant. woman is
expected to be perfect in everything. No
lIowance is made for the Ill health conse- |
uent upon her maternal duties, nor for the
ocular wearyng, and silent natures of the
ares attendant thereon. Butwho writes ana
nlks of the husbands duties! VINO leach
s him lessons of forbearance, patience, and
md consideration for his over tasked wife!
title is said on this score; the world goes on,
nd hundreds like Mrs. Lundy, go down to
he grave years before their time, ana no one
|reanns that their husbands are accessories
O their death. But il is even so. NOT IN
Maternal duties alone lies the cause ofthe
vife's pale face and dropping torm,but IN the
,ver tasks of her peculiar position. one is
worked too harder than slave IN the couoh
ield Too often she is nurse and sempstress
or half n dozen children, and superintendent
# her household besides She will bend O.
,er her needle night after night, in pain or
suffering from lassitude, while her husband
tits enjoying his volume by her side, nor
irearning that tits his duty,in orderto save his
wife from toll beyond her strength, to prolong
lis labors, if that be necessary, IN order 70 al
ord her the assistance required IN meeting
he thoi1sand wants Of her children and
II there are any extra tasks TO
,erfortn-any extra exertions to make, the
husband is the one who should perform or
make them, not the wife, for he has superb
,r strength .;,.,,t