The Cecil Whig., 1850-06-01
For The Csril Wing !
Aunt Katy's Experience.
\ SCENE IN MATRIMONIAL LIFE.

"hN PsiSSikeQ VleWSOi SOCidl anu QOIneStl(
life. Did it descend to the common-plac,
realities OF our individual experience, il
would lose much of its interest, though
doubtless It would afford US much more
wholesome instruction. There are many
little incidents OF daily occurrence which
TEEN with admonition and counsel, though
entirely barren OF the brilliancy OF fiction
and romance. 1t is 10 an incident of thi.
admonitory nature, in the experience Of
Aunt Katy, that We wish now 10 call your
attention. We offer it, not because of its
novel or extraordinary character, but be-
cause 1t conveys lesson we had better be
taught by the experience of another than
by our own.
Aunt Katy was married at the age ol
eighteen Being thrown, in early life, upon
her own resource and deprived of the
fostering Care ofa mother, she had acquir-
ed degree of self-confdence not always
possessed by our sex at such an age. My
uncle William, who was also quite young
was Of tall fguIe, with an expressive face
and preposscss'ng manners. Though ex-
ceedingIy benevolent and ai1ectionate in
his general disposition, there wus one ex-
ceptlonabe trait IN his character. | make
this exception with all due respect, for
loved him when living and reverence his
memory still. This Objectionable feature,
was marked consciousness of superiority
which was evidenced in all his actions
which, however, only characterized the
Early part Of his married life.
When they were married, my Aunt
katy's excessive love for, and devotion to
him, led her TO fancy him almost god,
She literally sat at his feet, while his will
and wish were her law and command.
nents. For a while, everything moved
in perfect harmony, though there was
wanting that feeling of equality between
them, which should always exist between
man and wife. l know society has made
the woman, in this relation, greatly inie-
rlor to her liege lord. These "lords
OF creation" have so moulded the sen,i-
ment Of the community, that but little OF
woman's rights are recognized, save the
right "to love and obey" When once
married, she is legally dead, her name,
her individuality, her all, is merged into
her husband. But to return.
In the excess of her feeling, Aunt Katy
readily acknowledged her husbands supe.
riority, but, by degrees, familiarity divest-
ed hun OF that awful majesty IN which he
was first arrayed by her warm imagina-
ton. Then her natural selfconfdrnce
Predomlnated, and even, sometimes,
brought her into collision with his con-
ceited superior ability. This gave rise to
many unpleasant occurrences. 1t is true,
he was not wanting in kindness or af1ec-
tion, yet he never regarded her with that
feeling OF equality, which wife, however
humble, has right to expect. 1t was
clear, they had greatly mistaken each
other, and had equally mistaken the re-
c'procal rights and obligations OF natri-
mony.
Things had existed IN this unhappy
state for sometime, when a strolling Phre-
nological Lecturer visited our neighbor-
hood. Being somewhat Of an enthusiast, !,
Aunt Katy was soon engaged, heat and
soul, in the study of Phrenology, which
was then just being developed to the
world. An examination by the Lecturer,
placed her husbands superiority in so
clear light that her self confidence was
crushed. This for while, changed the
complexion of things But her daily ex-
perlence was a, war with the teachings
OF science, and soon the storm broke with
redoubled violence upon their heads.
will pass over the painfully length
ened scene, by saying they were compel-
ed, at last, to separate. She, retaining
the only child, renamed at the old home
stead, while ne took up his residenc. in
Baltimore. Here, in the excitement of
the Bar, he valnly attempted to drown all
recollection of the past. But how vain !;
the image Of that wife and child haunted
HIM ever They were ever at his side or
following in his footsteps. Did he attempt
to bury them in study !-their faces were
on the lettered page. Did he close his
eyes to shut them from his s,ght?-they
were still there. And when rolling upon
his bed, they hung like the ghosts Of mur-
de.ed victims, over his sleepless pillow.
The consciousness of his own guilt and
wrong IN the past, was eating like cankpr
worm upon his vitas. Life grew bur-
densome to him and he longed for release.
Nor was Aunt Katy happy. Though
once she thought herself equal to any
emergency, yet, her husband had no SOON
er gone than she ielt herself to be weaker
than bruised reed. Gladly would she
have forgotten the past its memory was
burning in upon her soul. Hour after
hour wore heavily upon her heart. At
length. her loved boy was attacked with a
malignant disease.
In excessive grief any change is bene-
fetal And even this, by the change il
produced in the current Of her thoughts
and frN1iNro ,osov,1 nsA.& ..Esf H..