The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1851-12-24
[From the Olive Branch.
Praise Among the Married.
BY MRS. NJ. A. DENISON.

Yes, among the married. Why should
they not speak kindly to each other! the
voice Of commentator is sweet, douby
sweet from those we love. 1t chills the
best feelings. weakens the highest aspira-
tons when continuous and sacrificing ef-
forts call forth no kindly returns--no words
Of cheer, OF encouragement. The snow is
unimpressible in the deep, hollow recesses
Of the mountain cliff, where no struggling
beam ofmerry sunshine mets it with kisses;
cold and white it sleeps in perpetual
shadow, till its soft roundness congeals it
into ice. And so the heart, if forced TO
abide in the shadow Of lrowns, under the
continual dropping ofhard unkindy words.
will assimlate itself to its mate, and be-
come sad and listless heart, lying heavi-
ly and cold in the bosom that should be
all filed with glowing sympathy.
Husbands often do not know with what
ceaseless solicitude the duties Of wife
and mother are accompanied They
leave home early, many Of them, the rou-
tine of business, the same as It was yester-
day, and will be for months to come, is so
thoroughly digested that the performance
is measurably without annoyance. They
have no heavy or wearing household work
to do, no fretting little ones hanging on
their garments, now to nurse, now TO cor
rect, now to instruct, while still the busting,
and the cleansing, and the preparing Of
food, must be going on, and the little gar
ments must be nicely fitted and made, or
all would be untidiness and confusion.
Yet how many an adroit manager COLI
trives to get through with all this, willing
if she is but appreciated, and her valuable
services esteemed-to endure calmly the
trials incident to her lot, keeping care from
her pleasant face by merry spirit and
cheerful demeanor.
But if she never hears the kindly 81
thank you," or beholds the beautiful smile
that unuttered gratitude spreads upon the
countenance of him for whom she has for
saken all, what immeasurable anguish will
she not experience?
We have often thought how poignant
must be the grief, how heavy the disap-
pointment Of the young wife, when she first
learns that the husband of her choice is
totally Indifferent to her studded efforts to
please. He has many times, in former
days, praised the glossy beauty Of her sun
nyhair, and curled its rings Of gold around
his fingers. He had gazed in her face un-
til il is stamped upon the tablets of his
heart, yet-through utter thoughllessness-
he forgets now that it has been such a tai.
isman Of goodness and purity to him, or
old associates have made him too much
their own to play the lover after the solemn
words Of ceremony are spoken He has
given her his word and home; his name,
his means, and what more can she want!
Gaily as the bird upon the tree by her
door-side, does she 60 carolling about her
work. The day seems one long year
but still, twilight does not come, and she
awaits the return of her husband. He has
perhaps but slender resources; he is la
boring man. and their cottage is humble
and lOw-roofed. How light is her step;
how happy her; browye8 Like skillul
painter she touched and retouched all the
slender luxuries Of her home, till they seem
to her like the adornings of paradise.
She has taste, refinement, d quick percep-
ton Of the delicate and beautiful, though
hap she never has piled her needle al
werstsd tapestry, traced the outlines in q