The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1853-01-22
From Moore's Rural New Yorker.
THE UNFOLDING WIFE:
Or, the Effects of lll.temper.
BY A FARMERS WIFE.
tcoNcLUDED.1

borne patiently, but in the absence of any
greater trouble, suffered thousand trif1ing 4
things to annoy and irritate me to that degree1
that threatened to t.turn over a new leaf"
which was but another way of saying, unless
| can have things my ownway'I shall givemy !
husband a lesson. He bore my oft reiterated |
complaints about what appears to me now, to |
have been trifies light as air, without resent |
meht Offering good reasons (excusesI called
them,) for not complying with my wishes.
One day after had 'reproached him with |
thinking more of his business than of his wife,
he rose to 60 out and as he did So he turned
to me with look that should have sent re-
pentance to my heart. and fixing OH me those
liquid grey eyes, express We more of sorrow
than anger, "Clara," said he, ssif you find it
so troublesome waiting for me, do not wait
any more, but take your meals and clear away
the things without regard to me-" When he
had gone the demon tempter that should have
been behind me, prompted me to take him at
his word. Accordingly, when the time came,
L prepared the evening meal, and after watt
| ing a few moments, / sat down, ate alone, then
cleared away the table and took up my sew
ing. In a few moments Joseph came in and
without raising my eyes from my work, 1 told
him IN as unconcerned a manner as possible,
that he need not come for his tea, had clear
ed it away. Without saying a word he turn
ed and left the house,
Iknew the store had closed some hours be-
fore, and we had few friends, indeed none
with whom he could be spending the evening
where can he be! was the constantly recur-
ring question. Just as the clock struck one,
| heard the click of the night key, and his
step on the stairs. With my fears, vanished
repentance from my volatile heart, and by the
time he reached the room, was prepared to
! pour storm ofinvective on his devoted head.
He paused OH the threshold and as The moon
shone full on his face, perceived that he " as
(, pale and excited, and in the moonlight eXhl-
!, bited a ghastliness that shocked me so much
sprang from the bed, exclaiming, "Joseph!
t Mr.. Leland, WHAT'S the matter!' He started
Mt me an instant, and in an excited tone re-
piled, "Don't be a fool Clara; 60 back to bed
and let me alone" The tru:h flashed on my
, mind, and | Indignantly and silently, sagain
pressed my pillow, where sought to fasten
: the blame on him, rather than take any share
to myself. The next day nothing was said Of
the occurrences of the preceding day and
night; in fact there were few words spoken
!, on any subject; felt injured, and gloom
J seemed 10 have settled non the countenance
and manner of my husband. cav, 1Sgl
1t was. not until years after, that kne,S
what may as well mention now.s When
= MIR. Leland left the store on that eventiu
night, he paused a moment on the threshold
uncertain whittier to direct his steps, dread.
: ing, after the tolings of the day, to encountel
the fretiulness an arbitrary wife at home
! Home!--home longer to his peaceiovins
: land gentle spirit. Just then an &C.
" quaintance passed, and accosting him gaily
invited him 10 go and partake Of an oyster
supper at a fashionable restaurat. I'm
: happily, his stomach prompted his mind te
> accept the invitation. That night the tempt
ing wine-cnp was held to his lips; second ant
: third followed in rapid succession, and in wha,
! state be sought his chamber we have already
4 seen. III, Boa ,.a.l -elssf 1850 -
! Following this, there came succession O
;, days and months iraught with the deepes,
y misery to both ofus. will draw veil oveI
= the recollections Of this period, only mention
!. ing that but few months had elapsed before
y = the hollow cheeks and boodshot eyes told 9
= tale that none who saw him could fail to read
!. My husbands conduct and appearance at thi.
= time, instead of causing self-reproach, and ex
= citing pity. led me to look upon myself as one
= OF the most injured Of wives, and my selfish
:, and wicked heart hardened towards him till
: rarely spoke save in tones of harshness and re-
y proach.
e We had now been married about two years
;. One morning Mr.. Leland went to the store
:, as usual, but soon returned. On looking a
- him, caught my breath i'm astonishment; hi
= eyes were wild and CLEANED like hot Goals
- and he staggered across the room; he woult
have fallen had he not grasped a chair, int,
~ which he sank He sat moment as if col
!. lectng his thoughts, then in a voice firm an,
y solemn, while almost felt his burning gaz,
- he said, "Clara, this day am a ruined man
= my employers have watched my steps, hav,
" expostulated with me; finding it all to n,
a. purpose, this day on which should have beer
" raised to an honorable and profitable position
hndS me cast off, sick, broken hearted, alone
&c without money and without friends. Trouble
and disappointment drove me to the wine cup
&c then, to find oblivion for my sorrows, neg
lected my business, became involve in debt
% and this is the consequence. | fear that yet
=, have long since ceased to love or respect me
I Clara, and think me too degraded to feel sucf
10 an emotion-but it is not so---God knows
love you, and it is the conviction that This low,
!. mas been thrown back on my own heart, with
- out any sympathy return, that has made me
y what | am" t-...s5 - s..l.s-. -.
- felt that his words were true, alas! tor
y. true-and the thought of all my urkindness
- my love and waywardness, came rushing Of
; my heart with overwhelming power, tina
brought agonizng tears to my eyes. AS my
husband ceased speaking, his head sank OF
&c his bosom; sprang to his side, and found he
- had fainted. Using such restoratives as were
- at hand, [ placed him in bed, and sent for q
- physician. For weeks he fingered on the verge
- - of the grave. In the deirium of fever he Ut
'' tered truths that his kind heart would have
!, shrunk from inficting on his erring wife,, Al
- length he began to recover, but before he rose
y" ~ from that couch of suffering, mutual comics.
80 :, sions had been made, and l, the only aggres
is sor, sought forgiveness of him whom had sc