Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-06-17
From the New Orleans Crescent
The Pattern Wife.
BY DAIS'
A creature easily passed by:
Not lovely to the strangers eye"


Winnie Winlove is not beauty, but she has a SEN
sibie oveabIe face which is not only good looking,
but looks good, and then her dress is always neat
her smiles so bright, and her voice sweet that
though she would attract no attention al theatre or
ball, she is the nearest ornamcnted OF husbands
home.
She is never caught" call when you will :; for her
house. like herself is the pink of neatness-not that
stiff, uncom ortable sort, which makes dread TO
the polished furniture but easy, all pervading
order, which seems natural scarcely wonders
at it, If in accomplishing this her servants give her
unusual trouble, she does not fight her battles DER
again. for the entertainment of her husband CT visi
tors. She is not, in the usual sense of the term
complsheddoes not perform brilliant fantasies upon
the piano forte, sing ncomprehensbIe Italian bra
vuras but she plays sensible accompaniment of
dance, correctly, with taste, and in perfect tme sings
English ballad with feeling and expression, and
does either, when requested without putting on airs
o requiring the stimulus of large audience. She
has actually been known TO play and sing for than
hour with no listeners but her husband and family
She does not dance, but her husband does and likes
to- she willingly attends balls and dancing parties,
where her observing mind. keen appreciation of the
ludcrous and genial good humor, find no lack OF
tertainment. She does not speak. all the modern
languages" but her English is we'll worth listening to-
! She is not, strictly speaking, pious, (were this a
fancy sketch. she would be, but is portrait, the
truth must he toId) but she has heartfelt love of
the good The and the beautiful and does the duty
which lies nearest her TO the best of her ability
Cheerfuness is her chief Characteristic and promo
ting the happiness of her husband and family the bu-
sness Of her life. In matters Of importance, if she
and her husband differ in opinion she states hers
calmly and listens TO his reasoning with mind open
to conviction but in trihes, his wish is her will.
Is she ready for visiting shipping, and he thinks
looks like rain, she lays off her bonnet and stays
home. Is she hat tired and indsposed for ex.
erton and he requests her 10 20 out, she complies
Has she a new dress or cap 10 which he objects, il
disappears.
She never wants to read when he wants her to
talk, to talk when he wants 10 read never com.
plains of her nerves replies when he hints that
breakfast is little late never objects his smoking
never teaZes him to give her furniture, dresses
&c., knowing that when he can afford them, he will
do without being asked. She never looks grum
or calls him my DEAR in that carefully softened
but portenious tone which strikes terror 10 the heart
of the hcnpecked husband, if he brings expected
visitor 10 dinner never asks what kept him when he
comes home late; and climax of wifely amiabilty
never Oh jects TO his kissing all the young ladies ,che
riSit them!
Her health never compes her to leave him four Of
five months every to the house keeping O
servants and the cnnui Of loneliness Or worse still
the dIscCmfor:s of boarding, and the society of h
bachelor friends.
Her children-of course she has pleny-are neve
tormented about keeping clean and taking care o
their clothes, and screamed over and petted whe'
they happen TO fail paraded for exhibition wheI
they get new garments, scolded or neglected a
any time. hey well governed, we'll bred, active
healthy and happy.
Her faults, of course she has some are mostly thos
that lean to vrtnes side, and are in her husbands
tlmaton. amply counierbalanced by the anththetica
virtues OF being fond, yet reasonable; clear-sghte
, yet conhdIng, wise, yet womanly.
inspectors of customs ~ said Mrs. Partngton, en-
7 ergecay as she laid down the paper chronclin
some new appointment Here was new idea tina
broke upon her mind like ray of sunshine through
S corn barn "Inspecors of customs ~ and she locke
up al the rigd profile of the old corporal as if sh
would ask what he had say about it, but that war
rlor had hung there too long to be now disturbed
trIties and he took no notice of her "Inspectors
, customs, continued she. she turned her attentio
to The old black teapot and then turned out the tes
which celestial beverage gurged through the spout
harmony with her reflections, not too strong that
= new idea to me- But thank providence / hant q
s no customs that hadn't as lieyes they'd inspect
not; only Id little rather they wouldn't. I wis
It every body could say so, but I'm afeard there al
7, many customs that wont bear looking into Wei
let every tub stand on It's bottom, say-I wol
IS cast no speclousness On no body. But don't 81
e what they wanted to appint any more for aud be
s. SO much suspense when every place has so many in
that will inspect customs for nothing If they onl
is make my next door neghbor, Miss Juniper, now, a
n inspector OF customs, they wouldn't need ano:h
for long ways, that's MORALLY sarfinn She stirrt
her souchong as she ruminated, untasting, and II
helped himself UNDECIDED, to the last preserved Pc
y there was in the dish = s