Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-05-04
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THE NEGLECTED WIFE,
BY MARY L.. GILLIES.

Bl MARN L.. OlLLlES.
"Shall you be very late tonight % Thi
question was asked in soft, low voice b,
very pale, but very sweet young creature
as she parted from her husband in the street
:" | do not know that SHALL" lie replie,
somewhat coldy, as replacing his cigar be
tween his lips, he turned away. There was
careIessness, rather than unkndness in hi:
manner; and she looked after him more r
sorrow than in reproach. Taking the hand
of her little boy, she SLOW ly bent her steps
homeward, with that dropping of the head
which bespeaks sadness of The heart. |,
was Saturday night; she had been market
ing, and her little purchases were contained
in basket which hung upon her arm. On
reaching home, the uppermost loor of Il
house in poor but decent ncighborhood,
she reused the fire, seated Phillip, her little
son, beside it, gave him a piece of bread and
butter for his supper, and began to busy her
self in putting away the few necessares she
had housht. Bv the time this was done,
the dropping head of little Phillip told her
he was ready for his pillow. How tendery
was he taken to his lonely mothers lap
his pretty face washed-his brigh;har brush
ed, aud he arrayed in his snowy bed.gown.
Pressed to her bosom, she warmed his little
feet, her fond hand returning to them again
from the fire, to which every now and then
she held her open palm, then, pressing the
soft foot, she kissed it pIay!uNy, and pro.
voked the laughter so sweet to mothers
ear. These were Philips first charming les
sons; thus were gemtlrness and love awaken
ed in his infant spirit by his capable, but nm
instructed, unassisted mother. How full OF
meaning was lis smile-how full of anina.
ting. and when kneeing in her lap. she.
joined his little hands. aud babe him ask his |
Heavenly Father to bless his earthly parent
how sympalheicaly he caaghi the swcc,Iy
serious look-the calm and holy tone of his .
instructress. When his little prayer was
said, he flung his arms about her neck and
cheek; they mur'nured together the nIling
song which concluded this little drama for
his eyes slowly closed, and then he was
gently consigned to his snug and snowy bed.
So far all was sweet; would it might be
said, all was calm; but the aching void in
Slsans heart was not camness it ,vas ra!,.
er craving for that mental and social ele.
ment which is necessary to every breast,
and cannot long be healthy denied TO any
one. The more energetic spirits seek such
associations or stimuants rs chance pre- :
sents them; the genller submit and suffer-
often perish-in silence
Susan put q little fuel softly on the fire,
trimmed the candle, and sat down with the
lonely woman's companion, her work. bias.
ket. A deep sigh stole from her BOSOM
Still the needle was piled. Now and then
she paused to wipe away the tears that
would gather on her laShes. She was lust
two.and,twenty, and had been four wears
married, during all of which time, with the
brief exception OF a few weeks previous to
their settlement in town, she had thus heen
left, night after night, in loneliness. PhiIip
Morris, her husband, was an honest, indus.
trious man, with hundred good qualities
sober, and solicitous of securing to his fami-
!Ay all the comforts his means afforded, he
brought his weekly earnings, with small
reservation for some trifling indulgencies for
himself, to his wife, aud with the utmost trust
IN her management and economy, left them ,
to her disposal. Bat while thus trusting and |
liberal, he seemed to consider that he ac- i
quilted himself Of all that Susan might de. :
inand of him. While he sought improve ,
'nent for himself, it never occurred to him
that it was her equal riyht-would be her ,
equal advantage. While he sought the in. i
terchange of thought with other minds, he b
never reflected on the utter privation of such t
communion he had emtaed OH her. He had r
aiken her from the home of her father, a s
small farmer, where her mother, pains- :,
akIng woman, had brought up Susan and fl
several brothers and sisters, for their station, Y
well. Tier fathers heart was a
'ne ever overlooking with the milk of hu. t:
nan kindness and thus aided by the cheer I,
ul spirits OF their beloved children, a moral 81
sunshine had eyer lighted up that lowlv it
lome, and given to it thousand claims f.
lpon her love and memory. AT moments sl
susan would look back on the brief time eI
hat had been employed to WOO her from it :,
S dream; the worshpped words of love- r.
he promises Of devotion, of endeavors for i
er happiness, the mighty city in which she
vas to dwell (Which now appeared to her ST
naze Of mud and stone, i'll exchanged for t;
he daiscd fields with their sweet breath aud : 'o