Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-08-17

OnurlcS at last. We shan see INN before
evening. His wifc is now looking for needle
to darn his stockings, and replace the mis-
sing buttons upon his coat.
Yet, as he spoke, II cheerful step was heard
without and the tardy brother entered the
room, breathing quickly and with II smiling
apology for his delay. The two first arrived
exchanged meaning glances, but the merci-
less uncle cut short their merriment, by say
ing graycly
Henry, my boy, you are the oldest. 1t is
Just that you should lead upon the occasion.
Tell us frankly, how do you enjoy married
life =
The young man paused for n moment, then.
with comicul grilnace that but ill-conccalcd
bis reluctance he replied
1T is bitter dose to swallow. | confess.
Uncle, YOU are rcvcnged.'
There was a slight movement Of surprise for
Mrs. Henry Spike was recognized as decid-
edly notable
i thought, said tho uncle dryly, that
yours was II pattern wife
only too much So returned the nephew.
1T is my belief that She was modelled upon
the most approved patterns and made up to
order. II ever there was a machine for per
forming mechanically every outward virtue,
it is Mrs Henry Spike. She never loses
her temper indeed, | doubt if she has any
to lose. She never betrays any nuttcr Of
vanity or wounded feeling. To the calmness
of Il statue, she adds an intuitivc perception
OF dccorum, rigid adherence to rcctitudc,
which leaves nothing to hope or fear, and
very little to enjoy. Nothing can disturb
her. When our infant was dangerously i'll,
she moved about his cradle with the same
unperturbed composure, and dropped his last
cordial, as we thought, in to the cup with an
untrcmbling hand.
hardly see how you come to marry her,
remarked Edward, par pdrenthcSc.
She was pretty, and mistook her natu
raj roses for bushes, and her silence for
delicate reserve. | was much moved when sLc
once left me in tears; have since learned
she had the toothachc. can never find in
her department anything to forgive, and
am tired of praising where correctness seems
inevitable. Besides, she don't care for
praise. She was wound up at birth, and her
heart pulsates with the regularity of II
pendulum. If should hang myself of pure
ennu', knew she would arrange everything
for respectable burial. Ny condition is
desperate. In passing through New York
last winter, rcllgiously avoided seeing Lola
Montez, for | knew | should be smitten at Il
glance. The slightest touch of human frailty
seems absolutely refreshing. Speak, brother
he added after a brief pause. and in mercy
point out some defect in Mrs. Charley Spike
Mrs, Charles Spike, responded the person
addressed, is not absolutely stupid nor
entirely indifferent in matters Of feeling. She
gives some variety to life in point of temper,
and permits me to hope to please as well as
fear to offend. But like your Rectna, she
has, alas, one paramount idea. Order is
Heavens first law, and it is not the less that
Of my immaculate Nesta. Especially does
she insist upon the most spOtless neatness,
at the expense Of all other considerations.
discovered soon after my marriage that the
world was little too good to live in. The
parlors were shut up to exclude the flies
the chambers to avoid the dust. The dining
room furniture was robed in Holland covers
and ugly mats deiurmed every square yard of
carpeting. Canaries were bauished because
they Uttered their cage, and my wet spaniel
dismissed for neglecting to wipe his feet
Then pickles spoil the cutlery, and eggs
corrode the silver coffee is liable to stain
the linen, and even butter, if incautiouSly
used, may be the parent of grease spot
Cigars ! have long since abiured, because
spittoons are an abomlnation. II ! SIT. it Is,
MIR. Spike, your chair mars the wall or
Charles you arc rocking on the rug If |
walk, 1t is, pray leave your boots at the
door MIR. Spike, and let me bring your slip
pers.' | sometimes think | will remove to
hotel, and send home my compliments daily in
pertumcd note paper. | should expect soon
after to see the whole establishment modelled
IN wax, and repOsing under glass, like II
collection of tanciful wonders. Come,
Edward, your wife is no paragon. Confess
your misery and don't dettin us long.
Mine is not pattern wife certainly, was
the response of the younger brother. She
is not distinguished for order, not faultlrss
in neatness, nor unerring in discretion. She
is very far from a piece of clock-work, and
| there is great tuncertainty,s y,somctimcs delight
| full, sometimes painful, Us to what she will
attempt, and whether she will succeed or
| fail There is room for doubt rs to Iarticu-
lars none at all as to the general tendency
of her conduct. She is as true hearted a
woman as lives, and that which she delights
in must be happy. You may smile if you
choose, but | do most frankly assure you
that am happy. know not what Beatrice
| is doing at this moment. but feel sure that
in aims and efforts, she is true to herself, to me
and to her Maker. | am sure that she loves me
more than all the world besides, but not 50
much as she loves truth and duty and self
| respect. Her errors are all mistakes. They
are the redundancy Of a loving, generous
| richly gifted nature. She is no model house
wife but she has made great improvement, and
| she has the strongest incentive to improve
ment, II sincere and unselish affection 1t
is true that was delayed to-day by waiting
for II few last stitches from her practiscC
needle, not however upon my clothing, as
see you imagine, but upon pair of slipper
she has just wrought for uncle Jeduthun
Let me see them tried, my dear sir. have
an idea they will fit you
why, y"s, tolerably, said the good man
who seemed more gratifed than he cared t,
acknowledge. The truth is he added, speak
ing with hesitation, Ms if he felt the need o
an apology, the truth is, am going to iv
with Edward, and give lessons to Beatrice il
hou sekeeping,