Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-04-30

thought in her heart been translated at
that moment, it would have read: "Oh,
could 1 once hear such praise from my
husbands lips, how gladly would lie
down and dic!''
Poor Edith! she had grown morbid
under the slow process of heart-starva
ton, possessed by restless, feverish
longing for "gentle words and loving
smiles" How cheap they. are-how
easily givenl Yet how many a human
heart pines and sorrows for that susten-
ance, and finds it not.
Edith's husband, Ralph Miner. was
practical nam His ideas of religion, pol
itics, business, education, social friend
ships and domestic love, are equally
practical. That which could be turned
to no practical use, was OF no consequence
in his estimation, and want of recogni
ton of this principle, he considered the
great defect of his wife's early training.
Edith had been reared in the tonderest
of homes; she was intellectual, affection
ate. and highly sensitive. Her husband
saw no use in affection and sensibility;
therefore, without actually checking, he
discouraged their manifestations, and be-
lieved he was doing great service, by
teaching her 10 restrain the flow of natu-
raj feeling. He regarded her as too in
dependent in mind, and too enthusiastic
in expression, for a aOOman, and there
fore, avoided all conversational to- les of
interest to her, believing that thereby a
more exclusive devotion TO domestic du
ties would ensue.
As a natural consequence of this
state of things. in the passage of years,
a great wall had grown up between-hus-
band and wife. There was no true SYM
pathy, no appreciation, no companion
ship between them; and Edith often Bit
terly felt that the casual acquaintance
of day, with feelings kindred with her
own, knew more of her inmost soul, of
its hopes and fears, its aspirations and
regrets, than he to whom she was joined
by the closest ties.
Ralph Miner possessed another pecu,
liarity of mind; if trait quite common
to humanity, can be termed peculiar
This was a proneness to undervalue
anything that he possessed. With this
combined, as might be expected, an in
veterate dislike TO praising anything or
person in his own family. Did Edith by
accident wear an ill-ftting dress; did she
happen TO allow a dish or pastry to burn;
did she neglect button, or a pair of
stockings, he thought it a duty 10 re-
mind her of her shortcomings; but the
efforts she made TO crafty him, whether
in matters of taste or economy, were
passed over without word or comment.
"Oh, if it were not so much easier for
him to blame, than praise-to see faults
than virtuesl" Edith often exclaimed
in anguish of heart. A woman more en-
tirely intellectual, might have risen above
this and ceased to care for it, though at
the expense of the loveliest attributes in
womanhood. One of less sensibility and
fitness of organization, might not have
felt it; but for her; the knowledge, that
despite all her efforts, she still failed to |
satisfy her husband, that he vas con.
tinually comparing her in his own mind |
with others to her disparagement, was a |
most cruel trial to her loving nature;
trial, that, continued through long years,
was stealing her bloom and even sap
ping the fountain of life.
And yet Ralph Miner seldom spoke
harshly to his wife. or thwalted her
wishes in anything relating to the exter-
mails Of life. He provided her pleas
ant home, filled with comforts, if not
with luxuries. A woman who had been
rightly brought up, he thought, could
ask no more; and if anything in Edith's
words or manner, ever indicated the un-
want of her heart; it was his
custom TO attribute it to "false views of
life, gained from novels, romance notions,
incomprehensible womanish ness" de-
He was not hearlless, but even as a
limb or bodily organ, by long neglect of
exercise, becomes withered and incapa-
citated, so his heart. (as he had never
discovered the practical use cf heart,
by long neglect, had become inactive
and paralyzed.
For the rest, he was thorough, thriv-
ing, business man; temperate and NOR
al in all things, upright and honorable,
BY all who knew him; beloved
l. /