The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-08-19

A WORD TO rRETFuL WIVES.

There you are, with your mouth pucker-
cred up again! What's the matter, are
your friends all deadl Novel;, have you
lost every cent you ever owned !-no--are
your children sick! Is your husband cross!
Have you got the tooth ache? Neither Of
these! and still as cross as a young bear
We wonder how your family can endure
your presence! These young hearts, whose
sun you ought to be-how you chill them
with your frowns and pettishnoss No
wonder they long to get out of the house.
And now you have struck your little child
because he wouldn't stop teasing. Friend!
that blow fell on his soul and left an indel-
lible scar there. He will feel it long after
you have forgotten it. Many years from now,
when your head has laid down in the grave,
that blow, given without cause-impatient-
ly, angrily, will do its work.
Why can't you be good natured! Were
you ever so! Memory points to the days
of your girlhood-seldom the lines of anger
disfgured your brow then. And tho man
who won your love, thought what happy
home she will make for me! How sweet it
will be to sit down by her side after the cares
of the day are over! How beautiful to read
for her pleasure-to be repaid by smiles and
kisses. And the home was ready and the
bride established-buts she proved unworthy
of the trust reposed in her. Instead of
meeting care with hearty laugh, and
'get behind me SATAN" you worried and
fretted and began to tell every little trouble
to your husband. 1t was not womanly it
betrayed weakness both of heart and mind
1mperceptibly its influence crept into his
spirit, chilling it with a worse chill than that
of death, till it made shroud of iron for
the disappointed heart, and the charm Of
love and family and home was gone.
"WaS once!"' How often those words
drop from your lips. Il was handsome
once; l was this that and the other, once"
and why not now! You yourself have
willed your own destiny; you have chosen
the scold's Office; you must receive the
scolds deserts. A little philosophy, fow
words breathed to heaven for patience, a
resOlute hope for tomorrow if to-day bc
stormy; great deal less selfishness; a de-
sire to make home a sanctuary for yourself
and little ones as well as your husband; and
no day you have been happier, handsomcr
and more beloved.
Fretting sister in light affliction, let us
ask you few plain questions. Does spirit
of fault finding Tighten your cares! fyour
bread is burned to a cinder, does it bring
you good, light, sweet loaf, to sit down
and worry about it! If the baby is cross,
does it make him smile like an angel to
shake him almost out of existence? If it
rains on washing day, will your anathemas
hurry out the sun till he stops right over
your clothes line! But, if your quick hands
turn to the -four barrel, to mould another
loaf; if you soothe the weeping babe with
the sweet words of a mothers plying love,
if you devote your washing day to some ap-
portioned work, how smoothly care will iron
down his features, and become your humble
slave instead of the tyrannical master he
would be!
1t is not too late yet. Surprise your hus-
band with smile; it will be worth a dollar
to see his glance of astonishu1ent hold tho
salted water Of thoughtfulness in yoar
mouth, that you may say nothing unpleas-
ant; and the angel that has been lying pros
trate in his heart with folded wings, will
begin to hutter, and lift itself heavenward
and look out of its eyes with the love Of the
olden time, and your home will be the par
adise you once coveted.-[ OLiUe Branch.