The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1856-03-19
Does hep asked Edith with a sweet

Does hep asked Edith with a sweet
friendly SMILE 1T must be very enceur-
aging And then erowding on her men,
ory came the innumerable instances, when
after some like INNOCENT display of house
wifery thrift, she had looked in her hus-
bands face for a smile, listened for an ap-
proving word-lookcd and listened in
vain. Are these things triaes?
Don't you know continued the shrewd
and seciable, but not very iudicious Mrs
Barton; don't you know that husbands,
all the world over, are divided into two
classes-those who can see nothing but
good in their individual wives, believing
them far superior to any other mans wife;
and those who appear to hold the exact
contrary to this, viz:-that their wives sell
dom Or never do anything quite right,
and are in fact, the most faulty and i'm
perfect of womeu.-I do not mean that
they publicly proclaim this, but that
lit is their secret feeling. Now my hus
band, I am happy to say belongs to the
former class Whatever mistakes | may
make, am sure that the kindest consIrgc-
ton viii be put on my actions, and the
pleasure feel in doing well, is doubled by
his readiness to perceive aud applaud my
well doing. | often wonder What would
have been my fate, had married q co'd
hearted, unappreciative man. Rather
give nae a convent Iifa for with the vows
of nun upon me, / shcald have hopes of
finally overcoming that longing for human
sympathy and affection, which must make
the misery of the unloyed wife,
Is not your condemnation too sweep
iag?' asked Edith Some men as we'll
as women, are reserved by nature; not
+nmeeling, bat far from demonS,rative in
their feelings Don't you think that much
seeming Indifference on the part of bus
bands is owing to this fict?'
-No--I am pretty well convinced that
where love exists, it will make Itself man
ifest to,its object. OF course, selfish and
sapricious men, passionate and obstinate
men, viii act ont their natures upon oc-
Hcasions, but no man who truly loves his
wife, will persist long in a course which he
sees makes her unhappy. No more in
a coursc of indifference than course OF
tyranny Men differ vastly, as you say,
1t is Ered's disposition to see the bright
side of everything; therefore when he tells
me- after some lite ss.ts of attention to his
comfort, that | am the most 3boughtful Of
wives; that no ono else could have done
it quite so nicely; know it is exagera-
tion, and tell him so. But doa't love
him all The better for it?'
Ediihmade no answer; had the thought
in her heart been translated at that mo-
.ment, it would have read: oh could /
once hesr such praise from my husbands
lips, Show gladly would | lie down and
diel,
Poor Edith she had grown morbid
under the slow processsof heait-staryation,
possessed by a restless, feEerish longing
for gentle words and loving smiles Hew
cheap they .are--how easily given Yet
how many human hearts pine and sor-
row FOR that very sustenanee, and fnd
it not!
Edith's husband, Ralph Miner, was a
practical 'naa. His ideas of religion,
politics, business, education, social friend
ships and domestic love, were equally prac-
teal That which could be turned to no
practical use, was if no consequence in his
estimation, and the want of a recognition
of this principle, he,considered the great
defect in his wifes early training. Edith
had been reared in the tenderest Of homes;
she wasinteiIectual, afIectionate, and high
lly sensitive. Her husband saw no use in
affection or sensioiiity; therefore without
actually checking, he discouraged their
manifestations, and believed thatsle was
doing her great service, by teaching her
to restrain the flow of natural feeling =
He. regarded her as too independent in
mind, and too enthusiastic in expression
for q ecomaa and therefore avoided all
conversational topics of interest to her,
believing that thereby more exclusive
devotion to domestic economy would en-
sue
As a natHral consequence Of this state
of things, in the passage of years, a great
! wall had grown up between the husband
aud wife. There was no true sympathy,
no appreciation, no companionship be :
tween them; and Edith often bitterly felt
that the casual acquaintance of a day,
with feelings kindred to her own, knew
more of her ihmost soul, of its hopes and
fears, its aspirations. and regrets, than he
to whom she was joined by the closest oi
ties.
Ralph Miner possessed another pecu-
liarity of. mind; if a trait quite, eommon
to humanity, can be termed peculiar. =
This was. proneness to undervalue any
thing that he possessed. With this was
combined, as might be expected, an in
Eyeterate dislike to praising anything, OF
Eperson in his own family. Did Edith by
accident wear an ill-ftting dress; did she
I happen to allow dish of bread, or pas,
TRY, to burn, did she neglect button
or a pair OF stockings, he thought it a dp.
ty toremind her of her shortcomings bal
the efforts she made to crafty him, wheth:
er in matters of taste, or economy. were