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

warmer, Edith?"
because 1 had not the smallest sus.
picion it was SO cold, not having left the
warm room during the day. The wealth
er has suddenly changed, 1 perceive %
"But your husband knew it, certain
ly."
"He was looking over some law pa
pers when came out. He said moth ng
about the weather"
Edith did not add, that as she stood
warming her cloak at the fire, her hus-
band had given her half contemptuous
look, saying as plainly as words, "How
l hate to see woman afraid of little
cold!" But the remembrance of that
look was freezing at her heart that mo-
ment-colder, sharper, than the merci-
less wind that forced its way through her
thin garments.
"WelI, j cannot help fearing that The
exposure viii increase that standing
cough of yours" remarked Anne; "lei
us walk fast
They did walk fast, and in a few mo-
ments reached Mr.. Darrow's miserable
dwelling. Edith contrasted the poor wo-
mans utter helpessness and destitution,
with her own comparative health and
comfortable home, and blamed herself
for repining that all her heart craved had
not been granted. In minisiering to the
distressed pauper, nearly an hour passed,
and then. laden with blessings, the ladies
stepped out upon the frozen street, and
turned homeward. No longer facing
the wind, they found the cold less severe,
and Annie, as was her wont, commenc-
ed lively chat.
That's a nice hood of yours, Edith
from Miss Balk's shop. is it not"?
mo, indeed" returned Edith, smiling.
"HOw you have cOmplimented me, An
ME. l made i myself and the useae also,
from that old blue satin of mine, that
never fitted well. Do you recollect it?''
"Certainly do. And you made
these elegant garments out oft. What
an economist you are! Fred would call
you such notable woman! Why, only
because l dyed and made over my faded
merino for Elsie, he calls me economist,
Scotch housewife poor mans prize,
and every other faitering name imagin-
able"
"Does he?" asked Edith, with a sweet
friendly smile, sit must be very encour.
aging" And then crowding on her,
came the innumerable instances, when
afIer some like innocent display of house
wifely thrift, she had looked in her hus-
bands face for smile, listened for an
approving word-looked and listened in
vain. Are these things TITLES?
"Don't you know" continued the
shrewd and sociable, but not very Judi
cious Mrs. Barton; "don't you know that
husbands, all the world over, are divid-
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 ap-
pear the exact contrary of this, viz: that
their wives seldom or never do any,
thing quite right, and are in fact, the
most faulty and imperfect of women
do not mean that they publicly pro-
claim this, but that is their secret feel
ing. Now my husband 1 am happy to
say, belongs to the former. Whatever
mistakes may make, l am sure that
the kindest construction will be put upon
my actions, and the pleasure l feel in
doing well, is doubled by his readiness
to perceive and applaud my well doing.
/ often wonder what could have been
my fate, had l married cold hearted,
unapprecialiye man. Rather give me
convent life; for with vows of nun upon
me, | should have hopes of finally over
coming that longing for human sympa-
thy and affection. which must make the
misery of the unloyed Wife"
"Is not your condemnation too sweep
ing?" asked Edith. "Some men as well
as women, are reserved by nature; not
but fan from demor stralive in
their feelings. Don't you think that
much seeming indifference on the part
Of husbands is owing to this fact?"
"No-I am pretty well convinced
that where love exists, it will make itself
to IFS object. Of fcourse, selfish
and capricious, passionate and obstinate
men Will act out their natures upon oc-
casions, but no man who truly loves his
wife, will persist long in course which
he sees. makes her unhappy-no more
in a course of Indifference, than a course
Men differ vastly, as you say.
1t is Fred's disposition to see the bright
'ide cf everything therefore when lie
ellis me, after some little act of attention
o his comfort, that 1 am the most
thoughtful of wives; that no one else
;ould have done it quite so nicely 1
Hnow it is exaggeralion, and tell him SO.
But don't love him all the better for
p"
Edith made no answer Had fhe '