Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-05-08

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to her my earnest sympathy.
"Poor Nary" he exclaimed; hel
case is hopeless and mine, too,
fear"
"While there's life, there's hope,
said /, using the physicians half-des'
pairing axiom.
He regarded me not little curious
ly.
allow often do you take her ou,
riding?' l inquired.
He shook his head.
"Can't afford carriage hire; much
as / can do TO pay the doctor. No
no, neither Of us has time or money
10 spend for riding out"
"Change and fresh air you will find
are much better and cheaper medi-
cines than doctors stuff. Do you take
her TO the sea shore once q year
or to the springs? or to the mount
aims ?"
"You are jesting," he replied, with
the air of one who felt that an undue
liberty had been taken.
"Far from IL, my friend, [" / answer
cd, seriously. "I feel too warm an in
terest in you TO jest on subject like
this"
"The sea-shore, the springs, the
mountains are summer luxuies beyond
the reach Of our ability he spoke sad
ly.
"Do not name them as luxuries in
your case. If tho enervated votary
Of pleasurc.and fashion needs them
for recreation, and to impart new zest
TO the years succeeding round Of gay
existence, how much moro essential
are they for the sick, the nervous, the
exhausted toiler in life's field of ear
nest labor / fear, my friend, that
yowhave not thought wisely of your
wife's true position; that, in some
sense, you arc 10 blame for her present
i'll health and states ofmental depres-
sion.
"How?" Wilkins looked surpris-
cd.
"The human SOUL answered 'is
not a piece of senseless machinery;
not made up ofa series Of iron wheels
that can do their work as we'll in the
dark, underground chamber as in the
broad daylight. Even the flower
must have change--air, sunlight,
morning, evening, and. the advancing
seasons, for its healthy growth and
maturity. But the human soul is of
higher organization, and Of multitu-
dinous wants compared with the flow
er. Shut up the flower from the warm
sun and the refreshing air, and will it
not grow sickly? nay, will itnot fade,
wither, and die? You are treating
your wife with less consideration than
you would treat house-plant. No
wonder that she is dying daily
Wilkins really looked amazed; and
as l was for q little while in doubt
whether he were offended at my free
dom, or astonishcd at his own blind
ness touching the nature of the human
soul he had adjoined in life compan-
ionship with his own.
Natures two best physicians" l
said, ARE pure air and exercise And
what is better, they charge nothing
for attendance"
'For large part Of mankind, an
swcred wilkins, "time is money. 1t
is so in our case
"Don't make that too positive q
conclusion. Increase the strength
and you diminish the hours Of labor ;
nay, more: you remove from them the
cause Of severe exhaustion. My word
for it, if you had spent o hundred
dollars q year in giving your wife a
change Of scene, sea-bathing, and
mental as we'll hs bodily recrc-
alton, your doctors bill would have
been diminished by more than that
amount. How often do you take her
to concerts, or other places of public
amusementY
1--WE haven't been to concert for
five years, said he.
"And yet, Ircmember, she was pas
sionately fond of music
eve can't afford it, remarked Will
kins, gloomily.
"Better go without a dinner occa-
sionally, Health Of the soul is quite
as essential as health Of the body. II
you starve the former. what is there
in mere eating and drinking worth liv-
ing for?
"Mary wouldn't golf were to pur-
chase tickets. Shehas housed herself
up so long that she has no desire to
step across the threshold ofher prison
house
"For which, speaking frankly, and
TO an old friend, you are, in q great
measure, TO blame. And, unless you
ut once, and with a purpose not to be
set aside by first difficulties, open wide
the doors of this prison house, and ac-
tually compel the dropping prisoner
TO 90 forth, q few years will close up
the history of her wretched life
"Ah' said he, III can feel the force
of what you say. But how and
whore to begin That is the ques-
ton
81 notice, was my reply, "thai
Herr, the celebrated composer and pi-
anist is in your city, and will give
this evening, one ofhis concerts. Take
her to hear him.
The eyes of wilkins dropped to the
floor. | Isaw what was in his mind
The tickets were one dollar each, and
the expense, therefore, larger than he
felt that he had right TO incur for q
aim nlo atnuaot,onf Ho haH too m, IN, a
demands for dollars in other and more
important directions.
~ am going TO invite her, said /
''and do not believe she will refuse
me-
"I'm sure she will not 60. Wilkins
was positive.
"We1l see. You will take a note o
invitation for mo ut dinner-time?
win enclose tickets for you both, ans