Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-05-23
THE TWO WIVES.
A PRACTICAL STORY.

The tea things were removed, the children
had gone to bed, and Charles Liehte, throwing
down his newspaper, seated himself on the sofa
beside his wife.
A hand slid into his own, thinner and less
delicate than when, long ago, it had first met
his; bu, the same conhding, loving hand.
And out of the fulness of her heart the good
wife spoke al have been thinking, Charles,
as watched this bright fre-ligh: Pickering ov-
er our comfortable room how happily we live
how much we ought to do for others, in return
for the blessings that are daily heaped upon our
heads"
"Yes, Carrie, but these blessings are earned
by daily work; you women sit at home by your
comfortable fires, and little think how your hus
bands and fathers are ioilng meantime to pro-
cure the shelter, and fuel, and food for which
a. slalslh IaQPSStidssAfep preuy race, as
the wife answered, "Ah, and you husbands and
fathers enter the orderly house, and eat the
well-cooked, punctual m ,als, and play with the
neat, well-dressed and well disciplined children,
and enjoy the evening comfort and repose, with
out realizing how your wife, with head, and
all these quiet results. might easily give you
practical proofs of what have asserted; but |
delight in having you think Of home as place
for enjoyment and repose a warm sunny har-
Dor after the storms and chlls of the world
outside therefore, take my own rest at the
time you take yours. Is not this better than
to be always keeping before you, by help Of a
little management, the conviction that am a
weary victim, Our interests are mutual, and
| feel that the knowledge that am resting,
adds 10 your repose."
Mr.. Lgh,e's face elowed with pleasure at
his wife's candid, simple, confding words; she
sympathzed with and understood him-she on
ly in the great wide world How he loved
her How good, and true, and gentle, she
had always been
Thus he thought, as they both sat dreaming
by the 6reside.
Mrs. Lighte awoke first from her reverie
she was not accustomed TO waste time in
dreams "Charles, while think Of it, for
forgot it this morning, the white sugar is all
out, Qhey had been married great while, and
the transition from sentiment 10 household
wants was natural for her,) we must have an.
other barrel"
This brought Charles Lighte back 10 the
purpose for which he had thrown aside hi:
newspaper: "Don't you think, Carrie, thai
now we have so many children, and they al
young, we might use brown sugar, instead O
whitei"
: "What shall do for company! and, besides
children have as sensitive palaes as we. | re
collect well, how in my childhood, dislikeC
J coarse, cheap food"
} "And now your family are all epicures."
"What eluttons"
"Oh no but If meat is an hour too old, o.
bread ,rihe done, or eggs in the least altered
or pudding is heavy, nothing will do but yo,
must procure a substitute the things are no
I really bad many would eat on for the sake o
: economy"
SIS there no good result from my epcurian
ismi"
, "Yes; am willing to own that no man il
) ihe city has more nutritious and pala,able foo'
, on his table than but, Carrie, the times ar,
hard, and we must begin to economise.''
, snow understand you have been talking
, with Mr.. Murke; ] thought you meant 10 dis
solve your co-parnershp in the spring tina
man will spoil you with his meanness."
, 81 cannot afford TO dissolve yet my famil,
expenses are too heavy And besides, an
not sure but what you call meanness in Mnrke
is, after all, commendable foresight. Do yo'
: not remember what a spendthrili he was in hi
: first wife's day!"
"No, Charles remember that when W,
were lovers, we use TO admire his generous
$ disinterested conduct. do not know man il
e Boston whose position was more truly envlabl
n than his at the time Of which we speak"
J, "What besieged by high and low for help
Q never sure of a moment at his own command
e Do you call il enviable TO be at every one
= beck and calf Was a poor family burnt out
!, or somebody's fifth cousin to be buried, or
minister to be admonished or supported or
III returning prodigal TO make peace with his fam