The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-05-15

q or, went out of her own house. Her dutit
/, were very arduous, and her ability, from
o health, small. Every day she worked
y bodily exhaustion, and usually in pain
There was no recreation Of any kind, bod
i ly or mental. I. was living death. n
!. wonder she was dropping, wretched, ner
, vous woman.
On the next day called to see my frien'
at his store, my mind made up to have
plain talk with him. referred to his wife
expressing in regard to her my earnest sym
pathy.
!. Poor Mary y hc replied, her case is hope
less, and mine too, fear.'
'Whilc there's life there's hope said 1
using the physicians half dcspairins axiom
lie regarded me little curiously.
How often do you take her out riding p
inquired.
He shook his head.
Cant aoffrd carriage hire /: much I can
do to pay the doctor. No, no, neither Of
us have time nor money to spend for riding
OUT
Change and fresh air you will find better
and cheaper medicine than doctors stuff -
Do you take her to the sea shore once n
year, or to the springs, or the mountains?'
You are jesting,' he replied, with the mir
Of one who felt that an undue liberty had
been taken.
Far from it, my FRIEND answered, Sc
riously. Il feel too warm an interest in you
to jest on subject like this
The sea shore, the springs, the noun.
tains, are summer luxurics beyond the reach
Of our ability he said, sadly.
DO not name them as luxuries in your
case. lfthc cncryatcd votary Of pleasure
and fashion needs them for recreation, and
to impart new zest to the years succeed
ing round Of gay existence, how much moro
essential are they for tho sick, the nervous,
the exhausted toiler in life's field of earnest
labor! fear, my friend, that you have
not thought wisely of your wire's true posi-.
ton that, in some sense, you arc to blame
for her present i'll health and state Of men,
tai depression
'llowT wilkins looked su rpriscd.
'Thc human soul, answ cred, lis not q
piece OF senseless machinery; not made up
of u 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 tho advancing sea :
sons, for its healthy growth and maturity.
But the human soul is Of higher Organiza-
ton, and Of multitudinous wants, compar-
cd with the flower. Shut up the flower
from the warm sun and the refreshing air,
and will it not grow sickly? nay, will isnot
fade, withcr 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 was
for little while in doubt whether he was
offended at my freedom, or astounded at his
own blindness touching tho nature and
wants of the human soul he had adjoined
in liie-comranionship with his own.
"Nature's best two physicians" l went
on, "are pure air and exercise. And, what
is better, they charge nothing for attend
ance."
"Toa large part of mankind" answered
wilkins, "time is money. 1t is 80 in our
case"
"Don't make that too positive u conclu.
sion. Increase the strength, and you di'
minish the hours Of labor nay, more, you
remove from them tho cause Of extreme ex.
haustion. Ny word for it, If you had
spent hundred dollars year in giving
your wife change of scene, sea.bathng, and
mental as well Us bodily recreation, you,
doctors bill would have been reduced by
more than that amount. How often do you
take her to concerts, or other places Of pub
lie amusement?
eve haven't been to concert for fy,
years" said he.
"And yet l remember that she was pas
sionatcly fond of music"
awe can not now afford It," remarke,
wilkins Sloomily.
"Better go without your dinner occasion
ally. Health Of the soul is quito rs essen
tial as health of the body. If you starv
the former, what is there in mere eatini
. and drinking worth living for?"
"Mary wouldn't 30 il lwerc to purchas
tickets. She has hSuscd herself so lon
that she has no desire to step across tn
threshold Of her prison.house.'
For which, speaking frankly, and to n
old friend, you are, in great measure, I
E blame. And, unless you at once, and wit
purpose not to be set aside by first dilicul
ties, open wide the doors Of tins prison
house, and actually compel tho droopini
: prisoner to 50 forth, a few years will clos
t up the history ofa wretchod lilo.'
4 'Ah" said he, Il can feel the force Q
, what you say. But how and where to be
+. gin? That is the question:
, Il notice. was my reply, shat Hertz, tn
: celebrated composer and pianist, is in you
p city, and will give, this evening, one of hi
5 concerts. Take her to her him.
$ The eyes of Wilkins cropped to the aoO'
: saw what was in bis mind. Tho ticket
were one dollar each, and the expense. ther'
fore, larger than he felt he had right
incur for simple amusement. lie had to
many demands for dollars in other and mol
: important directions. .l-...
Il am going to invite her. said l, 'and