Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-05-08
AN INTERESTING STORY
[From codey's Ladyi- Book
rs NERVOUS YTIEES
How She was Cured.
M T. 5. ARTHUR.

Ny friend Wilkins married a swee
young girl, of quiet, amiable dispo
sition, but in no way skilled in thos'
domestic arts, without knowledge
Of which, the wifo's duties are Away
felt TO be hard In the beginning. HI
was tho envy Of more than one wht
had aspired to the possession of hel
hand. / knew him to be industrious
intelligent, and kind-hearted; and
felt sure that he had taken life com
panion who would be faithful and low.
ing. The promise was bright enough
to warrant q prophecy of more than
ordinary happiness.
They removed TO another city. Ter
years afterwards, in passing through
that city, called upon Wilkins, who
met me with the old, frank cordiality
Eyes and face were in glow of plea.
sure, when, still grasping his hand,
inquired after his Iwife. His counte'
nance changed instantly.
"Poor Mary 7 he said, in a sad, dis
couraged way. "She has very poor
health.
al am sorry" was my natural re-
sponse.
aSickness, and the loss Of two Of
our children, have so worn down both
body and mind, that she is now but q
shadow Of her former self. Worst OF
all, her nerves were completely shat
tered. But you must 60 and see her
To meet an old friend will do her good
You will take tea with us, and spend
the evening2
/ assented, and then madc further
inquiry about his family and worldly
condition. His story was not very
bright one. The birth Of their first
child was followed by prostrating
sickness, which brought the young
mother to the very utmost verge OF
life.
"She has never had good health
SINCE" said Wilkins, in a depressed
tone Of voice. "My income was small,
and we could not afford tho amount OF
household assistance, in the begin
ming, that she really required; and SO
everything was against her restora-
tion TO sound health. Children came
rapidly, bringing with them moro ex-
hausting cares. And the death OF
two Of our little ones, TO whom / have
referred, seemed TO complete the work
of ruin. She is now hopeless inva.
lid, poor, weak, nervous, unhappy
creature, a mere wreck Of what you
saw ten years ago, moving like tear.
ful ghost through her daily round Of
duties, and only kept alive by the
constant and careful attention of hen
physician. l don't think the doctor
has been out Of my house two weeks
at time for six years, and I'm sure
has received more than fifteen hundred
dollars of my money in that time
The fact Is, what, with doctors, nur.
ses, medicines, and the hundred name
less expenses of a sick and nervous
wife entails upon man, my fortunes
have been marred They keep me
poor"
Wilkins spoke in fretful voice.
1t was plain that he had grown impa-
tient under the trials to which the bad
health of his poor wife had exposed
him.
l called at his store again, towards
evening, and went home with him.
Had l met Mrs. Wilkins on the street
| would not have recognized in len
the happy bride..who, ten years before
blushing in beauty, / had seen giving
her hand in life-partnership, with
such loving confidence in tho future
TO the husband of her choice. Her
countenance was wan and wasted, all
the beautifully rounded outlines gone
her eyes, deeply sunken. were languid
almost TO indifference; her hair, once
richly luxuriant, had fallen off, unit
scarcely one half Of il remained, ant
that looked dry and crisp, with here
and there premature line of gray
She stopped slightly, and her motions
were lifeless.
A faint smile parted her lips as
grasped her hand with all the warmth
Of friendly interest. But il faded nj
most as soon as il was born. / triet
TO talk with her in cheerful strain
and did succeed in awakening /,
brief interest in the olden time. Blu
the present was too painfully a rea
thing; IL would not let her thoughts
indulge in pleasant fancies. coul,
not help asking about herself and he,
children; and this turned the curren
OF her feelings into its wonted chan
mel, and listened 10 her sad heart
stories, and painful experiences il
sickness, until my own feelings wer
deeply shadowed. pitied her. Wha
asombre, suffering life had been hers
Into what world Of misery, instca,
ofhappiness, had marriage translates
her
As she talked, observed her hus
band particularly. II was plain tina
that he had but little sympathy wit
, his wifo's state Of feeling. He was
, sufferer with her, though in lighte
! degree; and, as his sufferings origins
j ted in her, there was, plainly lac
. Of kindly patience towards his CON
: panion. Several times he intcrrupte
J her, trying TO draw the conversatio
into another channel and once o
Z twice he threw in depreciating senter
ces, as IL she were exaggcrating Oh
unhappy story of her life.
: I learned that Mrs. Wilkins scarce
: lly, ifever, went out Of her own hous,
Her duties were arduous, and her abb
ity, from i'll health, small. Ever
: day she worked TO bodily exhaustion
4 and usually in pain. There was n
recreation Of any kind, bodily ormeI
o tai. II was a living death. No woi
der she was q dropping, wretched, ne
!. vous woman.
}, On the next day | called TO sec m