The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-04-08
THE wfFE's MISTAKE
THE OTHER SIDE.
BY GREY MARros.

| 4
Hisyery beautiful, the history of the wife's
Mistake and have no doubt such cases are
and such an example may be proftabt,. But
let me tell Q tale on the other side.
Ny friend Merle Vernon was a bright, at
tractive girl, well educated and intellig mt and
as good a. she was intelligent. She married
according TO her choice. might if I had the
power, and overwhelmed for romance instead
of q Straightforward story, tell of he first
meeting, and the first impressions, ind the
mutual attraction, and the conclusionSo which
she and Henry Dale were irresistibll drawn,
that they were made for each other, a. could
not by any possibility go through lf, except
together. / saw them when they m,t twice
accidentally, aud to him Unexpectedly and
built q whole romance on his start al d blush
of pleasure, and his animated greet ng. Il
wish / could have seen the same Il ing ten
years later.) Well, time went on Il ey were
married, and every one augured the mo sunny
life for them. Both well educated, Gu .tivated,
and with similarity in taste, even their ,sligious
feelings in harmony; on one point oay was
there any difference. His early life b d been
hard discipline, and he had never kr ,wn the
charm of pleasant home and soci, / inter.
course.
1t is desirable in married life, in rider to
perfect harmony, that the education an habits
of life of each should have been simil.f.
WE'LL as / said, they were married, ne wed
ding journey was over, the wedding sits re.
ceived and paid, and then Henry threw himself
back into his profession with the more zeal for
the time he had lost His wife entered into his
pursuits and interests, devoted her evel iDgs to
him when he could be at home, helpet him to
look for authorities, or took her work book
and sat quietly by, while he knotted ;s brow
over knotty cases.
She had expected some sympathy in er pur-
suits also not much time given to er, but
some help now and then, advice as to sading,
refreshing discussions on topics of aterest.
Evening after evening, week after we ok, she
watched and waited, but there was always !
something of more importance, or We often
engagements out, in which she could nc share. /:
There were always the best reasons in the 5
world; no one could question his propr ,ty, but
there were always reasons. !.
So she learned to plod on by herself helped
her husband still when she could, and tt 20 read
as she might turning over what she h d read /
in her own mind, for want of sympath, in the |,
communication. 4
Still she said to me, next year." an next /
year, Henry says, he will not work 80 h ,rd he |
will have more time"
said to myself, +" Next year, and next ar, MY
dear child, will never GOMEZ
You can break few threads easily but let
me wind around you the habits of man. years,
II wear yards,) and it will take more srengh |
than you have to break them.
Henry grew renowned in his professio }, made
himself famous; but he paid dearly fd his re-
nown. Years gathered on bis heal; they
had position, eminence, wealth, but n home. |
he was much engrossed, and, gradual y, even
his wife was in his way when he was reading
and writing. So they spent their tim, asun-
der.
They gradually withdrew from soc ial life
Sometimes she went out alone but q ,e grew
tired of that. Sometimes she invited fl ends to
her house; but when he either excused himself
entirely, or submitted to the interruptio with q
very bad grace, she gave up even that The
fact is, that, like many another, he mis- ook the
means for the aid, and made that whicl should
have been the means of supplying hi. wants,
the aim and object of life.
While Merle was still nursing the leusive
hope of the next year" his locks ssbitened
with his tolls, and the silver threads or, " more
and more plentiful among her dark locts.
By that time she had almost learneS to live
alone, and it had been wise had she, learned |
the lesson earlier. / heard friend say one
day, in her hearing, II don't believe is polyg.
amy; man who is welded to his profession
ought not to take any other wife," Me le look
ed as if she understood it,
+" But not a word spake she
One day the secret came out. A fri md said
to Henry, You ought to give yours If more
time; you work too hard at your age.a
"Ah," said he, in reply, "There is nothipg
else for me. The fact is, my habits q sc fixed,
am not good for anything else, / do, Il know
anything else, and l suppose / shall cork on
till / die. 4"
There was the end of all my friends beauti-
full hopes. he had untitled himself entirely
for domestic and social life, and 80 those 10
live and die. Quite too common a cas >.
Merle also had made mistake; Or, rather,
If she had made mistake, it was early in life,
and one not easily rectifed.