Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1858-05-28

towards his companion. Several times
he interrupted her, trying to draw the
conversation into another channel and
once or twice he threw in depreciating
sentences, as if she were exaggerating the
unhappy story of her life.
learned that Mrs. Wilkins rarely, if
ever, went out of her own house. Her
duties were vc.y arduous, and her ability,
from i'll health, small. Every day she
works to bodily exhaustion, and usually
in paine. There was no recreation of
any kind, bodily or mental. 1t was a
living death. No wonder she was a
dropping, wretched, nervous woman.
Next day, called to see my friend >
having made up my mind to have plain
talk with him. l referred to his wife,
expressing my earnest sympathy in regard
to her.
Poor Mary :" he replied; cher case
is hopeless, and mine, too, fear
"While there's life, there's hope, said
I, using The physicians halfdcspairing
axiom.
He regarded me little curiously.
"How often do you tax, her out :" l
inquired.
He shook his head.
Cant afford carriage hire; It's as much
as can do to pay the doctor. No, no
neither Of us have time nor money to
spend 70, riding out"
Change. and fresh air, you will find
better and cheaper medicines than doc
tors stuff. Do you take her to the
seaside in summer -
You are jesting,' he replied, with the
air of ono who felt that an undue liberty
has been taken.
"Far from it. my FRIEND" l answered
seriously, Il felt too warm an interest in
you to Jest on subject like this
".A visit to watering place is a lux
ury.' he remarked sadly.
do not name them as luxuries in
YOUR case. If the encrvated votary Of
pleasure needs them for recreation, and
to mpart new zest TO the years sue
ceeding round of gay existence, how
much more essential arr they for the sick
the nervous, the exhausted toilcr in life 5
field of earnest labor. fear, my friend
that you have not thought wisely o
your wife's true position; that, in some
sense, you are to blame for her present
i'll health and state Of meLtal depress
ion."
"How -
wilkins looked surprised.
7 a,crarnl ssIs moi
a piece of scnseless machinery not made
up of series of iron weels that can dc
their work as well in the dark uu er
ground chambers as in the broad daylight
Even the flower must have change-alr
sunlight, morning, evening, and th'
advancing seasons, for is healthy growtf
and maturity. But the human soul is o
higher ordination; ana has mu!titQdin
Gus wants compared with the flower
smut up the flower from the warm sur
and the refreshing air, and will it moi
grew sickly nay, will It not 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 looked amazed, and | was
for little while in doubt whether he
were offended at my freedom, or astoun
ded at his own blindness touching the
nature and wants of the human SOU
which he h, d joined in life companion.
ship with his own.
"Natnre's two best physicians l went
| al, nd
what is better, they charge nothing fol
attendance.
ITO large part of mankind answer
ed wilkins, time is money. 1t is our
case"
"Don't make that too positive con
clusion, Increase the strength, and you
diminish the hours of labor-nay, more,
YOU remove from the cause of extreme
exhaustion. My word for it, you hac
spent twenty pounds year in giving
ycur wife change Of scene, a.bathing
and mental as we'll as bodily recreation
your doctors bill would have been reduc
ed by more than that amount. How Of
ten do you take her to concerts, or Other
places of innocent amusement O.
I'VE haven't been to a concert for five
years." said he.
"And yet remember she was passion
ately fond of music"
i ave can't afford it," remarked Will
kins, gloomily.
"Better go without dinner occasion
ally. Health Of the soul is quite as
essential as health Of the body. If yor
s,arve the former, what is there in mere
eating and drinking worth living for -
MARY woludn' tlgo if were to purchase
tickets. She has housed herselfso long
that she has no desire to step across the
threshold
"For which, speaking frankly, and tc
an old friend. you are,in great measure
to blame. And. unless you at once
and with apurpose not be set aside by
first difficulties, actually compel your
dropping wife to 80 forth, few years
will close up the history ofa wretchad
life"
{ "Ah - said he, 81 can feel the force
of what you say But how and where
to begin !. That is the question"
~ notice." was my reply, "that eel
ebrated composer and pianist is in your
town, and will give this evening one o
his concerts. Take her to hear him.
"Pm sure she will not CO."
"Pm going to invite her." said l; sane
don't believe she will refuse me-"
Wilkins was quite positive.
"We'll see. You will take note O
of invitation from me. l will enclose
tickets for YOU both, and say that ! viii