The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1858-10-16
FROM the Lnndon Family Herald.
A Tale for Truant Husbands.

lth-lhhlrt hu lnuh MS nat
"O-lm going out" was the careless re-
sponse,
"But where P" asked his wife,
"What odds docs il make, Emmh 2' re-
turned her husband, 81 shall be back At
my usual time"
The young wife hestnied, and quick flush
oNrrsprpad her face. She seemed o. have
made up her mind 70 speak plainly upon a
subject which had lain uneasiiy upon her
heart i0l some time, and she could not let
the opportunity pass. II required an effort
but sho perseryered,
"Let me tell you what odds Il makes %
me-" shc said, in kind bat tfcmulous tone.
"lf / cannot have your company here at
home ! should At least feel better II | knew
where sou were
"liut you know that / am safe, Emma
and what more can you ask ?"
/ 81 do not know that you are safe, George
/ ! know nothing about you when you arc
away"
"fauh pooh Would you have Il that !
am not capable Of taking care of myAcf'"
,"Npu put a wrong construction upon my
words, George. Love b. always anxious
when its dearest object Is away. II did not
love YOU us do, might not BE- thus uneasy,
When you are ut your place ot business,
never feel thus, because | know | can seek
aud find yup ut ruy ymomcnti but when you
are absent during these long evenings ] get
70 wondering where you are, Then ] begin
to feel luncsomei and 30 one thought fol-
lows another until feel troubled and un-
cusy, Oh--if you would only stay with me
portion Of your evenings
AHA thought that was what you we're
aiming at" said George, with playful shake
Of the head. "You would have me here
every evening"
"Wcl-can YOU wonder az IL P" returned
Emma, 81 used 10 be very happy when you
came to spend an evening with ne before We
were mnrricd and know should be very
happy in your society now
"Ah' said George, with smile, "thosc
were business meetings We were arranging
then for The IutdTC,'
"Aud why not continue so to do, my hus-
bdnd | am sure We. could lee as happy
now ns ever. II yorf will remember one of
our plans was 10 make q HOME
"And haven't we got one, Emma?'
we have certainly place Ia which to
live,' answered the vile, sowcwhat cyusi,ely.
"And it is our home" pursued George,
and" he added with a SVrt of confident
flourish, "homo is the wiic's peculiar prov
incc. She has charge Of il, and all her work
is there's while the duties OF the husband
call him to other scenes"
well udmit that, so Ear az certain du-
ties are conccrncd,' replied Emma. "But
,au must remember tAAt-ysc A4tll-nera- re-
nNation from lubori Ne need time for 500
citl and mental Improvement aud enjoyment
aud what time have We for this save our eve
nipgs5 Why should not this ho nay homo
OF an evening, as well as in the daytime and
IN The night ?'
"Wcll-isn't {, ?" asked George,
"lloW can il bc II YOU are not here What
makes home for children, il it hc not the
abode OF the parents? What home can q
husband have where there is no wife? ? And
what real home comforts can q wife enjoy
where there is no husband You do not
consider how lonesome am all alone here
during these long evenings They are the
very seasons when | avn at leisure TO enjoy
yy4sir-t,.,is,t.- t.-.i.la..ALip.- when Nou would
be- 1T leisure To enjoy miuc, II 1t is worth en-
juyiug. They are the seasons when the har-
pirst hours OF home life might bc passed.
Comc-Nill YOU not spend u few OF your eve
ningS with me ~
You sec enough of me as it is, said the
husband, Lightly
ALLOW me to be the best Judge of that
George. You would be very lonesome here,
all alone
"Not II il was my place Of husincss,-oS it
is of yours" returned the young man. "lou
are used TO staying here. All wives belong
to home.
Just remember, my husband, that, prcvi-
ous to our marriage, | had pie ,sant society
all the time. OF course ] remained at kome
much of my time but ! had a father and
mother there, and had brothers and
sisters there - and our evenings were
happily spent. Finally gave all up for you.
len the old home, and sought home with
nay husband. Aud NOW have / not u right
to expect some :your companionship? How
4 !
evening, whilcyou were obliged to remain
here olonc?'
"Why--l should like it well enough"
"Ah-but you would not be willing to try
it,"
Yes. l would" said George, at a venture
"WiIl you remain hrFc every evening next
week, and let me spend my time among my
female friends ?"
Certainly WILL" he replied; "aud as
sure YOU l shall not be 50 lonesome as you
imagine
With this the husband went out, aud was
soon among his friends. lie was steady, |
industrious man, loved his wife truly but, I
like thousands of others, he had contracted a
habit of spending his evenings abroad, and
thought II no harm. His only practical idea |
of home seemed to be, that it was place
which his wife took care of, and where he /
could eat, drink and sleep, as long as he could /
pay for il. In short, he treated il as sort /
Of private boarding house, of which his wife I
was lundladyi and if he paid all the bills he |
considered his duty done. His wife had fire. |
qucntly asked him to stay at home with her, /
but she had never yentured upon any argu- +
ment before, and he had no conception ofhow
much she missed him. She always seemed
happy when he came home, and he supposed .
she could always be so.
Monday evening came, and George Wilson /
remained true to his promise. His wife put |
on her bonnet and shawl, and he said he /
would remain and keep house"
What will you do while l am gone ?" En- /
ma asked
"Oh-I shall read and sing, and enjoy my
self generally"
Very well,' said Emma. ~ shall be back /
carly"