Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-11-06
M | S C f L L A N Y.
HOME COMFORTS.
A Tale for Truant IIusbn nds

Tale for Truant Husbands.
Where are you going, George p asked Mrs
Wilson, as her husband rose from the tea-table,
and took his hat
'Oh. I'm going out was the careless re-
sponse.
But where? p asked his wife.
What odds does it make, Emma" returned
her husband. Il shall be back at my usual
time
The Young wife hestated, and a quick flush
overspread her face She seemed to have made
up her mind to speak plainly on Il subject which
had laid uneasily upon her heart for some time,
and she could not let the opportunity pass. 1t
required an effort, but she persevered.
Let me tell you what odds it makes to me,
she said in kind but tremulous tone. If
cCnnot have your company here at home,
should at least feel much better if knew where
you were
But you know that | am safe. Emma and
what more can you ask p
Il do not know that you are safe, George |
know nothing about YOU when YOU are away.'
Pooh, pooh Would you have it that / am
not capable of taking care of mysef?'
You put wrong construction upon my
words, George. Love is always anxious when
its dearest object is away. If | did not love
you as do, might not be uneasy. When YOU
are at your place of business do not feel thus,
because know ! can seek and find YOU at any
moment; but when you are absent during these
long evenings, | get to wondering where YOU
are. Then L begin to feel lonesome; aud so
one thought follows another until feel troub-
led and uneasy. Oh, if you would only stay
with me portion of your evenings
Aha, thought that was what you were aim
ing at said George, with playful shake of the
head. you would have me here every evening.
We'll, can you wonder at it" returned En-
ma. Il used to be very happy when you came
to- spend an evening with me before we were
married and know l should be very happy in
your society now
'Ah,' said George, with smile, those were
business meetings. We were arranging then
for the future
'And why not continue so to do, my husband
am sure we could be as happy now as ever
If you will remember one of our plans was to
make a home.
And haven't we got one, Emma p
I'VE have certainly place in which to live,
answered the wife, somewhat evasively.
And it is our home pursued George. And, ,
he added, with a sort of confident flourish,
home is the wtes peculiar province. She has
the charge of it, and all her work is there ;
while the duties of the husband call him to 9TH
er scenes
WELL | admit that, so far as certain duties
are concerned replied Emma. But you must
remember that we both need relaxation from
labor we need time for social and mental i'm
provement and enjoyment; and what time have
we for this save our evenings? Why should
not this be my home of an evening as well as
in the day time and in the night" "
WELL isn't it p asked George.
How can it be, when you are not here? What
:.
abode of the parents What home can hus-
band have where there is no wife And what
real home comforts can wife enjoy where there
is no husband You DO not consider how lone
some | am all alone here during these long win
ter evenings They are the very seasons when
am at leisure to enjoy your companionship,
and when you would be at leisure to enjoy mine,
if it is worth enjoying. They are the seasons
when the happiest hours of home life might be
passed. Come, will you not spend few of
your evenings with me"
You see enough of me as it is,' said the hus-
band, lightly.
ALLOW me to be the best Judge of that, George.
You would be very lonesome here, all alone
Not if it was my place of business as it is
yours, returned the young man. You are used
to staying here. All wives belong at home
Just remember, my husband, that, previous
to our HluTIldpe, Hdu Pheasant society all tne
time. Of course ! remained at home much of
the time but had father and mother there,
and had brothers and sisters there, and our
evenings were happily spent. Finally l gave
all up for you. | left the old home, and sought
home with my husband. And now, have
not right to expect some of your companion
ship? How would you like it to have me away
every evening" while you were obliged to re-
main here alonep
why, l should like it well enough
'Ah but You would not be willing to try it,
Yes, / would said George, at venture
will you remain here every evening next
week, and let me spend my time among my fe-
male friendsP'
Certainly | will, he replied; 'and / assure
you shall not be so lonesome as you imagine
With this the husband went out, and was soon
among his friends. He was steady, industri-
GUS man, and loved his wife truly; but, like
thousands of others, he had contracted a habit
OF spending his evenings abroad, and thought
it no harm. His only practical idea of home
seemed to be- that il was a place which his wife
took care of, and where he could eat, drink and
sleep, as long as he could pay for it. In short
he treated it as sort of private boarding louse
of which his wife was landlady; and if he paid
all the bills, he considered his duty DONE His
wife had frequently asked him to stay at home
with her, but she had never ventured upofi any
argument before, and he had no conception OF
how much she missed him. She always seemed
happy when he came home, and he supposed
cha oould alxyavs hp sn