Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1858-09-18
A NERVOUS WIFE CURED.

My hicnd Wilkins married sweet Young
girl, oF a qui,t I, aiuiaplc disposition, hut in 10
way skilled in those domestic arts without II
knowledge Of which a wifr'S tluti. are always
felt to hc hard in the beginning. lie was the
envy Of more than one who had aspire Il to thu
possession Of her hand. knew him to br il.
duStliops, intelligent and kind hearted and |
felt sure that he had taken n lfc.conpanion
who would be faithfula and loving. The prom
isc was bright enough to warrant prophecy
of more than ordinary happiness.
They removed to another town. Ten years
afterwards in passing through that town, |
called upon Wilkins, who met me with the
old, frank cordiality. Eyes and face were in a
glow Of pleasure, when, still gra>ping his
hand, inquired after his wife. Ills countc-
nance changed instantly.
Poor Mary" he said, in a sad, discour-
aged way. "She has no health"
I'm Sorry,' was my natural icsponsc.
"Sickuess and the loss of two of our child.
rem have 50 worn down body and mind that
she is now but shadow of her former SELF
Worst of all, hcr. nerves are completely shat
tered. But you must see her. To meet an
old fiicnd will do her good. Will you spend
the evening with u.s."
asscntcd, and then made further inquiries
about his family and worldly condition. Ills
story was not very bright one. The birth
Of their first child was followed by prostra-
ting sickness, which brought the young moth.
er to the utmost verge of death.
She has never had good health since, "
said Wilkins, in depressed voice. My in
come was small, and VIC could not afford the
amount of household assistance, il the begin
ning that she really required; and so every
thing was against her restoration to sound
health. Children came rapidly, bringing with
them more exhausting cares. And-t the death
Of two of our little ones, to which have re-
fcrred, seemed to complete the work of ruin.
She is now hopeless invalid, poor, weak,
nervous, unhappy creature. mere wreck OF
what you saw ten years ago, moving like u
fearful ghost, through her daily round Of du-
ties, and only kept alive by the constant aud
careful attention Of physician. don: think
the doctor has been out Of my house for two
weeks at time for the last six years, and
am sure has received more than three hundred
pounds of my money in that time. The fact
is, what with dnctor'S bills, nurses, medicines.
aud the hundred namcrSs expenses sick
and q nervous wife entails upon man, my
fortunes have been marrcd. They keep me
poor"
wilkins spoke in frctful voice. 1t was
plain that he had grown impatient under the
trials which the bud health vi his wife had cx-
posed him.
called at his Office again towards evening,
and went home with him. Had met Mrs.
wilkins in the street would not have recog.
nized IN her the happy bride who, ten years
before, blushing in beauty, had seen giving
her hand in a life partnership, with such low
ing confidence in the future, to the husband
Of her choice. Her countenance was wan and
wasted, all the beautifully rounded outlines
gone her eyes, deeply sunkcn, were languid
almost to Indifference her hair, once richly
luXurant, had fallen off until scarce half Of il
remained, and that looked dry and crisp, with
here and there u premature line Of gray
She stopped slightly. and her motions were
liIelcSs a faint smile parted her lips aS !
grasped her hand with all the warmth of n
genuine friendly interest But it faded al
most AS soon as it was born. tried to talk
with her in cheerful strain, and did succeed
in awakening a brief interest in the oldcn
time. But the present was too painfully rcal
it would not permit her thoughts to indulge
in pleasant lancirs. | could not help asking
about herself and her children and this turn
ed the current of her feelings into its wonted
channel; and listened to her sad heart Sto-
rics, and painful experiences in sickness, un.
Ill my own feelings were deeply shadnwed.
pitied her What sombre, suffering life had
been hers Into what a world Of misery, in