Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-03-13
NJ | s { L l. "A n Y.
From B!llou's Pctorall
MY WIFE: CAN SHE KEEP RSECRET?
BY LUCY y. GODFREY.


ny LUCY n GODFREY
Aquict, lonely evening is before me- Iuucstion
whether can better employ the time, than in
writing of her whose presence usually brghtcns
our home. She left me but Yesterday, and her
merry laugh still mocks me. as look to her por-
trait on the wall. But did not seat myself to
indulge in reycrie---a purpose ha, been
strengthening itself, in my mind all dav. Twill
write story in the leisure can command. dur
ing Carries absence, and, that the same time
may he devoted to my absent family which they
claim when at home. My wife, Carrie Clifton.
shall be the subject of my little sketch. | will
try to bring before the minds of my readers,
some OF her real beauty and worth, though it
would take far more skilful writer than am.
to portray her moral excellence and purity. as
know them.
We certainly have no reason to deny the truth
of the old saying, True lovene,er runs smooth"
for we had some trials mid the bright conscious
ness of being loved, which were at the time vex-
atious. Friends interfered, on both sides, most
disinterestedly. ly.-Nlany loved Carrie Lee too
well to allow her to wed poor lawyer without
a word of warning, particularly as a young aris-
tocrat sought her hand most assiduouSv 9th
ers thought it absurd that should think of tax
ing u poor pastors daughter to my freside, and
about for an hcrcsS.
will not stop to quote all the old saws, with
which we were made acquainted by Jealous
friends, who loved us too much to allow us to
be happy our own way. a truce to such nom
sense. Did they suppose that Carrie knew moth
ing of the pinches of poverty? Would the
daughter of a country pastor. who had reared
eight children on six hundred year. believe
that, "when Poverty enters at the door, Love
flies out at the window ~ No-Carrie had new
cr entered home more hallOwed by family af-
fecton than her fathers. She knew that its
members were often obliged to make sacrifices
for each other, but she had not yet learned that
their happiness had been thus lessened. She
had learned self-dependence, and, for the past
two years. had taught music, that she might re-
lieve her father of her support, and also to help
to educate younger brother. She had never
met any one, whose character seemed more Who'll
! " worthy of imitation than her mothers, and
that mother sanctioned my addresses. /, too
had the hearty approval of my parents. My
father had married penniless orphan, and of
ten repeated his fayorite maxim,--"Better is
fortune IN wife, than fortune mHh a wife"
! Was it strange that when inclination so warm
| ly seconded the advice of my parents, | met the
remonstrances of other friends with noncha-
lance, which convinced them that they wasted
= NOiuS VII lit
We were married. After short, but pleas
ant wedding tour, at twilight of bright day in
early September QSjD we entered our new
home for the first time Our Home, Never
shall | forget that eyening-we were commenc-
I ing a new lite--nOt atone did we seek to battle
its ills or enjoy its blessings we sought the
presence of the Father of our Spirits and were
happy
Bright indeed were the early days Of our mar
ied life 1t was so new and so pleasant withal,
to find the loved one awaiting my return with
the ever ready smile Of welcome-to don the
dressing gown and slippers, and sit so comfor-
tably III an easy chair, while the voice loved
best madesome favorite author seem doubly dear
to me- Was poor? l did not feel SOTO be
sure had few clients as yet, and was sometimes
obliged to deny myself some luxury, because
could not afford it; but | was young and hope
full indulging none save bright anticipatons OF
the future.
Our first trial came-f laugh now, as | thinl,
how small it was, but Hen, it was nothing to be
lidiculcd. One Saturday night, when Carrie paid
our most excellent maid OF all work, whom my
mother had secured for us, her wages for the
week, she learned that we must seek another girl
as Martha was soon to be married She came tc
me with the information, and | am sure feel
ingly realized my responsibility as head of
Iainlly. w nat SnOulu we 90 +! W. HllSnl Se
another girl, but who could supply Martha,
place?
was puzzling my wits to think of some one
when Carrie said she knew just the person to dc
our housework satisfactorily and, upon my ask
ing who it might be, she replied;
Carrie Lee Clifton, and, if am not mistaken
our house will be as well cared for as Martha
future lords"
treated the idea as absurd, but she woult
not yield her point. She said she should sooI
tire of so useless life as she had, of late beei
4 leading, and she should congratulate herself up
on having something more to do. fancied tina
/ there was a deal of drudgery in housework, ant
was certain that | should not like to have m,
wife, of whom Twas really proud, confined to it
but Carries arguments were so powerfully sec
onded by the state of my finances, that con
sented to trial of her plan
. Everything passed off smoothly-the chang