Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-06-03
4opnlar GaIss.
THE NERVOUS WIFE CURED.

G THE NERVOUS WIFE CURED
My friend Wilkins married a swee
young girl, of quiet, amiable disposition
but in no way skilled in those domestic
arts, without knowledge of which wife,
duties are always felt to be hard in tht
beginning. He was the envy of more thai
one who had aspired to the possession @
her hand. knew him to be Industrious
intelligent and kind hearted; and I fell
sure that he had taken a life companion
who would be faithful and loving. Ths
promise was bright enough to warrant
prophecy of more than ordinary happiness
They removed to another town. Ten
years afterwards, in passing through tina,
town, called upon Wilkins, who met me
with the old, frank cordially. Eyes and
face were in glow of pleasure when, still
grasping his hand. inquired after his wife.
His eountenance changed instantly.
"Poor Nary" he said, in sad, discour-
aged way. "She has no health."
slim sorry" was my natural response.
"Sckness and the loss of two of our
children have so worn down body and mind
that she is now but a shadow of her for
mer self. Worst of all, her nerves are
completely shattered. But you must see
her. To meet an old friend will do her
: good. Will you spend thu evening with
us!'' -
/ assented, and then made further in
quiries about bis family and worldly con-
dition. His story was not very bright
one. The birth of their first child was fol-
lowed by prostrating Sickness, which
brought the young mother to the utmost
verge of death.
"She has never had good health since,''
said Wilkins, in depressed voice. "My
income was small, and We could not afford
the amount of household assistance, in the
beginning. that she really required; and SO
everything was against her restoration to
sound health. Children came rapidly bring
ing with them more exhausting cares. And
the death of two of our little ones, to which
have referred, seemed to complete the
work of ruin. She is now a hopeless in
valid, poor week. nervous, unhappy crea-
ture, mere wreck of what you saw ten
years ago, moving, like fearful ghost,
through her daily round of duties, and only
kept alive by the constant and careful at
tention of physician. don't think the
doctor has been out CT my house for two
weeks at time for six years, and | am
sure has received more than three hun
dred pounds of money in that time. The
fact is what, with Doctors bills, nurses,
medicines, and the hundred nameless ex-
penses sick and nervous wife entails upon
man, my fortunes have been marred.-
They keep me poor"
Wilkins spoke in fretful voice. It was
plain that he had grown impatient under
abe trials to which the bad health of his
wife had exposed him.
/ called at his office again towards eve.
ming, and went home with him. Had |
met Mrs. Wilkins in the street, / would
not have recognized in her the happy bride,
who, ten years before, blushing in beauty,
had seen giving her hand in a lfe-part.
nershiP, with such loving confidence in the
future, to the husband of her choice. Her
couutenance was wan and wasted, all the
beautifully rounded outlines gone; her eyes
deeply sunhen, rero lung ufu, UTMOST u Iu-
difference; her hair, once richly luxuriant,
had fallen off, until scarce half of it re.
manned, and that looked dry and crisp, with
here and there a premature line of grey
She stopped slightly, and her motions were
lifelcss.
A faint smile paited her lips as grasp
ed her hand with all the warmth of a gen
uine friendly interest. But it faded almost
as soon as it was born. | tried to tall
with her in a cheerful strain, and did sue
ceed in awakening brief interest in thu
olden time. But the present was too pain
fully real; it would not permit her thought
to indulge in pleasant fancies. could no
help asking about herself and her children
and this turned the current of her feeling
into its wonted channel; and listened I,
her sad heart-stories, and painful expert
ences.in sickness, until my own feeling
were deeply shadowed. Ipitied her. Int
what world of misery, sinstead of hap2i
ness, had marriage translated her!
As she talked / observed her husban
carefully. 1t was plain that he had bu
little sympathy with his wife's state of feeI
ing. He was sufferer with her, thoug
in lighter degree; and, rs his suffering
originated in her, there was plainly Gel
tain lack of kindly patience towards hi
companion. Several times he interrupte
her, trying to draw the conversation in:
anoiber. channel; and once or twice b
threw in depreciating sentences, as is sh
were sxaggerstiDg the unhappy story
her life.
learnedthat Mrs. Wilkins rarely,
ever, went out ether own .honse. Her d,
ties sere vefySsrduous, and her ability