The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-03-18
Fofthe National Era.
THE WIFE'S MISTAKE.

The carriage stopped at the door, ana, IN
few minutes, Margaret Hale entered the apart
ment where her husband sat, wholly absorbed
il porting over day -books and ledgers.
"Those tiresome accounts still, !" she exclaim
cd. "Will you never find time for anything
bat busines Ralph Have you no taste fcr
anything beyond fgures2"
Margaret; but the sadness in the tone
was uuheeded, as she continued
ave had such charming evening at Mrs
C.'s. Capt. Hill related many interesting Incl
dents of his residence in Egypt, and Mr.. War
ren, the famous young poet, read Maud and
some of the most beautiful passages in " Aurora
Singh l must read to you some of Romney's
Great Thoughts on Duty"
She went hastily to her chamber for the vol
ume. When she returned, her quiet entrance
was undeard by her husband, whose pen was
rapidly moving over the almost interminable
columns Of figures. With an expression of i'm.
patience, almost of scorn, resting on her face,
she hastily turned away.
"And this is the end of all my dreams Of
marriage" said she, as she reached her room
"He has a taste for drndgery. His pursuits
AID tastes are all commonplace, and must &c
from home to find the sympathy 1 need, to
End those who will appreciate, with me, the
books love, and the beautiful in art, for which
he has neither eye nor ear. Why did he not
marry woman who had neither heart nor mind
to be continually unsstis6sd?"
In the room she had left, Ralph Hale sat,
hour after hour, till his brain was weary and
bis eyelids dropped. Then, laying aside his
books he remained a long time in deep
thought.
"God bless my Margaret" he prayed, 4" and
give me strength to bear all things. Give me
power to make her happy"
Putting far away all thoughts of her husbands
rea' nobleness of character, jealousy preserving
the memory Of every slight difference in their
tastes and pursuits, Margaret cherishes the
spirit Of discomfort til It embitered every hour
Of her life, and sent suffering she never dream ed
Of to the heart of her husband, who would gladly
have sacrificed every earthly good for her hap
pinass
sudden and severe illness came to her,
while Ralph was in distant city. Oae day,
during her slow recovery, the aged minister
VINO had baptized her in infancy, was sitting By
her side.
Margaret" be said, after steadfastly watch
ing her troubled face, "you are very unhappy
| have seen il long time. / should not rec
ognise in you nv once cheerful, happy child
May | not know what great sorrow has come to
yOu?D
Then, with sobs and tears, she told him all
her unhappiness.
After short silence, the old man spoke
again; and there was sadness, almost sternness
in his voice. Years ago, Margaret, wealthy
New York merchant, became involved in q
speculation, whose failure suddenly took from
him the accumulated wealth of his years of com
mercial enterprise. There were few years Of
weary vain struggling to regain what he had
lost; then deep dependency, lingering dis
ease, and death. His wife and four children
we're left almost penniless. The eldest child
hoy of sixteen, had finished his preparatory
studies, and was about to enter college. BY this
stroke, he found his prospects for the future
eouded; but with noble self-forgetfulness, he
turned cheerfully into the way fate marked out
Tor him, and walked resolutely in it.
de obtsiaed situation with merchant,
who had known his father, where his faithful
ness and untiring devotion to his duties won
the confidence Of all who knew him. During
the frst years of her widowhood, his mother
mad taught private school for young ladies
and IT was the boys highest ambition to relieve
ner OF this necessity, and give her the rest her
feeble health required. l cannot tell you al
hl' privations, his willing sacrifice of every
recreation, his continual selfdenial, that be
might tighten the burdens of those 80 dear to
him.
lear after year, success crowned his efforts
10 the village where his mother had passed the
years 0; her childhood and the first years oil
9eF married life, he purchased pleasant resi-
Gence tor her, and then, lucrative bushes,
oeng opened to him in the West, be came here
at the time of his removal here, accident re
Fesied to him the fact that the widow and in
SaId daughter of one whose fortune was, by hi,
iSners advice, risked in that unfortunate spec
ua'lOn which had so changed his own life
we're living in extreme poverty. To him the,
axe indebted for the pleasant home that nov
shelters them, and for the delicate, thoughtful
Illustration to their daily comfort.
NOW, when the commercial world is clouded
anu disasters crowd thick and fast upon him
st - upon others, his anxious thoughts turn t
's g mother and suffering sister, in the it'll
=. image home, whose comfort depends upon him
= he other lonely Preside, to which his con
:. sou. thoughttulness imparts its only light, ant
I'm l. ha own home, and the young wife who's
Wpp'hes' Is dearer to him than life. For this
sn1saFet, Ralph Hale gives his days to inces
r rna' toni, and willingly sacrifices the socia
P'TIssures ne is so eminently fitted to enjoy.
nave been in these three homes. With
s I've mat Is almost reverence, his mother an,
t5at eS speak his name, and with full heart
,L a"A Uod for his life-that life so filed will
sr3 SSeauty of aelfrenunciation. The widow
taT daughter whose hearts he has made glad
Saroa. MS numberless acts of kindness, of hi
tba" a'g and unceasing watchfulness, and dali
be s5 asa Gods blessing on him whose life is
messing to others.
Ma.. ~ MS own home, the wife whose love shoul
fa,t ', . nim, whose gentle ministry should com
bso, quo strengthen him, turns coldly from hin
h, o ne prefers the happiness of others t
-, o w qualification, because the pressing du
h., u ~. NE claim all his waking hours, leavin
n, ~ I1le leisure for the claims of society, O
70 @s nigh Intellectual culture which few a.
GH SoOse lives are not wholly devoted to it.
bsvo haph, | have never known you
ing wife. you SA'u 'ne "eel
-ue old man continued: "Some men tal