Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-07-30
FrOm Moore's Rural New Yorker.
THE WIFE'S EXPERIMENT.
BY KATE CAMERON.

BY KATE CAMERON.
"Ma, why don't yOu ever dress I'D ?" asked
little Nellie Thornton, as her mother finished
brushing the chid's hair, and tying her clean
apron. There was n mOmentary surprise on
Mrs. ThOrnton's face but she answered, care
lcsSly, 90, no one cares how look"
Don't Pa love to see you look pretty ~
persisted the child. The mother did not re-
ply, but involuntarily she glanced at her
slOvcnly attire, the faded and worn calico dress
and dingy apron, both bearing witness to an
intimate acquaintance with tho dish-pan and
stovc-the slip-shOd shoes and sOiIed stock
ings-and she could not help remembering
how she had that morning appeared with un-
combed hair, and prepared her husbands s
breakfast before he left home for the neigh
boring markct.tOwn. "Surc enough 7" muSed
she, chow do look" And then memory
pointed back few years to n neatly and taste.
fully-tlrcSsed maiden, sometimes busy in her
fathers house, again mingling with her young
companions, but never untidy in her appear.
ancc, always fresh and blooming, and this. she
knew full well, was picture Of herself when
Charles ThortOn first won her young heart,
Such was the bride he had taken to his pleas.
ant home-how had mature life fulfilled the
prophecy Of youth?
She was Still comely in features, graceful in
form, but few could call her handsome or nm
accomplished woman; for alas! oil other
characteristics were OvcrshadOwed by this re.
pulsive trait. Yet she loved to sec others
neat, and her house and children did not seem
to belong to her. so we'll kept and tidy did
they always look. As housekceper she ex-
celed, and her husband was long in ncknowl-
cdsing to himself the unwclcomc fact that he
hal married an incorrieiblc slovcn.
When, like too many young wives she began
to grow negligent in regard to her dress, he
readily excused her in his own mind, and
thought "shc is not WE'LL" or, "shc has SC
much to do" and pcrcciving no abatement o
his kind attentions, she naturally concluded
he wasperfectly satisfied AS her family cares
increased, and she went less into company,
She became still more careless of her personal
appearance; and contentcd herself with seeing
that nothing was lacking which could contri.
butte to the comfort Of her husband and chill.
drcn, never supposing that so trivial matter
rs her own apparel could possibly affect their
happiness. All this chain Of circumstances
hitherto unthought Of, passed before her, as
the little prattlcr at her side repeated the
qUery,-
Don't Pa love to see you look pretty ?"
Yes, my child" she answered, and her re.
solve was takcn,-she would try an expert
mcnt, and prove whether Mr.. Thornton were
really indifferent on the subject, or not. Civ.
ing Nellie picture book with which to amust
herself, she went to her own room, mentally
.cXclaiming, "at any rate, Ill never put on
this rig. again. even on washing day.
She proceeded to her clothes press and removed
one dress after another, some wcre ragged
others faded, all out Of style, and some unfit
to wcar,-at length she found one which had
been laid aside rs "too light to wear about tho
house 1t was nice French print, rose. col
orcd and white, and she remembered had once
been favoritc with her husband. The old
adagc, fashions come round once in seven
years, seemed true in this case for the dress
was made in the prevailing style.
This is just the thing" she thought, and
she FASTENED to perform her toilette, saying
to hcrsclf, 81 must alter my dark gingham
to wear mornings, and get it all ready before
Charles comes home" Then she released hcl
long, dark hair from its Imprisonment in O
most ungraccful twist, and carefully brushing
its still glossy waves, she plated it in the broad
brads which Charles used so much to admire
m the days Of her girlhood.
The unwontcd task brought back many
"reminiscences Of lOng-vanished years. and
tears glistcned in her eyes as she thought ol
the many changes Time had wrought in those
she loved but she murmurcd, "What hath
sadness like tho change that in ourselves VIC
find" In that hour she realized how IN ap-
parcntly trivial fault had gained the mastery
over her, and impcrceptibly had placed bar
rier between her and the one she best loved
on earth. True, he never chided her, never
apparently noticed her altered appearance,
but she knew he no longer urged her going
into society, nor did he seem to care about
receiving his friends at his own house, altho'
he was social man. and had once felt proud
to introduce his young wife to his large circle
Of acquaintanccs.
Now, they seldom went out together except
to church, and even dressing for that was
generally too much of an effort for Mrs. Thorn.
ton; she would stay at home Ito keep house, -
after preparing her little ones to accompany
their iathcr-and the ncighbOrs soon ceased
expecting to meet her at public worship or in
the social gathcrings-and so one by one they
neglected to call on her, until but few of tho
number continued to exchange friendly civil.
ties with her. She had wondered at this, had
felt mortified and panied heretofore; now she
clearly saw 1t was her fault. the veil was re-
moved from her eyes, and the mistake Of her
life was revealed in its true enOrmity. Sim
cerely did she repent Of her past error, calmly
and seriously resolve on future and Immediate
amendment.
Meanwhile her hands were not idle, and at
length the metamOrphosc was complete. The
bright drapery hung gracefully about her form,
imparting an unusual brilliancy to her com.
plexion-hcr best wrought collar was fastened
with a costly broach, her husbands wedding
gift, which had not seen the light for many
day. Glancing once more at the mirror, to
be certain that her toilette needed no more
finishing touches she took her sewing and
returned to the sitting-room.
Little Nellie had wenried Of her picture
book, and was now playing with the kitten.
AS Mrs. Thornton entered she clapped her
hands in childish delight
"Oh, Ma, how prctty-prctty and run.
ming to her kissed her again, then drew her
little chair close to her side, and eagerly watched
her as she piled her needle, repairing her ging-
ham dress.
Just before it was completed, Nellie's broth
crs came from school, and; pausing at the half.
opened door, Willie whispered to Charlie.
~ guess we've got company, for mothers
all dressed up"
It was with mingled emotions Of pleasure
and pain that Mrs. Thornton observed her
children were unusually docile and obedient,
Fastening to perform their accustomed duties
without being even reminded Of them. Chill.
dren arc natural and unaffected lovers of the
beautiful, and their intuitiye perceptions will