The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1859-08-03
Mistell aneons,
THE WIFE'S EXPERIENCE.

~Gh A, why don't go" ever dress up!
lYB asked little Nellie Thornton las
her mother finished brushing the chllds
hair, and tying her clean apron. There
was a momentary surprise on Mrs. Thorn
tons face; but she answered, carelessly.-
oh. no one cares how look
Don't Pa love to see you look pretty
persisted the child. The mother did not
reply. but invountarily she glanced at
her slovenIy attire, the faded and worn
calico dress and dingy apron, both bear
inc witness to an intimate acquaintance
with the dish-pan and stove-the slip
sbod shoe, and soiled stockings-and she
could not help remembering how she had
that morning appeared with uncomed
hair, and prepared her husbands break
fast before he left home for the neighbor-
ing market-town. Sure enough! mus
ed she. show / do lookp And then
Memory pointed back1a few years to
neatly and tastefully-dressed maiden,
sometimes busy in her fathers houses
again mingling with her young compan-
ions, but never untidy in her appearance
always fresh and blooming; and this she
know, full well, was picture of herself,
when Charles Thornton first won her
Young heart. Such was the bride he had
taken to his pleasant home,-how had
mature life fulfilled the prophecy OF youth
She was still comely in features, grace
full in form, but few would call her hand
some or an accomplished woman; for,
:,Ias all other characteristics were over
siadowed by this repulsive trait. Yet
Size loved TO see others heat. and her
house ind children did not seem to be-
long to her,so rs housekeeper she excelled
aud her husband was long i'll acknowledg-
irr t. himself the unwelcome fact that
he hal married IN incorrigible sloyen.
When, like too many other young
wives, she began to grow negligent in re-
gard to her dress, he readily excused her
in his own mind, and thought she is not
we'll or she has SO much to do and
preceiving no abatement in his kind atten
tons, she maturity concluded he was per-
soctly satisfied. AS her family cares III
creased, and she went less into company,
she became still more careless of her per-
aonal appearance, and contented herself
with seeing that nothing was lacking
which could contribute to the comfort OF
her husband and children, never suppos-
ing that so trivial matter as her own
apparel could possibly affect their happi-
ness. ALI this chain of circumstances
hitherto unthought of passed before her,
as the little prattler at her side repeated
the query,-'Don't Pa love to see you
look prettyP
yes, my child she answered, and her
resolve was taken,-she would try an ex-
pertinent, and prove whether Mr.. Thorn
ton we're really Indifferent on the subject
or not. Giving Nellie a picture-boos
with which to amuse herself, she went
TO her own room, mentally exclaiming, al
any rate, I'll never put on this rig again
NOT even washing day. She proceeded
TO her clothes-press and removed one
dress after another,-some were ragged,
others faded, all out of style. and some
united to wear,-at length she found one
which lad long ago been laid aside, as
too light to wear about the house. Ii
was nice French. print, rose-colored and
white, and she remembered once been
favorite with her husband. The old
adage, fashions como round in sever
years. seemed true in this case; for the
dress was made in the then prevailing
style.
This is just the thing she thought
and she FASTENED to perform her toilette
saving to herself, i must alter my dari
ginghsm to wear mornings, and get it al
ready before Charles come home Their
she released her long, dark hair form it
imprisonment in most graceful twist, ane
carefully brushing its still gossy waves
she plated it in the broad braids which
Charles used so much to admire in tn
day. of her girlhood. Tbs unWonte'