Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-08-03
firtsibt Stahing.
"The Wiie's Mistake"
by GREY MARION.

II is very beautiful, the history of the
"Wife's Mistake" and l have no doubt
such cases are, and such an example may
be profitable. But let me tell a tale on
the other side.
NV friend Merle Vernon was a bright,
attractive girl, well educated and intelli-
gent. She married according to her choice.
i might, if ! had the power, and we're in,
clined for n romance, instead of a straight
forward story, tell of the first meeting, and
the first impressions, and the mutual at
traction, andthe conclusion to which she and
Henry Dale were irresistibly drawn, that
they were made for each other, and could
not by any possibility go through life ex-
cept together. | saw them when they
met, accidentally, andto him Unexpectedly,
and / built a whole romance on his start
and blush of pleasure and his animated
greeting. Il wish | could have seen the
the same thing ten years later.) We'll,
time went on; they were married, and ev-
cry one argured the most sunny life for
them. Both well educated, cultivated, and
with similarity in taste, even their relig-
Gus feelings in harmony on one point on
ly was there any difference. His early life
had been a hard discipline, and had never
known the charm of a pleasant home and
social intercourse.
1t is desirable in married life, in order
to perfect harmony, that the education and
habits of life should have been similar.
Well, as | said, they weic married, the
wedding journey was over, the wedding
visits received and paid, and then Henry
threw himself back into his profession, with
the more zeal for the time he had lost
His wife entered into his pursuits and in
t%erests, devoted her evenings to him when
he could be at home, helped him to look
for authorities, or took her work or book,
aud sat quietly by, while he knotted his
brow over knotty cases.
She had expected some sympathy in hen
pursuits also not much time given to her
but some help now and then, advice as t.
reading, refreshing discussions on topics o
interest. Evening after evening, week al
ter week, she watched and waited, but Their
was ALWAYS something OF more importance
or very often engagements out, in whic
she could not share. There were alway
the best reasons in the world no or
could question his propriety, but the
were always reaeops.
So she learned to plod on by hefsel
helped her husband VIXEN she could, al
hen read as she might, turning over VIII
she had read in her W miEd for want
sympathy in the communication.
Still she said to me, "ncxt year" al
"next year, Henry says, he will not wo
so hard he will have more time"
l smiled inwardly at her woman's fat
and said to myself "next year, and nj
year, my child will never come"
You can break q few threads easily, |
let me wind around You the habits of ma
years, q wear yardsO and it will TAKEN,
strength than you have TO break them.
Henry grew renowned in his professi
made himself famous but he hadpaid dc
ly for his renown. Years gathered on
head they had position, eminence, wes
but no home. BE was much engros,
and gradually, even his wife was in
way when he wa reading and writing
So they spent their time asunder.
They gradually withdrew from Sc
life. Sometimes she went out alone ;
she grew tired Of that, Sometimes she
vited friends to her house ; but whel
either excused himself entirely, or sub
ted TO the interruption with a very
grace, she gave up even that. The fa'
that like many Others, he mistook
means for the end, and made that W