Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1859-03-18
from the Ohio Cultivator.
What Shall be Done with the Big
ChQrlieS}

Tor 6al0 young wire OF naiI uoA-
IN summers, to me q few months ago
md she moved about her work listless-
y, with the tears in her eyes, aid such
> sorry, heart broken look upon her
face.
"Why, Nettie," I replied, "yeu have
every thing SO nice and cosy about you,
and your husband is kind, and Winny
and Belle are such rare, sweet children
Pm afraid, dear, its your own fault,
if you are not perfectly happy"
By this time Netty was crying out
right, and little Winny's lips were quiv-
ering and fixing themselves ready to
cry too.
What l said and how got her qui-
eted, smiling through her tears, and
patting Bellies fat shoulders as the little
birding nestled down to nurse, l need
not say. Any woman with woman's
heart will know.
All me! / guess there are just such
bitter tears and crying spells all over
the world every day, arising from the
same causes, too.
I almost think Nettie could not real
ly define why she was unhapry-per-
haps she did not know where tho sting
came from that so pierced her poor
heart. But I had observed that day at
dinner, that Charlie said the veal tasted
as though it was smoky; and when
Nettie asked him to take another cup
of coffee, he shook his head and curled
his lips in way that said, "no mere,
for PHYS sake. of that bitter stuff -
or something like it. As he left the
table he took up "babie Belle" and
kissed her, but the little creature had
been sucking buttsred crust, and her
clammy kisses were none Of the sweet
est or cleanest. "Pshaw, Belle !" he
said, as he hurriedly drew out white
cambria handkerchief from his pocket,
and, with an air Of disgust wiped his
mouth +; 81 believe your face is always
dirty; you're not half so sweet as Mrs.
Lees Willie. He gave me lot of kiss
es to-day, and he was as sweet as
though he had just come out of a flow
er garden! Go to mamma" he said
as Belle dropped her crust, and reach
ing out her little hands, cried loudly
for her pa to take her with him. "Ge
to ma-she loves dirty babies - and
Charlie Camden-pretty, winsome,
graceful Charlie, drew back in his spot.
less cleanliness that the clutching fin
gers might not touch his faultless broad
cloth.
There was shadow, and then came
the sting! Oh, Charles Charles
with the tender, loving hearts Of sucl
good wives in your keeping, how Otter
you trample on them, thoughtlessly-
unawares.
Dear reader, the Mrs. Lee, mother
of the immaculate baby-boy, was wild
ow, young, handsome, coquetish-;
perfect snare and 0, no wonder thu
young wife pressed her hand on hel
forehead and over her eyes. He was
her Charlie, she lived for him and il
her devotedness could have died fol
him.
"Have some Of those delicious rolls
for tea, Annette, won't you? and some
of that honey I sent home yesterday, D
said Charlie, blandly, as his wife tore
Belle away and held her open mouth
close to her bosom to muf1e her hide
GUS yells.
"Well, will. Twill have nice tea
come in good time, please" said the
sweet, broken winged creature, making
smile come over her face. Charlie
bowed and went to his Office,
[ was very intimate friend Of theirs,
else dear Nettie had not moaned out
the sorrowing plant an hour after
20, I have nothing to live for!
I knew he was very much to blame,
but I would not tell her so; it would
only help to widen breach between
them.
A few evenings after, I walked to
church with him; it was three squares
distant, and had good opportunity
Of talking privately with him on the
subject nearest my heart.
Il shall be going home in a few
days now, CHARLIE" said I, ''and I
shall often think Of the pleasant visit
I have had away here in this delightful
place. I am so attached to Nettie and
the children, can hardly think Of leav-
ing them and, Charlie, there's one
thing on my mind l have been wanting
to tell you, but | am afraid Of hurting
your feelings"
"Not at all, at all; Rosa you
couldn't offend me. What is it %
"You won't be offende 2"
"No, indeed l won't -
t;Well them think you are not so
good and kind husband as you should
be-" l felt the arm on which my hand
was resting twitching, but I had start
ed, and was determined not to stop
then. "You arc a noble man, Charlie,
but you do not understand woman's
nature very we'll. You have never half
fathomed Nettie's devoted affection, or
you would not wound her feelings so
often"
"What lido I wound Annette's
feelings ?--have 1 while you have been
here ?-it cannot be! Has she not ev-
she wants---all the comforts
of life 20
"Yes, but they are cold comforts,
with what you withhold from
her. Forgive me, Charlie, but this
you growled because a shirt
button dropped off, and last night you
didn't drink your tea because it was so
hot. and Won asked me To 90 with Won