The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1860-03-29
Commercial Advertiser.
Home Comforts.

"O-I'm going ont was the careless re-
Spouse.
" But where o.
What odds does that make. Emma ? |
shall be back m my usual time"
The young wife hesitated, and a quick
flush overspread her face. She seemed TO
have made up her mind to speak plainly on
a subject which had lain uneasily upon her
heart for some time, and-she could not let the
opportunity pass. 1t required an effort, but
she perSevered.
Let me tell .you what odds it makes to
me-" she said, in a kind, but tremulous tone.
"H | cannot have your company here at
home, should at least feel much better If |
knew where you were"
But you know that | am safe, Emma,
and what more can you ask 2"
:" do not know that you are safe, George.
| know nothing about you when you are
away g"
Pooh! Would you have it that | am not
capable of taking care of myself|
"You put a wrong construction upon my
words, George. Love is always anxious
when its dearest object is away. If / did not
love you as | do, | might not be thus uneasy.
When you are at our place of business |
never feel thus, because I know | can seek
and find you at any moment but when you
are absent during these long evenings, | get
to wondering where you are. Then | begin
to feel lonesome and so one thought follows
another, until | feel troubled and uneasy.
OFF you would stay with me a portion of
your evenings"
"Aha-l thought that was what you were
aiming at" said George, with a playful shake
of the head. "You would have me here
evenings"
% Wall-can m, yx,apdor NJ - -, roy,r,aI
Emma. al used to be very happy when you
came to spend an evening with me, before we
were married, and | know | should be very
happy in your society now"
"Ah," said George, with a smile, Z" those
were business meetings. We were arranging
then for the future
And why not continue so TO do, my hus-
band /? | am sure we could be as happy now
as ever. If you remember, one of our plans
was to make n home"
"And haven't we got one, Emma 2"
"We have a place in which 10 live" an
swered the wife, somewhat evasively.
And it is our home,' pursued George.
g And" he added, with a sort OF confident
flourish, I" home is the wife's peculiar prov
lnce. one mas CudTge VI II, anu all me- ''OIn
is there while the duties of the husband call
to other scenes"
h11-I uNiiblt ttitit 81 "a 10 ~
are concerned - replied Emma. But you
remember that we both need relaxation from
labor we need time for social and mental
improvement and enjoyment, and what sea-
sons have we for this, save our evenings
Why should not this be my home, evenings.
as well as in the daytime and In the nlght?"
"Well-isn't it ?" asked George.
How can it be, if you are not here?
What makes a home for children, if il be not
the abode of the parents! What home can
a husband have where there is no wife ? And
what real comforts can a wife enjoy where
there is no husband? You do not realize
how lonesome | am all alone here during
these long evenings. They are the very sea-
sons when | am at leisure to enjoy your COM
panionship, and when you would be at leis-
ure TO enjoy miaa, if it is worth enjoying.
They are the seasons when the happiest
hours of home life might be passed. Come
will you not spend a few of your evenings
with me 2"
You see enough of me as it is" said the
husband, lightly.
"Allow me to be the judge of that, George.
You would be very lonesome here all alone"
Not if it was my place OF business, as 1t
is of yours" returned the young man. "You
are used TO staying here. All wives belong
at home"
Just remember, my husband, that. previ-
Gus to our marriage, | had pleasant society
all the time. OF course | remained at
home much of my time but had a father
and mother there and our evenings were
spent. Finally | gave all up for you.
| left the old home, and sought a home with
my husband. And now, have | not a right
to expect some of your companionship? How
you like 1t to have me way every
evening, while you were obliged to remain
here alone 2"
"Why-I should like it we'll enough"
"Ah-but you would not be willing TO try
ayes, I would" said George, at a ven-
ture.
VIII you remain here every evening next
week, aud let me spend them among my
friends 2"
"Certainly | will and I assure you ] shall
not be so lonesome as you imagine"
With this the husband went out, and was
among his friends. He was a steady, in
man, and loved his wife truly but
like thousands of others, he had contracted a
habit of spending his evenings abroad, and
thought it no harm. His only practical idea
of home seemed to be that it was a place
which his wife took care of, and where he
could eat, drink and sleep, as long as he could
pay for it. In short, he treated 1t as a sort
of private boarding house, of which his wife
was landlady and if he paid all the bills, he
considered his duty done. His wife had fire.
quentIv asked him to stay at home with her,
but she had never ventured upon any argu-
ment before, and he had no conception of
how much she missed him. She always
happy when he came home, and he
c1,ppocad che could alUa Us he So
Monday evening came, and George Will
son remained true to his promise. His wife
put on her bonnet and shawl, and he said he
remain and L" keep house"
What will you do while I am gone"