The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1860-03-15

A WORD TO FRETFUL WIvEs.-There Won
are, with your mouth puckered up again,
what's the matter? Are your friends all
dead? Novel;, have you lost every cent you
ever owned? No--are your children sick?
Is your husband cross? Have you got the
toothache, or heartache? Neither of these,
and still as cross as young bear? We wond.
er how your family can endure your pre-
sence. Those young hearts, whose sun you
ought to be how YOU chill them with your
frowns and pettishness No wonder they
long to get out of the house. And now you
have struck your little child because che
would not stop teasing" Friend, that blow
fell on his soul, and left and indeible scar
there. He will feel it long after he has for.
gotten it. Many years from now, when
your headis low 10 the grave, that blow,
given without caase-impatienty, angrily,
will do its work.
Why can't you be good-natared? Were
you never so? Memory points to the days
OF your girlhood-seldom the lines of anger
dis6gured your brow then. And the man
who won your love thought what happy
home she will make for me! How sweet it
will be to sit down by her side after the cares
of the day are over! How beautiful to read
Tor her pleasure-to be repaid by smiles and
kisses. And the home was ready, and the
bride established-but she proved unworthy
OF the trust reposed in her. Instead OF
meeting care with hearty laugh, and "get
behind me Satan," you worried and fretted,
and began to tell every little trouble to your
husband. 1t was not womanly; it betrayed
weakness of both head and mind? Impercep
tbty it crept into your spirit, chilling it with
worse chill than that of death, till it made
shroud of iron for the disappointed heart,
and the charm of love and family home was
gone.
"WAs ONCE "-how often these words
drop from your lips. ~ was handsome once
i was this, that, the other once"-and why
not sow? You yourself have willed your
own destiny-you have chosen the scold's
office; you must receive the scold's deserts
A little philosophy, few words breathed to
heaven for patience-a new, resolute hope
for tomorrow, if to-day be stormy-a little
set-denial il telling petty crosses-a great
deal less selfishness-a desire to make home
sanctuary for yourself and little ones as
we'll as your husband-and to-day you would
have been happier, handsomer, and more be-
loved.
Fresting sister in light atfiiction, let US ask
few plain questions. Does spirit of fault
finding tighten your cares? If your bread
is burned to cinder, does it bring you a
good, light, sweet loaf, to sit down and wor-
nv about it? If the baby is cross, does it
make him smile like an angel to shake him
almost out of existence? If it rains on wash
ing day, will your anathemas hurry oat the
sun until he stops right over your clothes
lineY But if your quick hands should turn
| to the -four barrel to mold another loaf-it
you soothe the weeping babe with sweet
words OF mothers plying love; if you de-
vote your Wasning day to some appproprl-
ate work, how smoothly care will iron down
his features, ana become your humble slave,
instead of the ty rannical master he would
! be.
1t is not too late yet. Surprise your hus
band with smile-it will be worth dollar
to see his glance OF establishment; hold the
sailed water of thOughtfulness in your
mouth, that you may say nothing unpleasant