Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-08-07
A Wife to Husbands ONLY.


/ wish every husband would copy into his
memorandum book this sentence, from recent
ly published work: "a word said, q line writ
ten, and we are happy omitted, our hearts ache
as if for great misfortune. Men cannot feel It
or guess at it, if they did, the most careless OF
them would be slow to wound US"
The grave hides many heart which has been
stung to death, because one who after all, loved
it after a certain careless fashion, was deaf,
dumb and blind to the truth in the sentence we
have just quoted, or if not was at least restive
and impatient with regard to it. Many men,
marrying late in life, being accustomed only to
take care of themselves, and that in the most
erratic, rambling, exciting fashion; eating, drink
ing, sleeping and waking, whenever their fancy
or good cheer, or questionable or
unquestionable prompted d-come at last, whom
they get tired Of this, with their selfish habits
fixed as fate, to matrimony.
For while it is a novelty. Shortly, it is as
strange as irksome, this always being obliged to
study the comfort and happiness of another. To
have something always on the arm which used
to swing free, or at most but twist q CAPE
They think their duty done if they provide food
and clothing; and refrain (possibly) from harsh
words. All, is ita Listen to thst sigh as You
close the door, Watch the gradual fading of the
eye, the psliDg of the cheek, not from age-she
would yet be young-but that kDawiDg pain at
the heart, born of the settled conviction, that
the q eat hunger craving of her soul so far as
you are concerned, must go forever unsatisied.
God help such wives, and keep them from at
tempting to slake their souls thirst at poisoned
fountains.
Think you, husband, how little kind word
smile, caress, is to you, how much toher III
you call these things childish, 'and beneath your
notice. then you should have never married IL
There are men who should remain forever sin-
gle, and you are one. You have no right to re-
qure of woman her health, strength, time and
DEVOTION to mock her with the shadowy, an
satisfying return, new bonnet, q dress, shawl
or watch-anything, everything, but what a
true wOman's heart must crave-sympathy, ap-
probation, love. She may be rich in everything
else, but if she be poor in these, and is good
woman she had better die.
There are hard, unloviDg, cold monstrosi.iee |
of women (rare exceptions) who neither require
love or know how to give it. We are not |
speaking of those. That big-hearted. loving. |
noble men have occasionally been thrown away
upon such, does not disprove what we have been
saying. But even a man thus situated has |
greatly the advantage of woman in similar |
position, because over the needle woman may
think herself into an insane asylum, while the |
active outdoor turmoil of business life is at least
sometime reprieve to him.
Do you ask me ssare there no happy wives 2" |
God be praised, yes, and glorious, loveable hus-
bands, too, who know how to treat woman.
and would have her neither fool nor drudge. -
Almost every wife would be good and happy
wife were she only loved enough. Let hus.
bands, present and prospective, think of this.