Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-02-06
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The Young Wife's Resolution.

Yes, it must be done, am resolved upon
it, said the young wife, as she elapsed her
slender fingers; 4 must be firm in carrying
out my resolutions, for nothing else can save
my husband from the fate of other members
of his family and oh such fate!" she
continued burying her face 10 her hands, as
if she would shut out the remembrance of
something terrible. Can it be that | am
destined to become the wife of drunkard' 2
she exclaimed after pause is this pleas
ant home she added, looking around her
tastefully furnished apartment, 'to be ex-
changed for the wretched dwelling Of the in
ebriate, and my kind, warm hearted husband
to become-O, no, no! Father in Heaven,
avert this threatened calamity! Send suf-
ering and sorrow, if thou seest they are
needed purify our souls from the dross of
earth, but spare us, oh God, from sin and
degradation. They surely cannot be neces-
sary; then grant me strength to do what lies
in me to avert them" and rising from her
laxuriant couch, she passed from her parton.
into an elegant dining room beyond. My
husband will be displeased at first, and his
father and his brothers will ridicule me, and
call me mean, but my husband is dearer to
me now than even my own reputation, and
| must endure even his anger for the sake of
saving him." and with trembling hands but
an unhinching will, the lovely bride removed
the decanters of choice liquors from the
| side-board, and preparing some lemonade
most carefully, she placed it in their stead
beside crystal gotlets. Though she returned
u, A.
her husbands return in earnest prayer for
strength to bear ridiculc, and, it might be,
engry reproach, her heart misgave her when
she heard his step on the gravel walk, and
saw that he had brought company with him,
and as she descended to meet him in her ac-
accustomed place, her trembling limbs almost
refused to bear their light burden
Wife, this is my friend, Mr.. Ormsbury, >
said the proud husband, Ormsbury this is
Mrs. X, the loveliest, the gentIest wife in all
the land ? The visitor seemed struck with
the beauty of the wife's face, but lie replied
gaily, You think so now because your honey
moon is scarciy over, and as is the custom
with young husbands, her xh.ms have beer
laws to you. Wait bit, my friend, unit
her wishes and yours come into collision
and then you may change the adjective fo
more significant one
Nay, my verest whims are laws to her
and am not afraid of her setting up he
wishes in opposition to mine.' Except fo
your own good, said the wife softly, but sh
only said aloud, Your friend will stay an,
take social supper with US ?
Not tonight, thank you'
DO give us that pleasure
L should like to afford myself that pleas
ure, but unhappily business engagement
prevents
You will at least take some rereshment
my dear, orIer in some cakes and wine
Nothing for me, indeed.
oh, you must taste Of my cake in orde
to judge of my housewifery, for only goo
wife has right to fulfil your prognostics
ton of swaying it over her husband an
laughing merIily she left the room.
Surely that saiver borne by the servar
who returned with her, was sufficiently tenI
ting and those rich cakes, the basket
choice fruit, and that silver pitcher of lemon
ade, ought to have satisfied any reasonab
MN but the husband looked blank at tn
absence of wine, and something was said i
low tone to the wife, who said, | prepare
this expressly for you, will you not take
] for my sake? Surely this warm evening
is more refreshing than wine' While tt
lady was speaking to her guest the host ser
the servant on some errand to the dinir
room, and when she returned with the al
S er there is none,' flush mounted to b
brow, and he muttcred None there stup
thing but no sooner had the door closed a
on their visitor than he assured himself b
personal observation, that she had told tt
truth.
Where on earth are those decanters. a,
why was not my friend permitted to refre,
himself with wine in my hoase = he exclair
ed hastily, Have we su ddenly become ban
rupt, that we must use such stinted hesl
ta'ity ?
There was no stinting here, replied t
lady, and am sure none of your frien
need complain that they have such who
some lemenade offered them instead of t
dangerous wine cup
sWholesomel Dangerous What te
perance stuff is this? Another such fire
as this and shall get name that is new
us, that of being too stingy to provide vii
None of our family were ever known to
, sparing of it before
, Far better if they had said the wife,
3 consciously wringing her hands. {
1 James, this omission sprang from no nom
: tary freak, no woman's caprice, but from
/. earnest resolution to-
! What ?
It To try and save my husband she adj