, 1862-09-11
Homo Comforts.


Overspread her face. She seetied to have made
up lrOr mind to speak plainly upon subject which
had lain uneasily at her heart for some time, and
she could not let the opportunity pass II re-
aured an effort, but she psrssvered!
dLet me tell you what odds Il makes to me"
she said, in kind but tremul6us tone. "lf ]
cannot nave your. ompany here at home, should
at least feel much better II l knew where you
were"
%But you know that | am safe, Emma, and
what more can you ask?" ..
al do not know that you are safe, George. I
know nothing about you when you are away"
"POoh! Would yod have i that an not
capable Of taking care d myselfl"
"YOn put wrong construction upon my words,
George. Love Is always anxious when its dearest
object is away. II did not love you as do. l
might not be thus uneasy. When you are at
your place Of business, never feel thus, because
know can seek aud ind you at any moment /;
but when you are absent during these long even
ings, get to wondering where you are Then
begin to feel lonesOmeI dnd sd one thought fol-
lows another until feel troubled and uneasy.
Oh, II you would stay with me portion Of your
eveningsi"
"Aha, I thought that was what you were
coming at" said George; with playful shake Of
the head. "You would have me here evenings"
"Wel can you wonder at it3" retuTned Em-
ma. 81 used to be very happy when you came
to spend an evening with me before we were
married, and know shOtld be very happy iD
your society now"
"Ah," said George, with smile, "thOse were
business meetings. We were arranging then for
the future" -a
"And why not contintie so TO do, my husband :
I am sure we could be as happy now as ever. If
you will remember, one Of your plans was to
make home"
"And haven't we got one; EmmaI"
ave have place to which to live" answered
the vile, somewhat evasively.
"And Il is our hOme," pursued George.
"And," he added, with sort Of confident AOu-
rish, home Is the wiie's peculiar province. She
has charge Of it, and all her work is there, while
the duties Of the husband cal him to other
scenes"
''Aye, admit thai, 80 kr ds certain duties
are coneernc1, = replied Emma = Bat you mnst
remember that We both need relaxations from
labor; we need time for social and mental i'm
prOvement and enjoyment; and what season have
we for this save our eveningSS Why should not
this be my home evenings, as well as in the day
time and in the nightly
"Well, isn't III" asked George!
"How can It be if you are not here2 What
makes home for children, if Il be not the abode
Of the parental What home can q husband
have where there Is no wiieP And what real
home comforts can Q wife enjoy where there Is no
huSbandS You do not realize how lonesome
am, all alone here during these long evenings.
They are the very seasons when am at leisure
to enjoy your companiOnship, and when you
would be at leisure to enjoy mine, u Il Is worth
enjoying hey afe the seasons when the hap
pissi hours Of home life might be passed Come,
will you not spend few VI your evenings with
meG"
"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"
"Nut II It was my place Of business. as il Is
Of yours" returned the young man. "YOu are
used to staying here. All wives belong at
home"
"Just remember. my husband, that previous
to our marriage i had pleasant society all the
time. OF course remained at home much Of
my time, but had q father and mother there, and
] had brothers and sisters there; and al our
evenings were happily spent. Finally gave ell
up for YOU, left the old home, and sought
home with my husband. Aud now, have not
a right to expect some Of your companionship?
How would YOU like Il to have me away every
evening, while you were obliged to remain here
alone 2" w. MY
"Why, I should like II well enough"
"Ah, but you would not be willing to try III"
ayes, would, ;" said George, ct venture.
"Wnl you remain here every evening next
week, and let me spend them among my female
frirnds"
Certainly will; and assure you shall
not be so lonesome as you imagine"
With this the husband wett out, aud was soon
q nong HE friends, He was 4 steady, industrious
nan, and loved his wife truly; but, like thou
sands Of others he had contracted habit Of
spending his evenings abroad, and thought Il no
harm. His own practical idea Of home seemed
to be, that It was . place which his wife took
care Of, and where he could eat drink and sleep,
as long as he could pay iorit In short, he treated
it as q s0rt Of private boarding house, Of which
his wife was landlady; and Il ho paid all the
bills, he considered his duty done. His wife had
frequently asked him to stay at home with her,
but she had never ventured upon any argument
before, and he had no conception Of how much
she missed him. She always seemed happy when
he came home, and be supposed she could always
be 80.
Monday evening came, and George Wilson fe-
mained true to his promise. His wife put on her
bonnet and shawl, and be said he would remain
and keep house.
"what will you do while l am gomez" Emma
asked.
"oh, shall read, andsing, and enjoy myself
generally" u. ....
"Very wen. shall be back in good season.
The wife went out and the husband was left
alone. He had an interesting book. and he began
to read l. He read ill eight O'Clock, and then
he began to yawn and refer frequently to the dial
The book did not interest him a. usuIl. Ever and
anon he would come 10 passage which he knew
would please his wife and instinetively he turned
Is though he would read L aloud, but there was
no wife to hear Il. At halGPast eight he arose
from his chair and began 10 pace the floor, and
whistle. Then be went and got his flute, and
performed several Of his lavoFile airS AfleF
this he got pack Of eardS and played game
! Of "high, low, jack, With an imaginary partner