, 1864-04-23
A Word to Married. People.


SAINT sound to me, especially in my idle
moods. Like an unopened letter, there is
a mystery about it, and one waits with a
pleasurable excitement to see who or what
is calling. a
Returning home one day earlier than
usual, found my wife had gone out, and
while lounging idly over the paper the
door bell rang.
waited expectant till Bridget appessea
with note containing request from my
old friend, DR.. Stearns, to ride out to his
residence IN the country, the next day, to
transact some business that had long been
pending, and an invitation to bring my wife
and spend the day. ! was pleased: first,
because / wanted the business completed I;
and secondly, because needed days re-
creation.
But the next morning everything seemed
to 60 wrong. Alice could not accompany
me, and l could not get of as early as ]
wished, and consequently l was peeyish
and fretful; and Alice reflected my hu-
NOR, supposc-as it appeared to me she
had never been so unamiable.
Atlength, however, drove away, though
not in very pleasant mood. 1t was a
lovely October day and as / rode along,
noting the brilliant tints Of the landscape,
memory went back to the golden autumn
when l wooed and won my bride.
%How lovely was Alice, then r thought
l, "and how happy we were! But that
was long ago. Yet nature is the same,
though We are changed. Let me see we
have been married three years; is it posi-
ble it is no longer"
And ! felt pang, as l contrasted the
past with the present, to think We could
have settled down into the commonplace
life we now lead.
We had no serious trouble, We didn't
quarrel; though when felt cross, or other
things didn't go to suit me, took no pains
to conceal il, and often spoke harshly to
Alice, who sometimes replied in the same
spirit, sometimes with tears. Yet we were
generally good friends. But the charm,
the tenderness of carly love had imperccp-
tibly vanished. ssl
had become careless about my appear-
ance at home, and Alice was equally negli-
gent. Her beautiful brown hair, which
she used to wear in the most becoming
curls, was now usually brushed back behind
her ears, unless she was going out or expect
ing company. l dismissed the subject with
a sigh at the doctors gate, with the refecs
ton that il was the same with all married
people-must.be so, in fact--for how could
romance and sentiment find place among
so many prosy realitiesi I supposed we
were as happy as anybody; yet, Il was not
the kind Of life / had looked forward to
with so many bright anticipations.
The doctor came out and greeted me cor
daily. In the hall we met Mrs. Stearns,
looking fresh and lovely in her pink mus
lin wrapper, with her jetty hair in tasteful
braids. She scolded me playfully for not
bringing my wife, chatted q few minutes,
and then fitted away, while the doctor, re-
marking that his motto was, "to business
first and pleasure afterward," led the way
to the library.
As We entered the room, l noticed vase
Of bright autumn flowers on the table, inn
parting an air Of taste and cheerfulness to
tho apartment Imade some remark about
il to which the doctor responded.
"Yes, i am very fond Of flowers, and
love to see them in the house; and as /
spend much Of my time here, my wife al
ways keeps vase Of them on tho table as
long as they last"
Our business was finished before dinner,
and we walked out in the grounds, which
were quite extensive and tastcfllly ar
ranged.
There was variety Of flowers in bloom,
and noticed that the doctor selected here
and there the finest, until he had hand
some bouquet.
When We reached the house, Mrs. Stcarns
was standing on the steps. The doctor,
still continuing our conversation, gave her
the flowers, with slight bow and smile;
and holding up spray Of crimson berries,
which he had broken Of, she bent her head,
while he fastened it among the dark brnlds
Of her hair.
1t was trifing incident, yet their man.
ner arrested my attention. Had l been a
stranger, should have pronounced them
lovers instead Of sober married people. All
through the day l noticed the same delicate
attention and Difference in their deport-
ment to each other.
There was nothing Of which the most
fastidious could complain; yet, while show
ing me the most cordial attention, they did
not seem to ignore each others existence,
as married people SO often do.
/ had never visited the doctor before
and was very much pleased with his taste
full home. said so, after dinner, when we
strolled out into the woods.
"Yes," he said, 81 think IL pleasant;
and" lie added, al believe l am q con-
tented man: so far l am not disappointed
in life."
"Hov long have you been married, doc
tori" l asked.
"Ten years"
"Well," l pursued, "can you tell me
whence the bright atmosphere which sur
rounds your home? Tell me how you and
Mrs. Stearns manage to retain the depth
and freshness Of your carly love, as you
seem to do! / should think the wear and
tear of life would dim il somewhat. Ineyer
saw hotie where my ideal Of domestic
happiness was realized before. Il is what
l once dreamed Of"
The doctor smiled, and pointing 10 .
thrifty grapevine climbing over 1 neat
lattice, and loaded with purple fruit, said: