The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1864-04-20
T TRlFlES.
A WORD TO MARRIED PEOPLE.

moods. Like an unopened IeSleT, tneft
is mystery about it, and one waits with
plausible excitement to see who ol
what is coming.
Returning home one day earlier than
usual, found my wife had gone out; and
while lounging idly over the paper, the
bell rang.
waited expectant till Bridget appear
ed 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 been
long pending, and an invitation to bring
my wife and spend the day.
/ was pleased, first, because / wanted
the business completed; and, secondly,
because l thought 1 needed days re-
creation.
But the next morning everything
seemed to go wrong. Alice could not
accompany me- and could not get off as
early as wished and consequently wa
peevish and fretful; and Alice reflected
my humor, I suppose-as it appeared to
me she had never been so unamiable.
At length, however, drove away,
though not in very pleasant mood. 1t
was a lovely October day; and as rode
along noting the tints of the landscape,
memory went back to the golden autumn
when l wooed and won my bride.
How lovely Alice was then. thought.
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 possible it
is no longer?
| And felt pang as I contrasted the
/ past with the present, to think that we
| could settle down into the common place
| life we now led.
/ We had no serious trouble; we didn't
quarrel; though when 1 felt cross, or
other things didn't go to suit me, l took
no pains to conceal it, 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 our
early love, had impercept,bly vanished
/ had become careless about my ap-
pearance at home, and Alice was equally
negligent. Her beautiful brown hair
which she used to wear in the most be
coming curls, was now usually brushed
plainly behind her ears, unless she was
going out or expected company. I dis
missed the subject with sigh, at the doc
tors gate, with the reflection that it was
the same with all married people-must
be SO, in fact-for how could romance
anu Sentlment nnU place among 50 many
prosy realities? l suppose we were as
happy as anybody; and vet, it was not
the kind of life had looked forward to
with SO many bright anticipations.
The doctor came out and greeted me
cordially In the hall we met Mrs. Stearns
looking fresh and lovely in her pink mus
lin wrapper, with her jetty hair in taste
full braids. She scolded me playfully
for not bringing my wife, chatting few
minutes, and then fitting away, while the
doctor, remarking that his motto was
business first and pleasure afterwards,
led the way to the library.
AS we entered the room, I noticed a
vase of bright autumn flowers on the
table, imparting an air of taste and
cheerfulness to the apartment. made
some remarks about it, to which the
doctor responded:
YES, am very fond Of flowers, and
love to see them in the house; and as l
spend much Of my time here. my wife
always keeps a vase Of them on the ia
bic as long as they last"
Our business was finished before din
ner, and we walked out in the grounds,
which were quite extensive and tasteful
ly arranged.
There was a variety Of flowers in bloom ,
here and there the finest. until he had
handsome bouquet.
When we reached the house, Mrs. !
Stearns was on the steps. The doctor. |
still continuing our conversation, gave
her the flowers, with a slight bow and
smile; and holding up a spray of crimson !
berries. which he had broken off, she
bent her head while he fastened it among
the dark braids of her hair
1t was a trifling incident, yet the man !
ner arrested my attention. Had / been |
stranger, l should have pronounced |
them lovers instead of sober married peo- |
pie All through the day 1 noticed the |
same delecate attention and Difference in |
their department to each other.
There was nothing of which the most |
fastidious guest could complain; yet, !
while showing me the most cordial atten- /
tion they did not seem to ingore each /
other existence, as married people so |
often do.
had never visited the doctor before, |
and was very much pleased with his taste |
ful home. 1 said so. after dinner, when |
we strolled out into the woods.
..Yes, - he said. II think it is pleasant" !
and he added, Il believe 1 am a conten- |
ted man; so far an not disappointed in
life"
How long have you been married, |
doctor" 1 asked.
Ten years.
Well pursued. scan you tell me |
whence the bright atmosphere that sur
rounds your home? Tell me how you
and Mrs. Stearns manage to retain the |
depth and freshness of your early love.
as YOU seem to do? 1 should think the |
wear and tear of life would dim it some |
what. l never saw home where INV |
ideal of domestic happiness was realized |
before 1t is what have dreamed Of"
The doctor smiled, and pointing to a |
thrifty grape growing over a neat lattice. !
and loaded with purple fruit, he said:
That vine needs careful attention. and
il pruned and properly cared for, it is
what yon see it; but il neglected. how
soon would it become . worthless thing.
So the love which is to all. at some peri
od. the most precious thing in life, and
which needs so much care to keep it
unimpaired. is generally neglected. Ah.