Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-01-15
TRIPLES.
4 WORD TO MARRIED PEOPLE.

The ringing of the door-bell has > pleasant
sound TO me-, especially in my idle moods
Like an unnrered letter, there is a mystery
about i, and one waits with pleasurable
excit ment to see who or wha; is coming.
Returning home one day, earlier than
usua, | folnd my wife had gone out; and
while lounsing Idly over the paper, ths-bell
rang.
waited expectant till Bridget appeared
with note, containing reques; from my cd
friend, DR.. Stearas, to ride out to his resi-
dence in the country, the next day, to trans.
act some business that had been long pend.
ing, and an inv alton to bring my wife and
spend the day.
was pleased-first, because wanted the
business completed; and secondly, because l
thought | needed days recreation.
But The next morning everything seemed
to &c wrong. Alice could not accompany me,
ami could not get off as early IS i wished
ard consequently, was peevish and fretful
and Alice reflected my humor, suppose-as
it appeared to me she had never been so un-
amiable.
At length, however, drove away, though
not in very pleasant mood. 1t was . lovely
October day, and as rode along netting the
tints of tie landscape, memory went back to
the golden autumn when I 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 ii possible it is no
longer? --t
And felt . pang as contrasted the past
with the present, to think that we could set.
tie down into the commonplace life We now
led.
We had no serious trouble, We didn't quar-.
rel though when I felt cross, or other things
didn't 90 10 suit me. took no pans to con-
ceal it, and often spoke harshly tc Alice. who
sometimes replied with the same spirit, some
times with tears. Yet we were generally
good friends. But the charm, the tenderness
of oar early love had ;mpercep,ibly vanished.
had become careless about my appear
ancs at home, and Alice was equally negli-
gent. Her beautiful brown hair, which she
used to wear in the most becoming ourls, was
now usually brushed plainly behind her ears
unless she was going out or expected company.
dismissed the subject wit. . sigh, at the
Doctors gate, with the reflection that it was
the same with all married people-must be
so, in fact-for how could r)mance and senti.
ment find place among so many p:osy reali-
ties9 l suppose we were as happy as any
body ana yet, it was not the kind Of life |
had looked forward to with so many bright
antcipatons.
The doctor came out and greeted me cor.
daily. In the hall ws met Mrs. Stearns,
looking fresh and lovely in her pink muslin
wrapper, with h.rjetty hair in tasteful braids.
She scolled me play fully for not bringing my
wife, chatted a few minutes, and then fitted
away, while the doctor, remarking that his
motto was business first and pleasure after
ward, led the way to the library.
As we entered the room l noticed vase Of
bright autumn flowers on the table, imparting
an air Of tas'e and cheeefu'ness to the Tart
ment. made some remarks about it, to which
the doctor respcn led:
Yes, am very ford of flowers, and love
to see them i, the house ard as spend
much time here, my wife always keeps a vase
Of item on the table as long as they last.
Our tusness was finished before dinner,
and we walked out in the grounds, which
were qoi,e extensive and tastefully arranged.
There was variety of flowers in bloom,
ohN hoSASS- tiNt tilS OOCtDi SrlcCtcU u6fe
and there the finest, until he had handsome
boquet.
When we reached the house Mrs. Stearns
was on the step. The doctor, still continu-
irg cur conversation, gave her the flowers,
With bow and smile, and holding up
spray Of crimson berries, which he had bro
ken off. she bent her head while he fastened
it among the dark br.ids of her hair
itwss a triang incident, yet their manner
arrest ny attention. Had been a stran-
ger, should have pronounced them lovers
instead Of sober married people. All through
the day noticed the same delicate attention
and Difference in their department to each
other.
There was nothing of which the most fas.
tidious guest could complain; yet while show
ing me the most cordial attention, they did
not seem 10 ignore each others existence, as
married people so often do.
had never visited the doctor before, and
was very much pleased with his tasteful
home. said so, after dinner, when we stroll
ed out into the woods. ....
"Yes," he said, 81 think it is pleasant"
and he added, II believe am a contented
man; SO far am not Disappointed in LIE"
"Rov long have you been married, doctor!"
l asked. IT.
'Ten years."
."Well," 1 pursued, ''can you tell me
whence the bright atmosphere that surrounds
your home? Tell me how you and Mrs.
Stearns manage to retain the depth and fresh
ness of your early love, as you seem to do. I
should think the wear and tear Of life would
dim it somewhat. never saw home where
my ideal Of domestic happiness was realized
before. 1t is what have dreamed of.
The doctor smiled, and pointing TO thrifty
grape climbing over neat lattice, and loaded
with purple fruit, he said
i"That vine needs careful attention, and if
pruned and properly cared for, it is what you
see it; but if neglected, how soon would it
become worthless thing So the love which
is to al, at some period, the most precious
thing in life, and which needs SO much care
to keep it unimpaired is generally neglected.
All (! my friend, it is little acts-trifles-tha.
so often estrange loving hearts. have a.
ways made it point to treat my wife with
the same coui tesy that characterized my de-
pertinent in the days Of cou,tship and while
am careful not to offend her tastes and little
prejpdices, am sure that mine will be equal
" respected" .-....
That night rode homeward, bordering
the doctors words and reviewing the years OF
our married lie; was surprised at my own
blindness, and determined to recall the early
dream If possible.
Tho next m 'rning at breakfast l astorishcd
Alice by careful toilet chatted over the din
ner, and, after tea, invited her to ride. When
she came down in my favorite blue organde,
with her hair in shining curls, thought she
never looked lovlier.
| exerted mysslf, as of old, to entertain
her, and was surprised to find how quickly
and pie. sanity the evening pa sed -er
Ir solved to test the Doctors theory per-
fect!y, ard the result exceeded my most san
gu'ne expectations.
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