The Shasta courier., 1865-06-24
SHASTA COURIER.
THE INTELLECTUAL WIFE.

Alec Alec, dear, could you attend to
me one minute, if you please ?"
Such soft pleading little voice as it was
such pretty, half timid looking woman as
owned it, sitting there in her crimson merinc
dress with great work basket overshadow
ing it, like the type of some Juggernautl
There was not wrinkle in her linen collar
not speck on her brilliant apron, while
every golden thread in her hair lay smooth
and shining as if it were glistening satin, in
stead of human tresses.
Mr.. Verdon laid down his book with os
tentatious despair.
"What do you want now, Catharine? L
is little singular that man can't get five
consecutive minutes ofreading in this house
No sooner do these noisy children get off tt
bed than dozen other disturbances start ur
to distract ones brain ~
Pm sorry to disturb you, Alec" sale
the much enduring wife. "but | only wan
to know whether you would prefer your new
shirts made with buttons or studs p
Studs and buttons !" groaned Mr.. Yer
don, rather melo- dramatically. Upon my
word, Catharine, it seems as if your mind
revolves on nothing more important than {
round of the pettiest household concerns
As if cared how you make my shirts ~
" But you were very much displeased
dear, because | made the collars to your last
set after an old fashion pattern"
"Of course | was? A man don't want Il
go about looking like Methuselah?p ~
No, dear. but
But my dear Catharine, am decidedly
annoyed to see you sinking into a mere do
mestic drudge''
81 don't understand you, Alec. Surely ;
wife and a mother should make it her frs
aim to study the comforts Of her HUSBAND
and family"
. To certain extent, Mrs Verdon-to
certain extent, this may be quite true. Bu
when Mr.. Peterson asked your opinion o.
IS last work, the other evening, you as
tonished everybody by .confessing you hat
not read it. was ashamed, Catharine-con
founded-indignantp' ~
But, Alec, what time do / get tt
read ?"
Time time? ? yon must make time, child
Let domestic cares be secondary to the cult
vation of your intellectual nature. Why,
cannot, describe to you my dear, how deep
ly mortified | was at Mrs. Lessons converse
ton, when every one was discussing the nev
literary consultations, by your confused 81
lence. While Mrs. Ogilvie-why, she wa
positively sparkling in her ready argumen
and charming critical taste"
Yes" retorted Catharine Verdon, stune
at last into something like retaliation, g ant
Mr.. Ogilvie was there with ragged shir
bosom and the lower button gone from hi
dress coat
As l remarked before, my dear, buttons
and shirts are not primary considerations
And" went on Catharine, the dress
maker says that Mrs. Ogilvie has no mort
idea of housekeeping than a kitten. Sacl
coffee, she says"
"All dressmaker's tattle Uninterrupted Mr.
Verdon, with a lofty flourish of his left arm
g l shouldn't care what kind of coffee drank
if | had wife like Laura Ogilvie w
Catharine flushed to her very forehead
but she bit her lip in resolute self. control.
a want very much to please you, Alec, )
said she meekly. Will you tell me how tt
be intellectual?'
Mr. Alexander Verdon pulled his mus
tache in rather puzzled manner.
Why-why, my dear, you must read al
the new works, to begin with, and keep W
with the general newspaper current, ant
take critical survey of paintings and stat
ues, and-and all that sort of thing, yol
know"
Yes, but Alec"
"Now, Cathie, really wish you woult
let me read little in peace. | get SO littl'
time to cultivate my mind!'
Mrs. Verdon sighed softly to herself as sh
cut the button holes down the front of Mr.
Alexander's shirts.