The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1867-08-13
HUSBANDS AND WIVES.


Let not the husband who has made the most
ample, ay, and splendid provision for the vito
of his choice suppose that these things alone,
will make her home happy one. No; no. It
is law of female mind that she can bear almost
anything only to be neglected. Wealth and
splendor In her esteem can make poor amends
! for the lack of devotion to her on the part of
him for whom she severed the ties that bound
her to father, mother, home and kindred dear.
She must be loved, she ought to be, or, like the
tender plant excluded from sun and air, she
will pine, and languish and die. This the stern
er sex are too apt to overlook or forget. Hence
it is not without reason that husbands are again
and again exhorted to love their wives. II is
here they are most in danger of failing-do
| most fail.
"There is no suffering more ACUTE" says an
able and popular writer, ethan that felt by an
atfectionate and sensitive mind, mourning over
the violation of nuptial VOWS. This suffering is
not confined to the unhappy woman 10 the dwell
ling of poverty, who, at the midnight hour,
trembles as she hears the approaching footsteps
of her drunken husband. You may 60 into
many an elegantly furnished abode, and find the
broken-h hearted wife and mother, surrounded by
every external comfort, and yet, in solitude and
silence and tears. There is nothing that will
compensate for the neglect of those we love-"
have seen, says quaint writer, the accom-.
pills he'd wife, before twenty moons had waned,
since she changed her name, sitting lone and
solitary the sparrow on the housetop. Per-
haps her health was now go delicate that tho
nouriskng and chershing care of her partner
was almost necessary to her existence, but he
was gone away to some political literary, or per-
chance at midnight, breathing the fumes of rum,
and amino with the smnke of SaUars
"You call him a brute who breaks his wife's
head, do you? And now what kind of mon
ster shall L call him who breaks her heart
How many a wife sits cherries and unhappy at
home through all the hours of the evening and
even of the night, while her faitbless husband
is seeking enjoyment abroad. How painful
must be her reflections on thus finding her fond
est anticipations blasted, and the freside at
which she hoped to be blessed with sympathy
and society deserted and desolate. That man
deserves not the generous affections Of wife
who will not invite her love by the respect and
honor of personal attention. 1t is not few
gaudy trinkets and occasional freaks Of fondness
that can give your wife happy heart, aud mako
her happy home. There must be real, sub.
stantial kindness, the unequivocal evidence of
love for the society and joys of home"
Thus much on the duty of husbands to render
nome what 1t should ever DC to those who have
embarked themselves and their all for life, with
them.
"And has the wife nothing to do, is there
nothing she can do to make her home scene of
attraction to tho husband of her choice 2" Much
has she to do, much can she do, and much must
she be found doing, Or she may lay her accounts
with failing in the enjoyment of that peace and
comfort and happiness she might otherwise
reasonably anticipate. allow often ia wife left
to mourn over alienated affections she has made
no effort to cherish and strengthen. She thinks
because her husband once loved her, he ought
always to love her, and she neglects these at
tentions which first enchained his heart. Many
a wife is thus the cause of her own neglect and
sorrow. That woman deserves not husbands
generous love, who will not greet him with
smiles as he returns from the labors Of the day;
who will not try to chain him to his home By
the sweet enchantnent of cheerful room, and
a cheerful face. 'There is not one man." says
Abbott, Gin thousand so unfeeling as to with
stand such an influence, and break away from
such home" Where he is found so doing,
instead of reciprocating the fond endearments
of loving and tender wife, let him have his ap-
propriate title; call him not a man, but mon:
ster.