Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1867-10-16

In wife, not pet OF which he will soon
tire. y
But he loves me, aunt am sure he
does"
Il do not doubt that in the least But
did you love your pet kitten, Lilly White in
the same way you do your really talented
husband p
''How ridiculousl ~ and l tried to laugh,
but could not, for the fear that had crept
into my heart. What would you have me
do, to convince him that [ am not mere
pussy, to be petted and caressed? Shall l
pore over his law books, review my Latin,
and grapple with metaphysics, In order to
become a suitable companion for him Per-
haps few rehearsals in oratory, or wordy
contest with the poker, for instance, would be
an improvement p
''Pshawl do be reasonable Your edu.
cation has not been neglected. And now
want you to make good use of it.
II wish to do SO, I am sure But to what
did you allude, when you said my husband
did not speak properly to me?''
"When he asked you, before his friends,
if you thought the time would ever come
when you and black Jake would both have
the right OF voting.
''But he intended it as playful jest" /
replied.
All, yes DuC u jest lnlellucu 10 SHOW
you your own inferiority. Compare you to
[, he would have received an answer that
would have silenced him. | never allow
such things and no man will long respect Il
woman who will tamely submit to such obi
Gus comparisons | have sharp tongue,
and men soon learn to beware of challeng-
ing it. -
And what would you have said, had the
remark been made to your
Il should have said, mature has made
Jake my inferior; custom only, has made
me yours
'sBut never was quick at sharp an
swer," replied, little sadly aud thus the
subject was dropped for the present. But
the seed OF dlstrIst was s0wn, and brought
forth plentiful harvest; and the next three
weeks were among the most unhappy of my
life [ was constantly looking for sights
and implied inferiority, and found them in
plenty, and resented them deeply. Not in
angry words, or unlady-likc pouts, but in
studied GOODNESS, sly sarcasm or feigned in
difference, that 1t was agony to exhibit.
Are you quite we'll, this EVENING"" my
husband asked, as he prepared to go out, ,af-
ter | had been particularly smart and disa-
greeable.
Perfectly well, thank you," I answered
coldly. "Why %
Because you seem unusually nervous and
irratable, he replied
Nervous and irritabler' Why don't he
say cross and fretful, like an ailing child,
and propose some of Mrs Winslow sooth
ing syrup? thought, but said Have [
said anything to cause you to think me par
tic ilarly irritable p
Yes, your last question" and pulling
his hat over his brows, he strobe away,
leaving me second best in the encounter.
But he shall see that | am not to be
treated like child, | said to myself Il
will be his equal in everything 1t is wrong,
all wrong, this forcing woman to hold
subordinate position. If he thought | was
not fitted to be his companion, why did he
ask me to be his wife p
And when he returned, [ was very digni-
fied-asked after his late case, and talked as
learnedly as young miss just from school.
At length, conversation drifted upon the
subject of Woman's Rights, and Aunt Julia
entered into a discussion with him, that put
all my feeble powers to the blush. La fact
there was a miscbevious light in Frank
eyes that did not like. His logic / could
combat, after a fashion, but his ridicue con-
fused me.
1t Is not necessary to repeat the argu-
ments used on both sides But, to my sur
prise, Amt julia seemed 10 have the best
OF 1t, and my husband, rather doggedly, L
thought, admitted there was a wrong some
where that women did not have their rights.
Ii they had property, they had right to
say who should represent them and if they
had talents superior to their husbands, they
should rule the household. He, for one,
was perfectly willing to yield women the
In,, I-n1 to. h., LII
and he turned to me, with 'N hat do you
think, Nelly p
Somehow his admission had not given me
the pleasure | had thought it would. A
husband ruled by his wife Losing his vote
because his wife voted against him. [ was
vexed with Frank for subscribing to any
such theory.
But l must say something and replied,
80 far as making laws or dispensing them,
| want none Of the responsibility. There
are men enough for that. And as for going
to the polls, / would not be seen in such
dirty rabble And yet, | do not think that
women have their rights.
Wherein are they defrauded p
"A man should give his wife all the rights
he gives his gentleman friends; should treat
her as an equal and companion, and not
as pet and plaything. %
l. should nave SAID more, but bridget
made her appearance at the door, with
Please, ma am would you be after slipping
inter the kitchen minnit ?'
When I returned, after giving orders
about the breakfa fast, | was annoyed by "a cir
cumstance, trifing in itself, but in my pres
ent mood calculated to yex me. Frank had
taken my favorite seat, small sewing chair
-one he had selected expressly for my use
and was rocking in it, apparently forgetful
that had any claims on it.. was too
nrond m remind him. and the loss of it en-