Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1868-06-20
TALES AND SKETCHES.
A R'AAF p'OEs WIVES.

"Now this is what l call comfort" said
Madge Harley, as she sat down by her
neighbor's fire, one evening; "here you are
at your seHing, with the kettle steaming
on the hob and the tea things steaming on
the table, expecting every minute to hear
your husbands step, and see his face look in
at the door. Ah ! if my husband was like
yours, Janet !"
''He is like miEe in many of his ways"
said Janet, with smile, "and if you will al.
low me to speak plainly, he would be still
more like him if you took more pains to
make him comfortable"
"What do you mean 2" cried Madgc;
"our house is as clean as yours | mend my
husbands clothes and cook his dinner as
carefully as any woman in the parish, and
yet he never stays at home of an evening,
while you two sit here by your cheerful fire
night after night as happy as can be-"
"As happy as can be on earth" her friend
said gravey, ''yes-and shall tell you the
secret of it, Madge."
II wish you would" said Madge with
deep sigh, "its misery to live as l do"
well, them" sad Janet, speaking slowly
and distinctly, 81 let my husband see that
love him still, and that l learn every day to
love him more. Love is the chain that binds
him to his home. The world may call it
folly, but the world is not my lawgiver!"
And do you really Think exclaimed
Madge in surprise, that husbands care for
that sort of thing?"
"For love, do you mean 2" asked Janet
Yes they don't feel at all as we do, ia
net, and it don't take many years of mar
ried life to make them think of wife rs q
sort Of maid of all work"
"a libel, Madge," said Mrs. Matson, laugh
ing, II won't allow you TO sit in Williams
chair and talk so."
mo, because your husband is different,
and values his wifes love, whilst. John cares
for me only as his housekeeper.n
81 don't think that" said Janet, "although
he said to my husband the other day that
courting time was the happiest of mans
life. William reminded him that there is a
greater happiness than that even on earth if
men but give their hearts to Christ. know
John did after his opinion, but he went
away still thinking of his courting time as
of joy too great to be exceeded"
"Dear fellow" cried Madge, smiling
through her tears, 81 do believe he was hap
py then. ] remember I used to listen for
him as 1 sat with my dear mother by the
fire longing for the happiness of seeing
him"
"Just So" said Janet. "Do you feel like
that now Z"
Madge hesitated. "Well, no, not exact
ly."
"And why not 2"
"Oh, don't KNOW" said Madge; "mar-
ried people give up that sort of thing"
"Love, do you mean 2" asked Janet Q Sec
ond time.
mo, but what people call the sentimen,
tal," said Mrs. Harley.
Longing to see your husband is a very
proper sentiment" replied Janet.
"But some people are ridiculously foolish
before others" reasoned Madge.
This proves they want sense. l am not
likely to approve Of that, as William would
soon tell you; all I want is that wives
should let their husbands know they are
still loved"
"But men are so vain," said Madge, "that
| II is dangerous to show much attention.
Her friend looked up. "Oh Madge,
what are you sayng1 Have you then mar,
ried with that notion that it is not good for
John to believe you love him2
mo, but it is not wise to show that you
care too much for them"
"Say / and him; +; do not talk of husbands
in general, but of yours in particular"
HE thinks quite enough of himself al
ready, assure YOU"
, "Dear Madge," said Janet, smiling,
"would it do you any harm to receive lit
tie attention from your husband 2"
"Of couase not. / wish he'd try !" aud
! Mrs. Harley laughed at the idea.
"Then you don't think enough of your
self alreadya and nothing would make you
vain suppose 2"
| Madge colored, and all the more when
she perceived that William Matson had
come in quietly, and was row standing be.
hind her, listening to Janet's words and to
confess secretly that they were wise.
Hours passed before John Harley returned
home. He was man of good abilities and
we'll to do in the world, and having married
Madge because he truly loved her, he had
expected to have happy home. But, part.
I ly because he was reserved and sensitive,
and partly becatse Madge feared to make
him vain, they had grown cold toward each
other so cold that John began to think the
alehouse more comfortable place than his
own home.