The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1869-01-29
WIFE AND OLD MAID.
The Relative Bliss OF Women with
and without the Wedding
Ring.


ary journal:
Somebody says, IF you want to
know to what degree of pathos a tale
Of the affections may be carried, ask
an old maid to tell you her love story
| agree with tho writer perfectly, with
a difference. | say, ask a married
woman to tell you hers for of all dis
appointments, here is generally the
greatest.
The old maid may adore the mem
ory of one who lies beneath the turf
may watch perpetually for the re-
turn ofsome sailor who went down
with his vessel years ago in mid
ocean or she may have been Tilted
out and ont, or loved one who cared
little for her; but nothing does she
know of tho disappointments of n
disappointed wife.
Perhaps / know hundred married
women; ont of them all, not ten quite
happy. They may livein palaces and
wear purple and fine linen, and fare
sumptuously every day but disap-
! pointment is written on almost every
brow while that Of many an old
maid is smooth and happy, or would
be but for her envy of those who
wear the wedding ring.
If one is never queer, one never
pines for crown; but to be a queen
for awhile and then lie BUNDLED in the
dust, brushes the very heart, Every
lover makes his love a queen in court
ing days. She is beautiful, she is good;
her whims are law, her silliest speech
wisdom. If she desires any thing
greatly, it must be hers and he is al
ways at her service, ready to do her
bidding, but in year or two it is he
himself who tears off the crown and
dashes down the scepter his own hand
bestowed. He is tired Of courtesy,
tired of tenderness, tired Of love and
respect, The lover who rises, phoe-
nix like, from the lovers ashes, is the
being from whom q woman almost al
ways bears more eoarseness, more bit
terness, more cruelty, more sins of
omission and commission than any
other earthly being. ra
You sec q girl marry-she is rosy,
bright of eye, fair of brow, golden
haired, and dimpled ten years after
you meet her; she is lead d-colored and
dull, her hair is grayish, her figure
sharp; she has not good health and
yet her home is a palace, her servants
legion and her dress perfect. Want
has not dimmed her beauty, nor great
care. 1t is the death of love beside
her hearthstone that has so changed
her. What does he care for her now,
this man who was hor life? Nothing.
The love.look is gone--the smile, the
tender grasp of the hand, the wish to
make her happy, the pride in her, the
endearing confidence, He says little
bitter things about her looks, about
her manners, about her opinions, not
knowing-for men are obtuso in such
tbings-that it is this that has al
tered them that bad he been her low
er always, the sweet smile of her girl !
hood would have remained to bless
him the brightness of her eye, the
rose upon her cheek-that, sharing
his home, his name, and his fortune,
this poor woman is more bitterly dis
appointed than any old maid of them
all. how great soever her bitterness.
These women often try to hide their
woes, but they peep out too plainly. |
She will say, You know I'm alone
q great deal, Mr.. - is so busy and |
you know what it means. They will
say, . | don't 60 anywhere. Mr.
can't find time !; and you feel sure that
not time but inclination is needed ! and
you catch them in dingy dressing.
gowns and slippers down ut heel, and
know by these tokens that nobody
cares at home how they look now.
Of course there are good husbands,
who are lovers all their livesj and
you know their wives by their young,
happy looks, in a minute.
| remember one dear old lady who
used, at seventy, 10 put on her capI
with blue ribbons before her husband
came home to tea, and never failed to
receive a kiss on both cheeks when
he did como who made me, with
her 'forty-five years experience Of
quite envy IL. But, rath-
er than be as wretchedly disappoint-
ID as most married women, l would |
be willing to remain . spiDster all
my life, and end my days working
shepherds in Berlin wool,
md writing sentimental verses to the
young prince who never came over
he mountains to marry me-a great
leal rather; on even, would it be hap.
pier 10 keep remembranco Of one
whose brief life was all loye-who
passed away like a dream, with all his
owe about him than to look up in
ace once sweet with smiles, now eth
" frowning or indifferent and to
know that there remained OF those
Toung loye-Vows nothing but cold duty
perhaps, not even thai.
et-'A man writing an anonymous
,ote Ia like pnDny in side OF an en-.