The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-05-05
A STORY FOR WIVES,

ueighb0rS IRE one evening: mere you ar
at your sewing, with the kettle steamin
on the hob, aud the tea things steaming O
the table, expecting every minute to hea
your husbands steps and see his face Loo
in o. the door. All! if my husband wa
like yours, janet"
He is ike mine in many of his WAYS.
said Janet, with smile, "aGd if you will
allow me to speak plainly, he would b.
still more like him. if you would take NOR
pains to make him comfortable"
"What do you mean?" cried Madge
"onr house is as clean as yours; l mend m,
husbands clothes and cook his dinner al
carefully as ony woman in the parish, ant
yet he never stays at home ofan evening
while you two sit here by your cheerful fir,
night after night, as happy as can be-"
As happy as can be on earth, :" he
friend said gravely, "yes---and l shall tel
you the secret Of it, Madge."
II wish you would" said Madge; with
a sigh, otis misery to live as do''
"Well, then, said Janet. speaking SLOWLY
and distinctly, let my husband see that
love him still, and that j learn every day
to love him more. Love is the chain thai
binds him to his home. The world NAV
call it folly, but the world is not my law
giver."
"And do you really think" exclaimed
Madge that husbands care for that sort oil
thing 2"
For love, do you mean?" asked Janet.
eyes" replied Madge, "they don't feel
at all as we do, Janet, and it don't take
many years Of married life to make them
think Of wife as sort of maid of all
work"
"a libel, Madge." said Mrs. :Matson,
.,ughing, II won't allow you TO sit in
Williams chair and talk SOL
"No, because your husband is different,
and values his wife's love, while John
cares for me only as his housekeeper."
81 don't think that" said Janet, "al
though he said to my husband the other
day that counting time was the happlest
off mans life. William reminded him that
there is greater happiness still. even on
earth, if men but gave their hearts to
Christ. know John did alter his opin.
ion, but he went away still thinking of bis
counting time as a joy too great to be ex.
ceeded"
"Dear fellow" cried Madge, smiling
through her tears, 81 do believe lie was
happy then-I remember l 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?"
Madge hesitated. "Well, no, not exact
j."
aAnd why not?"
"Oh, don't know" said Madge, n;nar.
ned people give up that sort of thing"
"Love, DO you msaus" asked Janet a
second time.
mo, but Shat people call the seatimen-
tall sale, Mrs. Harley.
longing to see your husband is very
poor sentiment" replied Janet. at-tf
"Bnt some people are ridiculously fool
sh before Others" reasoned Madge.
"This proves they want sense. Tam not
likely to approve of that as William would
soon tell you; all that l want is that wives
should let their husbands know that they
are still loved"
"But men are SO vain" said Madge,
@that it is very dangerous showing them
much attention"
Her friend looked up, "Oh Madge, what
are you saying? Have you then married
with the notion that it is not good for,
John to believe that you love him?''
mo, tut it is not wise to show that
you care too much for Them
"Say and him; do not talk of husbands
10 general, but of your own in particular"
He thinks quite enough of himself al
ready, can assure you"
/" Dear Madse, said Janet, smiling,
"would it do you any harm to receive
little attention from your husband?"
OF course not, wish he'd try" and
Mrs. Harley laughed at the idea.
"Then you don't think enough of your
self already, and nothing would make you
rain,aI supposed"
Madge colored, and all the more, when
she perceived that William Matsou had
come in quietly, and was now standing be-
hind her listening to Janet's words; and
to confess secretly that they were wise.
Hours passed before John Harley re-
turned home. He was a man of good abil-
tiles, and we'll to do in the world. and hav
ing married Madge because be truly loved
her, he expected to have a happy home. |
Bat partly because he was reserved and
sensitive, and partly because Madge feared |
to make him vain, they had grown cold
towards each other. So cold that |
that John began to think the ale-house
more comfortable place than his own |
home. .sz4.r .t.I -
That night the rain fell in torrents, the
Wlnd nowied, and 1T was not until the mid |
night hour arrived that Harley left the |
public house; and FASTENED toward his cot
tage. 5 -.
He was wet through, when he at length |
crossed the threshold. He was, as he
gruffy muttered, used to that" but he was
not used to the tone, and look with which
hls wife drew near to welcome him; nor
to find warm clothes by the. cracking fire,
and slippers on the hearth; nor to hear no
raproach for the late hours, or neglect for
dirty footmarks, as he sat in his armchair.
Some change had came to Madge, he was
eery sure.
She wore dress he had bought for her
years before, with linen collar around her
neck, and had cap trimmed with white
ribbons on her head.
"You are smart, Madge," he exclaimed
at last, when he had stared at her some
time in silence, "wbo's been here worth |
dressing for to-night.?"
mo one, until you came" said Madge
half laughing.
81? Nonsense, you didn't dress for mel"
"You won't believe it, perhaps, but l
did, have been talking with Mrs. Matson
this evening, and she has been giving me