Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1870-12-21

Jenny was silent Here was the dark
side of the brigh; picture which she had
never seen or dresmed of before.
"You love your husband, Jenny9' said
her friend, after a time.
Jenny opened her eyes widely.
Love himI Why, ism t he my husband, ~
| was her naive reply.
Mrs. Van H0wth laughed
Some women in society might think
that n reason Why you should not love him, -
she said drily. And he loves you. also ?"
Il should die to morrow if [ thought he
did not /"
Tut, child People leave this world
when God wills it, not before l dare say
you would survive his infdelity. Many
women before you have lived through such
things
Don't talk of it, Margaret! could not
bear it! Why, his love is all the world to
me! How could bear to lose it!''
Then don t wish him to be city mer-
chant, my dear. dare say there are a
great many good men in the city,-men
who love their wives but on the other hand
there are SO many temptations, especially
IN society, that | sometimes wonder not that
so many go estray, but that so many remain
true to themselves and their duty"
She spoke ab.ently, and her eyes had
far-awsy glance, as if they dwelt on other
thiags.
Jenny ven ured question
Margaret, is yours a happy marriage
Do you love your husband And does he
love you ?"
Mrs. Van Howth i'm pulsiveIy started and
turned crimson.
Jenny, would have loved him-I
would have been good wife to him; but
he never loved me- He brought to place
me at the head of his house, because he
thought me lady like and interesting; that
was all He told me 90 once, though not
quite 20 plainly as this And since then
we have each taken our own way, indepen
dent of each other. | seldom see him at
our house III town. | have my carriage, my
diamonds, my opera box. In the season, |
70 to Saratoga, or Newport, while he fsvors
Long Branch with his presence We are
perfectly polite to each other; &c never
quarrel; and [ suppose we're | to die to-
morrow, he d be the most inconsolabIe of
widowers-for week! Jenny you will not
wish to change places with me again. Your
husband might change as mine has done,
exposed to the same temptations. Thank
Heaven that you have hun as he is, q good
true man who loves you; aud never mind
the butter and cheese, Jenny, so long as
your own happiness and his is made up with
lhem.'
She arose from her seat as she spoke, and
strolled Gown the garden path alone
Jenny did not follow her. She sat on the
step, lost in thought. The riddle of her
friends life was at last made clear to her.
She had often wondered why Margaret in
the midst Of her wealth and luxury, should
seem SO sad and i'll at ease She wondered
no longer now. To be the wife of man
who has no love for you! What lower
deep can there be for proud and sensitive
woman than this?
Jenny turned with tears in her eyes TO
meet her handsome stalsart husband, as he
come from the field
We'll little woman" and then she got
the rough embrace and the hearty kiss for
which she was looking.
Yes, Margaret was right The butter
aud cheese were of very little consequence,
while love like this made her tasks easy to
endure. And the rosy checked little wo-
man bent fondly down over her Hiram"
as he flung himself on the porch seat, and
flannel him, talked to him. brought him
cool lemonade, and made him thoroughly
happy, while be enjoyed his rest. Poor
Margaret! Happy Jcnnyl Never again
would she wish to be anything more, only
farmers wife.