Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1870-10-26
Selected Storp.
KITTY CLAIR.

1Snt aunt Agnes funny woman." in
quired Kitty Clair of her mother, as she
held up large envelope, which enclosed
beautiful gold edged letter sheet, all fine
written over; sand what do you suppose
the letter is about, mother? I may as well
tell you at once, for know you never be-
tray my confidence"
We will therefore insert it for the spe-
cial benefit of our young friends sim 1arly
situated, but who, it may be, are in quest
of the same advice:
''DEAR KITTY-You ask me my opinion
respecting accepting the offer of Mr.. Stock
ton. Well, know you are in love with
him, before begin to reply. The minu-
teness with which you have described his
person and address, together with some
little conversational sailies which you have
furnished US, illustrating his and good hu-
NOR, all told me the state of your heart
So to begin, with a person who sees only
the brilliant parts of ones character, who
feels that nobody ever was comparable with
him; nay more, to talk over matters which
have been incorporated in your hours of
silence and midnight meditations, while
your thoughts have been skimming over
the ipdistinct realities of future home,
over which the lord of your affection pres
ides supreme, until at length wrapt in
dreamy forgetfulness the pleasant images
have full realization in disturbed slum-
bers, where q fairy land is foreshadowed-
/ repeat it, to advise with such person,
is no difficult task.
'But you must remember, nv dear
niece, Mr.. Stockton is but man. He un-
doubtedly has human heart, and you i'm
agine him possessed of a lively lmagina-
ton, which viii always keep yoa in a cheer
full frame of mind. Ten chances to one,
Kitty, marriage will dlspel such an illu-
sion. just suppose yourself thrown IN some
OF the irritating bramble paths of life
suppose your cook to have left yon-with
company in the parlor, and q few country
cousins in the chambers, and perchance
your present adviser in some ante-room;
your chore girl knows nothing about spit
ting piece of beef, or dressing turkey;
you are thrown on your own resources,
and pride and ambition are both severely
taxed. Your husband, it may be, brings
home a particular friend to dine on this
unlueky day. The magic spell of court
Is dissolved. He demands a more nutri-
tious diet now. Can you steer through
such a blast and keep your self-possession,
and be both cook and mistress in such an
emergency? IF not, I beg you to consider
such a case beforehand.
"Again, in married life other perpIex-
tiles often occur. You may set your heart
upon some favorite project which not at
all comedies with your husbands taste.
Can you bear the disappointment and fail
ure of such a scheme?
''Other days of disquietude may arise
Sometimes your Idol may seem dull and
taciture; no efforts OF yours can always dis
pei the gloom; perhaps it may arise from
moody temperament, which ends in a
natural way sometimes he may have en-
countered some provocations from with
out; perhaps q friend has failed in busI-
ness, or times look disas trous to himself,
and his conduct may sadly vex and puzzle
you; perchanee the fond expectations and
pet names hehas been wont to call you in
honeymoon times, are now seldom heard;
be pores over his account books, or he rat
ties his newspaper as if he were reading
only to conceal his deep thoughts; can ycu,
with winning tenderness, always look
cheerful, and never put impertinent and
inquisive questions to him? Can you grad
ually smooth out wrinkled brow by un-
aided resources2 If SO, you have essential
qualities which will make domestic life
happy. But cannot dismiss the subject
here.
ga few years hence, and other loves gath
er about you. The double capacity of
mother and wife begins TO be realized. =
There are the little pet darlings, climbing
over the back of your chair, and tottering
by the side of your knee, You have re-
newals of love, which seem entwined with
your very existence By-and. by they have
diseases incident to children. Think the
matter over now. It is no small care and
anxiety to carry one child through the
whoopipg cough, the measles or a scarlet
Ina. You must be kept wakeful for weeks,
and no warning of others can secure you
against much maternal solicitude. Then
in health there are thousand trials to
your temper, and nowhere does the need
OF a firm, religious, conscientious prin-
ciple so.come in play as in educating young
children. They are wayward, mischiev-
GUS, sometimes tantalizing. Do you know
hcw to govern such tempers? If not, COM
mence the study now, and be assured the
lesson is not learned III day.
Gone or two more cases and have done.
Can you repair an old coat make a nice
fitting shirt, re-work button-holes, starch
a dicky, and iron a shirt-bosom You
may laugh at these questions, but the
knowing how does not imply you are to
do such jobs. Yet, in case OF fortune, how
useful such knowledge may become Had
we not an instance Of this kind In your
Aunt Sleeper? Did not her energetic ac-
ton save her family from ruin?
Finally, can you bear with a sick man !?
Do you know anything OF good nursing !?
Can you move quietly in q sick chamber,
speak in subdued tone of voice, soothe
tevered patient. bear " ith great irritation,
and see kind DIsposer IN all human
events? All these interrogatories you may
smile over now-an italian Air, or the
lIrl az, -l,Ir,.
but In coming time, depend up
on it, the thought OF the real
will, in great events, give place
to the imaginative. Maiden laoies, know
are ridiculed as sour grapes but, Kitty,
have had chances to change my condi-
ton, which foolishly rejected; because
the plain, homely gentleman did not suit
my fancy. | have since believed the ster-
ling qualities of the mind and heart are
all about which we should hesitate. other
things being equal. Never, my dear
niece, marry for Wit, outward appearance,
or money. Hair will turn gray-a hand
some face will wrinkle by age. and money
sometimes is lost-but good name never
furnishes. Ibeg you to think over what /
have, Sritten, before you engage to marry
Mr. Stockton-so that IN alter life, when
sad realities may press upon you. you may
not hunt your portfolio TO md this letter
from your maiden aunt, and drop a tear
over its truthful pages.
''Yours, affectionately.
EMMA AGNES.
Kitty Clair was no philosopher; yet the
wholesome reasoning of her aunt was duly
needed. Her marriage was postponed un-
III she had sufficiently digested the con-
tent" OF the above letter; and their practi-
cal bearings may be better comprehended
py d letter from FIR. Stockton, dated two
NC&la AlLGr Al cd 10,