Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-11-29
THE NERVOUS WIFE CURED.
D., JOSEPH 5. rnirrs.

THE NERVOUS WIFE CURED.
IN JOSEPH s. rRIrIs.
My friend wilkins married o sweet young
girl OF quiet, amiabe disposition, but in no
way skilled in those domestic arts, without
knowledge Of which wifes duties are al
ways felt to be hard in the beginning. He
was the envy of more than one who had
aspired to the possession Of her hand.
knew him to be Industrious, intelligent and
kind-hcarted, and felt sure he had taken a
life companion who would be loving and faith.
full
They removed to another town. Ten years
aiterward in passing through that place, !
called upon wilkins, who met me with the
old frank cordiality. Eyes and face were in
glow Of pleasure, when, still grasping his
hand, | inquired after his wife. His couute.
nance changed instantly.
Poor Mary" he said in a sad. discourage
ed way. "She has no healthn
I'm sorry was my natural response.
Sickness aud the loss Of two of our chill.
dren has so worn down body and mind
that she is but a shadow of her former self
Worst of all, her nerves are completely shat
tered. But you must see her To meet an
old friend will do her good. Will you spend
the evening with us2'
| assented and then made further enquiry
about his iamily and worldly condition His
story was not very bright one The birth
of the first child was followed by protracted
sickness, which brought the young mother to
the verge of death.
"She has never had as good health sinco
said wilkins in suppressed voice. " My
income was small and we could not afford the
amount Of household assistance at first that
she really required, and so everything wa,
against her restoration to sound health. Chill
dren came rapidly, bringing with them NOR,
exhaustive cares. And the death of two o
our little ones, to which have referred, seemed
to complete the work of rain. She is now !
helpless invalid, poor, weak, nervous, un
happy creature, mere wreck of what yoI
saw ten years ago, moving like fearful ghos
through her daily round of duties, and onl
kept alive by the constant and careful aiten
tions of physician. don't think the doc
tor has been out of my house two weeks at
time in six years, and am sure he has re
ceived more than three hundred pounds of m
money in that time. The fact is, with tn
doctors bills, nurses, medicines and the hun
dred nameless expenses sick and nervou
wife entails upon man, my fortunes bav
been marred. They keep me poor"
Wilkins spoke in a fretiul voice 1t wa
plain that he had grown impatient under tn
trials to which the bad health of his viii
had exposed him.
called at his office again toward evenin
and went home with him. Had met Mr.
wilkins in the street | would not have r,
cognized in her the happy bride, who, te
years ago, blushing in beauty had see
giving her hand in a life partnership, in sue
loving confidence in the future, to the hui
band of her choice. Her countenance wa
wan and wasted, all the beautifully rounde
outlines gone her eyes, deeply sunken, wei
laDguid almost to indifference her hair. one
richly luxuriant, had fallen of, until scare
half Of it remained and that looked dry an
crisp, with here and therea premature line
gray She stopped slightly, and her motion
; were lleless
A faint smile parted her lips as graspe
,igi uuuu "i'u a' 'ne warmth Oh a gehuii
: soon as it was born. tried to talk with he
III u enoo''u' sua'n' anu u'u succeed
A I"aN.n'"s p', prl'' interest IN 'ee olden tim
. l'u' t"o pleseu. was .oo painiuhy real
e Moulu NV Pe'uh'' n'I 'nougu's 10 indulge
pleasant lapcles' ! eoI,u not help askir
a9ou' ~ M "elso.' auI .no Snliaren ana tnis tnr
, eu 'ne current oi ner ieeiings INTO their won
. W unanuei ; anu ! listened 10 her SAD hea
! s'ories' "uu Pa.n,u' experiences IN slckne
qntll my own ieenngs were deeply shadowe'
p,tleu ner, "9at somoer' suffering Il
f nau oeen her ln'o what world OF mi
, cry lnsteado oil happiness, had marriage tran
lated her
AS she talked l observed her husbar
carefully 1t was plain that he had very Ii
tie sympathy with his wites state of icelinl
lie was sufferer with her, though in igh
er degree and as his sutferings originate
I with her there was plainly lack of kind
I patience toward his companion. Sever
times he interrupted her trying to draw Ii
conversation into another channel and one
or twice he threw in deprecating sentence
as If she were exaggerating the unhapp
story Of her life
learned that Mrs. Wilkins rarely if eve
went out of her own house. Her dutie
were yery arduons. and her ability from I;
health, small. Every dav she WORKED ,
bodily exhaustion, and usually in main