Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1871-12-23
an Exhausted Husband
LETTER FROM YOUNG WIFE TO HER Aunt
PUBLISHED ANONYMOUSLY.

too young to marry, and not capable Of choos-
ing mate for life properly, and, with due
consideration, ! know that you may now feel
that was wiser than ycu thought. In select
ing dear Orlando have gained most afiec-
tionste and attentive husband, sod one who
has neither fault nor vice. Heavens
What must girl suffer who finds herself unit
ed to dissipated person, neglcctful Of her,
and disposed to seek the society Of unworthy
persons, who drink, smoke. and do all sorts OF
dreadful things Thank Heaven, Orlando is
perfection.
To-day is my eighteenth birthday; and We
have been married year We keep house
now, and can make pretty good pie, only
the under crust will be damp. However, |
think that must be the even Once put
peppermint into the pudding sauce Instead Of
lemon flavoring' but then Orlandc-wa trying
to kiss me, right before the girl, who didn't
like either of US going into the kitchen at all.
Tire flowers are coming..up beautifully in
tho back garden. We soved q great many
seed, but hardly expected so many plants. -
Among the most numerous Is one variety with
a very large leaf, that scratches ones finger $
and don't smell very nice. wonder what it
is. Orlando friehtens me by talking about
weeds; but seeds always come up, don't they
Dear Orlando come back to bn again
So excellent, temperate and true. Tell all the
girls to marry as soon as they can, if they can
fnd husband like mine.
have but one trial, business takes hin so
much away from me. lawyer must attend
to business, you know, and sometimes they
carry on the case until two at night. Often
and often he has examined witnesses until
half-past twelve, and comes hons perfectly
exhausted. And the nasty things will smoke,
SO that bis dear coat quite smells Of it. And
as il makes him as i'll as it does me, have to
air it, aud sprinkle the lining with cologne
water before he dares to put it on again.
had terrible fright the other night
dreadful. Orlando had told me that bushes.
Il think he said it was case Of life and
death-would deiain him late So sat up
as usual with 1 book, and did not IVORY until
one o'clock After thatI was a little anxious
| confess, and caught cold in my head peep
ing through the upstairs window blind'; for
dear aunt, it was not until three o'clock that
heard cab driving up the street and saw il
stop at our door then thought should faint
for was sure that some dreadful accident had
happened to Orlando.
ran down to open the door, and Dir. Smith
friend of 6rlando's, who is not, | confess
very much to my taste-such q rcd-faced
noisy man-was just supporting my dear boy
up the steps.
"Oh, what las happened 2" cried !.
"Don't be frightened, Mrs. White" said Mr.
Smith. Nothing at ell, only White is lit
tie exhausted. Application to business will
exhaust man, and thought would bring
him home"
"All right, Belle" said Orlando, Smith
tells the truth-I'm exhausted"
And, dearest aunt, he was SO much so that
be spoke quite thick, and couldn't stand up
without tottering. Mr. Smith was kind
enough to help him up stairs, and be laid upon
the bed so prostrated that thought be wac
going TO die. Then remembered the French
brandy you gave me in case of sickness.
ran to get it out.
Have little brandy and water, dear y
said
"The very thing Smith IS exhausted. too.
Give some to Smith, said ho.
And so reproached myself for not having
thought Of ii before Mr. Smith vas gone. But
gave glass to Orlando, and under Provi-
dsnce, think saved his life, for oh how
bad he was
Belle" said he, quite faltering IN bis
speech, az the room is going round so fast that
can't catch your eye And, besides, there's
two of you, and don't know which is which. "
knew these were dreadful symptoms.
Take drink, dear" said 7, "snd I'll try
to wake Mary aud send her for the doctor"
NO." said he. "Ill be all right in the
morning. I'm all right now. Here's your
health. You're brick. L" Aad over he
fell fast asleep.
Oh, why do men think so much Of money
making Is not health be.tsr than anything
else
or course, as he had laid down in his bat,
I took that off first. And managed to d.
vest him Of his coat. But when i. came to
lis boots-dearest aunt, did you ever take of
gentleman, boots probably NOT, as you are
single lsdy-vhat task How do they ev-
er get EN- On 2 pulled and pulled, and
shook and rriggled, and gave Il up. But it
would not do to leave them on all night so
went at it again, and at last one came Of so
suddenly, and ovor went on ths floor, and To-
to his hat, which had put thero for minute.
could have cried And the other came off
in the same way, just as hard and just az sud-
den as the last. Then put soft blanket
over Orlando, and sat in my sswing-chair all
night. Oh, how heavily be breatbed. And l
had, as you may fancy, the most dreadful
f.ars. He might have killed himself BY bis
over-applicstiOn to business, for all that !
knew. The perfect ones 60 6rsi, it is said.