The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-10-27

caIi "oineu Dlue-StOckln'S ana strong
minded, If they read and try to know
somethin'; and, If they don't, they call
'em weak minded and frivolous. They
find fault with 'em if they do, and they
despse them If they don't. Thank the
Lord all men don't feel so; but there's
enough of 'em to raise tho mischief
with great many women, and they,
in their turn, raiso the mischief with a
great many moro; for such wives (if
they don't sink down and die young)
are apt to grow hard and bitter after
awhile, and then they're down on all
the men. and they think that all women
arc abused; and they git great many
women to fcelin' discontcntcd who have
no just cause for fcolin' so.'
Aunt Hannah felt sure, that morning,
that her fears had proved true. She met
her sistcr-in-law at the gate and told
hor That Mary was there, and was then
lying down, 'and hopo she has gone to
Sleep sho added. Il want to have a
talk with you fore she wakes up.
Trouble Of some kind is wearin' the
dear child out, you may depend ont.
we must help her out of this slough of
despond' or she'll sink out of our sight
fore we know it. Fred. Fiske couldn't
quite Kill me with his lordliness, but
Pm rely afraid he will her.
Why, Hannahv y exclaimed Mrs.
White, Frederick never seems unkind
to Mary, and she never complains about
him.
Il presume She mover does. She isn't
ono of the complainin' sort. But you
must have noticed how she lowers her
voice and speaks hardly above whis-
pcf when ho is in, and how worried
and anxious she looks if everything is
not in its place; or if the little girls
make any noise when ho is readin'.
| You know, Tilda, she Is great deal
more as she used to be when he is out of
the house. Why should n wife stand in
such awe of her husband? What a
wretched household itll be, by.and by,
if they keep on in this way
You really alarm me- said Mrs.
White.
You have reason to be alarmed,' ;
Aunt Hannah replied. Mary is look
in quite too pale, thin aud discouraged.
But, it is not entirely Fred's fault, that
things are, as they are. Mary didn't
begin right. 1t would have been wise
for her to do as she has done if she had
married man whose turn of mind was
entirely different from Frcd's. But
with man of his stamp she could
hardly have done worse for herself
why, what has she done?'
You know, Tilda, that before she
was married she was very fond of her
studies, and was considered quite as
good scholar as Fred, and he seemed
quite proud Of it. She should alters
have Lort him fecliu' su. But as soon
as she was married she dropped all her
studies, and gave all her time to dome5-
tic duties, and depended upon Fred to
tell her all that she wanted TO know
When woman is as meek and quiet as
Mary is, and man is maturity as self,
confident and dOmineerin' as Fred Is, ii
is easy enough to see beforehand what
such q course would result in. He
tells her what he thinks is best for
her to know; and it's evident he don't
think it's necessary for her to know
anything outside OF household matters.
He knows enough for both, so she
needn't trouble herself with anything
outside Of her sphere. Doesn't he give
honor unto the wife a. unto the weaker
vessel? ? | wonder what good, old Saint
Peter would have said to such an inter
probation. Don't you see, Tilda, that
sho begun wrong"
Perhaps she did but she never has
had spare time for studying
t 'She never will have so lopS as she
puts three ruflles on the skirts of hel
little girls everyday dresses, ant
spends every spare minute for who'll
month in cmbroiderin' baby's blank
e ct. The children aint speck better OF
= for it, but they would be, by-and.by,
A she should study, now.'
| You are right, no doubt. But Fred
, erick always wants the children dressed
:
0 perfect order, always; and it does seen
l -IIark believe l hear the baby.
/ presume she'll be right out with him.
: 'I'll go and bring the baby OUT salt
G Aunt Hannah. 'She don't look as
{ she had strength enough to lift
@ kitten
e Mrs. White threw aside her bonne
y and shawl and followed Aunt Hannah
n She went directly to the bed and kisse
:, her daughter. Mary threw her arm
r around her mothers neck, and said:
i Pm so glad you come home one
4 more
a We are quite as glad to have yo
/. come, assure yOu,' Mrs. White replied
= and we must get up something specia
in honor of the occasion. Just think {
h it, sister Hannah, this is my first Wis
:. from my first grandson
It Mrs. White was one of those wome
k who have the iaculty-and a mo,
/, blessed faculty ii is-of conversin
It cheerfully whenever the occasion d,
Y mands. But she did not feel cheerfl
just then, for she saw that there was
f, red circle around her daughters eye
d and that she was still struggling to kee
10 down the rising sObs.
r Five minutes afterward Mrs. Fiske 81
Of before the fire in her mothers sittinj
10 room. Her sister Jane sat by her sic
so holding her little nephew and talkir
Dt baby talk to him, while Mrs. Viii
IN and Aunt Hannah busted themselv
ms getting dinner. In the intervals Of Il
H. lulabying and there-thereing to Il
as baby, Aunt Hannah caught snatches
~ conversation between the sisters, as 81
,h passed to and fro, that confirmed her
~ her surmises and filled her righteo
lg soul of Indignation. Mrs. White, ais
nd heard enough to deepen the ankle
,ir which she already felt, and to bring
II: shade of sadness over her countenan'
m. Ionp had npvpr seen her npphpU bnfOl