Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-10-26
RULED BY KINDNESS.

RULED BY KINDNESS.
The fact is that there is come crisis
III the lives Of my nephew and his wife,
and | want to see how she is going to
manage it. The crisis is a very simple
one: it comes at some time to most mar
ried lives, and much Of the misery Of that
state is due to the fact that wives do not
always know bow to manage it. The
crisis is that one which results from the
change common and natural TO all human
itv, when the passion OF the lover changes
into the purer but quieter affection OF the
husband in possession. | doubt II any
Young unmarried readers and married
folks yet in their honeymoon will under
stand what alude to, but those who
have been welded few years will com
prehend it. 1t is usual for every lover to
swear that though there have been in
stances where the affection Of husbands
has become less demonstratiyo after n
wear or two of married life, hiS case will
prove IN exception and it is because his
young wife, who loves him just as in
tcnsely, does not comprehend that he is
mistaken, and must of necessity grow less
demonstrativc, just as fire goes out if
more coal is net supplied, that they are SO
often unhappy. thiuk my little lady is
too sensible 10 wreck her happiness en-
this rock, and | have looked forward to
this crisis with eager interest
She and Peter have been married three
years now, and he is just beginning to
grow cold. don't mean that he is less
fond of Nellie, but lie dOesnC tell her so as
often as he used to. lie rs not as persist
emily devoted to her as he was two years
ago, and even year ago. don't mean
that he docs not love her as intensely, but
that he don't tell her so as Often. He
used to kiss her frequently before re he
has changed his idea on that subject, as
knew he would, and now thinks that it is
unnecessary, not to say improper, to be
too demoustrative before folks. Of late,
he has even taken to dining out without
Nellie, and couple of weeks ago he joined
Il club!
The idea Of an American gentleman,
with American habits, belonging to club
It's prepostcrous. Their whole education
units them for enjoying club life; and
the institution would have no existence il
our society did not possess an insane de-
sire to initiate foreign society. With
barely taste, idea, or principle, social
religious, 81 political, in common with the
English or French, we are always imta.
ting them weakly, of course and SO ap.
pear to the foreigners who come in con
tact with us like palvcnus rather than
gentlemen. And the most pcrniciOus Of
our limitations is the social and political
club! we shall have religious clubs event
ually.
Peter has joined a social club, and he
wrote a note from the Office to-day saying
he would be home to an early dinner this
afternoon, IN order to attend club meet.
ing this evening. There is to be some
sort Of reception of sort Of a person.
disreputable character, | suppose, as
ladies are not to be present.
Nellie did not get the note until about
three o'clock. She handed it to me with
out word of comment, and rang thu
servants bell at the same time.
"Petel's an ass " | exclaimed, OIL
reading it, and finding she said nothing.
"Oh, Uncle Johnm she cried, "ain'
you ashamed to talk so of your owl
blood relations? What am ! to think 0
your
"You might think the same Of me.
and think just right, too-it | neglecte,
you in this way" | answered, little tim
idly, for | wanted to draw her out with
out making her think | was in earnest
She did not answer for some seconds, ap
pearing to be in meditation; | think Sh
was waiting, however, Tor the appearance
of the servant, who came in answer I,
the bell before Nellie spoke again.
"Dinncr at five to day, Jane she said
sand tie incest you can get up" Whel
the girl had disappeared she added, "
dent think you do Peter justice. IL
does not neglect me, am sure"
"lle's not as fond Of YOU"
"Now, think he IS, Uncle John; an,
l must say l don't like you to you tel
me he amt. He's kardly-wcll, no
quite 70 noisy as he used to be; bu
then you used to preach to lis when W
were in our honeymoon that we woul,
get over our foolish billing and cooling"
"Well, you have"
"And now you blame us for being eco
nomical Of our demonstrations. | dom
believe he loves me any less; and 1 al
sure love him more to-day than / kneJ
how to then. He doesn't neglect me be
cause he goes out sometimes without me
and / don't complain of it, and you mus
not say anything to him about his gou
out. Do you hear"
"Yes, maam, do; and III promise t
faithfully obey" And very glad ] was I
promise, for felt sure she was going I
play the wise wife.
We did not discuss Peter any more, an
relapscd into silence, which the arrival {
his note had broken. But we had no
long to chew the cud Of our fancies.
don't know whether they were bitter q
sweet to Nellie, but mine were pleasan
enough. The door bell rang about ha
past four, and instead ofPeter, in came Mr.
Perkins, Peters partners wife, a very elt
CANT but rather higbstrung woman. Sh
was evidently in one Of her i'll humor
with which we were only too familiar, an
lat once anticipated scene.
..uoou evening, my dear" she sale
when the servant had shown her into tn
sittng-room, where we sat before I'll
comfortable FIRE. "Good evening, inc
John" She always calls me Uncle Johl
though there was no relationship betwee
us. Her father and | bad been bushes
partners for years. At bis death he le
his share of the business to Perkins. and
retiie ed in favor of my nephew Peter: -"
have come In to condole With you," 81
added, to Nellie.