Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1873-10-09
COURTSHIP AFTER MARRIAGE.

said Madge Harley as she sat down Dy
her neighbor's fire one evening; "here
you are at your sewing, with the kettle
steaming on the hob, and the tea-things
on the table, expecting every minute to
hear your husbands step, and See his
kind face look in at the door. All! if
my husband was but like yours,
Janet"
"He is like mine in many of his
ways" said Janet, with a smile, "and
if you will allow me to speak plainly, he
would be still more like him If you
took more pains to make him comfort
able"
"Wbet do you mean ?" cried Madge;
"our house is as clean as yours; I mend
my husbands clothes, and cook his
dinner as carefully as any woman in the
parish, and yet he never stays at home
of an evening, while you sit here by
your cheerful fire night after night as
happy as can be-"
GAS happy as can be on earth" said
her friend gravely; eyes, and shall 1
tell you the secret of il, Madge ?"
81 wish you would" said Madge,
with deep sigh; sit is misery to live
as do now"
"Well, then" said Janet, speaking
slowly and distinctly, "I let my hus-
band see that love him still, and that
I learn every day to love him more.
Love is the chain that binds him to his
home. The world may call it folly, but
the world is not my lawgiver."
"And do youreally think, exclaimed
care for that sort of thing ?"
"For love, do you mean?" asked
Janet.
eyes; they don't feel at all as we
do, Janet, and it don't take many years
of married life to make them think
of wife as sort of maid-of-all-
work"
GA libel, Madge," said Mrs. Matson,
laughing "1 won't allow you to sit
in Williams chair and talk so."
"No, because your husband is differ
ent, and values his wife's love, while
John cares for me only as his house.
"I don't think that" said Janet, cal
though I know that he said to my hus-
band the other day that counting time
was the happiest Of mans life. Will
liam reminded him that there is greater
happiness than that, even on. earth, if
men but give their hearts to Christ. I
know John did not alter his opinion,
but he went away still thinking of his
courting time as a Joy too great to be
exceeded"
"Dear fellow" cried Madge, smiling
through her tears. 81 do believe he
was very happy then. I remember I
used to listen for his steps as I sat with
my dear mother by the fire, longing for
the happiness of seeing him."
"Just so, said Janet "do you ever
feel like that now."
Madge hesitated. "Well, no, not
exactly"
"And why not ?"
90, I don't know" said Madge
married people give mp that sort of
thing"
"Love, do you mean ?" asked Janet.
"No, but what people call being SEN
timental," said Mrs. Harley.
Longing to see your husband is
proper sentiment"
"But some people are ridiculously
foolish before others, reasoned Madge.
"That proves they want sense. I am
not likely to approve Of that, as Will
liam would soon tell you; all I want is
that wives should let their husbands
know they are still loved"
"But men are so vain, said Madge,
"thatit is dangerous to show them much
attention"
Her friend looked up, 30, Madge,
what are you saying? Have you, then,
married with the notion that it is not
good for John to believe you love him?"
"No, but it is not wise to show that
you care too much for them"
"Say I and him do not talk of hus-
bands in general; but of yours in par
ticular."
"He thinks quite enough of himself
already, assure you"
"Dear Madge," said Janet, smiling,
''wculd it do you any harm to receive
little more attention from your hus-
band?"
"Of course not. I wish he'd try"
and Mrs. Harley laughed at the idea.
''Then you don't think enough of
yourself already? and nothing would
make you vain, I suppose?"
Madge colored, and all the more
when she perceived that William Mat
son had come in quietly, and was now
Standing behind Janet's chair. This
OF course, put an end to the converse
ton. Madge retired to her own home
to think of Janet'swords, and to confess
secretly that they were wise.
Hours passed before John Harley re-
turned home. He was man of good
abilities, and we'll to do in the world
mud having married Madge because he
truly loved her, he had expected to
lave happy home. But partly be-
cause he was reserved and sensitive,
partly because Madge feared to make
him vain, they had grown very cold to
each other, so cold that John began to