Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-12-16
CoURTsHIP AFTER MARRIAGE.

| COURTSHIP AFTER MARRIAGE.
| "Now. this is what I call comfort" sale
Madge Harley as she sat down by her neigh
boris fire one evening; "here you are at you
sewing, with the kettle steaming on the hob
and the tea things on the table, expecting ev
cry minute to hear your husbands step, anC
see his kind face look in at the door. All i
my husband was but like yours. Janet"
HE is like mine in many of his ways" sale
Janet, with 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 com
| Portable"
"What do you mean ?" cried Madge; ''oul
house is as clean as yours; [ mend my hus
band clothes, aud cook his dinner as careful
| ly as any woman in the parish, and yet be new.
er stays at home of au evening, while you sit
here by your cheerful fire night after night as
happy as can be-.
''As happy as can be on EARTH" said her
friend gravely; ''yes, and shall tell you the
secret of it. Madge p
Il wish you would" said Madge, with a
deep sigh; lit is misery to live as | do now. y
"Well, then, said Janet, speaking slowly and
distinctly, Il let my husband see that [ love
him still, and that learn every day to love
him more. Love is the chain that binds him
to his home. The world may call it folly, bu
the world is not my lawgiver"
And do you really think" exclaimed Madge
in surprise, that husbands care for that sort
of thing?'
"For love do you mean ?" asked Janet.
"Yes; they don't feel at all as we do, Janet
and it don't take many years of married life tC
make them think of a wife as sort of maid-of
all-work."
"a libel, Madge," said Mrs. Matson, laugh
ing Il won't allow you to sit in William {
chair and talk so.
mo, because your husband is different, and
values his wife's love, while John cares for me
only as his housekeeper. -
Il don't think that" said Janet. although
[ know that ne said to my husband the other
day that counting time was the happiest of a
mans life. William reminded him that there
is greater happiness than that, even on earth,
If men but give their hearts to Christ. l know
John did not altar 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 II do believe he was very happy
then. remember | used to listen for his steps
as sat with my dear mother by the fire, long
ing 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"
20, / don't know" said Madge; married
peope give up that sort of thing
Love, do you mean p asked Janet.
mo, but what people Call being sentimen-
tal," said Mrs. Harley.
Longing to see your husband is a proper
sentiment"
But some people are ridiculously foolish be-
fore others, F" reasoned Madge.
That proves they want sense. [ am not
likely to approve Of that, as William would
soon tell you all [ want is that wives should
let their husbands know they are still loved"
''But men are so vain, said Madge, that
it is dangerous to show them much attention. !"
Her friend looked up, 80 Madge, what are
you saying? Have you, then, married with
the notion that it is not good for John to be-
lieve you love him?'
mo, but it is not wise to show that you care
too much for them"
Say, and him; do not talk of husbands in
general; but Of yours in particular
He thinks quite enough of himself already,
| assure you"
Dear Madge," said Janet, smiling. would
it do yOu any harm to receive little more at
tention from your husband?''
'Of course not, | 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, |
suppose
Madge colored. and all the more when she
perceived that William Matson had come in
quietly and was now standing behind Janet s
chair This OF course, put an end to the con-
versation. Madge returned to her own home
to think of Janet's words, aud to confess secret
ly they we're wise.
Hours passed before John Harley returned
home. He was man of good abilities, and
we'll to do In the world and having married
Madge because he truly loved her, he had ex-
pected to have happy home. But partly be-
cause he was reserved and sensitive, partly be-
cause Madge feared to make him vain, they
had grown very cold to each other, so cold that
John began to think the ale-housea more COM
Portable place than his own freside.
That night the rain fell in torrents the winds
hQwled. and it was not uotil the midnight hour
had arrived that Harley left the public house
and fastened toward his cottage. He was wet
through when he at length crossed the thres-
hold he was, as he grufhy muttered, used to
that" but he was not used to the tone and
look with which his wife drew near to welcome
him, nor find warm clothes by a cracking fire,
and slippers ON the hearth nor to hear no re-
proach for late hours, and neglect, and dirty
foot-marks as he sat In his arm chair. Some
change had cone to Madge he was very sure.
She wore dress he had bought her years ago,
with neatsnen collar round the neck, and had
cap, trimmed with white ribbons, on her head.
You're smart, Madge," he exclaimed at
last, when he had stared at her for some time
in silence. who has been here worth dress
ing for tonight"
''No one until you came" said Madge, half
laughing. :,
Il? Nonsense you didn't dress for me ~
cried John.
"You won't believe it, perhaps, but did. I
have been talking with Mrs. Matson this even
ing, and she has given me some very good ad-
vice. So now, John, what would you like for
your supper?'
John, VINO was wont to steal to the shelf al
night and content himself with anything he
could find, thought Madge's offer too excellent
to be refused, and very soon large bowl OF
chocolate was steaming on the table. Then his
wife sat. down, for wonder, by his side and
talked little, and listened, and looked pleased
when at last, as if he could not help it, he said
Dear old Madge!"
That was enough her elbow somehow found
its way then to the arm of his great chair, and
she sat quietly looking at the fire. After awhile
John spoke again:
"Madge, dear, do you remember the old days
when we used to sit side by side in your moth
er's kitchen?''
Eyes"
81 was younger man then, Madge, and, as
they told me, handsome now | am growing
older, palmer, duller. Then you-you loUeo
me; do you love me StiU?"
She looked up in his face aud her eyes an
swered him. 1t was like going back to the old
days to feel his arm around her as her head lay