Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1873-09-03
COURrSHIP AFTER MARRIAGE.
a Tale for Wives.

Tale FOR wives.
Now is this what call comfort" said
Madge Harley as she sat down a by neigh
boris fire one evening there 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 hus-
bands 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 comfortable"
"What do you mean?" cried Madge;
"Our house is as clean as yours; l mend
my husbands clothes, and cook his din
ner as carefully as any woman in the par
ish, and yet he never stays at home of an
evening, while you sit here by your cheer
full fire night after night as happy as can
be-
LAS happy as can be on earth, - said her
friend gravely; yes, and shall l tell you
the secret of it, Madge?"
II wish you would" said Madge, with
a deep sigh; 'it's misery to live as l do
nown
"Well then" said Janet, speaking slow
~ and distinctly, 81 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 cali it folly, but the world is not my
lawgiver." ..-
And do you really think" exclaimed
Madge IN surprise, "that husbands care
for that sort of thing ?n
"For love do you mean ?n asked Janet.
"Yes 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 a sort of maid-Of-all-work.n
"A libel, Madge," said Mrs. MatsOn,
I 10 81 in,
liam's chair and talk sou
mo, because your husband is different
and values his wife's love, while John
cares for me only as his housekeeper.n
~ don't think that" said Janet, cal
though L know that he said to my hus-
band the other day that counting time was
the happiest of mans life. William re-
minded him that there is greater happi-
ness than that, even on earth, if men but
give their hearts to Christ. / know John
did not alter his opinion, but he went
away still thinking of his counting time
as OF JOY too great to be exceeded
Dear fellow" cried, Madge, smiling
through her tears, II do believe he wa:
very happy then. / remember I used tC
listen for his steps a. | sat with my deal
mother by the fire, longing for the happi
ness of seeing him"
Just So" said Janet; do you ever fee
like that nOw?'
hbuBt lltSlldteu' ~ eli, mo- uOJ exact
"And why not?r ...
80, don't know" said Madge: "mar
ried people give up that sort of thing"
Love, do you mean ?"
mo, but what people call being sent
mental, >" said Mrs. Hawley.
Longing to see your husband is q prop
er sentiment" replied Janet.
'But some people are ridiculously foo
ism before Others reasoned MadPe.
That proves they want sense. 1 al
not likely to approve of that, as WilliaI
would soon tell you; all / want is thu
wives should let their husbands know the
are still loved"
But men are so vain" said AIadg
that it is dangerous to show them niue
attention.
Her friend looked up, SO, Madge, VIII
are you saying? Have you then, marie
with the notion that it is not good for Joh
70 believe you love him ~
mo, but it is not wise to show that "
care too much for them.u
say and him; do not talk of HUSBAND
in general, but of yours ia particular
He thinks quite enough of himself a
ready, l assure you.n
Dear Madge," said Janet, smiln
would it do you any harm TO receive ii
tie more attention from your husband ?'
"Of course not. l wish he'd try" al
Mrs. Harley laughed at the idea.
"Then you don't think enough of you
self already and nothing would NAL
yOu vain, l suppose?
Mldge colored, and all the more VIII,
she preceived that William Matson III
come in quietly, and was now standii
behind Janets chair. This, of cour'
put an end TO the conversation. Mad
retired TO her own home TO think of Jane
words and 10 confess secretely that tn
were wise.
Hours passed before John Harley retur
ed home. He was man of good abiliti
and well TO do in the world and havi
married Madge because he truly loved h
he had expected 70 have happy hon
But partly because he was reserved a
sensitive, and partly because Madge fear
20 make him vain, they had grown We
cold toward each other-so cold that 10
began 10 think the ale-house more Co
Portable than his own firesde.
That night the rain fell in torrents, |